I don't disagree with you. However, the overlap with existing proven cartridges in a myriad of well-made and/or sentimental rifles is significant and the overlap is growing year over year. Just for the record, I am tossing 198 grain Norma factory 8x57 loads with ease and well above my performance requirements (nearly 2800 ft. lbs of muzzle energy). My opinion, and I do believe this is still a free speech country, is that there can only be niche markets for most (not all) new cartridge contenders. We'll see just how well steel case designs are received in the mainstream.
If you analyze the design characteristics of most of the new cartridge offerings, you will note that they are mostly geared to "extending range." They are mostly well thought out and well balanced cartridges that are objectively better than older cartridges when applied to their niche.
However, I feel there are two issues with developing and sustaining new cartridge designs. First, these new cartridges don't really differentiate themselves significantly from well established and currently WIDELY available alternatives "FOR THE PURPOSES THAT MOST USE THEM FOR." Secondly, corporations MUST make a long term commitment to manufacturing rifles, ammunition and components to supply, NOT JUST the "demand," but to saturate the retailer shelves... however there is the crunch... corporations being beholden to their shareholders and boards, gear their supply to the demand in the marketplace... so there is the "catch 22," consumers won't buy if they can't feed their beasts, and corporations won't manufacture if consumers don't buy. This paradigm will only get worse in the current economy. IMO, the cartridge offerings are going to get steeply streamlined by the corporations that dictate supply, and reloaders and wildcatters are going to have to be more and more resourceful in feeding their beasts and exploring their whims. Lately, I have been concentrating new builds on readily available cases, all-be-it, new cartridges... they do not fill a gap, they do not do anything new... they just work well and please me... at least I know that components are not likely to be an issue for the foreseeable future.
Recent specific designs developed in a cooperative effort between ammunition manufacturers and firearms manufacturers have had lack luster results... the Creedmore required a MASSIVE marketing campaign, and sustained platform and component production, and as a result has been the most successful. The SAUM lineup is dead, the WSSM lineup is dead, half of the WSM lineup are dead, with the .270 and .300 versions doing better than the others, the Ruger RSM's are all dead, the .375 Ruger case is struggling, reloading brass is MIA and Hornady is slow with factory ammo production. The PRC's are popluar right now, I am building one myself, but stocked up on components first.... but give it 5-10 years and then lets see what kind of OEM support they have. I believe you can largely kiss the 6.8 Western case goodbye pretty much by the end of 2025, and now the Federal 7mm BC... with its additional requirements for reloading, brass, platform and pressures etc... Given the track records of these other designs, I would not bet the farm on the 7mm Back Country.
