...reason...because it kicks...and since 99% of the "hunters" do all their sighting in and practice "from a bench" it was not well liked in the gun writing community of the 1960s.
The Model 600 and 660 were lightyears ahead of their time. Back then lightweight was not a desirable attribute in a hunting rifle like it is today. Add to it the laminated outerspace looking stock and vent rib and it was a marketing disaster.
As to lack of love for the cartridge, one of the biggest complains is having to deep seat heavy bullets into the powder chamber to make the 2.800" LOA of the Remington 600/7/700SA action. The fact that bullets of equal weight from a 18.5" barrel were equaling the 22" ballistics of a .35 Whelen were simply lost on people.
Like I said...my favorite hunting round...
Bob
