I recieved my Bator designed 358 260gr lee mold last week http://www.gilanet.com/batorboolits/C358-260-RF%20BATOR%2012-03-02.jpg and while the primary plan is to launch it from my 350 Rigby rifle, me thinks it would be a dandy in a suitable pistol barrel.

I figure the bullet will perform best on game when launched right around 2000 fps. Is this realistic from a super 14 35 re-chambered to 358-444 aka 358 Bellm?

Hello Paul,

I'm running about 2200+ with 200 gr. bullets in the Bellm so it's theoretically possible to launch the 260's near 2000 as you ask. The only thing I would consider is the proper throat depth/seating depth dimension.

My 358 Bellm has a somewhat shorter throat which is really designed for spitzer type bullets. So I would consider having a throat length cut suitable for the heavier weight bullet you intend to use if you go with the Bellm cartridge. I'm assuming the cast design you refer to is a blunter shape with a longer forward driving band?

I have a 215gr LBT design that needs to be seated quite deeply into the neck of the case to chamber.

I do however, like the longer neck of the Bellm cartridge. Reminiscent of the Krag neck. I think it would be a neat platform to work with various weights of cast bullets providing you get the throat length/seating depth right for say the heaviest bullet you intended to use. (Blunter designs)

A 35 Rem in the rimmed version would be another cartridge to try but you most likely wouldn't hit the 2000 mark. I'd bet the factory throat would be long enough though.

Regards

[ 03-26-2003, 04:18: Message edited by: Headstamp ]

Blunt is an understatement True, I'd also need a longer throat. This is one bullet that is long enough to reach the lands in most any factory 35 tc barrel, which is saying something

If I'm reading your bullet dimensions correctly, essentially you have .7" of "body" length on this bullet with .2" in length of forward driving band area. So you could seat to the base of the neck with the gas check fully covered with about .4"(.2" forward driving band + .2" of bullet body) sticking out of the neck. (Bellm round has about a half inch long neck) Your throat would have to be roughly another .4" in length.

A tapered ball seat type throat, of proper length and dimension, similar to what Mike puts on the end of the 357 Max chamber would be ideal. I could send you the Max article as it shows a diagram of this type of throat but your e-mail doesn't like me. I really like this kind of throat because it allows reasonable bullet seating depth adjustment into the rifling, for different bullet profiles, without the drawback of a cylindrical design of a regular throat being committed to a specific bullet length.

Regards

The problem is, too many spammers liked my e-mail, so I put the block em all on. Unfortunately, it makes it tought to communicate to anyone other then the few addresses that are entered as okee dokee.

I really need to start a new hotmail account.

Yeah, what you're saying in regards to throating is what I'd be looking at. When I get set up to cut chambers I'll be getting throaters .0002" over bore dia w/ a 1 1/2 deg throat for the calibers I'm interested in, which are 22 cal, 6.5mm, 7mm, 30 and 35 cals. Should allow me to play with a variety of rounds

Message me and I think I have a copy of the article page here someplace, I'll mail it to you.

Regards

Paul,

I'll jump in here as I do have some experience with the 358 Bellm. I developed the redline for it and the load data I generated is posted on Bellm's page. Headstamp and I also corresponded at length as he was developing the redline for his barrel and his loads.

Headstamp is right on re. the dimensions etc for the bullet you are talking about. He also has good experience with load development. The thing I can add is that I used the Nosler 225 grain BT bullet and the redline load for it is just under 2100 f/s. So I think you could get very close to 2000 f/s with the 260 grain cast bullet, but there are a couple of things to watch for.

One thing is that some of the Contender 35 Rem barrels have a diameter of .356 rather than .358. In fact the first barrel Mike chambered for me to do the testing with had a .356 bore. It failed because it was tight enough that it just pushed the pressures up way too high. Another thing is the T/C barrels have equal width lands and grooves. If you could get hold of a premium quality barrel that has smaller lands than grooves you can squeeze a little more out of it as the force needed to engrave the bullet is less.

With a 260 grain bullet at redline load that puppy is going to whollop the bejabbers out of you though. If you have a brake milled in you will shorten the effective length of the barrel and will give away a little velocity. If you have a brake added on, it will add to the length (which I don't like). But if you decide to have a brake on it, my advice is to make sure the gas is vented in a completely symetrical pattern as if it isn't, it can potentially kick the bullet into a yaw and destroy the accuracy.

It sounds like a fun project though - - good luck.

Don Shearer

Thanks Don, was kind of hoping you would post on this subject.

I'll concur with you on groove dimeters in the factory 35 cal barrels. I've yet to own one slugging more than .3565" with most I own running around .3563".

Regards