Re: Allen Mag Shooters Group -In the interest of sharing info
Been keeping an eye on this post since it started but have mot offered anything. You guys are doing well yourselves.
I do figure this is a good post to update you on some future projects that are in the works at Allen Precision Shooting.
Probably the project I am most excited about is my upcoming 300 Allen Xpress. This wildcat is basically nothing more then a 7mm AM necked up to 30 cal and designed around the new and very impressive 265 gr ULD RBBT from wildcat Bullets.
This bullet should offer ballistic performance equal to or better then the current best 338 cal long range bullets.
I am looking to match 30-378 Wby performance with my shorter 300 AX while using roughly 12 grains less powder. The reason I feel this is a realistic goal is because the Norma brass for the 30-378 Wby is very soft and will limit you to around 63,000 psi if you want repeated firings per case.
The Lapua case however will offer a significantly higher pressure ceiling which will allow more performance to be had with fewer grains of powder.
Although the 300 AX is designed around the Wildcat 265 gr ULD RBBT, any conventional bullet from 180 gr on up will work well including the new, huge 290 gr ULD RBBT but in my opinion that bullet is just a bit heavy for this round.
Being developed the same time as the 300 AX will be my 300 Allen Magnum. THis round will be based off the 408 CT. Basically a 30 cal version of my 338 Allen Magnum.
I have not yet settled on a final design yet. I have three to choose from. All the same, only differing by length of case. There is a 2.650", 2.850" and 3.050" long version that I will be testing. Going in true Allen Magnum tradition, the largest capacity that will work is what I will be going with.
With this monster we will be focusing on the 290 gr ULD RBBT for the bullet of choice and I hope to get 3300 fps with this bullet in 32" barrel lengths. That is if we go with the full length version.
Even the shortest design will still offer around 25 grains more powder capacity then the 30-378 Wby so anyway you cut it this will be the biggest 30 cal magnum out there.
Reamers are in shop as are test bullets. Only waiting on test barrels now which should be here very soon. Reamer prints have also been submitted for the making of FL Sizing dies. The 300 AX will be fully developed by spring with the 300 AM finished R&D this summer.
Also, the big 338 Allen Magnum is getting a little brother as well, the 338 Allen Xpress. Based on the Lapua case again. This one was not really planned. A customer wanted a 338 Lapua improved. I did not have a reamer and would have to draw up a new one and get dies made anyway so I asked him if he wanted a 338 Allen Xpress as I had the reamer print drawn up already. He agreed and in a month or so I will have my 338 AX reamer. This will be the easiest of the APS rounds to load for, load and shoot 338 Lapua rounds and out comes a 338 AX.
Again, basically looking to match what the 338-378 Wby will offer but in a shorter case with a bit less powder. Will be a very good ballance for someone looking for a nice comfortable 338 magnum chambering. Well, at least compared to my 338 Allen Magnum!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Also in the works but a bit farther out is a very interesting couple of round which will provide a truely impressive level of power to us long range shooters.
Up to this point, when someone wanted extreme power at long range, they instantly jumped from the 338 cal up to 510 cal. Now some new 375s, 408s and 416s are filling the gap but most still fall well short of the 50 cal rounds in power. The smaller rounds do offer much improved ballistic potential but I wanted both.
Again in a joint project with Richard Graves, we will be designing the 458 Allen Tactical and 458 Allen Magnum. The Allen Tactical will be nothing more then my 50 Allen Tactical(408 CT parent case) necked down to 458. THe bullets that will be used will be up to 750 gr ULD RBBT. Lower weight bullets will be in the 600 gr range still with the ULD RBBT bullet design.
Ballistic performance should be right there with the very best 50 cal match bullets and in the case of the 750 gr version, even better. I am looking to get 2550 to 2600 fps with the 600 gr ULD RBBT in the 458 AT.
At this time Richard is waiting on jackets to get in so we can make some bullets and get things rolling from that point.
The other 458 wilcat is the 458 Allen Magnum. FOr this round I decided that the full size 50 BMG necked down to 458 was just a bit much. My 510 Allen Magnum necked down to 458 is WAY to much capacity.
So I ordered in some 50 Spotter cases and decided they would offer just the perfect capacity for what I am looking for. My design will neck the case down to 458 cal and leave a neck length of around 3/8" and then fireform the case to the Allen Magnum shoulder and body configuration. In comparision to other rounds in capacity, here is how they stack up as far as water weight capacity:
338 Allen Magnum..............163 gr
458 Allen Tactical............171 gr
50 BMG........................293 gr
458 Allen Magnum..............251 gr
This will offer just enough reduction in case capacity compared to the standard BMG to allow the use of easily attainable loading powders to be used to get full benefit of this caliber and bullet weight.
The 416 Barrett would be about perfect but if it was fireformed to the AM shoulder and body design it would have nearly identical case capacity to the 50 BMG, just to much.
The 50 Spotter case is a neat "little" case being identical to the BMG except for 1" shorter in length. Basically its the same length as the 408 CT case. The spotter case looks pretty small and squatty until you set it next to a 408 case!!!
These rounds will probably not be released until late 2007 until full testing can be done.
After the 458 Allen Magnum is proven to be a practical design, I may also release a 416 or 408 version as well depending on bullet availability. A 416 Allen Magnum would easily match the 416 Barrett and do so in a case with a capacity much more in balance with that bore diameter instead of having to load to low load density levels in the Barrett.
Anyway, thats a preview of what will be happening in 2007 so far anyway!!! I am sure more will pop up as we go along.
There are also some very exiting things in the works as far as bullets go from Richard but I have to keep that quiet until the time gets closer!!! Lets just say if things work out as Richard hopes, ballistic performance will be taken to yet another level with the Wildcat Bullets!!! Time will tell if it will be practical financially however.
Extensive testing will also be performed on the new 375 gr ULD RBBT in 338. This is one HUGE bullet. Bullets have been sent off to get the proper rifling twist designed for this bullet as well. These bullets combined with some future bullets projects already mentioned may just give us that legit +3000 yard consistancy that has so far been very hard to get with conventional bullets. Well, any bullets for that matter!!
More to come as always from the shop.
Also wanted to thank you guys for helping making the 2006 year my best yet and 2007 has already started off faster then '06!!!
Thanks for all your support!!
Kirby Allen(50)