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

[VertigoBE]

How about a bolt action .510 caliber, standard rim (not recessed), full length, like a .510Gibbs?

 

[Cheesehead]

So, after thinking about it a bit, I think I found a "gap" in the market where a new cartridge or two might actually have a chance. For the AR -15 market, I think there would be some demand for a decent performing 7mm and maybe even a .308.

I'm thinking a 6.5 Grendel necked up to 7mm and .308, so at 7x39mm and 7.62x39mm improved. Currently, I don't think there is 7mm for the AR-15, but there are lots of 7mm projectiles to work with. This new 7.62 Grendel based cartridge would be superior to the old 7.62x39 because it would use much less case taper so it's a better fit for the AR platform and would use more commonly available .308 projectiles. It would also be loaded to higher pressure and have better ballistics than the little Russian or the 300 Blackout.

 

[WI-2021]

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...

I've thought that every niche has been filled for quite a while now, yet new cartridges keep coming along. In many cases, the driving force has been faster twist barrels for heavier bullets, but much the same could be accomplished with existing cartridges if twist rates were increased.

Regarding the .375 and .416 Ruger specifically, I'm not sure that they've been flops. The .375 has a following, myself included. That said, the market for .375's is small in the grand scheme of things, and the market for .416's is comparatively miniscule. I'm in the midst of a custom build in .375 Ruger right now, mainly due to the fact that I have a fair amount of ammo for it already. If I didn't, I'd have chosen .375 H&H in a heartbeat, and my action is long enough to accommodate it, should it ever become necessary. I'd just need a new barrel and magazine.

I'd love to see a .458 Ruger, but I can't see that succeeding. Chambering a lefty M77 in .458WM would do just fine for me.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I've thought that every niche has been filled for quite a while now, yet new cartridges keep coming along. In many cases, the driving force has been faster twist barrels for heavier bullets, but much the same could be accomplished with existing cartridges if twist rates were increased.

Regarding the .375 and .416 Ruger specifically, I'm not sure that they've been flops. The .375 has a following, myself included. That said, the market for .375's is small in the grand scheme of things, and the market for .416's is comparatively miniscule. I'm in the midst of a custom build in .375 Ruger right now, mainly due to the fact that I have a fair amount of ammo for it already. If I didn't, I'd have chosen .375 H&H in a heartbeat, and my action is long enough to accommodate it, should it ever become necessary. I'd just need a new barrel and magazine.

I'd love to see a .458 Ruger, but I can't see that succeeding. Chambering a lefty M77 in .458WM would do just fine for me.

Might be on to something with a 458 Ruger, an American made, modern take on the 458 WM. Large enough to differentiate itself from the 375 Ruger.

I feel like many may view the 375 and 416 Ruger has having a lot of overlap.

 

[skydiver386]

Unless you think there is a desperate need for that last little increase in velocity, I can't think of any gaps in our current cartridge lineup.

The introduction of new calibers has been excessive for quite a number of years. Many that were introduced in the last 20 years and touted as the best thing since sliced bread have now gone by the wayside. There are probably 100 factory cartridges that have been introduced since 1950, that are now obsolete and no longer in production, or very rapidly headed in that direction.

The .307 Winchester, 7x30 Waters, and .30 Remington were all fairly short lived because the public didn't see any advantage to them. The only reason many were brought out was to fit into a different action type or bolt face size, etc. The 307 and 7x30 were meant to increase the power and range of lever action rifles like the 30-30 Winchester, while the .30 Remington was bought to duplicate 30-30 ballistics in a semi-auto rifle. I'm 62, and I've owned rifles in all 3 of these calibers, and finding ammo for any of them is near impossible.

Rather than see new introductions, I'd prefer a revival of some classic, but very useful calibers, with the .257 Roberts at the top of the list.

 

[odonata]

I’m fond of the classics because they do everything my modest demands require. I have seven chamberings that are over 100 years old & three that are 68+ years old. Only my Wilson Combat in 300 HAM’R is a modern 21st-century “gap filler” for hog hunting. I’ll be long gone before my 303 British, 30-06 or 375 H&H ever become unsupported.

I think part of the recent proliferation of cartridge designs is driven by new bullet construction that can handle faster twist rates without failing. Long-distance shooting with high BC bullets is a popular trend. There’s also been a move towards shorter actions where large-capacity cases yield comparable performance to a long-action alternative. The variety of combos that’s possible in this space created a bewildering array of new options that we can assume will not all survive. Choose wisely.

A lot of the criticism I’ve seen about the modern 6.5CM dealt more with the “vibe” around it than its actual merits. It’s a worthy alternative to my 6.5x55 & I seriously doubt the game can tell the difference. Dead is dead. I think the 375 & 416 Ruger rounds were pretty good designs for affordable standard actions. But ammo variety is limited & components can be difficult to acquire which is a shame. Remington & Winchester can have their name on a successful cartridge design but apparently Ruger cannot. While smaller calibers can be endlessly tweaked (and they are), I think it’s a challenge to create significant improvements or differentiation in the larger DG rounds. If these two Ruger offerings are having difficulty usurping their classic rivals, it doesn’t give a lot of encouragement for others to try. I’m happy with my 458 Win Mag.

I don’t want a new gap filler. I wish they would just better support what has already been established instead of trying to constantly create the next best thing before quickly abandoning it.

 

[WI-2021]

Might be on to something with a 458 Ruger, an American made, modern take on the 458 WM. Large enough to differentiate itself from the 375 Ruger.

I feel like many may view the 375 and 416 Ruger has having a lot of overlap.

Agree that others may feel there's a lot of overlap between the .375's and .416's. Personally, I think there's enough differentiation for both to exist, but there's already a lot of competition in both niches and a pretty small market for both.

Regarding the .458 Ruger, I'd be shocked if someone hasn't already wildcatted one. I wonder how much velocity it would actually gain over the .458 WM. With no belt and a rather small shoulder, would headspace be an issue?

If one were comfortable with headspacing on the case mouth, the .375 Ruger case could probably be used to build a .500 in a standard long action without having to deal with a rebated rim. I'm not a wildcatter, or even a handloader, so I haven't actually mathed this one out. A factory .500 that will fit in a standard sized action with a magnum bolt face would have some appeal. It would fall short of a Jeffrey or Gibbs, but would it have enough capacity to replicate the .500 NE?

 

[WyoBull]

You ever watch any of Hornady’s podcasts in YouTube? Three to four guys sitting around blowing smoke up one another’s backside about what they just developed, trying to justify their jobs.
I am more interested in better bullets for the existing classic calibers than I am new calibers which I will never buy.

 

[Pondoro]

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.

In Scandinavia, at least here in Norway, we have an importer of all the Hornady DGX/DGS series, Federal big game ammo is also imported. Norma is also available (to horrific prices..).

 

[John the Electrician]

I feel we are hard pressed to find meaningful gaps in calibers/cartridges. We would have to split the hairs pretty small.

What comes to mind for me are the cartridges on the small end of the spectrum. I have shot prairie dogs with 17 HMR, .204 Ruger, .223 Remington, 22-250 and .243 Winchester.

My favorite of all those being the .204. It’s a laser beam, you can see your hits through the scope without needing a heavy gun and it’s devastating on the varmints. It’s drawback is largely wind drift issues.

There may be an opportunity to add bullet length and velocity to the .204. Probably would need a different parent case to do so.