**UPDATE** the fantastic deal Sleeper turned out to be a George Hoenig Custom Brevex

Just got my hands on it .... WOW !

Hello All,

Just bought this Saturday ... its on its way to Wisconsin ....

What a fantastic deal this turned out to be ..... do you recognize this action?

This makes number 11 in my Brevex Mauser collection ...

I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! Now its here. See my last post.

Comments are always welcome ......

Looks like an FN Mauser ‘98. Nice looking rifle.

I don’t think it’s an FN. Brevex ?

quote:

Originally posted by Canadaboy:
I don’t think it’s an FN. Brevex ?

Hello Canadaboy
Thanks for the reply

thats right - a brevex - and a great lookig one at that.

I was about to say Brevex and at first I thought it be a 378 as barrel looked a bit lean for a 460 and then I just saw it is a 338/378.

You sure have some great stuff and especially that Winslow in 378 Wby. I think a Winslow in 378 might even irritate more people than a Mark V 378.

Although a Brevex in 338/378 will have some real good annoyance factor

Nice brevex. The tell-tale little nub behind the extractor is one giveaway.

Why in the world would anyone put a Canjar single set trigger on such a rifle? I have one on my FN sinbgle shot .219 Donaldson Wasp, but that's understandable.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike McGuire:
I was about to say Brevex and at first I thought it be a 378 as barrel looked a bit lean for a 460 and then I just saw it is a 338/378.

You sure have some great stuff and especially that Winslow in 378 Wby. I think a Winslow in 378 might even irritate more people than a Mark V 378.

Although a Brevex in 338/378 will have some real good annoyance factor

Hello Mike McGuire,
Thanks for the reply.

That 338 Wby Mag Winslow is one of only two Winslows built on a Brevex action. Its one of my favorites.

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
Nice brevex. The tell-tale little nub behind the extractor is one giveaway.

Hello BaxterB,
Thanks for the reply.

Another "tell" is the gas vent hole in the left front of the action, and the shape of the bottom metal.

quote:

Originally posted by xausa:
Why in the world would anyone put a Canjar single set trigger on such a rifle? I have one on my FN single shot .219 Donaldson Wasp, but that's understandable.

Hello xausa,
Thanks for the reply.

The Canjar set-trigger may be explained if the rifle was intended for Long-Range Benchrest competition. That was very popular in the late 60's into the early 70's. About the time when only a Brevex Action would be long enough for such a cartridge. Another one of the 11 Brevex Mausers in my collection, the top one shown in 257 Wby Mag caliber, was setup for such long range use.

quote:

Originally posted by xausa:
Why in the world would anyone put a Canjar single set trigger on such a rifle? I have one on my FN sinbgle shot .219 Donaldson Wasp, but that's understandable.

Maybe because it is a 338/378

quote:

Originally posted by xausa:
Why in the world would anyone put a Canjar single set trigger on such a rifle? I have one on my FN sinbgle shot .219 Donaldson Wasp, but that's understandable.

So when you are sitting on a mountain top with a elk at 600 yards the shot goes off just so.

Well, I got the rifle today .... I can't believe I'm so lucky ...

I installed a Vintage Weatherby 2-3/4-10x Scope. A fitting mate to this Classic Rifle.

Specs:

French Brevex Magnum Action
338-378 wildcat caliber
27" Heavy Barrel
11 pounds 11 ounces w/ Weatherby 2-3/4-10 Scope - unloaded
14-1/4" LOP
Red Pachmayr Presentation Recoil Pad
Flush T-Slot Sling Swivels
2-position Winchester Style Swing Safety
Secondary Forward Barrel-Mounted Recoil Lug
Flawless "Wrap-Around" checkering on both the grip and forend
Looks virtually un-fired - a few tiny stock dings from safe sisters

and .... a Maker's Stamp in the stock ... "GEORGE HOENIG" ... the Famous Master Gunsmith ... and one of the very best builders of Custom Rifles ...

Tomorrow I test fire it.

Great score!

Amazing to see a bedding job with no epoxy, a vanishing art.

quote:

Originally posted by Colin Masters:
Great score!

Hello Colin Masters, RIP,
Thanks for the reply.

Hello tinker, 93x64mm, Ripp, & Daryl_S
Thanks for the reply.

Well, took the rifle for a trip to the range, so I have a range report ..

First off, I discovered the caliber is NOT 338-378 Weatherby Magnum. The caliber is actually a plain 338-378 Mag wildcat. (no Weatherby name) The 338-378 was pioneered by Elmer Keith in the early 60s. (1963) Although it was based on the Weatherby 378 case, it didn't have the sharp neck and shoulders. The Weatherby chambering was standardized and added to their line in 1998, and their cartridge had the standard double-radius neck and shoulders like all their other chamberings. Upon firing this rifle, the cases show the earlier version without radius, which is in line with when this rifle was likely built. (1960s) Interestingly, both Elmer Keith and George Hoenig were from Idaho. Perhaps that had something to do with this rifle.

I must admit I was absolutely amazed at the accuracy of this rifle. This reinforces my opinion that it was built for serious long range benchrest competition. The set trigger is a "wink" to shoot and each shot surprises you so there's no thoughts of a flinch. Also, the heavy 11-3/4 pound rifle absorbed most of the recoil energy. The rifle was fired from the bench across front and back sandbags. Recoil energy was comfortable at near exactly 30 pounds.

as always comments are welcome.

Nice deal.

If you call George he may be able to tell you more about it. Curious his name is only on the stock and not the metal.

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
Nice deal.

If you call George he may be able to tell you more about it. Curious his name is only on the stock and not the metal.

Hello BaxterB,
Thanks for the reply.

I've been trying to find his phone number to give him a call. But the only number I've found is no longer in service. Sure wish I could contact him to inquire about the History of this build..

Buckstix,

I did not know Elmer did a full length 338/378.

There was the 338/378 KT for Keith/Thompson and that was a 378 cases shortened about .25" and for the smaller capacity to be better with the old 4831. Not sure but I think Elmer has a Champlin rifle made in the 338/378 KT.

I also seem to remember Bog Hagel getting a Mark V 340 Wby from Roy that had been rechambered to 338/378 and Roy said it needed slower powders.

Hello Mike McGuire,
Thanks for the reply.

Yes, Elmer and Bob finally settled on a version that was 1/4" shorter thinking that it wasn't necessary to have so much case capacity. But much of their (and others) early work was done with a full size 378 Weatherby case with only the rounded shoulder and neck omitted.

The squared-off neck and shoulder is a little surprising since it was Keith, O'Neil, and Hopkins - OKH - that developed the "CCC" cartridge, C ontrolled C ombustion C hamber that had a rounded neck.

It was later that Roy Weatherby that took that idea a step further, thinking if one radius is good, two must be better, hence the classic Weatherby Case. The OKH trio also pioneered chambering "long throats" another idea later adopted (stolen) by Roy.

quote:

Originally posted by buckstix:
Hello Mike McGuire,
Thanks for the reply.

Yes, Elmer and Bob finally settled on a version that was 1/4" shorter thinking that it wasn't necessary to have so much case capacity. But much of their (and others) early work was done with a full size 378 Weatherby case with only the rounded shoulder and neck omitted.

The squared-off neck and shoulder is a little surprising since it was Keith, O'Neil, and Hopkins - OKH - that developed the "CCC" cartridge, C ontrolled C ombustion C hamber that had a rounded neck.

It was later that Roy Weatherby that took that idea a step further, thinking if one radius is good, two must be better, hence the classic Weatherby Case. The OKH trio also pioneered chambering "long throats" another idea later adopted (stolen) by Roy.

Did they have the parallel throat set at .0005 over bullet diameter that is used by Wby?

quote:

Originally posted by Mike McGuire:
Did they have the parallel throat set at .0005 over bullet diameter that is used by Wby?

Hello Mike McGuire,
Thanks for the reply.

Not usre what the freebore diameter was.

Here is a post I did 3 years ago about my Elmer Keith Experimental 280 OKH. I show the chamber cast I made that had 1-15/16" freebore, but I don't recall measuring the exact diameter. Best I can remember is that the freebore was simply the bore dia., with the rifling removed.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...881030442#5881030442

Check your PM

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
Check your PM

Hello BaxterB,
Thanks for the reply.

quote:

Originally posted by buckstix:

quote:

Originally posted by Mike McGuire:
Did they have the parallel throat set at .0005 over bullet diameter that is used by Wby?

Hello Mike McGuire,
Thanks for the reply.

Not usre what the freebore diameter was.

Here is a post I did 3 years ago about my Elmer Keith Experimental 280 OKH. I show the chamber cast I made that had 1-15/16" freebore, but I don't recall measuring the exact diameter. Best I can remember is that the freebore was simply the bore dia., with the rifling removed.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...881030442#5881030442

It looks parallel. Bullet diameter per your post is .2885 and throat from your chamber cast is .289 so .0005 over bullet size.

Edit: Was a typo on chamber cast throat diameter.

I know George Hoenig. Awesome gunsmith and a very nice guy. Don't know if he is still working.

quote:

Originally posted by Alec Torres:
I know George Hoenig. Awesome gunsmith and a very nice guy. Don't know if he is still working.

Hello Alec Torres,
Thanks for the reply.

I read in a 2020 article that he is now retired. I wouls sure like to talk with him, but can't find a current phone number oran email address. If you know how I might contact him, please drop me a PM. thanks

I would love to help you, but... I lost all my contacts in my computer contact files about a month ago. Major PITA. I expect that he is still in his place in Idaho - he moved about 8 or 10 years ago from the Boise area.

If you go to the ACGG website you may find people who can put you in touch with him, even though George wasn't a member.

Buckstix, another great find and you're certainly a braver man than I when it comes to "mystery" rifles. So, if the caliber isn't the factory Wby 338-378, and from what I read above, it isn't the 338-378 KT, what is it? How do you load for it? Curious to know how you peel that onion, so to speak.

quote:

Originally posted by Clayman:
Buckstix, another great find and you're certainly a braver man than I when it comes to "mystery" rifles. So, if the caliber isn't the factory Wby 338-378, and from what I read above, it isn't the 338-378 KT, what is it? How do you load for it? Curious to know how you peel that onion, so to speak.

Hello Clayman,
Thanks for the reply.

I'm a gambler and a sucker for mystery rifles. This is actually the 6th "mystery rifle" that turned out to be a Custom Brevex Mauser. None of them mentioned "Brevex" in their description when they were offered for sale. In fact, one of them (the Les Bauska) was listed as a "scrubbed" Mark X Mauser. The last one purchased before this one, was listed as an; MHD Bolt action rifle in an "unknown" 416 Belted Cartridge. http://forums.accuratereloadin...4711043/m/7351099952

As to this cartridge ... its a 338-378 "Wildcat" - before being standardized by Weatherby some 35 years later. The case capacity is nearly identical the the 338-378 Wby Mag so I used that loading data to start. I backed-off by 10% and worked my way up.