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Anyone w/a Bellm .358x.444 rechamber?

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01 February 2003, 17:55
JamesP
Anyone w/a Bellm .358x.444 rechamber?
Just curious because my chamber seems maxed out at only 50gr of 2520 and 225gr BT's. It's not the pressure signs as much as it is the velocity. Around 2500fps from a 20" barrel is a little scary. My Nosler manual lists the whelen at about the same velocity. I have actually gone as high as 52gr at close to 2600fps and only a little sticking when openning the chamber. I do use Fed 215 primers but I don't think they would make that much difference. Anybody else getting the same results?

Either way I shot my first deer with it this year and man will those 225gr BT's make a hole! Swap in partitions and I think it would make a great little pack-in elk gun.

James
01 February 2003, 22:53
Jules
That's about on par with what i'm gettin. Shouldn't be a problem at all. The BTs do make a hole, don't they [Smile]
07 February 2003, 15:12
graycg
Interesting,
I have a T/C custom shop 21 inch stainless 357 max carbine barrel for my contender and was thinking about sending it off to Mike, waiting a year and then seeing what the 358 Bellm could do. Are you guys happy with the accuracy and power of the round? Is it worth the wait?

thanks,
Gene
07 February 2003, 15:21
Jules
quote:
Originally posted by graycg:
Interesting,
I have a T/C custom shop 21 inch stainless 357 max carbine barrel for my contender and was thinking about sending it off to Mike, waiting a year and then seeing what the 358 Bellm could do. Are you guys happy with the accuracy and power of the round? Is it worth the wait?

thanks,
Gene
Gene,
I may be wrong but I don't think Mike is doing rechambers at this time.
07 February 2003, 15:30
graycg
Hope that's only new work!!! Even so that would be a bummer....
Actually, he's got one of my pistol barrels now, a 357mag to max conversion. I love his work, can't wait to get the Max back. I got a 308 Bellm second hand from a friend who doesn't shoot anymore. This has Mike's muzzle break, 6 screw mount and target crown all from on old super 14 30-30. I love it!! The guys on the firing line don't like it so much though, that muzzle break really works them over good!
His website's info prevented me from ebaying the whole pile of contender problems that I had.
07 February 2003, 15:43
Lone Hunter
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting,
I have a T/C custom shop 21 inch stainless 357 max carbine barrel for my contender and was thinking about sending it off to Mike, waiting a year and then seeing what the 358 Bellm could do. Are you guys happy with the accuracy and power of the round? Is it worth the wait?

thanks,
Gene
You can send it to SSK and get it rechambered to 358 JDJ and have it back in probly less than a month. Dies do cost more. $85 I think Lone Hunter
07 February 2003, 16:13
Jules
quote:
Originally posted by graycg:
Hope that's only new work!!! Even so that would be a bummer....
Actually, he's got one of my pistol barrels now, a 357mag to max conversion. I love his work, can't wait to get the Max back. I got a 308 Bellm second hand from a friend who doesn't shoot anymore. This has Mike's muzzle break, 6 screw mount and target crown all from on old super 14 30-30. I love it!! The guys on the firing line don't like it so much though, that muzzle break really works them over good!
His website's info prevented me from ebaying the whole pile of contender problems that I had.
That's correct..NEW WORK
09 February 2003, 16:25
MR DW
Mike does excellent work. He has my forth. barrel now, to be a 375/444. He did a Deuce Mag Ackley that is great and tuned my 445 very nicely. I have a 7 Bellm yet to to try. He does get busy though, he's had my 375 since 2001 some time. It'll get here eventually and it will be great as usual.

Mr. DW
12 February 2003, 15:04
JamesP
Mike definitely does great work. I think he did such a good job on my rechamber that it has a considerably tighter chamber and throat than the typical ssk rechamber. The end result is that it requires a couple grains less powder to achieve the same pressure and velocity. And personally, I would call that a good thing.

James
12 February 2003, 16:22
Mike Bellm
Take heart fellas. Those waiting don't have to worry about someone cutting line and pushing them back.

Making new barrels for the Illinois deer hunters is over, and I am back at the custom work. Won't be long before the last of the old custom work is done and gone.

Then, in the future, custom work will be taken from a waiting list and batched as much as possible.... all with keeping short accounts the goal in view.

Mike