400 Whelan or 411 Hawk

I was entertaining the thought of a 40/08 or 408 or what ever you want to call a 308 necked up to 40, on a short action
but as the fog lifted and my mind cleared, I bought yet another 45/70 and felt fulfilled
 
I was entertaining the thought of a 40/08 or 408 or what ever you want to call a 308 necked up to 40, on a short action
but as the fog lifted and my mind cleared, I bought yet another 45/70 and felt fulfilled

Im still thinking a 400 taylor. Trailboss and pistol bullets for fun. Still get heavy weight bullets for bear and moose. I have 180 rp 458wm brass waiting to be necked down
 
I recall doing some research on a 400 Whelen because it intrigued me. But after reading about head space problem because of the shoulder I gave up on it.
A good man on a good lathe making tight tolerances may solve this issue now a days.
I mean they can headspace rimless stait wall cartridges now.

Good luck, would be a great hunting rifle for serious game.
 
I recall doing some research on a 400 Whelen because it intrigued me. But after reading about head space problem because of the shoulder I gave up on it.
A good man on a good lathe making tight tolerances may solve this issue now a days.
I mean they can headspace rimless stait wall cartridges now.

Good luck, would be a great hunting rifle for serious game.

Rimless straight wall cartridges headspace on the case mouth though, which isn't even a new thing - 30carbine for example, not to mention most semi auto pistol calibers... But those are relatively low pressure rounds. Surely there must be a reason why they don't use the case mouth to headspace full size/power rifle cartridges? Case stretch perhaps?
 
The biggest cartridge on 3006 brass I would consider would be 375/06 AI, period.
It's plenty for anything big in Canada and more than needed for anything else.
Stop fantasising and get real with your dreams.
GR8.
 
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The biggest cartridge on 3006 brass I would consider would be 375/06 AI, period.
It's plenty for anything big in Canada and more than needed for anything else.
Stop fantasising and get real with your dreams.
GR8.

Good for you.
303 Will handle it all, depending on range and shot placement.
I gots my dreams you have your little happy world you live in. Wish I had a gold star for you.
 
the bigger the bullet the bigger the recoli .... and every one wants lighter guns ?? 35 whelen or 400 Whelen in a 7lb gun .... not for my aging Bones...

:) ;) :)

But I will watch the younger people do it ... with a smile on my face. :)
 
Another thought although it would be expensive for brass is blowing out a 240wby case. Its basically a belted 3006. The 458wm is proof that a basically straight case feeds and headspaces fine on a belt. Be like a skinny 458wm. I havent looked up the numbers but id be willing to bet a 240wby case would take a 40 cal bullet
 
the bigger the bullet the bigger the recoli .... and every one wants lighter guns ?? 35 whelen or 400 Whelen in a 7lb gun .... not for my aging Bones...

:) ;) :)

But I will watch the younger people do it ... with a smile on my face. :)

I've got a 45-70 that I load with paper patched cast 330gr HP pushed with 13gr of Trailboss for a fun time.
If I want big bore then it'll be 577 Snyder with 15gr of 700X or my 577/450 with the same powder load
 
A good gunsmith can make you a 400 Whelen. Trick is to find a reamer. There is the original 400 Whelen, the newer Petrov version (basically same as the original), the
400 Brown-Whelen, the 411 Hawk and perhaps some others.
Headspace problems are a myth, as long as the gunsmith knows his stuff. Ballistically it is about the same a a 450/400 NE 3", a round that has long been popular in Africa,
for everything.
So there is plenty of power using 300-400gr. bullets.
Making the rounds is easy, best is to use 30-06 cylindrical brass, but 30-06 or 9.3x62 brass also works well.

My 400 Whelen (actually the 400 Brown-Whelen) was built a few years ago by Dave Jennings in Pritchard, BC, on an old, shot out Mauser Oberndorf.
Excellent work and it shoots exceptionally well (with peep sights). Dave is now retired, but there are many other good gunsmiths.

There are lots of components available and plenty of info on the web and elsewhere.
 
I own a 35 Remington, I'm a bit sceptical on the no headspace issues. I'd prefer a bit more shoulder. A better option in that power range would be a 400-350 Rem Mag in a Mauser length action.

Nitro
 
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