Why are there so many different cartridges? Really the answer here is history. Practically since firearms were invented there have been numerous calibers. mostly because different combatants arbitrarily chose to make different barrel sizes. From then on it was military development trying to make their weapons more effective. Once militaries put design contracts out to tender the flood gates opened. Multiple designers would invent multiple cartridges to submit for contract, some got accepted, and lots not, but with all the $$ invested in R&D and often by private firearms manufacturers, the failed bids entered the civilian market.
This type of proprietary cartridge by manufacturer likely accounts for most of the cartridges on the market today as the trend continued for civilian use and the hungry sportsman market. If Winchester or Remington, or Ruger or whomever had substantial sales then that cartridge would live on in the newer guns, even if better rounds were developed as the market was established and new guns would still sell in old familiar chamberings. This also accounts for why there are so many similar rounds. If Remington developed a great round and held the patent on it, naturally Winchester would have to follow suit and would develop something that performed similarly, but varied enough to meet patent laws, and vise versa. This is not limited to the two big American manufacturers, but other makers and European markets as well.
In peace time civilian needs didn't equate to military calibers, and with a glut of surplus guns, wildcatting military cartridges became big and are the basis for most of the common cartridges on the market today. Naturally most manufacturers adopted theses military based chamberings because of their success and freedom of patents.
This type of proprietary cartridge by manufacturer likely accounts for most of the cartridges on the market today as the trend continued for civilian use and the hungry sportsman market. If Winchester or Remington, or Ruger or whomever had substantial sales then that cartridge would live on in the newer guns, even if better rounds were developed as the market was established and new guns would still sell in old familiar chamberings. This also accounts for why there are so many similar rounds. If Remington developed a great round and held the patent on it, naturally Winchester would have to follow suit and would develop something that performed similarly, but varied enough to meet patent laws, and vise versa. This is not limited to the two big American manufacturers, but other makers and European markets as well.
In peace time civilian needs didn't equate to military calibers, and with a glut of surplus guns, wildcatting military cartridges became big and are the basis for most of the common cartridges on the market today. Naturally most manufacturers adopted theses military based chamberings because of their success and freedom of patents.
