Tuning .338 barrel blank

[thammer]

I picked up a .338 barrel blank years ago. Had been sitting a while before I got it. Bore is clean but plenty of surface rust on the outside. No big deal because it still fits inside a shroud I have. I'll and off the rust. Treat the surface and leave it full diameter for weight. I want to build a long range tethered rig. I have all the parts just no ammo. Who here makes or could recommend consistent size, weight in .338 for me to buy and test. I have a 280cc plenum so power isn't an issue.

It's 25" finished so I'm guessing mid 200fpe is about max power. That would need a slug around 125gr at 950fps.

 

[bearair]

Following.

 

[Hobbyman2007]

You may want to contact Cedrick.

I’m sure he could point you in the right direction for ammo. Don’t ask how to get in touch with him. Maybe his YouTube channel .

 

[RM.510bigbore]

Pretty easy to find a mold and cast your own...Pure lead $1.25 a lb...Lee prob makes a mold for $44.00

 

[thammer]

You may want to contact Cedrick.

I’m sure he could point you in the right direction for ammo. Don’t ask how to get in touch with him. Maybe his YouTube channel .

I've known Cedric for a while. I was hoping more to help out a member here though by buying from them. I'll see what he has though. It will at least be a start.

 

[thammer]

Pretty easy to find a mold and cast your own...Pure lead $1.25 a lb...Lee prob makes a mold for $44.00

I probably have 80lb of lead in my archery target I use a backstop for Chrony testing.... ... I want to find a good design before I buy a mold.

 

[RM.510bigbore]

I probably have 80lb of lead in my archery target I use a backstop for Chrony testing.... ... I want to find a good design before I buy a mold.

Its more or less the mold and diameter the barrel likes...Check with Lee, NOE, Accurate,MP molds to name a few..

 

[thammer]

Cedric is helping me find the right weight before I buy a few different molds. Thank you. It's great advice.

 

[RM.510bigbore]

Cedric is helping me find the right weight before I buy a few different molds. Thank you. It's great advice.

What brand of .338 barrel blank?

 

[bearair]

What platform are you intending to use with this build?

 

[thammer]

What platform are you intending to use with this build?

It will be a custom parts gun. Probably mostly Kral parts as that's what I like and it's relatively easy to mod the valve for high power.

 

[thammer]

What brand of .338 barrel blank?

Green mountain. 25" length x 1.25" OD
Bought it in March of 2015... lol... this is a long overdue project.

 

[Bandito]

I hope this is successful. Be Well Brother Experimenters, Bandito.

 

[thammer]

The blank cleaned up nicely but now I remember why it never got finished. My lathe had a through bore spindle of 1" and the blank is 1.25"

 

[Airgunmann]

Arsenal molds made a .218 mold for me and I know Doug knoble was using a arsenal mold with 257
I don't know if that helps or not

 

[Spike_9]

The blank cleaned up nicely but now I remember why it never got finished. My lathe had a through bore spindle of 1" and the blank is 1.25"

View attachment 542774

I have the same lathe that I have done tons of barrel work on. It has it limitations but it gets the job done. When I had the same problem, I ran the barrel between centers.

 

[thammer]

I have the same lathe that I have done tons of barrel work on. It has it limitations but it gets the job done. When I had the same problem, I ran the barrel between centers.

Is too long for that. 25" barrel and only 22" between the chuck and live center.

 

[Spike_9]

Is too long for that. 25" barrel and only 22" between the chuck and live center.

Gotcha. Reminds me, I need a larger gun smithing lathe!

Looking good. I look forward to seeing the results of your project.

 

[thammer]

Gotcha. Reminds me, I need a larger gun smithing lathe!

Looking good. I look forward to seeing the results of your project.

It was the biggest I could find without rewiring my garage for a true 3 phase panel. Still a 3 phase lathe but with a built in converter.