Rifle calibers for 2025

[Bill B.]

What do you guys see happening in the future with all the new short mags. and caliber's introduced recently? Will they stand the test of time and be around 20 years from now? Personally I think the old calibers such as the '06, .308, & Win. .270 will still be up there as the more popular rounds. If any one wants something a bit more powerful I think it will still be the 7mm Rem. Mag., 300 Win. Mag., & the 338 Win. Mag. If I had to pick the smaller calibers I would go Rem. .223, Rem. 22-.250, Win. 243. I still don't really see any of the new calibers knocking any of these 9 rounds from the top 10 in the next 20 years or so. Any picks from you guys from the new rounds to make it long term?

 

[Black Snowman]

I think the WSSMs will stand the test of time for the simple reason that
1) They fit in an AR-15 magazine without modification.
2) They are balisticly superior to any other available cartridge for their given caliber.

These two things will ensure a nitche market in varmit and long range shooters.

I bet it won't be "popular", but it will be around. More so than something like 6.5 Grendal or 5.8 SPC (unless one of them gets adopted by NATO).

 

[esldude]

I think the 260 Remington and/or the 7mm-8 will be better appreciated for how efficient and sufficient they are. I would guess the 7mm-8 will become one of the most popular calibers.

I don't know if any of the short magnums will become big sellers.

 

[jefnvk]

'06, .308, .30-30 and .270 will still remain at the top. 22LR, will still be the most popular. WSSM will be around, but they won't be the king. It is my opinion that not everyone buys a new deer gun every year, and deer hunters are probably the largest group of rifle owners. Many simply don't see the need in a new cartridge. Heck, I think after the .30-06 was developed, pretty much everything else is unneeded.

 

[Ivy Mike]

With the sheer amount of 7.62x39 floating around, I think we can guarantee it will be kicking around for quite some time.

There is also a lot of .308 around simply because of it being a NATO round. Hell, it will probably outlast NATO.

 

[zastros]

And while they won't be in the top ten, I think you'll see more of a resurge in the C & R calibers. They're cheap, plentiful and a good idea for a 1st high power rifle. I was very happy to see Winchester and Remington both offering a decent 7mm Mauser (7 x 57) hunting round. I think that after they get their collarbones realigned from shooting the OmniMagnum-a-go-go's, most people will see the wisdom of a softer recoiling round.

 

[Bill B.]

Ruger .204

One caliber that I forgot about when I posted this is the Ruger .204. Do you guys think this will be a sucess 20 years from now or will it only equal the Rem. 17 as a varmint load?

By the way I have to agree on the 7.62 x 39 being a caliber to include in the 10 ten now and 20 years from now. There are just too many rifles in the world chambered for it for it to go away.