Viable "gaps" in the market that a new caliber could meaningfully fill in today's factory ammo selection

[Northern Shooter]

After making my latest post on what missing gaps my current ammo lineup had, it got me thinking to the market as a whole, and if there are any missing gaps where a new caliber could fill?

I know the general answer is no, all bases have been covered.

But with the tremendous amount of marketing ammo produces spend on introducing "new and improved" calibers each year (think the PRC's, 6.8 Western, Creedmoor's, 21 sharps etc.) where is that next gap to be filled? What new purpose would it serve? what hunting niche would it fill?

Can you think of anything in the realm of dangerous game cartridge innovation? Short action .423 cal? Long action 0.577 cal for a bolt gun? Short action 0.50c al?

Or will it continue to follow the trend of introducing more efficient long-range cartridges like Hornady has been pumping out? Latest I heard they were considering the 338 PRC for their next release.

Curious as to what you can come up with.

 

[Cheesehead]

I doubt we will see any innovation in the area of dangerous game cartridges, but what do I know. I still think the 375 and 416 Ruger are both really smartly designed cartridges and we have seen how well those were received. None of the major ammo manufacturers besides Hornady make ammunition or components, and Hornady barely does. There is no better time than now for these two to take off, with the Ruger M77 being one of the only two affordable DG rifles remaining in production, but they're just not.

I'd like to see a 458 Ruger based on the same case as the 375 and 416. Theoretically, it'd outperform the 458 WM in a standard length action, but at least it would be a more modern case design. Not sure there is a need for it but I'd like it. Or, maybe Ruger should just chamber the M77 in 458 win mag...

 

[mark-hunter]

Curious as to what you can come up with.

The only thing I can hope for is better supply on European market, of existing DG caliber cartridges.

 

[Doug3006]

I can’t think of an application (I.e. a game animal or a shooting discipline) that’s left uncovered by multiple caliber options. My gripe is that manufacturers keep introducing new cartridges that don’t offer much that isn’t already available, instead of loading classic DG cartridges for the millions of rifles we already own.

 

[baxterb]

I doubt we will see any innovation in the area of dangerous game cartridges, but what do I know. I still think the 375 and 416 Ruger are both really smartly designed cartridges and we have seen how well those were received. None of the major ammo manufacturers besides Hornady make ammunition or components, and Hornady barely does. There is no better time than now for these two to take off, with the Ruger M77 being one of the only two affordable DG rifles remaining in production, but they're just not.

I'd like to see a 458 Ruger based on the same case as the 375 and 416. Theoretically, it'd outperform the 458 WM in a standard length action, but at least it would be a more modern case design. Not sure there is a need for it but I'd like it. Or, maybe Ruger should just chamber the M77 in 458 win mag...

A great comment. Everyone I’ve heard who has really used both of these rounds likes them.

If I had to posit why they have yet to take off? The name Ruger. As petty as it may seem, I think in this day and age the.l name Ruger has a smell to it that makes it hard for some to get around.

Had they been called the 375/416/458 Rimless Express and you’d see them all over.

Just my .02c.

 

[Northern Shooter]

The only thing I can hope for is better supply on European market, of existing DG caliber cartridges.

Which cartridges are you finding difficult to source? I'm not seeing any issues North of the border trying to track anything down 500NE and below.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I can’t think of an application (I.e. a game animal or a shooting discipline) that’s left uncovered by multiple caliber options. My gripe is that manufacturers keep introducing new cartridges that don’t offer much that isn’t already available, instead of loading classic DG cartridges for the millions of rifles we already own.

That's a valid concern. It seems like they are all more invested in bringing out the newest and latest thing instead of producing inventory for existing calibers.

 

[Northern Shooter]

Or, maybe Ruger should just chamber the M77 in 458 win mag...

Now there's an idea. It would be awesome if Ruger would offer their M77 rifles in additional DG cartridges, even if they are limited to standard length cases.

 

[analog_peninsula]

Maybe a modern .358 Norma? Call it the .358 PRC.

 

[IvW]

All civered with reputable baçkup...some more than others....

 

[Northern Shooter]

In terms of DG cartridges we have the following in Short Action, Standard Action & Magnum.

375 - N/A, 375 Ruger, 375 HH
416 - 416B&M, 416 Ruger, 416 Rem/Rigby
458 - 458 B&M, 458 WM, 458 Lott/ 450 Rigby
500 - 500B&M, 500 Jeffery, 500 NE
505 - N/A, N/A, 505 Gibbs
577 - N/A, N/A, 577NE

Not sure if the B&M cartridges really count due to not being mass produced or commercially available. Maybe that's the niche for Hornady/Barnes/Federal to take on, short action big bores.

 

[IvW]

There are a lot more than that.....

 

[Alistair]

I already made my comments on why ANY DG calibre innovation is pretty unlikely in a previous post, but if there was to be something new, my guess would be an iteration on the 378Wby idea.

The idea being that it's the next step up from the other mid-calibre 'long range capable' hunting cartridges. Something that you can load with solids for close in DG, but that can also do a 400yd shot on Elk, Bears, larger plains game better than a 375H&H. It'd also allow a 'crossover' DG / Target rifle with true 1000yd capability in the same vein as many of the PRC cartridges are marketed.

A bolt action specific design, probably medium action length, pushing a 300gr bullet at 3000+fps, with a throat length sufficient for long ogive low drag bullets. Something similar to a .375Cheytac, basically.

I could see Hornady or Nosler thinking that'd sell well with the mountain hunting and grizzly guiding crowd and might be just about enough sales volume to make it worth it.

Personally, I don't think it's practically useful, but it would fit market trends right now, and it might sell.

 

[Uncontrolled_round_feed]

A 470 #1 (Rimless) to duplicate 470 NE ballistics in a bolt gun, preferably that could fit in a standard action.
Always seemed odd that on the bolt side you have 458s then a jump to 505G/500J and skipped the 470 (except oddballs like the 465H&H)
This doesn’t really fill a need but there does seem to be a gap.

 

[Northern Shooter]

A 470 #1 (Rimless) to duplicate 470 NE ballistics in a bolt gun, preferably that could fit in a standard action.
Always seemed odd that on the bolt side you have 458s then a jump to 505G/500J and skipped the 470 (except oddballs like the 465H&H)
This doesn’t really fill a need but there does seem to be a gap.

There’s an interesting idea.

It looks like the 470 Capstick attempted that concept but it never caught on.

0.475 cal bullet, 500gr @2,400 fps.

 

[mark-hunter]

Which cartridges are you finding difficult to source? I'm not seeing any issues North of the border trying to track anything down 500NE and below.

You live North of Paradise my friend! I suffer from European and small country syndrome!
In my country of Croatia, any caliber over 375 HH is hard to find. And for 375 HH only PPU and RWS is available with minimum choice of bullets.
DG market is too small for shops to bother with import of such things.
To fill this gap, I am switching to hand loads.

Speaking of smaller caliber ammo, anything that is not vanilla caliber is nightmare to find, such as any of the Weatherby calibers, 260, rem 280 remington, 444 marlin, anyother Creedmoors then 6.5, etc, etc
Basically, it is easier to list what is available, then what is not available.
In shops you can find almost any rifle from almost any factory, but in vanilla calibers. That covers 99.5% of market demand for hunting. Local shops are happy with that. And most of hunters are happy with that.

 

[Lumaberpat]

I doubt anything new will be the “next big thing” until the military actually replace the 223/308, it could be the new 277 Fury rifle but I haven’t heard much about it lately… the country has hampered its tinkerers in military weapon development, so it probably won’t happen for quite a while.

 

[Cheesehead]

A great comment. Everyone I’ve heard who has really used both of these rounds likes them.

If I had to posit why they have yet to take off? The name Ruger. As petty as it may seem, I think in this day and age the.l name Ruger has a smell to it that makes it hard for some to get around.

Had they been called the 375/416/458 Rimless Express and you’d see them all over.

Just my .02c.

I think you may be right about the Ruger name on the cartridges. The RCM line was equally well designed and it was a sales flop.

I'm hopefully the PRC line survives and gets expanded. That might help keep the 375 and 416 Ruger alive.

Now there's an idea. It would be awesome if Ruger would offer their M77 rifles in additional DG cartridges, even if they are limited to standard length cases.

I feel like there would be enough demand for Ruger to add 9.3x62 and 458 win mag as standard offerings in the African and Alaskan lines.

Getting a little closer to the original topic, even thought it's not a new cartridge, I'd love to see the .338-06 more widely offered both in factory rifles and ammunition, particularly ammo loaded with 250 gr projectiles, kinda like a modern day 318 W-R

 

[Berettaco]

Anytime a new cartridge is being pushed out, I look at the ballistics to see how it compares to what’s already out there. Very little improvement, if any, to what’s already been out for 100 years.
.22LR
.270 Win
375HH
That covers just about everything most of us will ever hunt. Throw in a 470 or 500 for the really big critters and you’re set.

 

[cajunchefray]

After making my latest post on what missing gaps my current ammo lineup had, it got me thinking to the market as a whole, and if there are any missing gaps where a new caliber could fill?

I know the general answer is no, all bases have been covered.

But with the tremendous amount of marketing ammo produces spend on introducing "new and improved" calibers each year (think the PRC's, 6.8 Western, Creedmoor's, 21 sharps etc.) where is that next gap to be filled? What new purpose would it serve? what hunting niche would it fill?

Can you think of anything in the realm of dangerous game cartridge innovation? Short action .423 cal? Long action 0.577 cal for a bolt gun? Short action 0.50c al?

Or will it continue to follow the trend of introducing more efficient long-range cartridges like Hornady has been pumping out? Latest I heard they were considering the 338 PRC for their next release.

Curious as to what you can come up with.

All new product introductions to the consumer marketplace need a name that consumers can relate to and remember. If I were a CMO at a major ammunition rifle manufacturer ("if I were King for a day")
I would introduce a line of cartridges called "Big Game Express"

Play up the "Big Game", Elk, Bear, Moose to North Americans.
Play up the "Game Express" as that fast shot a long way out.

- Based on the 375/416 Ruger case, just leave the Ruger name out.

- Standard action length, long throat, and 3.45-inch magazine length to handle longer higher BC bullets for those that want a 600-yard shot (not me!).
Fast twist barrels for the modern high-tech bullets, stepped down weights for velocity (CEB, Northfork, Lehigh, and others). In other words: 400 grain .458 bullets, 325 grain .416 bullets, etc.

- Modern progressive powders, and 24" barrel for optimum velocity

Cartridge lineup for the Big Game Express (BGE);

-375 BGE
-416 BGE
-450 BGE
-470 BGE
-500 BGE

Advertise that you can drop a Moose or Bear, in its tracks, with a 450 Big Game Express at 500 yards (like Phil Shoemaker has done with his .458 Win Mag), and include a fancy tactical scope, that has "tactical" elevation adjustments (ugh!) This would sell.

And for us realistic riflemen, include CRF, integral scope mounts, barrel band front sights, barrel band sling swivel, 3 position M70 safety, barrel recoil lug, all glass and pillar bedded, and pop-up peep sight. All steel action. Birdsong Black -T finish.

A Winchester M70, or a Ruger 77 Mark II is about right for price.

Residual checks can be mailed to my home address