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If you anneal Bertram Brass before every reload it is perfectly OK. I have also had some average Winchester & Remington brass. The base metal is no where as good as Norma, Norma is the best brass I have used.

I made up the sanding disc and jig specifically for fitting recoil pads - works well. I have also started the fine fitting of the front end.

I voted for 338WM but would prefer the classic 333 Jeffery with a tight twist for the 300gr projectiles.

Productive day, very happy with the final result. Grumpy - I did use my die grinder to speed up the finishing. I think the front sight follows the general theme of the rifle. At the end of the day I tried to repurpose the binned first attempt front sight into the barrel band sling mount...

No I don't have one, I have seen them and they do look handy. At this point it has been roughing with files and finishing with sanding strips and backing blocks.

Had time to do the final cuts to finish the machining of the front sight base. The hard part now is holding it while I do the final blending and polishing. Almost there.

PM sent

Keeping it simple and taking it slow. All good so far. Reduced the ramp angle down to 2 degrees. Not finished, the last 2 cuts to remove the slab sides are needed to finish it. Anyone who complains about the cost of New England Custom Gun front sight needs to try and make one!

Great job, lloking good. What barrel contour are you using, it looks quite heavy?

Brass typically flows forward, so the necks get thicker not thinner.

Totally agree, if the anneal is uneven then it causes problems. A hand held torch is a recipe for disaster. That is why I made up a induction system after loosing cases from a hand held torch. It runs on a timer, 8 seconds power on, 10 seconds power off (unload & reload). 8 seconds of power on...

Or I could do a hinged hood.

I have heard of people stuck for 9.3X64B cases using belted magnum cases, turning off the belt and reducing the rim diameter to make brass. Aneal and full length resize and you have 9.3X64B substitute brass made from 338WM or 300WM brass. So ballistically you might as well get a 9.3X64B rifle...

Take 2, so far so good, no F ups. I have a better surface finish this time.

In my experience this is correct. I alway anneal Bertram brass before I use it, otherwise you will get some split cases. Especially if you are wanting to form it.

Rigby sell them

Traditionally they used a leather lace and tied the sling to the stud. It is a very effective connection and guaranteed to be silent.

The metal is now 95% in the wood.

Its official now! In Vic when you change calibre it needs to be documented and submitted by a registered gunsmith ( I am not). Bob De Vries has been very helpfull registering my weird arse cartridges (as he describes them). As part of the process he also laser etches the calibre onto the barrel.

Valid point, but as I would crown it myself we could negotiate the bill!

Overnight I thought of another way to machine the barrel band portion. I have an 8" 4Jaw chuck that I can clamp onto my rotary table for the mill. This is far more rigid than the other way I was thinking. The setup always takes alot longer than doing the cuts. It turned out pretty well. I am...

My wife found a new way to get messages to me when I am in the shed. Itg was a cool day here today.

I am not sure I want a hood on the front sight? What are your thoughts on a hood or no hood?

Well this one is going in the bin, after I finish machining it to proove the concept. When machining the profile, I did not lock the Y axis and at a point it self fed and ruined the profile. Profile You can see where the Y axis moved. The dovetail slot for the front sight all went well. But...

Agreed the adjustable reamers are a good option, if you have them. Unfortunately I don't, so I just had to use the dials on the lathe. The bore gauges used to measure the hole usually measure under the true dimension. Happy with the result - more importantly the sight base just slides onto the...

Started on the front sight base today. The bandsaw helps to hogg out the blank from the chunk of steel. Then I squared it up in the milling machine. Once squared, then chucked it up in the lathe using the 4 Jaw chuck to bore the barrel hole. The 5/8" drill measures out at 15.885mm and the...

Must of been a well fed snake! Probably all those rats living up in Canberra!

It has been a very mild winter, agree, they will be out soon enough.

Being a resident of Vic and having stood on 2 Eastern Browns & at least half a dozen Red Belly Blacks I always where snake proof gaitors and heavy trousers in the warmer months. I also carry a snake bandage and the next step is an EPIRB. When you are by yourself in the bush you don't have much...

McGowan is apparently going to use this method in the future, so it must be legit.

Does anyone have any experience of barrels manufactured using this method? Should produce a totally stress free barrel.

That is very mild loading - I get the same result out of my 416WSM!

Hmm. I went to University and got a degree in Manufacturing Systems and then worked 35 years in automotive design and supply. During the degree we had 1 subject which was in the machine shop using lathes and mills. I happened to get a High Destinction for that subject. I bought my first Chinese...

Contentious point that has been discussed on this forum. If my rifle extracts then I do not polish the chamber. I want the case to grip the chamber, and minimise the back thrust on the breach/bolt.

I would pay money for that Enfield - nicely done.

I wanted to get more weight into it. The butt screw was an obvious option. The easiest way to make a new 7/16UNC stud to the right length was to get 2, 7/16UNCX6" bolts and then machine a socket in 1 and a dowl in the other and then TIG weld together. The weight comes in the "nut" which I made...

Nice choice of calibre too.

I have 2X LEUPOLD VX-3HD 1.5-5X20. 1 is on my 9.3X64 Brenneke and the other is on my 416WSM. Very happy with them.

A previous project, build from a wreck bought for $105. Also have an IT200, Huzaberg 550 and another XS750

I have bought a few different 338 projectiles. Left is 225gr PPSN Woodleigh Middle is 250gr RNSN Bertram Right is 300gr RNSN Woodleigh It is going to be interesting if 1:10 twist can stablise the 300gr Woodleigh. That is one very long projectile, no wonder the 300gr in the 333Jeffery was...

New Caledonia have Rusa not Sambar

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-28/trump-tips-the-balance-towards-china-in-trade-war/106963830

Sambar stag venison backstrap crumbed with rappe pesto - magnificent

I took Remi for a walk in prime Sambar country. The main reason for the walk was to see If I could push a 4X4 track down to the river. Steep rough country. The dingos were howling up on that ridge in the left of this photo. The Sambar stags have been beating the hell out of the Sheaoak...

So you could post the photos here?

Got a link? I attempted to find it without success.

Forend is close to being on, final smoking in to do. At this point it is weighing 6.7Lbs, but that is without the butt stock screw and I am going to balance it out with a big steel nut to clamp in the butt stock to balance out the rifle. Hopefully I can get to 7lbs.

Yes, they did get considered, but I believe the 338-348Ackley Improved will get more use than the Alaskans would.

Totally agree, that getting the stock rough machined is good value for money, as long as you can find a pattern you are happy with. Going to make the barrel band sling mount as they don't take too long on the mill and rotary table. I now prefer the traditional lace on slings as they are very...

Yes, he has Geoff Slee's original pattern. I don't know of anyone else with a Siamese Mauser pattern in Australia. The Siamese Mauser is not exactly mainstream.