Winners & Losers

[fabsroman]

Originally Posted by bigbrother

While I can agree with just about everyone's comments, we all have to keep tinkering and experimenting and creating to advance. I don't have a use for most of the new calibers either but I built a 6.5x284 before they were the "in" thing. (and I love it I might add lol) And most of you own or shoot regularly calibers that may be "standard" today but when they first arrived most people didn't think they needed them or that they would die out. Your 270, 25-06, 22-250, 243, and lots of others were wildcats and extremely experimental at one time. My favorites were all actually billed as either "too much" or "not needed" but now pale in comparison to what we can acheive with brass, bullet, and powder.

Am I going to rush out and buy the next new caliber....heck no! But the future improvements and innovations in our sport lie in those who stretch the envelopes and spend the money to determine if a 35deg shoulder shoots better than a 37deg.

Keep shooting!

I agree completely. It is the new stuff that creates advancements in technology. Look at that Remington varmint gun that used an electronic ignition. Is it still around? I ask because I don't really know.

The same thing happens in cycling. They make new equipment that is super expensive that pushes the envelope. Do weekend cyclists really need carbon fiber frames, carbon fiber wheels, and carbon fiber components so their bike will weight less than 13 pounds (i.e., my bike) and that cost about $8,000 for the bike? NOPE However, we still buy them and ride them around. That is what makes technology advance. My bike from 25 years ago weighs 22 pounds and has 12 gear combinations and it was a top of the line bike back then. My bike from 2008 weighs 13 pounds, has 22 gear combinations, and is a heck of a lot more aerodynamic. Thing is, each little advancement only gave riders a very slight advantage, but over the decades they have amounted to a significant advantage. Shimano just came out with electronic shifting that does not require cables. It is really expensive and I am not a Shimano fan, but people out there are trying it out. Whether it sticks around will depend.

The same can be said for the firearm industry. Each little advancement will add up over decades. Some of these short ultra mags are being used in AR's, etc. Granted, I am glad I didn't buy an AR upper in one of the cartridges that are going to be discontinued, and I am now a little leary about buying an AR upper in .260 Rem.

Like my bicycle technology, I like to let other be the guinea pigs for the new stuff. When something has been around for a while and proven itself, then I buy it. I'm not much for being the first guy on the block to try something new out.