OkOK, 338-06 AI it is ...

I hope  have bored everybody to tears by now ;) While looking at cartridges I kept returning to the .338-06 Ackley Improved and I think that'll be the one. Since I want a custom rifle anyway it is no major hassle and it gives a bit more oomph, especially with single base powders. These I want in order to avoid muzzle flash when shooting at night. why that? Well the problem with muzzle flash is not so much that you get seen, but that you get blinded and can't actually see your prey for a few seconds.

Also this gives me > 750 m/s out to more than 250 m which really should be sufficient. 750 m/s is the speed that the KJG needs in order to open properly.

Also the .338-06 AI uses a long action which means that since I want a Savage action I can simply get a 110 for which aftermarket stocks are plentyful.

more thoughts on the rifle

I am really beginning to think that I will be a Savage man (as opposed to a savage man). I like the ideas, the price, the reputed accuracy. And the Accutrigger. So when I get a full size rifle I am thinking a stainless steel action, left hand thumb hole stock, target or varmint trigger and in one of the endless selection of 338 cartridges. Have Steve Bowers install one of his over the barrel moderators and be done with it. That mod is probably going to cost more than the whole rifle, but ah well.

As for cartridges another one has joined the option list, which is the 338-284 again possibly as AI. I have not yet found cartridge data for my version of QL, so my usual data cemetery will haver to wait a bit.

cheap custom rifle

I actually handled a rfile of the same model as I have ordered for the first time this weekend, and got to dry fire it once. The Savage Accutrigger is sweet piece of kit. This has got me thinking. I have kinda made up my mind that I want a custom rifle as my first fullbore rifle. This was looking like 2,500 € from Mayerl with a blueprinted Remington 700 system, match trigger, Lothar Walther barrel (I think), Coate varmint stock and moderator.

After handling that rifle I started thinking. What if I were to get a Savage 116 action, a 338-06 barrel and a Coate or Ross stock? Then add a PES over the barrel moderator. Given the ridiculously low prices of Savage parts this should be affordable. I'm going to have to hand import a lot of this stuff though.

and the winner is: the .338-06 A-Square!

I get more muzzle velocity out of less powder:

**** Input data:                         Date: 4-Oct-2009     Time: 15:46:16
Cartridge................. = .338-06 A-Square
Projectile type........... = 8.58, 9., Möller 8,5 mm KJG S with boattail
 
Max.avg.pressure(Piezo A-S)= 448 MPa     Shot start / init pressure = 15 MPa
Projectile weight       (g)= 9.007       Groove caliber         (mm)= 8.59
Length of cartridge    (mm)= 84.84       Length of case         (mm)= 63.35 
Case capacity       (cu.cm)= 4.48        Length of projectile   (mm)= 30.48 
Length of barrel       (mm)= 560 
**** Values calculated:
Seating depth          (mm)= 8.99        Volume displaced    (cu.cm)= 0.52 
Comb.chamber volume (cu.cm)= 3.96        Projectile travel      (cm)= 50.56 
**** Input data:
Propellant type........... = ADI AR 2219
Charge weight...........(g)= 3.732       Load density......(g/cu.cm)= 0.942
Heat of Explosion   (kJ/kg)= 4000        Ratio of spec. heats cp/cv =  1.231 
Solid density     (g/cu.cm)= 1.57        Weighting factor...........= 0.50
Burning rate factor Ba(1/s)= 0.67        Pro-/degressivity factor a = 0.4497 
Burning limit ......... z1 = 0.5         Combust.Chamber Vb(m³)= 3.962779E-6
Factor.................. b = 1.6         X-S.Area of Bore A(m²)= 5.695E-5
Bulk density      (g/cu.cm)= 0.950       Projectile mass mp(kg)= 9.007E-3
Loading ratio           (%)= 99.1        Projectile travel x(m)= 5.0563E-1
 
**** Results calculated:
Maximum pressure ........ =  430 MPa     Way of projectile at Pmax =  37.1 mm
Muzzle velocity  ......Ve =  999 m/s     Muzzle pressure .......Pe =  60 MPa
Project. energy at muzzle =  4493 J      Fraction of powder burnt  = 99.7  %
Projectile travel time from 10% Pmax to muzzle = 0.88 ms

updates on own rifle

I have finished joining a gun club, it is Hilltop. I will probably not end up buying my equipment there, as I am particular about stuff and they don't appear to be good at accommodating stuff that is out of the ordinary. Also their prices are high. I got my gun safe 60 € cheaper elsewhere.

I am ending up buying not a .17 HMR, but a .22 lr, since not a lot of ranges in the country are actually certified for anything bigger than .22 lr. hence my rifle is the Savage Mark II BTVS. I have the serial number, most of the other stuff, 2 references - BTW they will likely be called, so one should warn them ;) I was bemused to read in the shooting boards how people were outraged that their references were actually called and. Guys it is called 2reference" not "names of parson or teacher I know the name and address of".

Oh and I am buying the gun in Norn Iron, since a) the guy could deliver faster and b) it is cheaper, £580 vs €800 from a shop in Cavan.

Cruelty to animals

I can't say this on the hunting boards but let me be clear on this: I consider hunting on horseback "par force" or coursing with hounds to be cruelty to animals. I despise it and I will not be solidarical with people who do it. I have recently been directly asked to be that and no. Just because you can't see the tortured creature I am not obliged to be solidarical with your actions. I despise this kind of hunting from the bottom of my heart.

This has got me thinking

I appears that Nitrochemie do not offer powders for reloaders any more. I will try and verify that tomorrow though. I have calculated two loads for the .338 Federal and the .338 RCM (which I had to fudge on the basis of the .300 RSAUM, since my QuickLoad doesn't have that cartridge yet).

**** Input data:                         Date: 4-Oct-2009     Time: 13:25:07
Cartridge................. = .338 RCM Fudge II - from .300 RSAUM
Projectile type........... = 8.58, 9., Möller 8,5 mm KJG S with boattail
 
Max.avg.pressure(Piezo SAA)= 448 MPa     Shot start / init pressure = 15 MPa
Projectile weight       (g)= 9.01        Groove caliber         (mm)= 8.59
Length of cartridge    (mm)= 71.76       Length of case         (mm)= 50.88 
Case capacity       (cu.cm)= 4.67        Length of projectile   (mm)= 30.48 
Length of barrel       (mm)= 560 
**** Values calculated:
Seating depth          (mm)= 9.6         Volume displaced    (cu.cm)= 0.55 
Comb.chamber volume (cu.cm)= 4.12        Projectile travel      (cm)= 51.87 
**** Input data:
Propellant type........... = IMR 4895
Charge weight...........(g)= 3.731       Load density......(g/cu.cm)= 0.905
Heat of Explosion   (kJ/kg)= 3860        Ratio of spec. heats cp/cv =  1.2431 
Solid density     (g/cu.cm)=  1.58       Weighting factor...........= 0.50
Burning rate factor Ba(1/s)= 0.61        Pro-/degressivity factor a = -0.15 
Burning limit ......... z1 = 0.6         Combust.Chamber Vb(m³)= 4.121772E-6
Factor.................. b = 1.6         X-S.Area of Bore A(m²)= 4.7291E-5
Bulk density      (g/cu.cm)= 0.890       Projectile mass mp(kg)= 9.007E-3
Loading ratio           (%)= 101.7       Projectile travel x(m)= 5.1871E-1
 
**** Results calculated:
Maximum pressure ........ =  430 MPa     Way of projectile at Pmax =  43.5 mm
Muzzle velocity  ......Ve =  978 m/s     Muzzle pressure .......Pe =  71 MPa
Project. energy at muzzle =  4310 J      Fraction of powder burnt  = 99.9  %
Projectile travel time from 10% Pmax to muzzle = 0.96 ms

and

**** Input data:                         Date: 4-Oct-2009     Time: 13:25:07

Cartridge................. = .338 RCM Fudge II - from .300 RSAUM

Projectile type........... = 8.58, 9., Möller 8,5 mm KJG S with boattail

Max.avg.pressure(Piezo Wil)= 440 MPa     Shot start / init pressure = 15 MPa
Projectile weight       (g)= 9.01        Groove caliber         (mm)= 8.59
Length of cartridge    (mm)= 71.12       Length of case         (mm)= 51.16 
Case capacity       (cu.cm)= 4.67        Length of projectile   (mm)= 30.48 
Length of barrel       (mm)= 560 
**** Values calculated:
Seating depth          (mm)= 10.51       Volume displaced    (cu.cm)= 0.55 
Comb.chamber volume (cu.cm)= 4.12        Projectile travel      (cm)= 51.93 
**** Input data:
Propellant type........... = Norma 200
Charge weight...........(g)= 3.031       Load density......(g/cu.cm)= 0.969
Heat of Explosion   (kJ/kg)= 3850        Ratio of spec. heats cp/cv =  1.239 
Solid density     (g/cu.cm)=  1.58       Weighting factor...........= 0.50
Burning rate factor Ba(1/s)= 0.555       Pro-/degressivity factor a =  6.5 
Burning limit ......... z1 = 0.3         Combust.Chamber Vb(m³)= 3.126928E-6
Factor.................. b = 2.2         X-S.Area of Bore A(m²)= 5.695E-5
Bulk density      (g/cu.cm)= 0.952       Projectile mass mp(kg)= 9.007E-3
Loading ratio           (%)= 101.8       Projectile travel x(m)= 5.1934E-1
 
**** Results calculated:
Maximum pressure ........ =  430 MPa     Way of projectile at Pmax =  32.1 mm
Muzzle velocity  ......Ve =  948 m/s     Muzzle pressure .......Pe =  46 MPa
Project. energy at muzzle =  4047 J      Fraction of powder burnt  = 100  %
Projectile travel time from 10% Pmax to muzzle = 0.92 ms

So this is pretty much 30m/s more muzzle velocity in exchange for a bigger cartridge, possible problems with sound moderation and maybe greater difficulties getting a licence. OTOH this increases the usable range of the KJG from 200m to just over 250m.