Ron,
That last one looks like Close Encounters of the Barbed Wire Kind, vs the previous pic of just close encounters.
Everything seems to be shaping up. On another listing here (.375) I noted my purchase of a swaging press. We're set to go.
Idaho Sharpshooter: If you don't mind, send a few of those .408 spitzers and the gaschecks and I'll see how well this new press does. My .395 Max should be completed in two weeks so will be able to at least shoot the bullets in that until my #1 is converted. Have already expanded the necks of the 9.3x74R cases to .375 using my .375H&H die. Now am waiting for Hornady to get my .395 Max dies to me. They said probably this coming Friday for shipment.

Close Encounters of the Mashed Potato Kind
Subtitle: "The Beginnings of the .395 Cast Bullet Model"

Bullets and gas checks go to the PO in the morning. I am also enclosing the two GC bullets I shoot in my 9.3x62 and the 350 GC design I use in my 416 Rigby. They are designs you two might consider for the 395 family of CB's.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

.395 Ruger Max reamer goes to prof242 this AM and the "400/.395 Nitro Express" reamer specs go back to Dave Manson this AM for adjustments.

Better call it "400/.395 Nitro Express" so there are no questions about its illegitimacy.

Also might as well make it 2.941" max-brass like the 9.3x74R brass it is made from. This is the modern version of the "400 Nitro Express" that never was, after all. Same throat as the .395 Ruger Max and .395 Tatanka.

It might also be called the 10.03x74R.
"9.3" >>> "10.03" by Dremmel is a stretch.

Rich was suggesting "9.9" but ...

10.0.3 ???

O.K. we have two names for this cat, and two alone:

400/.395 Nitro Express
and
10.03x74R

Rip...Please just keep it 400 Nitro and have the max brass be 3" for extended pinky reasons.

Most will want to shoot the 400 Nitro not a .395 wildcat.

if you make it 97% of the 400 Nitro all people will think about is the 3%.

Let the brass "stretch" a bit

This thing can still be loaded to 3.750" COL with the right bullet, monometal or jacketed. It will be tight with cast lead bullets too. We will be wearing out the brass before it grows from 2.941" to 3.000". Yada, yada, yada.

I hate to say it, but Boomie has hit upon some very valid points. If we are later able to get brass made, the 3" does make sense (just a silly millimeter+ longer?) from an historical viewpoint. Also, .400 Nitro Express really has a "ring" to it. But then...10.03x74R does to.
Ahhh, what the heck. I'm easy, not cheap, but definitely easy.
Max

you can buy the 3" or 3 1/4" to trim and resize them in the dies but they will not be as good as the norma brass but in keeping with snobbery it is important.

jmho

I commented on RIP's thread on how his drawing will be best. I had not seen it when I posted my comments above. Each person can rethroat, etc., even to 5.39185309" if they prefer.

Max,
Yes, neck and throat reamer can be used to extend this thing or widen the throat.

Boomie was only whining only about 0.0590" or 1.499 mm length difference: 2.941" versus 3.000" (max brass). The reamer goes to 2.945".

I am not guaranteeing to get custom brass made for this, I just want it tight and accurate for starters with available 9.3x74R brass, and any bullet we might find for it.

I will be marking my rifle as both:

400/395 Nitro Express: If the neck and throat are punched out later, all of 1.499 mm, "3-Inch" could be added. Sheesh! Call it 3" anyway if it makes you happy, it is 2.941".

10.03x74R: actually a 10.03x74.7R or 10x75R would be simpler rounding, even at 2.941".

Yes, essentially, the whining now is over a silly millimeter.

the 74mm version is the practical 400 Nitro but yes the 1mm can be redone later but ya know...that last 3% will bug the shit out of you.

To thine self be true

Thanks guys for doing something cool!

No whining from me. Like I said above, I'm easy. Doesn't really make a difference. I'll love it any way its made because its going to be fun. On the brass, as long as the Norma stuff is available, I'm not worried. Heck, I even see how to make it 10.0.3x74R on the headstamp!

This is a modern Nitro Express loading with High Tech monos and High Tech Cast Lead, as well as Low Tech B-Max Bullets, all in a 12" twist, ungodly to the antiques.

Some bullets will be found that stick out to 3.75" COL and that is longer than any of the aliased cartridges for the 400 NE 3" ever were.

Relax, it is beautiful.

http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=1&Cat...*652***670***9013***
found some 9,3x82 brass for a true 3" or 3.25" versions!

Now that is just plain silly, since it is Bertram.

Rumor has it the new Betram stuff is good so question is when was it made???

when things are up and running it might be worth testing...yes Norma is the bee's knees fer shure.

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
Now that is just plain silly, since it is Bertram.

Ron,

I just sent you a PM but it did not register on my 'Replies' window. Hope it reaches you.

Yours,
Richard.

Harland,
Will go see. I forget to look at PM sometimes. Let me guess: You want to trade in your .505 Gibbs on a pair of Merkel doubles in 400/.395 Nitro Express when they become available? Don't answer that.

I concur with the bullet diameter recommendation: .001 or .002 over groove should be good. I suggest using as slow a powder as you can find that will give you the desired MV, and as close to 100% loading density as you can get. For a MVof 2100 FPS in the .416 Rigby, I use gascheck bullets of .001" over groove, and with a Brinnell hardness of 21. My load is 112 grains of AA8700 with a Federal 215 primer.

Loads using a powder that uses up a lot of case space ignite uniformly, and a slow acceleration and pressure buildup does less damage to lead bullets.

1st shot was from cold, clean barrel with Lead Sled. Last three (upper right) from shoulder after fouling shot, with 350-grain cast flatnose gascheck bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:

quote:

dual alloy bullets with a soft nose and a harder body...They act like a Nosler Partition

That is quite interesting... so when you pour the second alloy it welds with the other but not melt it correct? thanks for that info.

I once made some similar "softnose" bullets for my .45/70. But I only used one alloy, wheelweight metal. I cast the bullets, (Lyman 457122HP's) and the next day stood some of them on their bases in a jar lid. Then I heated them to 475 degrees in an oven and let them cook at 475 for two hours. I immediately removed the lid with the bullets, and poured the lid full of cold water to just above the second grease groove, to harden the BASES ONLY. The next day I tested the hardness of the base and nose with an LBT hardness tester to see what had happened. The nose section tested 12 Brinnell, and the bases were 25.

I lubed them by hand with LBT Blue, and shot them UNSIZED (.460") with an inverted gascheck underneath, as this bullet is a plain base.

They weighed 342 grains, and I was able to get 1850 FPS with them with good accuracy and no leading (53 grains of IMR 3031 in Rem. nickel-plated .45/70 brass.) I did not try any hotter loads with these experimental bullets.

Although they will not expand as well as pure lead, the noses are soft enough to expand some with no danger of shattering due to excessive hardness. Yet the bases are tough enough to withstand being driven at a respectable velocity.

El Deguello,
Thanks for the pointers. That sounds too easy not to give a try. I'll see if I can duplicate your results. If so: Rocket Science of hi-tech cast lead bullets.

I just got my LBT hardness tester and Veral Smith's book and the throat slugging kit. I will be sending him a slug of the .395 Tatanka throat and getting some moulds made up (same throat on all the .395 family of cartridges).

I have bullet sizing dies coming from Lee Precision that measure .405, .400, .397, .396, .395, .394 ... following the lead of prof242 of "B-Max Bullets" fame.

I think we might do 2150 fps with a 400-grainer in the 400/.395 Nitro Express with a case full of H4895, RL-15 or Varget Extreme and no filler.

THE REAL 400 NITRO EXPRESS is over a century late in arrival. Coming soon.

quote:

THE REAL 400 NITRO EXPRESS is over a century late in arrival. Coming soon.

the last half of 2007 is becoming a highwater mark for big bore innovation here on the AR forum.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not sharehd is knowledge lost..