Magnums

[JimBoIHN]

What are they? Is there a specific meaning-are they all overbore-or can any company just use that name with their brass? Never heard of a 30.06 Magnum or .270.

[FEENIX]

The term is a marketing tool, not something with take-it-to-the-bank accuracy in nomenclature. A "magnum" of champagne is 1.5 liters, compared to the standard bottle size of 750 ml. A century ago one of the British firearms makers started using the term to denote a cartridge of increased capacity compared to the standard cartridge of the same caliber, and the idea caught on. Similarly, the "tactical" and "zombie" are being used in the marketing of gun and ammunition ... heck even in the scope industries.

Of course, it doesn't make any sense at all if you don't know the standard against which you're making the comparison, but then you really don't expect a lot of precision in other marketing terms like "tastes great, less filling" either.

Here's a prime example of magnum marketing ...

[sp6x6]

270WSM=Winchester short mag 7RSAUM= Remington short action ultra mag

[rscott5028]

Originally Posted by JimBoIHN

What are they? Is there a specific meaning-are they all overbore-or can any company just use that name with their brass? Never heard of a 30.06 Magnum or .270.

Magnum usually conotes something bigger than usual. Thus WSM and RSAUM seem like oxymorons.

Many non-magnums are overbore. e.g. 270 Win, 25-06 Rem

Call it marketing, ego, or over-active immagination, cartridge names don't have to make sense.

Ultimately, it comes down to technical specifications and actual performance.

[JimBoIHN]

So they start out overbore, and the rifle makers come up with a magnum that is even more-so. Makes perfect sense. Except it's something else to sell.

[Derek M.]

Originally Posted by JimBoIHN

So they start out overbore, and the rifle makers come up with a magnum that is even more-so. Makes perfect sense. Except it's something else to sell.

Yep. Things were sort of quiet in the rifle caliber world until, suddenly, we had a number of new large case calibers from Lazzeroni mags, Ultra Mags, Short Ultra Mags, Short mags, Ruger compact mags, and a renewal of wildcatting such as the 7mm-300, 6.5 Weatherby Mag, etc.

[JimBoIHN]

Sort of reminds me of the golf industry - keep that new bait dangling.