Reading a number of threads here and at NitroExpress this morning has caused a hare-brained scheme to emerge from the depths of my sick mind.
The thread on reboring vs. rebarreling made me realize that a Ruger No. 1 with quarter rib and banded front sight is the perfect candidate for a rebore.
And what better candidate for this classic "Farqish" design than a .333 Jeffery Flanged?
Biggest obstacle is finding a reboring shop that can cut a .333 barrel. Of course, .338 is an absolute cinch. So the project then becomes a .333/.338 Jeffery wildcat.
Why go to all this trouble?
Romance! Passion! Coolness factor!
I'd be the only guy on my block with such a rifle, and could stuff all available .338 bullets into that wonderfully stout little case, including the big 300-grainers that made the Jeffery's reputation.
I know, I'm a sick puppy.

quote:

I'd be the only guy on my block with such a rifle

that all the reason i ever needed

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Reading a number of threads here and at NitroExpress this morning has caused a hare-brained scheme to emerge from the depths of my sick mind.
The thread on reboring vs. rebarreling made me realize that a Ruger No. 1 with quarter rib and banded front sight is the perfect candidate for a rebore.
And what better candidate for this classic "Farqish" design than a .333 Jeffery Flanged?
Biggest obstacle is finding a reboring shop that can cut a .333 barrel. Of course, .338 is an absolute cinch. So the project then becomes a .333/.338 Jeffery wildcat.
Why go to all this trouble?
Romance! Passion! Coolness factor!
I'd be the only guy on my block with such a rifle, and could stuff all available .338 bullets into that wonderfully stout little case, including the big 300-grainers that made the Jeffery's reputation.
I know, I'm a sick puppy.

I'd say that's a pretty worthwhile project.

Bill -

I understand exactly what you're going through. As you know, I like to wonk around with Ruger No. 1 semi-customs....

But, if I was going to build a .333 Jeff (which IS a great cartridge), I'd get it done in .333, not .338.

I mean, if you want a well proved but almost unique .338 that no one else is gonna show up with at most rifle ranges, why not use the .338 AI WM? (It is a lot more economically sound and easier to find components for.) And you can shoot off-the-shelf U.S. factory ammo in it too if push comes to shove someday.

But to show you I really am as nutso as anyone about the weirdos which have no practical advantages, I think maybe my next couple of No.1s will be in something like .33 or .35 Winchester and maybe .280 Ross or .318 WR....maybe even an 8x56R.

Anyway, sounds like fun, whatever you go for.

You know, as long as you keep building great No. 1s, you'll never die.......

A.C. my friend, you are no doubt correct. If you're going to resurrect a classic it needs to done respectfully.
Now to find someone who can rebore to .333 ...

Now, if you are really interested in the unique, you could chamber it for the .400/.395 Nitro Express! This would resurrect a cartridge only built for 4 yrs back in 1880. The only problem is RIP and I already have them built on our Ruger #1s. BUT, think of the "grand" company you will be in.
Max

As "a Brit" I think that it is an EXCELLENT idea to bring the old .333 Jeff into the 21st Century by up-sizing the bullets it shoots to .338"!

What's not to like? A classic rimmed cartridge that uses a modern diameter bullet that is readily available. Perfect!

Maybe, unless it has already been done...which it may well have been, you could name it the 338 Oregon or similar?

Time moves on...just as the old 333 OKH and its ilk were "seen off" by the new equivalents using the more readily available .338" bullets that arrived with the 338 Winchester Magnum.

Oh no. Now I am thinking. What about one in .318. Whew. Same kinda deal. Either would be almost perfection until I wanted something else.

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:
As "a Brit" I think that it is an EXCELLENT idea to bring the old .333 Jeff into the 21st Century by up-sizing the bullets it shoots to .338"!

What's not to like? A classic rimmed cartridge that uses a modern diameter bullet that is readily available. Perfect!

Maybe, unless it has already been done...which it may well have been, you could name it the 338 Oregon or similar?

Time moves on...just as the old 333 OKH and its ilk were "seen off" by the new equivalents using the more readily available .338" bullets that arrived with the 338 Winchester Magnum.

The .338 bullets actually arrived with the superb Winchester 1886 chambered in .33 Winchester, probably the finest Whitetail Deer round ever devised. Later, during the "Roaring Twenties", the fine English firm of BSA brought out the .33BSA, almost identical to the later .338WM and in the .338 bore. I am a total .338 nut and would LOVE one of these BSA rifles in original condition to shoot Elk, Moose and other game with.

For the Ruger No. 1 and I do think that a revival of the .333 Jeffrey Flanged is a wonderful idea, my first choice would be the excellent cartridge developed by the immortal Elmer Keith, the .338-74 Keith, being the 9.3x74R necked down to .338 and loaded to equal the .338WM using 250 NPs.

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares: the more readily available .338" bullets that arrived with the 338 Winchester Magnum.

That is actually not correct.

The .338 bullet was used long before the development of the .338 Winchester Mag cartridge.

The .33 Winchester, chambered in the Model 1886 Winchester lever-action rifle, for instance, used 200 grain .338" diameter bullets.

-----------------------


Sorry Dewey...I was scribbling this answer while you were already posting yours.

I used to own a .330 BSA Magnum which was also retailed on occasion by WR. They (BSA) built many of those on the WWI surplus P-14 action, particuularly for sale in the Canadian market. They were a most excellent little gun, particularly for moose where you could use the heavy bullet without blistering pressure loads.

But then, I know you are well aware of all that anyway. Just thought I'd toss it in there for those who are not.

Where can 300gr .338 bullets be obtained these days?

Where can 333 Jeffery brass be found?

KB

Why not a 6.5X53R Mannlicher in the Farky looking #1.

KB: Woodleigh makes 300-grain slugs. Bertram makes the brass.

Bill of oregon!. Play number 3..!.

A .33wcf..



A .333Jeffery...



A .303 Rigby takedown + Lee Speed...

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
KB: Woodleigh makes 300-grain slugs. Bertram makes the brass.

Looks like Quality Cartridge makes 33 WCF brass at a reasonable price and good quality. I think this brass can also be formed from 45-70 brass.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewP...productNumber=541144


Looks like the 333 flanged brass is special order at near $5.00 each piece.

http://www.midwayusa.com/brows...*652***670***9013***


Something of interest:

http://www.midwayusa.com/brows...*652***670***9013***

If a British classic cartridge is a must-have, I can't see where something obscure and obsolete can possibly be better than an over-the-counter Ruger #1 in 303 British. Lots of factory ammo available, cheap brass, and easy to handload for. There are excellent heavy bullets made for it too.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
Looks like Quality Cartridge makes 33 WCF brass at a reasonable price and good quality. I think this brass can also be formed from 45-70 brass.

KB

KB - You can very easily make .33 Winchester brass from .45-70...that's pretty much where the .33 Winchester cartridge came from. Winchester made a new (strictly smokless powder) cartridge for the Model '86 by necking down the .45-70 cartridge just after the beginning of the 20th Century.

I still make .33 Winchester brass from .45-70 for local friends. It does require an intermediate form die if you want to do it really quickly and not lose any brass during forming.

(The .348 Winchester came about in a similar way....it is a basically a necked down .50-110 Winchester conjured up for use in the M71 which WAS an updated M'86 Winchester.)

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:

quote:

I'd be the only guy on my block with such a rifle

that all the reason i ever needed

That's why I left southern Minnesota....nothing I could make that you didn't already have sixteen of!

Bill;

The No.1 is perfect for the bizarre and very cool. That's how I ended up with a 1-S .303 Savage. Well, OK, just bizarre for that one...

A 400/350 Rigby may be in my future some day for the cool part.

Go for it!

quote:

Originally posted by bpesteve:
Bill;

The No.1 is perfect for the bizarre and very cool. That's how I ended up with a 1-S .303 Savage. Well, OK, just bizarre for that one...


Go for it!

Great choice for a fun, and VERY COOL, rifle & chambering!!

Steve: Agree with AC on the .303 Savage coolness factor. Where are you getting 190-grain jacketed bluenoses for your loads? That caliber and that bullet once had a real reputation on elk.

Cliff Labounty did the barrel work for me and I asked him to throat it for the Woodleigh 215 gr RN at about 2.85" OAL. The resulting round looks like a miniature .333 Jeffery Rim.

I had the starry-eyed conviction that with the strong action and long throat I could get .303 British MKVI ballistics out of it, but hadn't figured on the relative fragility of WW .303 Savage brass. Ah, well. It will do it, but the brass is a little dear to use for only one loading. Otherwise it turned out perfectly.

It does pretty well with the nice bluenose .310" Remington 180 RNCL made for .303 Brit too. With a bore/groove at .300/.310 it would probably work fine with .308" bullets as well, but I've not tried 'em.

I wish I had another No. 1 donor that I felt like converting at the moment. That sounds very nice to me.

I still have several boxes of the original Savage-labeled 190 grain RN .311" diameter bullets, which I could use in it too. (Not cartridges, just bullets.) At the moment, I am shooting them in my very early M99 .303 Savage.

Of course, if a guy bought or made a .310" or .311" bullet bump die, he could make .311" diameter bullets from just about any .308" Bullets he ran across except the monometal ones or partioned ones.... I've got an adjustable bump die that allows me to increase bullet diameters anywhere from .304" clear up to .314", and is a real handy bit of gear. John Ardito made mine (primarily for cast bullets, but it works fine on jacketed bullets too).