Well maybe great is a bit of a stretch at the risk of causing a stroke somewhere.
A few months ago I picked up a 375 Ruger (subsequently replacing it with a H&H) so decided I didn't need a 338 WM. I've always had a soft spot for the 7mm Rem Mag. My dad used one, in a Remington 700 ADL, as his only big game rifle for over 30 years. I've owned them and have had custom rifles chambered for the round.
A year or so ago my dad drug a Model 70 take off barrel out of his basement. He figured it was mine, it was, and it turned out to be an unfired 7mm RM barrel that I had pulled for the action and a custom Leeper build 15 years ago. So with that barrel handy I figured a 338 to a 7mm of some sort was in the cards. Because of magazine restraints and this particular receiver not ejecting cartridges properly with the longer box the long 7's were out. That left the WBY and RM and the RM won out. I'm getting to a stage in life where the ability to buy cartridges in town is a comforting option if needed.
Now we all know the horror stories associated with the RM and pressure. Things like pressure spikes, difficulty getting published velocities etc. All factory rifles, including my dad's that I have worked with seem to suffer this malady. At least in my experience. With customs some seem to side step the issue. Then there is the extra velocity the WBY gets. This despite a case capacity difference that is negligible. The throat has to be the culprit.
The great Remington Magnum has a very short SAAMI throat. I have always thought this odd as the rifle it was introduced in has a magazine box longer than the current male presidential candidates comb over. The last fifteen years have also seen short throats become absolutely necessary in custom rifles. Especially if you are going to showcase these builds on the Internet. In my experience, with custom chambers and good minimal diameter throats this is a bit of a tidal wave in a tin cup scenario. But whatever.
With this in mind, I called Bill Leeper, begged him out of retirement and sent him the pieces asking him to install the barrel, and cut a throat longer than bullet diameter. I think .288 ish. With this throat, I could reach the lands with some bullets and others would need binoculars to locate them. It turns out the barrel needed to be set back enough that the chamber needed a complete recut. Excellent. The Barnes 145 LRX is diminutive in ogive so would need to jump a country mile. Perfect. I have found that this bullet likes being away from the lands. A long way away. I also find, with it's long bearing surface, it compares pressure wise to most 150 gr bullets.
As a happy fluke, this barrel fouls less than any barrel I think I have owned. And that has been a lot. Most of them custom barrels.
Here are the results. And by all indications is not breaking a sweat yet.
A few months ago I picked up a 375 Ruger (subsequently replacing it with a H&H) so decided I didn't need a 338 WM. I've always had a soft spot for the 7mm Rem Mag. My dad used one, in a Remington 700 ADL, as his only big game rifle for over 30 years. I've owned them and have had custom rifles chambered for the round.
A year or so ago my dad drug a Model 70 take off barrel out of his basement. He figured it was mine, it was, and it turned out to be an unfired 7mm RM barrel that I had pulled for the action and a custom Leeper build 15 years ago. So with that barrel handy I figured a 338 to a 7mm of some sort was in the cards. Because of magazine restraints and this particular receiver not ejecting cartridges properly with the longer box the long 7's were out. That left the WBY and RM and the RM won out. I'm getting to a stage in life where the ability to buy cartridges in town is a comforting option if needed.
Now we all know the horror stories associated with the RM and pressure. Things like pressure spikes, difficulty getting published velocities etc. All factory rifles, including my dad's that I have worked with seem to suffer this malady. At least in my experience. With customs some seem to side step the issue. Then there is the extra velocity the WBY gets. This despite a case capacity difference that is negligible. The throat has to be the culprit.
The great Remington Magnum has a very short SAAMI throat. I have always thought this odd as the rifle it was introduced in has a magazine box longer than the current male presidential candidates comb over. The last fifteen years have also seen short throats become absolutely necessary in custom rifles. Especially if you are going to showcase these builds on the Internet. In my experience, with custom chambers and good minimal diameter throats this is a bit of a tidal wave in a tin cup scenario. But whatever.
With this in mind, I called Bill Leeper, begged him out of retirement and sent him the pieces asking him to install the barrel, and cut a throat longer than bullet diameter. I think .288 ish. With this throat, I could reach the lands with some bullets and others would need binoculars to locate them. It turns out the barrel needed to be set back enough that the chamber needed a complete recut. Excellent. The Barnes 145 LRX is diminutive in ogive so would need to jump a country mile. Perfect. I have found that this bullet likes being away from the lands. A long way away. I also find, with it's long bearing surface, it compares pressure wise to most 150 gr bullets.
As a happy fluke, this barrel fouls less than any barrel I think I have owned. And that has been a lot. Most of them custom barrels.
Here are the results. And by all indications is not breaking a sweat yet.
Dave.
