The next cartridge you would like Hornady to develop

Most literature on the web has a 200gr bullet moving 150fps faster out of a 338 fed than a 308. The higher BC of the 30 cal will help catch the 338 at some point, but I don't know where that point is.
I do own a 308 but it hasnt seen a hunt in 25 years. If I were building a small-ish 338 it would be a 338-06, so I could load heavier bullets than the federal is designed around. The 375 Raptor that Shucker mentions does look interesting, but it's pretty niche.
 
.284 hornady magnum...... cos there neds to be another "7mm magnum" on offer.... one with a 34 inch barel, thousand twist rate and um.... interchangable stocks
 
Unholysavage said:
Most literature on the web has a 200gr bullet moving 150fps faster out of a 338 fed than a 308. The higher BC of the 30 cal will help catch the 338 at some point, but I don't know where that point is.
I do own a 308 but it hasnt seen a hunt in 25 years. If I were building a small-ish 338 it would be a 338-06, so I could load heavier bullets than the federal is designed around. The 375 Raptor that Shucker mentions does look interesting, but it's pretty niche.
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Top Hodgdon loads in .338 Fed push a 200 to 2657fps, and .308 pushes a 200 to 2582fps. That means that by the time they reach the deer they’re equal, and the .308 will pull an equally inconsequential lead only slightly downrange. To me that means the two are so remarkably similar, both will be equally good on game.

The .308 just makes it all easier on the supply end, all I’m questioning is the need for the .338 Federal and what it does better, not if it’s effective. It surely is, but so is the .308.
 
Would love to see a shrunken .308 Win case to a not-overbore 6 mm, with the same long barrel life and inherent accuracy as the .308 Win or .223 Rem, that runs in a standard CRF Model 70 short action. Something smooth feeding and not overbore like the .22-250.

Although I suppose one could load the .22-250 to .223 ballistics...?

The notion is practice with an accurate standard short action bolt rifle that doesn't burn barrels.

EDIT: Maybe the simplest solution would be to neck up the .22-250 to 6mm/.243 and rifle it for 100 grain bullets or whatever slinky target projectiles are out there.
 
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I think one cherry picked load with a 308 200 gr projectile at 2582fps is an unrealistic example. I have been loading for a long time and have over thirty manuals and the consensus of them is 2450 FPS with a 200 gr out of a 24” barrel. Many don’t even want a barrel of that length. Not that it matters as our your well aware with your experience that where the bullet impacts and what construction and speed of impact is the really important part. I personally think they’re are presently more than enough proven rounds and the more there are creates shortages. Just my opinion
 
Unholysavage said:
Most literature on the web has a 200gr bullet moving 150fps faster out of a 338 fed than a 308. The higher BC of the 30 cal will help catch the 338 at some point, but I don't know where that point is.
I do own a 308 but it hasnt seen a hunt in 25 years. If I were building a small-ish 338 it would be a 338-06, so I could load heavier bullets than the federal is designed around. The 375 Raptor that Shucker mentions does look interesting, but it's pretty niche.
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A tad niche in our neck of the woods, but the 375 Raptor is quickly catching on Stateside. I'm hoping Ruger brings it out in the American & Hawkeye models.
The cartridge has a lot of sensible goodness going for it in many ways.
 
philthygeezer said:
Would love to see a shrunken .308 Win case to a not-overbore 6 mm, with the same long barrel life and inherent accuracy as the .308 Win or .223 Rem, that runs in a standard CRF Model 70 short action. Something smooth feeding and not overbore like the .22-250.

Although I suppose one could load the .22-250 to .223 ballistics...?

The notion is practice with an accurate standard short action bolt rifle that doesn't burn barrels.

EDIT: Maybe the simplest solution would be to neck up the .22-250 to 6mm/.243 and rifle it for 100 grain bullets or whatever slinky target projectiles are out there.
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What you’re looking for sounds a lot like the 6mm creedmoor
 
Ardent said:
Top Hodgdon loads in .338 Fed push a 200 to 2657fps, and .308 pushes a 200 to 2582fps. That means that by the time they reach the deer they’re equal, and the .308 will pull an equally inconsequential lead only slightly downrange. To me that means the two are so remarkably similar, both will be equally good on game.

The .308 just makes it all easier on the supply end, all I’m questioning is the need for the .338 Federal and what it does better, not if it’s effective. It surely is, but so is the .308.
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Alot of the loads I've read involve short (16-18") barrels for the fed, which likely cause more velocity separation from the 308.
The Hodgdon manual is just one source. If you go to the Alliant manual there is a top speed for the 338 fed of 2725 fps with a 200gr bullet, with the fastest 200gr 308 load being 2560 fps. I'd wager that the 308 doesn't catch up until we're past normal hunting distances, but don't know with any certainty.

I don't think there really is a need for the 338 federal if I'm being honest, which is probably a big reason why its not popular. It maybe could have been a bit more popular if they twisted a little faster for heavier bullets, but it wasn't. But then I'm not a 308 fan either.
 
Slimbo said:
What you’re looking for sounds a lot like the 6mm creedmoor
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TMK the 6mm Creedmoor barrel life is something like 2000 rounds. I'm looking for 5000 rounds like the .308 Win.

Unholysavage said:
The 6GT is very close in case capacity to a 22-250.
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The velocities on that case look about right: 2900ish. But why is barrel life only 2500-3000 rounds?
 
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philthygeezer said:
Would love to see a shrunken .308 Win case to a not-overbore 6 mm, with the same long barrel life and inherent accuracy as the .308 Win or .223 Rem, that runs in a standard CRF Model 70 short action. Something smooth feeding and not overbore like the .22-250.

Although I suppose one could load the .22-250 to .223 ballistics...?

The notion is practice with an accurate standard short action bolt rifle that doesn't burn barrels.

EDIT: Maybe the simplest solution would be to neck up the .22-250 to 6mm/.243 and rifle it for 100 grain bullets or whatever slinky target projectiles are out there.
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I shot a 6mm 250 for a few years ! It was a popular BR cartridge back in the day called a 6MM International . GOOD barrel life and Accurate . RJ

A 6XC would be the closest Newest modern cartridge to a 6 International .
 
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philthygeezer said:
TMK the 6mm Creedmoor barrel life is something like 2000 rounds. I'm looking for 5000 rounds like the .308 Win.



The velocities on that case look about right: 2900ish. But why is barrel life only 2500-3000 rounds?
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the 6 arc factory ammo will be 52,000 psi and a bit slower than you want but that's how you'll get barrel life, the 6.5 grendel (6 arc is a 6 grendel) you can't wear one out in a bolt action, it's as close to .22 lr barrel life as you'll ever see with something that you can hunt big game with to up to 500 yards and plink at steel at will, you could likely bump the 6 arc with reloading up to the 62,000 psi class and get your speeds but like a dasher similar barrel life, mind you barrel lift is a discussion...define that? when it goes over 1/2 moa it's done? or 1 moa? are you hunter or competition shooter? what are your needs? it would take a long time to take many of these options over 1 moa and make you start barrel shopping for example, not sure your going to run heavy for cal 6mm at 2900 in any formula that won't eat barrels like any other 6 at 2900, reload the 6 Creedmoor with slower powders and don't push the pressures would be the best way to go for barrel life with modern 6mm factory stuff, apparently barrels are just regular consumables for the high volume shooters that like those top higher pressure 6's and anything else of high performance, as for the 6.5 grendel 123's at 52,000 psi...if you mirror 62,000 psi with reloading you've got exactly a 3/4 scale 308 running 168's with 50% less recoil and likely double the barrel life...but it won't be a 6 at 2900 but the arc loaded to those pressures will likely last as good as any 6 could or relax a 6 creed if you want better fit in short action and better off the shelf rifle options
 
5000 rounds is asking alot.
The 6BR guys claim to get to 4k, but it depends on the powder used, how fast they push them etc. And as mentioned above it depends on where one calls the barrel toast. Benchrest guys won't let a 6BR barrel get anywhere near 4k before swapping. The XC and 6 creed guys are lucky to get 1500-1700 rounds from a barrel, I know one guy who killed a 6 creed barrel in 750 rounds.
The 224 Valkyrie will get up to 8k, and the 6.5 grendel is even better, so the claimed 5k barrel life for the 6 ARC could be believable. You probably won't get that if you push 108s to 2850fps, but barrel life should be good.

People burn between 34-37gr in the 6GT vs 41-45 in the 6CX/creed vs 29-31 in the 6 ARC, so it's easy to predict what barrel should last longer.
 
Ardent said:
As for shorter actions, that’s the Kurz Mauser, .250 Savage length, .473” bolt face, was done a hundred years ago. Common, it is not unfortunately.

On Hornady products, I’d like the .17 Mach 2 get more attention, and a relaunch, but with a FMJ load available. It’s a sweetheart of a little round, and more actions ready for it than any other cartridge… any .22. I’d like to be able to plink with the kids, accurately, without them handling lead.
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Agree, the Mach 2 is awesome.
 
honestly think they have mostly covered well and should focus on supply. however I would love to see bonded versions of ELD-X. Im sure if anyone can figure out how to make accurate, bonded, high BC pills its these folks.
 
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