by crbutler on Tue Dec 10, 2019 2:30 am
Yes, lots of cartridges have been born looking for feeding a niche.
However, it seems of late that there has been a big glut of them designed to fit in an AR 15, and many seem to be fading.
It looks like the .223; then the .300 BLK/Whisper/whatever you want to call it, the 6.8 SPC and the 6.5 Grendel/LBC are the second tier (mainly due to their applicability for hunting). Maybe the .224 Valkyrie might make a go as it does have a niche with long range shooting, but the Grendel seems to have that covered.
I think the .30 Ham'R is going the way of the .30 remington AR. It fits a niche, but its a very small one, and being proprietary with a cutesie name hurts.
Personally, I have examples of the second tier, but I have no interest in the third. If I am going hog hunting, anything I need to do can be accomplished with a bigger round better than an AR 15 constrained round. (the AR 10 with a suppressor and night vision would be a happy choice if I am culling, but if I am paying the freight most places charge, I'm not plugging 10-15 hogs.) I think I spend more than most on this hobby, and reload for 50+ different rounds, and if I have little interest, its probably a pretty specialized market. If you want one, great, but be aware you might well be buying an orphan.