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Yeah it's not going to cartridges going obsolete so much as sales of new rifles chambered in said cartridges. The demand for ammo ought to hold strong into the foreseeable future. Even if they aren't selling as many new rifles in them, the .270, .243, .30-06, and .30-30 aren't going anywhere. At this point they, along with the .308 and .223, must surely still be responsible for the lion's share of centerfire sporting rifle use.
The advent of any new .257" or .277" caliber cartridges seems all but certainly impossible. I like both those bore diameters, but sandwiched between all the high bc 6, 6.5, and 7mm offerings, hamstrung by standardized twists established long ago which preclude the use of true high bc bullets in factory rifles the average joe might own, there's just no reason for any big manufacturer to make them.
Do I think the 270 and 243 will go the way the dodo? No but I have noticed bulk stores like cabelas/field and stream and such not carrying as many different types of 270 and 243 ammo as they used to.
Interesting for sure...I haven't bought or even really looked at factory ammo for a few years and live in a small town where for a long time Winchester was the only brand of ammo around for any cartridge. I'll keep my eyes open for this. That was always sung as an added virtue of these cartridges, that pretty much any small town hardware store would have some kind of ammo in a pinch.
That being said I find myself intrigued by them. My first and most used rifle is a .270. I've long wanted a .270 wby, no interest at all in the wsm. The .257 wby is on the "someday I'd like one" list as well.
I agree the creed has proved itself and won't be going anywhere.
243, and 260 will have to be impacted most IMO
I really dislike this common sentiment that the 243 (or anything short action and/or under the .30 caliber) is a starter, kids, etc rifle. I think calibers have their purpose. I wouldn't shoot small whitetail and antelope with a 300WM (although some do) I'd much rather shoot them with a 243win, 6mmCM, or 6.5CM because they are more suited for that size of game. I think hunters need to start using rifles that fit the game they're hunting unless they can only afford one or few firearms.
