The classic magnums - will they see a renaissance?
- Thread starter glennw89
- Start date
Islander
Well-known member
Modern bullets have made magnums unnecessary. And the smaller calibers are more than deadly enough with the added benefit of weight reduction, noise reduction, recoil reduction, and tons and tons of extremely accurate and reliable factory ammo. Other than nostalgia, no "need" for magnums or even large calibers. Still, my 300 WM isn't going anywhere. Nor my trusty 30-06.
I personally believe these new cartridges are marketting hype. Why in hell's name would I ever pick a 6.5 creed over the flatter shooting .25-06 or .270 win?? It all depends on the indian, not the arrow. The manufacturer's should worry more about making ammo cheaper, instead of trying go improve the bullet path by a skinch (short for skinny inch). I will never buy a rifle in these new calibers. I own rifles in .223, .25-06, .270 win, 7mm RM, .30-06, .300 WM, and .338WM. Love the all.
Last edited:
kodiakisland
Well-known member
“Flat shooting” was an advantage before everyone carried a range finder. Loved the 257 WBY to stretch my poor estimation cross canyons. Back then hits beyond 400yds were more miss than hit. Now flat shooting isn’t that big of a deal IF you are shooting beyond 350yds as you have to adjust aim anyway. Those newer, fast twist, high BC cartridges have advantages beyond 400yds and will become flatter and drift less than older cartridges. How much does that matter? None if you aren’t regularly shooting at 400+.
I shoot steel on a regular basis to 1000yds and the new stuff definitely shines. For most of my hunting though I’m happy using 100+ year old designs.
millerkiller77
Well-known member
I own and shoot all of those except 25-06. The .270 is one of my many favorites, but the short action calibers just perform so well with modern loads it's easy to overlook some of the traditional long action offerings .
7mm RMs recoil? I never really noticed.
All joking aside, my 7mm weighs in at 6.6 lbs naked and it does kick a bit. It also shoots sub 0.6 inch groups at 100 yards if I hold up my end of the bargain. It takes about 25 rounds before I start to think about stopping for the session and switching to my 308 for some lighter punishment.
WVmike
Well-known member
Couldn't agree more.
noharleyyet
Well-known member
I can't tell you how many current RUM shooters were exclaiming "Never" in 1999. Change is constant.
-new 7PRC owner
-new 7PRC owner
Tradewind
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2015
- Messages
- 6,124
short magnums are an oxymoron
Hmm...maybe that's why I never really thought much about the recoil of my 7 mag. My rifle weighs in at about 9.5 lbs scoped and loaded.
6mm Remington
Well-known member
I built a Model 70 Classic Sporter into a 280AI. Love that rifle and cartridge.
Benfromalbuquerque
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2020
- Messages
- 1,906
My 270 Win sends 85gr copper right around 3,700; 110gr copper 3,300; 130gr lead 3,050; 140gr lead 2,900.
For all other applications I got the 30-06: 150gr lead 2,850; 200gr lead 2,600.
Both are Savage make with 22” barrels.
I did this all using 6.5 Staball with great ignorance (frequently checking Lyman 49th edition and Hodgdon online) and the attention span of a gerbil. Only exception was the 85gr which used AA2700.
I then thought there may be need for another gun, some intermediate thing. So a 7.62x39 found a home with me. That’s the “newest” caliber I own and I’m just fine with that.
So no, PRS can fugg right off.
Now, as to the OP’s medical condition the classics have a place for you. I’m talking Hemingway, Ruark, London and Leopold my man!
For all other applications I got the 30-06: 150gr lead 2,850; 200gr lead 2,600.
Both are Savage make with 22” barrels.
I did this all using 6.5 Staball with great ignorance (frequently checking Lyman 49th edition and Hodgdon online) and the attention span of a gerbil. Only exception was the 85gr which used AA2700.
I then thought there may be need for another gun, some intermediate thing. So a 7.62x39 found a home with me. That’s the “newest” caliber I own and I’m just fine with that.
So no, PRS can fugg right off.
Now, as to the OP’s medical condition the classics have a place for you. I’m talking Hemingway, Ruark, London and Leopold my man!
Darkside
Active member
I still like my Win.Mag, Rem..., Ultra..., and Weatherby Magnums. Your seeing Advertisements to buy the new, latest and greatest. Hornady is the best right now with the marketing and sales.
Will the Magnums go away- Never.
This is a Toy I made last year 270/7RUM.
And I shoot a 300WM in 600 and 1000yds Br.
The New/ Younger generation are swayed by Advertising, good for them.
Will the Magnums go away- Never.
This is a Toy I made last year 270/7RUM.
And I shoot a 300WM in 600 and 1000yds Br.
The New/ Younger generation are swayed by Advertising, good for them.
Attachments
Oldskool67
Member
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2017
- Messages
- 34
Probably the most factual statement I’ve read recently
The laser rangefinder was THE piece of technology that has driven so many of the meaningful changes in the precision rifle landscape.
I’d rather use 100+ year old chamberings and modern bullets than modern chamberings and bullets from even 50 years ago. Fortunately, I’m not forced to choose
Great way to explain it Carl. I can do with my old chamberings using new powders and bullets to do everything I need to do. But, nothing wrong with the new stuff. mtmuleyThe laser rangefinder was THE piece of technology that has driven so many of the meaningful changes in the precision rifle landscape.
I’d rather use 100+ year old chamberings and modern bullets than modern chamberings and bullets from even 50 years ago. Fortunately, I’m not forced to choose
std7mag
Well-known member
Within 500 yards especially...
I don't think the older calibers will be increasing significantly, but they also won't be going away. It's interesting to say "magnums" are unnecessary, but for most distances, that's been that way since magnums were created.
There are some who think the new calibers are that much better, but once you look at the ballistics charts, you find out that isn't true. Compare the 6.5 PRC and 270, for instance.
I think you can compare calibers to fishing lures. New fishing lures are to catch fisherman and new calibers are to catch shooters.
There are some who think the new calibers are that much better, but once you look at the ballistics charts, you find out that isn't true. Compare the 6.5 PRC and 270, for instance.
I think you can compare calibers to fishing lures. New fishing lures are to catch fisherman and new calibers are to catch shooters.
kodiakisland
Well-known member
The laser rangefinder was THE piece of technology that has driven so many of the meaningful changes in the precision rifle landscape.
I’d rather use 100+ year old chamberings and modern bullets than modern chamberings and bullets from even 50 years ago. Fortunately, I’m not forced to choose
Yeah. I still mostly hunt whitetail with several different .250s and have never felt under gunned or out dated. A range finder seriously changed my hunting though. I remember this one time a buddy and I took several shots each at this deer way out there with a 30-378. Turned out it was a midget deer and not near as far away as we thought.
I have fun shooting the high BC, fast twist stuff at steel, especially on windy days, but that's not hunting.
I just doubt we see any new belted magnums in factory form. They won't go away, but I don't see the industry spending R&D money on a belt.
std7mag
Well-known member
I'll let my 25WSSM know....
