The classic magnums - will they see a renaissance?

I am skeptical that smaller calibers result in more wounding, as often asserted here, and i dont believe that trend (of using smaller cartrdiges) will change either. Theres just too much data and evidencs to point to the opposite. Ive seen some guys shoot "magnums" with rather disappointing groups - you either get to deal with recoil, weight, or a bunch of noise and a lot of people (new and especially small statured) just cant shoot them as well - especially as well as they say on the internet.

Id pick a 223 with the right bullet over a 7mm mag with the wrong one.
 
Within 300 yards especially - do you expect a difference with proper shot placement?
Given that I said above that I have a fondness for a cartridge developed in 1862, you can guess that I'm something of a mass and momentum guy. I've seen plenty of evidence that the 7mm-08 is adequate, but to have to cut that bullet in half...man, that makes me nervous. Shot placement is always proper until it isn't.

QQ
 
This. Not calling out those who can’t. But basically all I shoot are magnums.
.30 Nosler, 28 Nosler, 6.5-300WBY, 300 WBY and 300 WM, 270WSM. Not sure I notice any difference. I do not shoot them at a range multiple times. No can, no brake. I know….. good for me.
Shooting a magnum without recoil reduction is in no way for everyone. I don't recommend it. I like my big rifle and will always have it and shoot it and hunt it. Just as I do my lesser cartridges. mtmuley
 
The makers have been doing pretty well coming up with new cartridges to sell new rifles. Why give that up? I would be mildly surprised to see any new belted cartridges, but never say never.
 
Within 300 yards especially - do you expect a difference with proper shot placement?

Yes, the actual raw numbers say so. Cartridges are like politics, always swinging. Shouldn’t we be finding somewhere in the middle that works for us and accepting that?

Get punched by a flyweight on the button and then get hit by a heavyweight on the button and feel the difference. Yes, I’ve been hit by both. One made me laugh and the other said, “oh shiz, stuff just got real.”
 
Shooting a magnum without recoil reduction is in no way for everyone. I don't recommend it. I like my big rifle and will always have it and shoot it and hunt it. Just as I do my lesser cartridges. mtmuley
I felt the exact same way for several decades but a couple of years ago, after turning 60, I started getting headaches consistently after shooting the big guns. I rarely ever get headaches for any reason.
I could still hunt with the ultra mag, but the fun went out of shooting it. I swapped the bolt and barrel to a 30-06. Life goes on.
 
I feel like there has to be a word about ammo availability. My brother had me scouring western WA for one of the PRCs a few hunting seasons ago because he could not find any where he was at. I could not either. Just before the hunt one of his buddies loaded some up for him but he didn't have enough ammo or time to really dial in the new rifle. While looking for the PRC I saw a lot of 7mm RM and 300 WM. I've been on a few hunts where someone had to pick up a box of ammo in a nearby (and usually tiny) town or borrow a box from another hunter. 7mm RM, 300 WM, and to a lesser extent, 338 WM still seem to have a strong following.
 
Here’s another thing…. you won’t find as many inquiries on the internet “Is 7mm mag or 338 or 300… etc.. enough gun for North American X?”. The answer is YES. Few qualifiers. Good for off angles (good bullets). In most cases, provide ample margin of error if things go sideways. Just maybe all rifles don’t need to be 4 lbs.

Then there’s the folks that want to talk about ability to take moose with a a 22 hornet or deer at 1000 yards with a 6.5 and yes I’m sure that’s been attempted many times, sometimes successfully.

Just not for me. Not for most.
 
I don't think 300WM will ever go away, more likely some of the PRC cartridges will fail, just as the short magnum craze faded.

H&H, another matter. .375 will be around for a long time due to the Africa buffs. .300 is a different matter. I finally have enough brass to last me and the one I'm passing it on to for our lifetimes, but eventually I think that will go away.

Let's face it, it's rare to see a rifle with a nice walnut stock, much less a classic caliber.
280 Remington Richards gual grip thumbhole in exhibition grade California Claro walnut. Not sure what causes the starry look in the middle pic. Had the gun made over 30 years ago and never fired it.

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Belted magnums given a make over with faster twists, added freebore, better reamers will sing like never before. Add in longer heavier higher BC bullets and they will hold their own.

300WM in 1:8, at least 3.7" magazine, freebore, 26" barrel, Serengeti Bore Rider reamer will be "special"! This is actually my next build. My Sendero 300WM has over 1600 down barrel and still shoots fine but I want to kick it up.
 

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