If you were going to build an heirloom bolt rifle to give to the grandkids...what calibers will still be around for them to use???

here are some no brainers...

223
6.5x55
7x57
308
30-06
9,3x62
375 h+h

but will the 270 be around?
300 win mag?
358 win?
350 rem mag?
35 whelen?
338 win mag?
375 ruger
458 win mag?


what is your "bolt heirloom cart" list???

The 270win will still be doing its thing when the swede and the 7 mouser are long gone.

Maybe not in the US, but the .222rem is still going strong in Europe.

The 243win will still be around.

interesting thought...

i think most of the popular old rounds will still be around .243, .270, .30-06, .375H&H etc.
reason: why change a winning team?

most of the WinMag's will survive too
reason: they fit in a standard length action and they been quite popular.

i don't predict a very bright future for the short magnums.
reason: they doesn't do anything more popular cartridges won't do.

i'm not so sure about the big five cartridges.
will there be big five hunting to the same extent as today?
and if so, i guess it will be more expensive, so fewer people will buy DG-rifles.
thereby reducing availability of rifles ammunition.



one rifle to pass on?...a .270 Wby in a good rifle because that would be my choice for "one-gun-to-do-it-all-in-most-of-the-world".
and besides, the next generations will probably reload too.

If we are still allowed to own firearms 50yrs from now safe bets for a US resident would be:

.223REM
.243WIN
.308WIN
.25-06REM
.270WIN
.30-06SPRINGFIELD
7MM REM MAG
.300WIN MAG
.338WIN MAG

While some of these are a little out of favor right now, I'm sure there will still be enough of the old guns around that ammo will not be hard to find.

With every thing being made of plastic these day's and our acceptance of it, who knows what the future offers. All the WSM rifles might be dry rotted by then

Terry

Depends on whether or not some new technology replaces smokeless powder firearms. Even if it does, there will still be people using firearms, both cartridge weapons and muzzleloaders. But ammo supply may depend on what people have saved!

i'd build a 308. for alot of reasons.

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:
If we are still allowed to own firearms 50yrs from now safe bets for a US resident would be:

.223REM
.243WIN
.308WIN
.25-06REM
.270WIN
.30-06SPRINGFIELD
7MM REM MAG
.300WIN MAG
.338WIN MAG

While some of these are a little out of favor right now, I'm sure there will still be enough of the old guns around that ammo will not be hard to find.

With every thing being made of plastic these day's and our acceptance of it, who knows what the future offers. All the WSM rifles might be dry rotted by then

Terry

To this list I'd add the:
22-250
.257 Roberts
7MM-08
but would hesitate to add a .375 as Ruger's offering just might upset the old H&H offering!

.223
22-250
.243Win
6.5Swede
.270Win
.308Win
7.62x39
7.62x54
30-06
300WM
303Brit
338WM
9.3x62
9.3x74
375HH
416Rigby
458Win
470NE

If we continue tosupport ths right to bear arms and the right to hunt! kudude

Most sure of all... 22LR

50yrs? I would not go that far, maybe 30yrs and a 270win. cause in about 50yrs, if im still around,id most likely be hunting with a laserbeam, but that dont really matter, cause shot placement and the stalk are what really count, right?
... anyone who hunts with a bow would consider a 30-06 as having a near laser beam trajectory.

What about the .115 cal rail gun. 7 gr projectile, 2.55" long, launched at 12,500 fps. Now that's an elephant gun that will last. Just need to figure out how to carry the battery.

I don't think things will change much, what's popular today will still be around. I think a lot of fringe cartridges will be dropped from factory loadings but will hang around.

Really, who is to say some third world country does not start WW3 and it's a moot point? If not, we will be driving electric cars, and if we hunt, we will be shooting laser beam guns! Technology may change dramatically, but LITTLE change has been made to basic smokeless cartridge/guns in 100 years, SO if that trend continues, we may still be using similar guns/ammo. Of course things may change in gov't regulations as well. Nothing is certain. Change is the only constant.

22 LR
30-06
12 guage

Will be mainstays as always or the last few to go. I'll be an OLD man if still around so would have to digress to 22 lr.

270 will easily be around. It's a no brainer in my opinion. Every now and then some writer will say it's losing popularity, but it still ranks high on the RCBS die list and is #2 behind the 06 in most new centerfires and #1 in some cases. One reasonably popular round I'm not sure of is the 7mm Rem Mag. The shine seems to have gone off this excellent round the last few years. The 7Mag used to be the step up most .270/06/08, etc.. shooters went to when looking for Magnum power. These days, seems the WSMs, Ultras, and even the old .300 Win long is now the 1st step.

Lou