IMHO, in the long run (20+ years) very few of the new magnums will survive for three simple reasons.

First, they are cutting their own throats. Maybe one or two of the shorties will hang on and maybe even a couple of the bigguns. How many guns can one man own and why would he keep buying new cartridge after new cartridge after new cartridge? These things do cost money, ya know.

Second, isn't it extremely likely some genius will figure out a way to make and sell a ray-gun or electronic weapon? This would make smokeless powder a thing of the past like black powder and all these magnums dust collectors.

Lastly, maybe the big boys in the firearms industry ought to do some soul searching. Isn't the .17 rimfire the hottest selling weapon and ammo since Moses was a pup? Maybe folks are sick of the over-hyped, little-to-gain "new magnums".

But, hey! To each his own. I grew out of the stage where I had to constantly shoot a big booming cannon. My shoulder thanks me every time I kill a crow with my 10/22 instead of my 10 ga.!

Edited by - webcicle on 02/10/2003 22:34:51