I have been looking at the 408 Cheytac for a long time, I have been very skeptical of all the hype and especially skeptical about the companies claims.
I recently shot a 375/408CT it was pushing a LRB projectile 3150 fps without any bolt stickyness. He was using one of Barney Lawtons barrels and his new action. The owner said he was using TTI Armory's 408 brass and it was the best 408 brass he has used to date and he tried everything. http://www.ttiarmory.com TTI will sell unloaded brass which can be found on their website.
I am excited about the 375/408 combination it makes great sense, there are a lot of good 375 projectiles on the market, in addition Barney Lawton said he is testing some 375 Sierra matchkings that will be reduced soon.
if this is basically a 375-505 Gibbs, and it appears to be, it should fly. Looking at the brass I am playing with, the case is waaaaaaaaaay overbore for a 375. These days days, there may actually be poders that will work in it.
As I said before the TTI brass is match quality. We measured the runout on his loads and it excellent, definitely bench rest quality. No neck turning, just full length sized the brass and seated the bullets.
Over at longrangehunting.com there are two pepole who has developed a 338/408 chey-tac. Shooting 350 grain bullets at 3200fps. These are custom bullets from Richard Graves "wildcat bullets". He makes heavy for caliber bullets. 100grains 224", 170grain 257", etc etc..
He is also making a 400 to 450 grain 375 bullet, wich will have a very high BC, for the 375/408. Kirby Allen, one of the two, predicts around 1200-1500 rounds on a barrel life, using very slow burning powders. The 375/408 will probably get the same.
He has a line of Allen Magnums, using Richards bullets, giving them ballistics that beats any other out there.. atleast to my knownledge.
One of my favorits, is a 7mm/338Lapua Imp, shooing a 200grain bullet, with a bc of .8 around 3200fps I belive.
Posts: 615 | Location: a cold place | Registered: 22 June 2005
If memory serves me correctly then it is necessary to neck turn the brass for downsizing to 338 diameter projectiles.
The thing I like most about the 375 is it really isn't a wildcat in my mind because you just size a couple thousands tighter "NO NECK TURNING". I like the simplicity of it.
My friend said he has gotten over 3250 fps with his 375/408 using the 350 grain projectiles but brass life wasn't very good at that speed.
The 338s with the 300 gr Serria match king is awesome.I shoot them alot in my 338-378 Weatherby.You need a 30 " barrel to get the most of of them at 3000 fps.I think the ultra mag case necked to .408 would be a nice cartridge.I bet remington quits making the brass though.
a 375/408CT it was pushing a LRB projectile 3150 fps
And you said a 350 grain bullet and that calculates to about 7800 Ft-Lb of muzzle energy. This is almost double the .375 H&H.....
It must take a special man just to shoot that thing!
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Posts: 28849 | Location: western Nebraska | Registered: 27 May 2003
vapodog, Shooting it wasn't bad at all. The rifle did weigh 25 lbs though and had one of Barney's muzzlebreaks on it. The barrel he was using was 32" to get those velocities.
