I'm trying to decide on which cartridge I'd like to try rechambering a Steyr M95 to, but I'm a bit at a loss as to which direction I should take.
I got a somewhat lukewarm response to this question at THR, thought I'd give it a go at the dedicated Bolt Action forum here
I wish to end up with a straight-pull bolt-action guide-type gun. The actions of these rifles have been successfully chambered in 8x57 Mauser, and the 8x56R Nazi surplus mine shot was over 51000psi IIRC--so the action appears stout enough for anything up to (but not including) full-on 458 Win magnum.
I've done some research on the various offerings out there that may suit my needs, but I don't have the experience to know how they stack up against eachother. Hopefully, some of ya'll will weigh in on which round you like (and why). Belted vs. rimmed, etc.
My only requirement is that the cases be straight-wall, or very near it, with no neck. I've come to realize I shoot quickly reloadable cases a lot more often, so I greatly prefer no shoulder-bumping (I only gots a single stage ). I'd also prefer something commonly available, or simple to form from another common case. I came up with several candidates below vying for the nomination; please suggest others you feel have similar attributes, as well.
My size envelope limits are:
-.608" Rim/base diameter same as 45/70 or smaller (and that's pushing it)
-Overall length 3.228 (8mm Mauser fits) and perhaps a tad longer
In ascending order (I think) of power level:
.444 Marlin** (I'm aiming for power well above most pistol rounds)
.454 Casull (probably too short to feed right)
.460 S&W
.450 Marlin*
.45-70 (the .602" rim of this is probably as big as can possibly fit on the bolt face)
.458 Win Mag* (Loaded-down to sub-SAAMI specs to stay below present bolt-loads. This guy may also be too long to fit with heavy rounds)
*the M95 is designed to feed rimmed cases from an en-bloc clip (for now). I will likely need to replace the magazine system and modify the extractor quite a bit. Since I'm starting from scratch, rimmed/non-rimmed is probably a non-issue, unless one is more reliable than the other (in both feeding and chambering)
**I've seen firsthand accounts of folks successfully doing this in 444, & heard of it being done in 45-70. 444 requires little other work than a new barrel, supposedly, but is the least "fun" of the candidates
SO, which do ya'll prefer?
Removing metal's easier than adding it, so maybe I should just work my way up the list? I'll have enough pennies in the jar in ~2 weeks to buy a barrel, so I need to get my ducks in a row now.
TCB
I got a somewhat lukewarm response to this question at THR, thought I'd give it a go at the dedicated Bolt Action forum here
I wish to end up with a straight-pull bolt-action guide-type gun. The actions of these rifles have been successfully chambered in 8x57 Mauser, and the 8x56R Nazi surplus mine shot was over 51000psi IIRC--so the action appears stout enough for anything up to (but not including) full-on 458 Win magnum.
I've done some research on the various offerings out there that may suit my needs, but I don't have the experience to know how they stack up against eachother. Hopefully, some of ya'll will weigh in on which round you like (and why). Belted vs. rimmed, etc.
My only requirement is that the cases be straight-wall, or very near it, with no neck. I've come to realize I shoot quickly reloadable cases a lot more often, so I greatly prefer no shoulder-bumping (I only gots a single stage ). I'd also prefer something commonly available, or simple to form from another common case. I came up with several candidates below vying for the nomination; please suggest others you feel have similar attributes, as well.
My size envelope limits are:
-.608" Rim/base diameter same as 45/70 or smaller (and that's pushing it)
-Overall length 3.228 (8mm Mauser fits) and perhaps a tad longer
In ascending order (I think) of power level:
.444 Marlin** (I'm aiming for power well above most pistol rounds)
.454 Casull (probably too short to feed right)
.460 S&W
.450 Marlin*
.45-70 (the .602" rim of this is probably as big as can possibly fit on the bolt face)
.458 Win Mag* (Loaded-down to sub-SAAMI specs to stay below present bolt-loads. This guy may also be too long to fit with heavy rounds)
*the M95 is designed to feed rimmed cases from an en-bloc clip (for now). I will likely need to replace the magazine system and modify the extractor quite a bit. Since I'm starting from scratch, rimmed/non-rimmed is probably a non-issue, unless one is more reliable than the other (in both feeding and chambering)
**I've seen firsthand accounts of folks successfully doing this in 444, & heard of it being done in 45-70. 444 requires little other work than a new barrel, supposedly, but is the least "fun" of the candidates
SO, which do ya'll prefer?
Removing metal's easier than adding it, so maybe I should just work my way up the list? I'll have enough pennies in the jar in ~2 weeks to buy a barrel, so I need to get my ducks in a row now.
TCB