I'll add some additional thoughts based on comments after mine. First, the difference between the Nosler and Weatherby rifle offerings MSRPs are that you will pay the Nosler MSRP, as they set pricing and are selling direct. For a Weatherby, I can buy a new Accumark in any chambering I choose (from the available list, obviously) for about $1600-1800, depending on whether or not I want a 378-based chambering or not. In some instances, I can source a brand new Accumark for $1500, if I am willing to be patient and shop hard. A Fibermark is going to run somewhere between $995 and $1150, brand new, from a stocking dealer.
Now, considering the Fibermark most closely compares in terms of features and style to the Patriot, the Nosler rifle is going to run a premium of 50% over the cost of a new Weatherby. I could buy the Fibermark, slap on a Meopta MeoPro, Zeiss Conquest, or Swaro Z3, and not be far over the cost of the Nosler Patriot rifle in bare form. Consider then, too, the cost of brass for handloading, and the proposition tilts even more in favor of the Weatherby offering. Certainly if someone wants to buy the Patriot, I'm not going to stop them, but the old adage about a fool and his money comes to mind in terms of real performance for the dollar.
I tend to agree with your comments, Ron, about pushing the envelope, though in this case, even the long range crowd isn't buying into these rounds lock, stock, and barrel. I've talked to several guys I know who shoot long range, teach long range shooting, and compete at it, and none of them have much interest in these Nosler rounds, nor the RUMs off which they are based, save the 338cal versions (including factory and wildcat). The issue is ROI. The overbore case gives less and less advantage when you shift to smaller bores, and the reality is, the 7mmSTW is not popular because it doesn't offer significant enough advantage over the 7mm-300WinMag to be worth the loss of 1/3 of the barrel life. And this if for guys who attach their barrels with zippers because of how often they change them.
Again, if someone wants one of these, please go buy one. But understand going in what you're getting is, first off, not the most powerful or the fastest factory 7mm, as that honor goes to the RUM off which these are based (because the laws of physics apply and case capacity is higher by a marked amount in the RUM versus the shortened Nosler derivative), and you're getting a rifle that is limited use and more a novelty than a utility rifle like one of the Weatherby magnums or a 264WinMag or such. If you want to spend your money that way, as Ron said, educated prior to the sale, go for it. I don't see much use in it, and won't be buying one.
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