I think there are only so many knobs to turn and just because a particular knob was turned 50 years ago doesn't mean they were ahead of their time. It might have just been a monkey turning knobs.
Each change in technology or market demand creates new opportunities for ideas that didn't work out in the past. Ideas can chain to be more than the sum of their parts.
My take on the 300 PRC is it really was time to update the 300WM. Not because of the belt. The throat and length limit were problems. It might have started with the collapse of the R700 magazine length requirement. 30 years ago, exceeding that was the kiss of death for new cartridges. The public's acceptance of faster 30 caliber twists and the larger market for high BC bullets made the PRC a viable product. I think the case capacity was driven by a desire to slightly exceed the performance of their 338 Lapua ammo. It's not that much more than the 300WM. If I was a 2 rifle guy, would I replace the 300WM elk rifle my dad gave me? No, but if I was new to the 30 caliber magnum market, the 300PRC would be a good choice. The belt isn't gone btw, they just moved it inside the case. I shoot both and am happy that the rise of the 300PRC has pushed the boutique manufacturers to finally produce 300WM brass.
I had hoped the 7 PRC would be a little larger to fill the case capacity gap between the 7RM and 28 Nosler but suspect that Hornady's goal was making it fit into the traditional LA magazine length that is a max for modern intermediate length actions sold as both long and short actions.
I think that, in general, betting against Hornaday's marketing group is a bad idea. They're not trying to sell the public stuff it doesn't need. They're plugged into what a big slice of the public currently wants. Their technical group excels at developing products that outperform their price points. The knack seems to be in the integration of ballistics and manufacturing for current markets. I really hate their podcasts. That has to be the slowest most painful way to convey information that is primarily infomercial. I don't doubt that is the best way to do it if you're selling stuff though or that I'm just old and would rather read a tech paper or book. They're done some informative tech papers.
Each change in technology or market demand creates new opportunities for ideas that didn't work out in the past. Ideas can chain to be more than the sum of their parts.
My take on the 300 PRC is it really was time to update the 300WM. Not because of the belt. The throat and length limit were problems. It might have started with the collapse of the R700 magazine length requirement. 30 years ago, exceeding that was the kiss of death for new cartridges. The public's acceptance of faster 30 caliber twists and the larger market for high BC bullets made the PRC a viable product. I think the case capacity was driven by a desire to slightly exceed the performance of their 338 Lapua ammo. It's not that much more than the 300WM. If I was a 2 rifle guy, would I replace the 300WM elk rifle my dad gave me? No, but if I was new to the 30 caliber magnum market, the 300PRC would be a good choice. The belt isn't gone btw, they just moved it inside the case. I shoot both and am happy that the rise of the 300PRC has pushed the boutique manufacturers to finally produce 300WM brass.
I had hoped the 7 PRC would be a little larger to fill the case capacity gap between the 7RM and 28 Nosler but suspect that Hornady's goal was making it fit into the traditional LA magazine length that is a max for modern intermediate length actions sold as both long and short actions.
I think that, in general, betting against Hornaday's marketing group is a bad idea. They're not trying to sell the public stuff it doesn't need. They're plugged into what a big slice of the public currently wants. Their technical group excels at developing products that outperform their price points. The knack seems to be in the integration of ballistics and manufacturing for current markets. I really hate their podcasts. That has to be the slowest most painful way to convey information that is primarily infomercial. I don't doubt that is the best way to do it if you're selling stuff though or that I'm just old and would rather read a tech paper or book. They're done some informative tech papers.
