It is the 40* shoulder. I would highly recommend doing a step up + purchasing a tapered expander. Luckily I had one from another die set that I had.
My 338 Sherman Shortmag
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codyadams
Well-Known Member
Naaa, you didn't loose 6...Put some powder in, jam the bullet .050", and send er bud!!
Just kidding.....I wouldn't do that.
slv hunter
Well-Known Member
I'm using a Sinclair expander mandrel, carbide mandrels in two steps with rcbs lube. Should be fine. Thanks
I'm jumping in the pool!
Barrel is ordered, 2 or 3 months out. The dies and brass order has been placed.
I have necked down brass but never up, I'm not worried about the process but finding some of the items needed is not working out so well.
Sinclair is OOS of die bodies but they have the mandrels.
21st Century is generally spoken well of but I have no experience with them. Anyone using their product on here and happy? I am concerned that I can not find what their mandrels are made of SS or carbide.
Should I buy the die body from 21st and the mandrels at Sinclair if they are compatible?
What about PMA Tool? The price is higher but my questions are answered regarding material.
Thanks for the replies.
Barrel is ordered, 2 or 3 months out. The dies and brass order has been placed.
I have necked down brass but never up, I'm not worried about the process but finding some of the items needed is not working out so well.
Sinclair is OOS of die bodies but they have the mandrels.
21st Century is generally spoken well of but I have no experience with them. Anyone using their product on here and happy? I am concerned that I can not find what their mandrels are made of SS or carbide.
Should I buy the die body from 21st and the mandrels at Sinclair if they are compatible?
What about PMA Tool? The price is higher but my questions are answered regarding material.
Thanks for the replies.
slv hunter
Well-Known Member
I'm in the process myself. 21st century has ss mandrels not carbide. I have been thinking about getting the 21st die and sinclair mandrels myself. I borrowed a friend's sinclair die and mandrels using .308 and .338 mandrels with no problems.
21st Century has SS, Carbide, a black oxide coating (don't remember the name) and I think a Titanium dioxide coated version.
Their Carbide are cheaper then Sinclair's, just as good in my experience. I haven't tried the black finish, so can't comment. I preferred the Ti over stainless, but only used it briefly (it was borrowed) so can't comment on longevity.
I appreciate the replies.
Scratch the question below, I've found 3 other entries that mention the .362 bushing
Bushing - reading thru the thread I picked up .362. Is this the most common bushing everyone is using?
Scratch the question below, I've found 3 other entries that mention the .362 bushing
Last edited:
Hi All. Got back from the range. Here is the range report for H4350 shooting the 250 Berger Elite Hunter at an COAL 2.950. I used CCI 250 Magnum Rifle Primers. I was not finding any heavy bolt lift on any of these loads or primer cratering/ejector marks. I am also using the ADG brass. I was really wanting to get up to 2800 FPS, and believe that I could with a heavier load charge, but I fell in love with the accuracy of the 62 grain. I will be at 2725 fps for muzzle velocity and that gives me out to 1,050 yards to retain 1800 fps for proper expansion, well beyond what I typically shoot game at (usually a 500-600 yard kind of guy). I wanted to drop this here to piggy back on what Ruby had a few pages ago, in case anyone wanted to try H4350 and what they can expect for velocity.
Below are some of the groups I shot this morning. The first one that is labelled 61.5 is actually the 62 grain group. 3 shots in one ragged hole! Easily best group I have ever shot. I only did 3 round groups for this due to limited supplies of powder, primers, and bullets.
55.5grains
2429
2358
2409
56 grains
2440
2430
2444
56.5 grains
2433
2425
Error
57 grains
2450
2482
2485
57.5 grains
2540
2535
2414
58 grains
2566
2510
2485
58.5 grains
2610
2600
2590
59 grains
2588
2597
2575
59.5 grains
2627
2635
2615
60 grains
2653
2630
2643
60.5 grains
2683
2660
2673
61 grains
2680
2694
2698
61.5 grains
2718
2700
2700
62 grains
2716
2730
2733
Below are some of the groups I shot this morning. The first one that is labelled 61.5 is actually the 62 grain group. 3 shots in one ragged hole! Easily best group I have ever shot. I only did 3 round groups for this due to limited supplies of powder, primers, and bullets.
55.5grains
2429
2358
2409
56 grains
2440
2430
2444
56.5 grains
2433
2425
Error
57 grains
2450
2482
2485
57.5 grains
2540
2535
2414
58 grains
2566
2510
2485
58.5 grains
2610
2600
2590
59 grains
2588
2597
2575
59.5 grains
2627
2635
2615
60 grains
2653
2630
2643
60.5 grains
2683
2660
2673
61 grains
2680
2694
2698
61.5 grains
2718
2700
2700
62 grains
2716
2730
2733
Considering building a light and handy 338 SS; something like a Defiant anti, 18-20" carbon #4. I have a few questions:
e
- Anyone getting great success with Hammer Bullets, Barnes, Cutting Edge? Not wanting to sacrifice all of the BC unless I can pick up enough velocity to cheat the wind some and still get stellar terminal performance on people eaters.
- Should I stay with my recent history and build it in a long action?
- If using a long action, is the Max going to give me that much better performance in the short barrel than an SS?
- What kind of Velocities are you getting from what bullets (21" barrels or less).
e
elkaholic
Well-Known Member
Thats not bad velocity for 4350! There are others that will make 2800', but as you said. one hole at 2750 is big medicine.
I built an SS w/ a 22" barrel, medium length action. Had great success with the 213HH, velocity was close to 3000fps. Rethroated the barrel & the smith made a mistake and went way further then I asked for. End result was throat was too long for the 213HH, thankfully the 235HH worked well at 2850fps.
Max is appropriate in a medium length action. I'd personally look at the Mega in a Medium or Long action. I was in your position (timing wise) as the Max was coming out, but due to timing I couldn't wait for the brass to become available, so went SS. I wish I'd waited and gone for the Max, as is it, I'll likely rechamber to the Mega, once everything is available.
Just bought a defiance AnTi in short action but I have other project I'd like to build as well. I have a long action too. Or I could just order up a Max chambered barrel , screw off my 7Max barrel and put the 338 on. Pretty easy switch. Point being I want to make a light, short rifle for my planned Alaska trip in '24. Thinking that mono bullet is the way to go but I cringe when I consider the BC.
KMG
Well-Known Member
Take a look at the SBD2 250gr bullet from Badlads Precision. Think it might interest you. I run the 240 Bulldozer in my 338SS with a long throat.
