Just got off the phone with Mike after placing an order for my first barrel from him. It'll be a 14" s.s. Contender barrel chambered in .338-.444. 2 dummy rounds are being supplied to me from Dan B. Do you think I can stand the suspense till it arrives? What do you think Jules and MSSmagnum?!!
Just had to tell someone!!

Jeff

If it is anything like the Encore .22lr Carbine barrel he made for me you will love it. Some of the smoothest machining I have seen on Custom barrels. Accuracy for mine is outstanding. Hope you enjoy.

Steve E........

Where are you gong to get the dies for the 338X444 seems like a perfect big stomper.

Have any ideas of expected performance?

Can one handle the recoil without a muzzle tamer of some sort?

LouisB

Think of what.....the waiting or the caliber?LOL!
It won't take that long once Mike has the blank.
3 or 4 months max.
As far as the caliber, I think it should be a good choise for the contender.

BTW...I was just kiddin bout the 3 or 4 months.

TC, I'll get the dies from SSK, as it will be chambered on the 338#2 dummies Dan B. is supplying. No brake, should be a stomper. Thanks for the 3-4 months Jules, my heart sank for a second, till I read further.
Jeff

Mike, he gave me no time frame, nor did I ask. Mike said he may have to get a Shilen blank because of the .338. Told him to keep me updated. I'm in no reasonable hurry as I've dealt with custom barrel makers before.
Jeff

Jeff
If it starts with 444 brass it has to be a good one
As for mike's work at OTT its worth the wait, I have a 10" 17 HMR from him and it will never leave my collection. Have fun with it when it comes.

Jim

I have always had a weakness for 338 caliber and as Jim said "If it starts with 444 brass it has to be a good one ". I am lookin forward to the results of this round! I DID like Jules 358x444 an awful lot so this would be perfect!

Jeff,
Have to talked to JD yet about the dies? Although JD sold the "300 Whisper" brass and dies to me I requested, it was not without giving me a "hard time" as I had bought the "300/221" barrel from VVCG. I believe someone else on this forum (was it you, Jules) had a real difficult time getting JDJ dies from SSK to reload a barrel not bought from SSK. JD has been known to get very "possessive" w/ the rounds he created. If JD won't supply the dies, you might try CH4 (did I spell that right???), as I believe they make dies for JDJ-type calibers, i.e. 6.5X225 Imp (6.5 JDJ), 375X444 (375 JDJ), etc. Gary T.

It was me but it went down a little different and i'm not gonna get into all that.
Best thing to do is just send them an order for what dies your lookin for with the payment and your return address. No questions will be asked and you'll get your dies.

Ordered my dies from SSK yesterday and when they arrive, I'll send the sizer die on up to OTT. Thanks for that 1 Jules!!!
Jeff

Good advice, Jules!
Gary T.

LOL, Jules...GOOD ANSWER!!

My only worry about the 338x444 would be, aren't most (all?) .338 bullets made for the .338 Win Mag? Are they going to expand at lower speeds? (assuming your not just punching paper or 'lil critters)

If it was a .35x444 you bullets designed for everything from .38 Sp to .358 STW. Pistol bullets for practice and varmints, SSP's for lighter loads and 35 Rem/358 Win for full loads and who knows how many cast designs?! Just a thought...

I plan on doing the same thing as soon as I get the money together! What bullets did you use for the dummies? Is there any way that I could buy them off of you when you get done with them?

Just one more question, do you have to fireform .338 JDJ #2? I can't seem to find that much info on the round other then what is in my Hornady manual. I have a Carbine length .375 JDJ now, but I would rather have the .338 version.

Biathlon, Dan B. from handgun hunt forums, who lives in PA as well, supplied the dummies. I read about how well his shot, so I asked for a favor of 2 dummy rounds loaded with 225 gr. BT. I have not seen the dummies as he sent them right to MBM for me. The dies came yesterday, but there was a problem with them. The seal was broke, the dies were fine, but the resizer had a 7mm expander ball. One call to SSK and a replacement set will be here tomorrow. Don't think there is much, if any fireforming to do as the shoulder is the same as the 375JDJ, but we'll see in 3 to 4 months after the barrel gets here. Right Jules?! LOL

If you get the dummies back let me know, and if not I might be hitting you up for a couple of dummies this fall.

No problem, just ask.
Jeff