.338 Kubla Kahn - Development Under Way
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Category: FireArms, et cetera
Forum Name: Metallic Cartridge Handloading and Bullet Casting
Forum Description: Discuss reloading, bullet casting etc. here. We take no responsibility for the safety or validity of the loads mentioned in this forum. Start low and work up to what is safe in YOUR firearm!
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Topic: .338 Kubla Kahn - Development Under Way
Posted By: klallen
Subject: .338 Kubla Kahn - Development Under Way
Date Posted: 03 June 2006 at 19:51
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Evening Fellas >> Recent handgun purchases and their development seem to have momentarily kicked this project to the third or fourth string of importance, but we rectified that today. Hit the range with the rifle, chrony and some loads, intent on finding the sweet spot. Components used : H50BMG, Federal 215 primers, fireformed WBY .338-378 WbyMag brass, 300 gr. Sierra MatchKing bullets. The throat's been cut long in this rifle to lessen lost power capacity, due to the long bullet being used. My OAL with the MK's just off the lands measures 4.060". While fireforming, I hadn't shot a group through this thing that was larger then 3/4" so 100 yd. accuracy today really wasn't a concern. I was looking for a nice, comfortable load, pressure wise, that'd allow this soft WBY brass to last a bit while still giving a reasonable working velocity. I started out with 98 gr. of powder and went to 112 grs. Shot these and was getting no pressure signs, so went back to the bench and loaded up 113 grs. through 120 grs. Here's how velocities panned out :
Accuracy was stellar through entire development, so I couldn't use that as a decision maker in this process. After seating primers, I flip-flopped back and forth between 112 and 113, deciding which to use as my MAX load. With their being no real world difference between what each could accomplish in the field, I went with the 112 gr. load. 3000ish fps was kinda the benchmark I was looking for and 112 got me there with a load that should allow cases to last a good long time. I loaded up the remaining cases with this MAX load (26) and will be heading out early in the am to get some extended range things figured out. Like to get a couple groups printed at 1000 and 1500 yds. and also test out the repeatability of this SS scope dialing in the clicks for adjustment rather then relying on a drop chart and mil dots. If it proves reliable, I may try that system for extended range adjustments. Yet to be determined. That was my Saturday's activities. Hope ya all got quality shooting time in, as well. Later. >> klallen ------------- A Big Mouth Don't Make A Big Man !!! The Duke |
Replies:
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 04 June 2006 at 03:32
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Klallen, You seem to know about Weatherby Brass. Maybe you can tell me why it is so stain prone. I load both the 340 Weatherby and the 416 Weatherby. The brass seems to stain giving a (case hardened blue) effect. I've used liquid case cleaners and my tumbler. The stain comes of but soon reappears. Except for this the Weatherby brass seems normal and case reloads are up to about 7 cycles with no unusual wear noticed. I load all Weatherby cartridges to the max all the time, why have the extra capacity and not use it? Any thoughts on the stain problem? The cases for both Weatherby rounds come from a variety of case lots. BEAR |
Posted By: NH_Hunter
Date Posted: 04 June 2006 at 03:50
Eeek. Weatherby brass and 112 grains of powder? You only get 62 shots/ lb. of powder! Good thing it is the same price as all the other Hodgdon powders/lb! But Weatherby .338-378 brass is 38 bucks/20  . I don't think I could afford to feed that thing.  On another note, I bet that thing is fun as all hell to touch off! ------------- Leverguns make me smile Proud Left Handed Shooter |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 04 June 2006 at 04:11
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416 Weatherby mag on the shelf seel for $117 a box (yes 20) loaded with a solid. Makes the price of an African trip for cape buffalo, almost cheap by comparison! BEAR Ps If you find them in Africa they are only $225 USD. Let us all pray thank you for a brick of 22rf at Walmart! |
Posted By: klallen
Date Posted: 04 June 2006 at 17:20
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I've no idea why the tendency for WBY brass to stain, BEAR. I'll keep an eye on my lot of brass as it ages and see if I experience what you've described. Evening NH. Yeah, it's a relatively expensive rifle to feed. But it's a relatively expensive rifle, period. Ya know all the cost issues for building and reloading long before ya ever jump into a project like this. If ya can't foot the bill, ya certainly don't make the decision to get involved with such things. If it's costs aren't a issue, it's full steam ahead and ya don't concern yourself with the dollars and cents that go into it. It is a fun one to play with. Honestly, I'd have paid a lot more then what I did for the opportunity to work with the rifle and the round it's chambered in. I love it. Later fellas. >> klallen ------------- A Big Mouth Don't Make A Big Man !!! The Duke |
Posted By: billt
Date Posted: 09 June 2006 at 10:46
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Bear, How are you storing your cleaned Weatherby brass? I've found if you keep them in any kind of plastic bag, (Zip-Lock), they will tarnish in very short order. It must be something in the plastic. I'm sure other plastic containers are similar. I keep my .300 Weatherby Mag. cases in Case Gard 50 green plastic ammo boxes and they are fine after several months. My other Weatherby calibers are kept in original paper boxes and don't tarnish at all. Bill T. |
Posted By: varmintcaller
Date Posted: 27 June 2006 at 08:09
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Im new to this forum and this is my first reply, i hope im not butting in, but i have the same problem as bear. both my 300 and 257 wby cases have a blackish stain on them, ive tried liquid cleaners,and a hornady vibrating tumbler with no effect on the stain at all, In contrast ive recently tried some Remington 300 wby cases with no stain appearing after three months of use. I understand Weatherby cases are made by Norma of sweden, ive contacted them about the stain problem but recieved no reply, Do you think the stain is an etch that will weaken the cases?
------------- Molon Labe "Come take Them" |
Posted By: TasunkaWitko
Date Posted: 28 June 2006 at 05:24
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welcome to the BaitShop, VarmintCaller! good to see some new blood in
here, and we're looking forward to your presence~ i ca't be of much help as far as the stained brass problem goes. my guess is that it might be some chemical reaction with the brass and something else (maybe the lube?) and that it is more of a coloration thing that would not affect the strength of the case. this is only a guess and i would urge you to contacty weatherby about it. it seems that this staining issue is common enough in weatherby brass that they might have heard about it from someone and have a good explanation for it. ------------- TasunkaWitko - Chinook, Montana  Helfen, Wehren, Heilen Die Wahrheit wird euch frei machen |