[BattleRifleG3]

So far Winchester has 270, 7mm, and 300 Short Magnum cartridges. As interesting as they are, I would like to see them go upwards. Why not make a 338, 358, 375, 418, or even... gasp... 458? In fact, I think it could be necked up to 50 cal unlike the longer, thinner belted magnums. I for one would like to see a 458 cal magnum that's not as rough as the 458, more compact and aesthetically shaped, but far more powerful than 45-70.
338 could appeal to 338 Win Mag fans. And I seem to have this longing for 35 caliber cartridges, so why not them too?

If they chambered them in pumps or autos I'd drool so badly... But bolt actions are good too.

 

[Bert24b]

Could someone please explain to me just what the lure is of these new short magnums that manufacturers are pushing on us? Do they offer any advantages at all? Yeah, ok, they work in short-action rifles. So? Never once have I ever looked at a gun and said "You know, I like this gun, but man, I really hate long actions. If this was available in a short action I'd buy it." Does anyone do that? They seem pretty pointless to me, worse than pointless considering you can't even fit as many in a magazine as normal magnum cartridges. Not to mention they're kinda ugly...

-Bert

 

[BattleRifleG3]

Their shape is inherently accurate. I would like to see a common and more powerful 35 caliber cartridge. I'd also like to see more 35 Whelen and a ressurection of 358 Win. Way I see it, we have everything BUT a good 35 caliber magnum, and the short magnums are a good place to introduce it. And the short magnums are wider, allowing for wider bullets, and they use less powder (unless I'm wrong), and in most cases are a little less powerful than the big ones. I think a 458 would be nice, being lighter than a 45-70 but powerful enough for practically anything.
I think they make optimum use of modern powders that weren't around when the older ones were designed, just like the 308 does to 30-06.

 

[Indy]

I was looking through the Hodgdon annual reloading pubication yesterday, and all (at present) short magnums are listed. I developed a concern about the possibility of overloading during reloading. The manual lists pressures for each load. The frightening part is all of these loads are in the 65,000 pressure range. "Blue Pill" or test loads usually have a pressure around 70,000. If a reloader changes a component or hits on the high side of a powder measure what's to happen.
It is important to develop new cartridges and the equipment to handle them, but errors could be devastating as pressure increases.
Indy

 

[whirlwind]

my brother in law got a browning chambered in 300 win short mag, and with factory loads it is fairly accurate....but to be honest it wasnt "real" impressive accuracy. i know its alot more powerful than my 6.5x55 but my swede is way more accurate! and i always thought that targets dont care how powerfull the bullet was that missed em. hahaha call me old fashioned but thats my thought

 

[BattleRifleG3]

In answer to my above suggestion for a 458 Short mag that's between 45-70 and 458, I have since learned of the 450 Marlin, which uses a belted case with the same base as 458 Win Mag.