Nice bull! - can you give a breakdown on the rifle and the case forming process?
thanks

The rifle is the original prototype. A Winchester Model 70 Classic. James Anderson trued the receiver face and chambered and installed a Pacnor #2 contour barrel. I used it to work up loads and fire form cases. Later, I put it in a McMillan Compact stock painted olive with black speckles and added a Swarovski Z3 scope. It shoots and feeds extremely well.

Case forming is quite simple. I cut parent cases slightly long with a Proxxom micro chop saw. Then there are three form dies to get to 8mm. Then I trim to proper length and load light charge to fireform in the chamber. I then inside neck ream and fireform again and then they are ready for working loads. I think I may loan out the reamers after I get my rifles built if anyone would be interested. I just got a 7mm version built on a Model 70 Classic by Crescent Customs and will get to the range soon hopefully. The Mauser versions are in line to be built, soon I hope.

Ha...I missed the last couple posts Ozark, been a little distracted. Well done, nice bull! We need to hook up for lunch or somethng & catch up. Wasn't much time at the 40th

Ive had a 8x60, 8mm/06, and 8x64 none of which are anything to write home about but all will kill about anything on this earth, as will a cornucopia of factory rounds..I believe the 9.3x62 is the top of the heap, the 9.3x64 is better but Id prefer a .375 H&H.

Right now I have been shooting an 8x57 and a 8x60, both excellent rounds, but again nothing but another couple of good calibers.

Ozaark,

Are your original case specs still the same? If not, can you post your actual specs/measurements that match your rifle as it is now? I'm really impressed.

Thanks much,
Py

I ended up with a 375X9.3x62, it fed in a 98 with only a little tweeking and matched my favorite 375 H&H load of a 300 gr. bullet at 2500 fps, but I made it too light at 8 lbs..kicked the bjesus out of me...A friend of mine who is bullet proof and recoil proof had to have it, so he got it...It was a neat wildcat, just a necked up 9.3x62 no other changes..Maybe some day a 375x9.3x64 is in the cards, but we already have the .375 Ruger, so maybe not..

quote:

but we already have the .375 Ruger

that can only get an Amen.

Pretty hard to do better or more practical than that.

P-Man --- The specs have changed a little since the project started. The shoulder had to be moved forward a bit due to some miscommunication on my part, but all is well now. The shoulder was moved to 1.827. It is a really nice cartridge.

Ray and 416Tanzan --- I just made a case and did the logical thing that is always done, I necked it up and down. That's it. It has always been about function and not new ballistics. It really does function well. I have prototypes in a ZG 47, G-series Model 70, Pre-64 70, FN Mauser, and a Remington Model 700. All feed flawlessly and none have had anything done to them except having a barrel installed and the Mausers having their bolt faces opened. I've had a lot of fun and a lot of headaches, but at the end of the day it is great to pull the trigger for a round that started as an idea and grew to a viable cartridge. Thanks to all who have help along the way and to those who have expressed interest.

I just picked up a couple NOS 98 Mauser 8x68s barrels.

Had some sunshine and warmer temps today and got out to the range. Shot 180 Barnes TSX bullets. I got the following results using Reloader 17. Velocities are for 3 shot averages.

59 grains 2957 fps
60 grains 2998 fps
61 grains 3051 fps
62 grains 3134 fps

I got slight bolt stick on the 62 grain load, so I think the max will be the 61 grain load. I've got data on all three main bullet weights, so now I will start to find the most accurate load and weight. I am pleased with the project and look to use it this fall for moose in Newfoundland.

Years ago, before Ruger introduced the 375 Ruger with the non-belted case, I started a project with the wildcat 308 Norma necked up to 8mm. I think Ruger had come out with the 375 by the time my project was finished. It's built on a CZ 550 action that was originally 7 mag. I have yet to get serious about load development but those I've tried are great.

Also about that same time I had a 9.3mm wildcat built on a Ruger action. It's simply the 338 WM necked up to 9.3mm. It too is a great cartridge, and practically duplicates the 9.3x64 case capacity. It still lingers in the gun safe, awaiting load development. I have shot it too, and it is promising.

Redding made dies for me in their custom shop.

I have no issues with the belted cases.

Had a custom hand stamp made, so now I can take the cartridges out of the country to field test. Easy stamp on 375 Ruger basic brass. Will go to Canada for a moose hunt in Sept.

Need more info. Who made the custom hand stamp? How is it used?

Ozark: Congratulations for staying with this project. Hope you get your moose.

Jgrabow6493

The company that made the headstamp stamp is Durable Mecco. Found them on the internet. To stamp the brass I place a Ruger basic 375 brass over a metal rod to act as an anvil and place the stamp over the cartridge and give it a medium hammer strike and it is done. Here is a pic of the stamp and a link to the manufacturer. I got one made for 5 of the cartridges I made. They cost about a $100.00 a piece.


https://www.durable-tech.com/

Thanks for the info. I'll have to order a couple.

The 375 Ruger case is the salvation of todays wildcatter, I mean its the only whore in town that's left that hasn't been abused!

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
The 375 Ruger case is the salvation of todays wildcatter, I mean its the only whore in town that's left that hasn't been abused!

Amen !

I like to think is terms of general case capacity.

From 24 to 28 caliber, the small "308" case or 6.5x55 is about optimal and we see so many great offerings: 243, 257 Bob, 260, 7-08.

From 270 to 35 we have the 30-06 "standard" that has sort of set the bar.

From 338 to 416 we now have the 375 Ruger, ready to set in and better what the 'belted magnum 2.5" case' did, even the H&H case. (Of course, both the WM and H&H cases remain effective options at this level.)

Finally, for 40 caliber and up we have the "Rigby super case." Yes, a slightly more sloping shoulder may have been better for reloaders, but it's a great cartridge at 41, 45, 47, and 50 caliber, whether full 2.9" of short 2.5"-2.6".

The above numbers overlap. But what else would one expect?

27-30 caliber is about the point where more powder capacity starts to make a significant difference in hunting characteristics beyond the 308 case. 270, 280, 30-06, 8x57, 35 Whelen.

30-33 is about where "magnum" and "300Weatherby magnum" capacities start to produce practical hunting advantages. 300 WM, 338 WM, 340 Weatherby, 375 H&H, 375 Ruger, 416 Ruger.***

And 40 caliber Rigby is about where even a little more capacity can come to a hunter's rescue for a general all-around load (though the Ruger capacity can still be effective). 416 Rigby, 416 Weatherby, 450 Rigby, 460 Weatherby, 470 and 500 Rigby-capacity wildcats.


(PS: I think that the "Gibbs" and "super super TRex-case" is not very practical considering modern powder capabilities and the limits of comfortable shooting and rifle-carrying. You can carry a T-Rex if you want, or even a Gibbs loaded to potential capacity. But if a person can't do it with a Rigby case, you may not want to do it more that once.)

PPS: I'm thinking that a 416 Ruger may be pretty comfortable for my own use over the next decade for all-around Africa.

***PPPS: 30 is marginal. Any less, like a 27 or 28 caliber and the magnum powder is pretty much wasted. The .277" and .284" bullets are pretty small. They can take elk and larger but they are really in optimum mode with deer, cob, and warthog. For hartebeest and more, larger is a little better. So let's go back to those animals 150 to 300 pounds: what about them? The 270 and 280 can shoot 110 monolithic to 150 grain quite flat. For hunting they are functionally the equivalent of the 7mmRM with a wee-bit less recoil. My wife shoots a 110gnTTSX 270 at 3400fps and it's lights-out for any deer. I'm with Jack (O'Connor) on this, including 130 grain at 3100fps. The 270 and 280 are regular-rifle magnum equivalents for the sub-30-caliber realm. But if the animal is significantly larger than deer, then a bigger caliber sometimes has a nice effect. Hence the medium magnums.

Yeah, Id be happy with either a 416 Rem or a 416 Ruger for all my African hunting. Both have a lot to offer..A 300 gr. bullets shoots flat as a flitter, and a 450 gr. Woodleigh knocks the snot out of mean stuff...A 400 works for all around.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Yeah, Id be happy with either a 416 Rem or a 416 Ruger for all my African hunting. Both have a lot to offer..A 300 gr. bullets shoots flat as a flitter, and a 450 gr. Woodleigh knocks the snot out of mean stuff...A 400 works for all around.

Since I like 2600fps for all around I expect to use 330GSC or 350TTSX. It'll work.

I just purchased a 338-06 from Mike D, its a awesome little gun, streamlined with a schnable forend, some work done by Anderson and I forgot who made the stock..I should write that stuff down but back to the point of this post..Im starring at it, and long ago decided the 06 with a 200 gr. Accubond will do anything the 338-06 will do, so how about punching it out to a .338 win. I over thought this with about every case out there, and still not sure where to go or just leave it as is! 338X64 would be an option, 338x the Ruger case, but recoil comes into play with my bad hand..Maybe just go with a IMP version of the 338-06 Ackley..pick up a 150 FPS I suspect...Hmmmmmm?

Out in the shop on Friday, couldn't find any thing to do so I had my man order a reamer for the 8mm/06 Ackley, never really got sold on my 8x60 Brno mod 21, but loved the rifle, then had hell finding a set of dies, nobody makes them anymore and I mean nobody, but determination found a set on GunBroker auction, got them for $54.00, so that's in the mill when the reamer shows up..I will have a lot of 8x60 brass if anyone is interested, if not I will cut them down for my 8x57 or 7x57..use the bullets and powder for my Ackley..Id rather sell the 8x60 ammo and brass or trade for 30-06 brass however.

I liked the 8mm/06 Ackley I had some 40 years ago..It hammered deer and elk,like a 338/06.

My 8x60 Mauser on a Brno mod 21 has a 30-06 box so I am rechambering it to a 8mm/06 Ackley IMP. It shows awesome velocity especially with the heavier bullets, I will load it with 8mm/06 loads plus the recommended 5%, an get a bit more velocity, but Ive been told that's is a starting load in most 8mm/06 Ackleys..We will see..I can find max on any rifle!

If one wanted a real beltless 8x57 magnum, Id expend the neck on the 9.3x64 and be done with it..

Ray
You could be right but my 8x57 Mag has a couple of pluses.

Pros: Standard .532 bolt face, simple magnum rebarrel

Uses same magazine box

Easier brass to obtain

Cons: Cases forming is more difficult

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