Did a search and a thread in 2006 discussed cartridge options for a Siamese build. Has there been any builds since then in something unique? I have plenty of 45/70s. I do have a bull blank out in the shop in 25 cal. The 25 Krag piques my interest. A straight Krag does too.

A 6.35x54R wildcat built from the 7.62x54R Russian round would be a nice option that wouldn't require much action work.

No sense wasting it on small bores; plenty of actions to build those on; make it a 50-110, or a 40 caliber, like a 40-65. Or a nice 375 bore, like a 33 WCF, 375 JDJ, you get the idea.

"A 6.35x54R wildcat built from the 7.62x54R Russian round would be a nice option that wouldn't require much action work."

FYI, actually not a wildcat, but a factory round in Finland, the 6.3x53R, one of several calibres on the Russian x54R case. The SAKO ammunition listing on p.54 of the 1971 Guns Illustrated indicates that the 6.3 was loaded with an 85 gr. SP. The 7x53R, 8.2x53R, and 9.3x53R were listed with 155, 200, and 255 gr. SPs, respectively. Any one of these should work well in a Siamese action.

Cheers, Al

I have one in 30 US (30-40) that works well. A buddy has one in 25 Krag, he likes it. And you already have the barrel...

450 alaskan or 45/90 .. though 30/40 works

I did one in 7.62x54R. Another option is the 8x56R.

How about a 405 Winchester, will that work? Or, is the case too long. I have a Siamese Action and was thinking about altering it to the 405 Winchester. Failing that, the 40-65 looks pretty good, but I already have a 40-65 Browning singele shot.

Some great ideas. I have a friend that suggested the 50 Alaskan a few years back. Just about have the Mexican done and it will be time to move on to another that I've had sitting around for way too long. Got a rolling block that will see the light of day soon too.

Good choice;
Hoot, no the 405 won't work, BUT, the .405 Teddy will; which is what I call the 405 based on the 30-40 case. I put these on Marlins, and get almost the same ballistics as the long 405 WCF. And in the siamese, you could definitely get 2200 fps from a 300 grainer, of course at higher pressure, which is what the Siamese is for.

Mark, I sent you a PM.

dpcd, after a long, long time in process I have finally finished up with the .300 H&H project, the one you barreled for me over a year ago. So, I am now ready to send you the Mosin-Nagant to convert to .405 Grenadier as we talked about.

I only mention it now because the .405 Grenadier is a perfect fit for the Siamese!

Yes it would be a great fit; I forgot about that one.

.....mine is in 7.62x54R, but will eventually be 405 Grenadier ( once I can find a new extractor for it )......6.5's and 400's.....covers a fair range of game....

Roger

Yes the 405 Grenadier is a wonderful idea; it should easily produce 405 WCF velocities. It is a 7..62 Russian blown out, with a shoulder. I would make it with a .410 groove barrel, as there are more bullets available for that.
I need to put one on a Mosin.

Yes the 405 Grenadier has got my attention big time. It is a natural for that action.

quote:

Originally posted by ClassicAl:
"A 6.35x54R wildcat built from the 7.62x54R Russian round would be a nice option that wouldn't require much action work."

FYI, actually not a wildcat, but a factory round in Finland, the 6.3x53R, one of several calibres on the Russian x54R case.Cheers, Al

True. I actually have half a box of the 6.35 that is marked as Biathalon ammunition.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Yes the 405 Grenadier is a wonderful idea; it should easily produce 405 WCF velocities. It is a 7..62 Russian blown out, with a shoulder. I would make it with a .410 groove barrel, as there are more bullets available for that.
I need to put one on a Mosin.

I used a McGowen .411" barrel, same as the barrel for the .405 Win, and it works fine. A .411" bore can also shoot .410" bullets.

Sorry, I misspoke. The box is labeled 6.5x54 Biathalon.

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your replies. Some real good info and advice. Who makes reloading dies for the 405 Teddy and the 405 Grenadier? Looking at the posts I am thinking that the 405 Grenadier might be the best way to go as 30-40 brass is a little hard to come by. After looking for a while, I was able to find some at Graf's

quote:

Did a search and a thread in 2006 discussed cartridge options for a Siamese build.

Problem is most of the medium bore cartridges that will work in the Siamese Mauser have better rimless identical or better performers that work in the standard Mauser 98.

The only one that I could see...and again .35 Whelen and .40o Whelen would probably be better, is the old .375 and .400 Rimmed British cartridges.

A look through one of the older Cartridges of the World will give some ideas.

I'm guessing that at least a .400 Rimmed would solve the headspace problems that the .400 Whelen is said to have in built by its design.

Not the point at all; we could all forgot any and all wildcats, obsolete cartridges, and other problem children and all shoot 30-06s.
That would make it very boring. Which is the point. Not being boring.
I use regular 405 dies for the short cased version. I guess I didn't crimp; I worked with those 20 years ago and I forgot. Maybe I cut the seating die off; probably.

i keep thinking about .444 marlin or .460Sw. In my dreams the .375H&H whichI havent measured but im pretty sure it is too long...

Mine is a .375/.348 Ackley Imp. Basically a .375 H&H without the long action.

John

460 s&w does much better out of a rifle length barrel. Issue is bullet selection at that velocity.

quote:

I'm guessing that at least a .400 Rimmed would solve the headspace problems that the .400 Whelen is said to have in built by its design.

There is no "headspace problem" with the 400 Whelen, none.
With that clear the .303 case blown out to .411" would be a similar performer to the 400 Whelen and very interesting in the right rifle.

The 7.62x54R case is so close to the Siamese rounds that it is uncanny. In fact, it is so close that if you have the earlier version in 8x50R you could rechamber the original barrel for the standard Russian case necked up to 8mm and it would work perfectly, an 8x54R if you will!



Also, crude cases for the 8x52R version can be made by fire-forming 7.62x54R cases.
The cartridge on the right is a crude 8x52R Siamese made by fire-forming a 7.62x54R:

Like gasgunner I have a 375/348 Ackley Imp. Apparantly they are also refered to the 375 Alaskan. Gives very close to 375 H&H ballstics with lighter bullets. 235 gr Speer bullets are great in my rifle as are 270 gr Hornady's.
I also have a second Siamese rifle in the 8x52R with a very good barrel.Cases can easily be made by turning down the rims on 45-70 cases and re-sizing .