7mm/.404 Kurtz
I think today that cartridge selection has to be driven by bullets. Second factor, for me at least is recoil.
The 6.5 platforms were driven by both of these with the BC toping out at a little over .610 with some really fine bullets from LAPUA and others such as Cartarucio. The .260 Improved being just about the optimal 3K fps platform, if you don't mind fire forming and two sets of dies, etc.
What intrigues me is the idea of the .404 Jeffrey family of wild cats. The .300/404 and .338/404 are spectacular cartridges, again allow the use of Lost River and other high BC bullets. However, for smaller bullets like the new 180 and 176 grain 7mm bullets with BCs in the .700 range, this cartridge is over bore.
(Get to the point...)
Ok, so if a guy wanted to go to a lighter recoiling package how about shortening the .404 Jeffrey and putting a high BC 7mm in that. Again with three sets of expensive custom dies, until:
The appearance of the 7mm WSM which is the 7mm/.404 Jeffrey short.
Hence, the new optimal long range target round with the 180 VLD at about 2850 fps or better with the F215M! (The 6.5/7mm WSM apparently over bore as well.)