Is there any deadline that the BATF has to get this done by?

Frank,
bauska has barrels.. or can cut you one. Make DARN sure you have a sightbase/recoil lug on it.

I am using 416 weatherby brass... as i got it cheap on ebay... made a taper, slammed it in (litterally) trimmed, and ready...

just waiting for the atf!!

jeffe

Got my dies from ch tool today. They look very well made.
Jeffo, did you ever get the barrels worked out?
Mike contacted me about his but at the time I had to withdraw due to a pending heart surgery. I am now ready to move ahead.
What about the brass? Where did you decide on yours?
Looking forward to putting this together. I have the action ready and if I can nail down a barrel I can move ahead.
I may still call Mike and see if he is able to include mine in his schedule.
Frank

I will give him a call right away.
Mike told me he preferred the Ruger 77 in 7mag I had to either the Mauser of Enfield I offered up. I hoped he was still open and still had barrels available as I liked the idea of the express sights and rib.
Thanks for the info.
Frank

WJ,
If the search function was up, it would take about 5 second.

RNS has all that info, and Frank might as well.

the Magnum and the Express... even the lessor runs with the 577 nitro!!

jeffe

JKS,
the express is a 2.65" case, little less case, little less vel... and an oal of 3.35.. designed to fit into a mauser, actually, but a better starting point would be a ruger or win magnum...

it SHOULD be right at 7000 ft/lbs of energy... basically matching the 577 nitro in power, less frontal area, more SD (585/750 is .313, 700gr 550 is .331, and the 650 is .307)

In a mauser, without a custom mag, will hold 2 down and one in the pipe... with a coffin floorplate on a parker hale mag, it's 3 in, feed the 4th...

expect the express to be AROUND 2100 with a 700 and a 23" barrel and 2200 with a 650... that's within a whisker of 7000, and (using ellis brown's math on thrust) about the same thrust as a 458 winmag


the magnum is truely awesome.. it should hit 8000+t/lbs
at the same pressure levels...

jeffe

Frank,

I don't have info on the 550 Express, but Mike called right before Christmas about the 550 Mag project. He wants to get the first Mag rifle shooting very soon so as to have a working rifle to take to SCI. Mike wanted to firm up my plans and put me down as a "for sure" on his list (I'm #3 on the 550 Mag project). He expects to get additional orders at SCI so if you want him to smith your Express you might want to give him a call and get on his list. I'm pretty stoked about the 550 Mag coming to life and I'm really looking forward to the initial range reports!

John

Thanks Jeffe. Would you have the link to the past posts about the 550. I wanted to read Neal's info on that but the search is out.
Frank

500g,
Neal posted the atf approved the 550 magnum... just waiting for the same on the express...

Frank, 460 would be easier, but I only lost one case "tapering" them up

jeffe