I would like to make a "mid range" big bore target rifle for fun, but it seems like the majority of big bore bullets are low BC hunting bullets. Are there any good sources of match bullets, other than for a 50 BMG, out there?

338 in not a big bore, it is a MEDIUM BORE.

quote:

Originally posted by Hog Killer:
338 in not a big bore, it is a MEDIUM BORE.

I never said it was. Thank you for adding nothing to this thread.

Scott,

Go to the forum

www.longrangehunting.com

There is a chap in Canada that makes match grade bullets, epsecially very heavy for calibre, and I think they are called Wildcat.

I seem to remember seeing sometime ago mention of 375 match bullets in perhaps 400 grains being made or were going to be made.

But that forum is where you will get the answer.

Also, GS bullets might do something like they are doing in .395. If RIP does not chime in on this thread then perhaps you could address a posting to him.

Mike

Try the 300 grain Sierra Match King. Dan Lilja shot chucks at over 1500 yards with this bullet.

Scott

Without finding a custom bullet maker who will make them for you, the pickings are pretty slim. The 338 Sierras are about the biggest you will find easily. The reason? Most long range competition restricts caliber to under .40 and there simply is not a big enough market for anyone to be interested in the expense of tooling up to make a few hundred.

The new 416 Barrett will probably result in some good bullets of that size. I don't know who is making them for Barrett. You might call them and ask.

Ray

http://www.lostriverballistic.com/ has some .358, .375 and .416 bullets. But be prepared to pay a s$$t load for them.

Scott,

This answer is off the beaten path but may give you something to think about.

Build a .358 Norma or a .358 STW set up to shoot target pistol .357 bullets. Loading data is available. One source I've seen is the A-Square manual.

Check out GS custom looks just what your after...I have no idea of price though

There was a blurb in Precision Shooting a couple of months ago that Sierra was going to make a 375 caliber Matchking.

What bullet make are they shooting out of that new .416 Barret? That is a slippery looking projectile.

What more do you need?
.408 Cheytac

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:
What bullet make are they shooting out of that new .416 Barret? That is a slippery looking projectile.

That is a .416/400-grainer in the .416 Barrett, advertised at 3250 fps from the 32" barrel of the M99 Barrett rifle. It looks like a special run of Barnes bullets, bronze/brass little brother to the Barnes 50 BMG bullets. It is not a bore-rider but a solid, smooth, parallel-sided shank bullet.

GSC makes a .416/420-grain SP that is even sexier.

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
What more do you need?
.408 Cheytac

A .416 Barrett.
.408 Chey-Tac: 419-grainer at 2890 fps advertised.
.416 Barrett: 400-grainer at 3250 fps advertised.

Both cartridges deserve a 50BMG-sized action if max pressures are to be used in the .408 Chey-Tac, and they do, with the Gibbs case head.

The shortened 50BMG case necked down to .416 just makes a lot more sense.

Again a visual comparison of .408 Chey-Tac to .416 Barrett:


The GSC SP's:
A partial lineup that I am guessing from left to right are:
.510/720-grain
.416/420-grain
.408/385-grain
.395/340-grain
.375/291-grain
and more ...

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:

It was actually that picture that brought the idea to my head. I know that LostRiver is making the Chey-Tac bullets, but I was wondering what even a 305gr .408" bullet would do from a 376 steyr or now a 375 ruger case. Might be a fun long range plinker, but to really get the most of these bullets you have to push them fast and shoot long distances.

quote:

Originally posted by Scott:
... but to really get the most of these bullets you have to push them fast and shoot long distances.

Hence the crying need for the .395 Tatanka, AKA the "Forty-Double-Ought Seven," with about 130 grains of gross water capacity, and possibly capable of 2900 fps with 340-grainer.

Ron, do you think that a .395 off of the 416 Barrett case would out perform the Barrett. My instinct is that with weight similar for caliber bullets of the same slippery shape the .395 version would stay supersonic further than the .416 version and not be ridiculously over-bore.

It would be interesting to see them go head to head. Who is making the .395 barrels? What twist?
John

quote:

Originally posted by fritz454:
Ron, do you thing that a .395 off of the 416 Barrett case would out perform the Barrett. My instinct is that with weight similar for caliber bullets of the same slippery shape the .395 version would stay supersonic further than the .416 version and not be ridiculously over-bore.

It would be interesting to see them go head to head. Who is making the .395 barrels? What twist?
John

If he has gone to bed already I think it is McGowen. He has posted the specs before -- I will see what I can find.

Edit: Looks like McGowen is the barrel maker and 1:12 is the twist, at least from the search I did.

Never knew RIP to sign off this early?

Thanks Charles, Seems I'm not the only one with insominia tonight. A 1:12" twist should work fine for a long (high BC) heavy bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by fritz454:
Thanks Charles, Seems I'm not the only one with insominia tonight. A 1:12" twist should work fine for a long (high BC) heavy bullet.

Good to see you posting -- hope things are going well.

RIP has done a lot of work on the .395 project -- it is nice to see it taking off.

quote:

Being mid-way in size between the mighty .50BMG and already established long-range favorite .338Lapua, the .408 features a streamlined bullet with advanced patented design. This design allows the standard 419 grain (27.15 gram) bullet to retain its supersonic velocity at the ranges beyond 2000 meters (2200 yards). At the ranges beyond 700 meters the .408 bullet has more energy than the standard .50BMG ball bullet. The .408 cartridge also is lighter than .50BMG cartridge by about 1/3, and generates less recoil.

The above quote came from this link
Cheytac link

quote:

Originally posted by fritz454:
Ron, do you think that a .395 off of the 416 Barrett case would out perform the Barrett. My instinct is that with weight similar for caliber bullets of the same slippery shape the .395 version would stay supersonic further than the .416 version and not be ridiculously over-bore.

It would be interesting to see them go head to head. Who is making the .395 barrels? What twist?
John

John,
Good to see you posting now and then.
The .416 Barrett has obsoleted the foundling .408 Chey-Tac before it got out of its diaper stage. They both require a BMG-sized action so why not go with a shortened BMG case?

What would be tops for long range target work? Maybe the .416 Barrett with a 420-grainer from GSC. The Barrett round has a decided velocity edge on the Chey-Tac, and a .008" larger diameter bullet. Hugely faster and minimally larger caliber.

The .395 is the all-purpose hunting and varmint rifle that will be a light weight sporter suitable for any task, anywhere, anytime. It may not win first at the 2000 yard match against the .416 Barret, but you will not be able to tote a .416 Barrett around after cape buffalo and elephant either.

Charles gave you good poop there. McGowen .395 caliber barrels in 12" twist of stainless and 4140 are coming.

Adding a 10" twist for a longer/heavier bullet than the 340-grain SP was thought about. Right now we are concentrating on the 340-grainer.

The .416 Barrett uses a 12" twist too.
The .408 Chey-Tac uses a 13" twist. Superstitious?