Why would anyone?

[fknipfer]

I am not a real smart guy sometimes, I guess because I keep putting my foot in my mouth sometimes.  Well here I go again.  Why would anyone spend $1000 to $1500 for a Winchester or Marlin in calibers .307. .356, or .358?  I was looking on gunbrokers at Browning BLR's and they sell for $500 to $750 in all kinds of calibers, .270, .308, 30-06, etc etc.  The common thread of the BLR's is they are hunting cartridges with pointed tip bullets that cannot be matched by the .307, .356, .358.  Here is an apples to apples comparison of 180gr bullets:

.308 Caliber            
MV/ME          100yds        200yds        300yds        400yds
2550/2598     2383/2229   2223/1974   2069/1711   1922/1477
Traj.
-1.5", 2.3", 0",  -9.4", -26.9"

.356 Caliber
MV/Me           100yds         200yds         300yds         400yds
2550/2598      2206/1945   1892/1430     1607/1032    1365/744
Traj.
-1.5" 2.9" 0" -12.7" -38.9"

The pointed tip bullet has a BC of .516 (.308) and the Flat nose bullet has a BC of .245 (.356).

It can't be for hunting they are paying this much money for as soon to be obsolete cartridges so it must be for nostalgia or collecting.  It also can't be for quality as Browning in my opinion is superior to both the Winchester and the Marlin rifles.
I already own four Marlins and my next levergun will be a BLR in a .308 caliber.  I am going to give my grandson and nephew the 30-30 and the 35Remington as a starter gun for their hunting career.
I am not trying to start a flaming war but to me if I was collecting for history it would be for rifles manufactured in the 19th century and western style only.

fknipfer

[T.R.]

Currently there is an urgency among many outdoorsman to purchase a 94 Winchester.  The factory closed its doors last winter.  The value of a plain Winchester 94 has sky-rocketed way beyond belief.  In my opinion, this is a short term ocurrence and prices will drop before long.

The 7-30 Waters, 307, 356, and 375 cartridges never became popular.  Although introduced within the last 28 years, ammo is nearly impossible to find.  Rifles chambered for these cartridges are not rare but are hard to find easily.  For these reasons, gun collectors have caused pricing to rise beyond the reach of most hunters.

You're right about the Browning BLR.  Its priced to sell and is a genuine keeper.  Only a few models have reached collector pricing.  These include the .284 from the early 90's and the 257 Roberts from the 80's.  Some of the made-in-Belgium models have climbed to lofty pricing as well.

Savage 99 pricing has risen sharply as well but because so many were made, they can be located easily.  This was a great rifle that fell from popularity simply because the generation behind me didn't buy enough to keep the line going.  Currently, some of the most popular selling rifles are plastic stocked bolt actions.  Sad but true.

Good hunting to you.
TR