I JUST BOUGHT A CUSTOM FN MAUSER IN 30 COUGAR CALIBER

Its a nice looking rifle with a Striped Maple stock with several contrasting inlays. It was made in the 1960s. I don't have the rifle in hand yet. I should have it by early next week.

Here's my question .... what is a 30 Cougar? It doesn't come with brass or dies and I will do a chamber cast when it arrives.
So, in the meantime .. what is a 30 Cougar?

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/cougar-000.jpg

beautiful wood

Time for a chamber casting

planning on it right after I get it in hand.

Possible 30/30-based wildcat? Online info is sparse..30 Cougar-ish

One-off build?
correct time period.

Here's the answer to my question .... what is a 30 Cougar? Thank goodness it had nothing to do with a 30-30 Winchester cartridge as some had opined. When the rifle arrived, a quick inspection of the bolt face showed it was a Magnum size. Inspecting the chamber showed a Belt recess. Testing with different brass showed a 300 Win Mag was too long. In my assortment of misc. Reloading Dies (I collect dies and have over 400 sets) I found a set of 30 Newton dies. In the box was a "belted" 30 Newton Sizing Die that I bought some years earlier. Since I will never own a 30 "belted" Newton rifle, I gradually ground the die's length until it produced a sized case that fit the chamber.

I formed brass by starting with a once fired 7mm Rem Mag case. I pushed the shoulder back using a 350 Rem Mag sizing die. Then I full length sized with the shortened 30 belted Newton die which de-primed and opened the neck to 30 cal. The formed case's neck was too long and had to be shortened to 2.400 inch case length. Last I polished the case and now its ready for loading. Finished cartridges were loaded with a Hornady 165g BTSP and 55g IMR 4895 and WLR primers. Range report will follow. I added a 4x Walther Scope in the rings that came with the rifle.

So, how did the 30 Cougar cartridge come to be developed? I believe this rifle was built in the late 1950s when the only 30 cal magnum cartridge available was the 300 H&H. By shortening the 300 H&H case and expanding the shoulder, the 30 Cougar was formed. In the early 1960s both the 300 Win Mag and the 308 Norma Mag came onto the market. The 300 Win Mag case is .200" longer, and the 308 Norma case is .150" longer than the 30 Cougar. So the 30 Cougar was actually an early "short Mag."

and as usual - your comments are welcome.

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/COUGAR-FORMING.jpg



http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/COUGAR-ID-SM.jpg



http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/COUGAR-SCOPE.jpg

Good work. Now for the originator. Of course you might have the only one in existence.

Sounds like didn't have to hard of a time getting it shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
Sounds like didn't have to hard of a time getting it shooting.

Well, I started the identification process at noon yesterday. I had 12 finished and loaded cartridges at 8:00 pm ... so 8 hours for the process. However, today I formed and loaded another 8 rounds in 15 minutes. Its the identification/development work that takes time.

That 30 Cougar looks like a nice round. I like the long neck. With the body short and fat, it might burn powder more efficiently than the 300 Win mag.

The length is a puzzle, though.

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:
That 30 Cougar looks like a nice round. I like the long neck. With the body short and fat, it might burn powder more efficiently than the 300 Win mag.

The length is a puzzle, though.

Which length do you mean? The overall length of the case?

Here is an update ... I went .. to the range and test fired the rifle .. excellent accuracy .. and I fireformed the cases .. see pics ... No signs of high pressure so I increased the load by 2 grains to 57g for the next test and I will post the results.

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/FIRE-FORMING-SM.jpg



http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/COUGAR-TARG-SM.jpg

It certainly shoots well. The length I was referring to was COL, strange I thought because it's not short enough for a short action but could waste potential in a standard one.

However, shooting as well as your target shows, maybe it captures some mysterious sweet spot.

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:
It certainly shoots well. The length I was referring to was COL, strange I thought because it's not short enough for a short action but could waste potential in a standard one.
However, shooting as well as your target shows, maybe it captures some mysterious sweet spot.

Overall length of a loaded cartridge is 3.150", which fits and feeds well in this standard length FN action. I wish I could find some info about the builder. (or barrel maker) The top of the barrel is stamped R.M.OSBAHR. The 24" barrel has a recessed target crowned, and is free-floated, and the rifle has a Canjar Target trigger. All make it a great shooter.

A member on a related forum, found this about my rifle's builder.


[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.answers.com/history-ec/Who_was_rm_osbahr_gun-maker[/URL]

A member on a related forum, found this about my rifle's builder.

https://www.answers.com/histor..._rm_osbahr_gun-maker