Custom 408 Cheytac

[Longshot]

Beautiful!!!!

 

[Max Owner]

Will the 408 catch on?

When first out it was hailed as the next slice bread by creaters. But condemned by shooters.

 

[X-fan]

Hey Rick,

I know it is your favorite cartridge and all [ ], but what is practical the barrel life of the 338/408?

Will it live 800 rounds?

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

Hey Rick,

I know it is your favorite cartridge and all [ ], but what is practical the barrel life of the 338/408?

Will it live 800 rounds?

I have no personal experience with the 338/408 but spoke with #### Davis the late Skip Talbot about their experiences with that caliber and they found about 500 rounds was all she wrote if you kept it cool and were lucky.

Kirby Allen who likes to name everything after himself makes the 338 Allen magnum (338x408) and claims to be getting "great barrel life" but on seeing some his stuff and am skeptical as to what "great" means.

Personally I would not go down that road knowing barrel life will be brief.

 

[BigUglyMan]

Surprisingly there sems to be no shortage of folks who not only can afford to shoot the more expensive calibers and rifles, but there are many who own several of them.
Needless to say doctors and lawyers are up there but here at least alot of oil money is spent on spendy boomers.

Pffftt! 338 L.Imp, 408s and 50s are so cheap to shoot, I don't know why people complain about them! Drop $230 on a 10 round box of ammo and then you'll have my attention!

 

[Kevan]

Pffftt! 338 L.Imp, 408s and 50s are so cheap to shoot, I don't know why people complain about them! Drop $230 on a 10 round box of ammo and then you'll have my attention!

You have a good point there, but if you're referring to the cartridge I think you are, could you not kill 10 pretty big beasts with that box of ammo ?

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

Pffftt! 338 L.Imp, 408s and 50s are so cheap to shoot, I don't know why people complain about them! Drop $230 on a 10 round box of ammo and then you'll have my attention!

Welllll buddy if you are gonna be that way have Iiiii got a DEAL for you
You cover the cost of 10 rnds for my Lahti and I will happily give you the $$ for your little 470NE

 

[X-fan]

Welllll buddy if you are gonna be that way have Iiiii got a DEAL for you
You cover the cost of 10 rnds for my Lahti and I will happily give you the $$ for your little 470NE

Change the barrel every box of 300SMks...WOW!
I think we had this conversation before?
I have a great memory....For short durations!


Nice belted magnum!
You could improve it...Lahti LIMP so to speak.
Recoil may be brisk!

Must be tough to get in Canada?

 

[2bad4u2]

Welllll buddy if you are gonna be that way have Iiiii got a DEAL for you
You cover the cost of 10 rnds for my Lahti and I will happily give you the $$ for your little 470NE

Rick, out of curiosity are you turning 20mm projectiles for yourself? I'm sure it's an expensive endeavour even when you own the lathe nd CNC machine required for the project.

A few years back I had the opportunity to see a guy shoot his 30mm (from what I recall) cannon from his Stuart Light Tank. From what I remember from our brief conversation was that he was turning his own projectiles from bar stock bronze.

What powder would be acceptable in terms of burn rate and commercially available? US869 comes to mind but even that might be too fast. Ever consider FF or FFF black powder or comparable smokeless BP substitute? I realize the use of bp would not be ideal and basically turn the Lahti into a single shot rifle for practical purposes.

I have no personal experience with the 338/408 but spoke with #### Davis the late Skip Talbot about their experiences with that caliber and they found about 500 rounds was all she wrote if you kept it cool and were lucky.

Kirby Allen who likes to name everything after himself makes the 338 Allen magnum (338x408) and claims to be getting "great barrel life" but on seeing some his stuff and am skeptical as to what "great" means.

Personally I would not go down that road knowing barrel life will be brief.

C'mon! A man with your sense for adventure could justify just (1) barrel for the s**ts & giggles factor, right? If the .338/.408 isn't your first choice, what are your thoughts on the .375/.408?

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

Rick, out of curiosity are you turning 20mm projectiles for yourself? I'm sure it's an expensive endeavour even when you own the lathe nd CNC machine required for the project.

A few years back I had the opportunity to see a guy shoot his 30mm (from what I recall) cannon from his Stuart Light Tank. From what I remember from our brief conversation was that he was turning his own projectiles from bar stock bronze.

What powder would be acceptable in terms of burn rate and commercially available? US869 comes to mind but even that might be too fast. Ever consider FF or FFF black powder or comparable smokeless BP substitute? I realize the use of bp would not be ideal and basically turn the Lahti into a single shot rifle for practical purposes.

The bullets are lathe turned brass, the originals were AP and the last time I was able to get any factory ammo was in the early 70s.

I use US869 and it works well. Casing life is short as the L39 Lahti is a semi auto that ejects out the botton like a Bren, and it is BRUTAL on the casings even when I put a foam pillow under the ejection port it still smashes the case mouths badly. Typical of many military weapons these were never really designed with the reloader in mind.
The particular casing in the photo is 1 of 3 original virgin brass cases I have. I do not shoot these as I keep them for measurements for turning my own casings from stainless steel.