Opening a can of Worms.

[aspangler]

I am ready to start my next project and would like some input as to what caliber rifle and why to make for a cast only gun. Yeah I know. That's why I titled it opening a can of worms. Just looking for something to shoot and maybe hunt deer to about 100 yards. Suggestions please.

[nagantguy]

With current ammo, parts and components shortages i would suggest one of those bad@.ss .50 cal air guns.

[waksupi]

Nothing to debate. .358 Winchester. 'Nuff said!

[quilbilly]

If you are patient and a good shot, most anything legal will work. If I wasn't muzzleloading for deer, I would have to decide between a 7mm TCU carbine , 30/30, or my 357 max carbine (all with cast boolits of course) for the local black tail deer around my neighborhood since virtually every shot would be under 100 yards.

[DeanWinchester]

Nothing to debate. .358 Winchester. 'Nuff said!

Heck yeah!

[Artful]

I am ready to start my next project and would like some input as to what caliber rifle and why to make for a cast only gun. Yeah I know. That's why I titled it opening a can of worms. Just looking for something to shoot and maybe hunt deer to about 100 yards. Suggestions please.

Well you have not said what kind of action you want it built on... If using a standard Mauser type 358 Winchester is hard to beat - you have a huge selection of molds to choose from - I myself have from 105 to 290 grains, if you want to use heavy boolits slowly you need to look for a faster twist.

If you already have molds in a particular caliber like 30 I would look for something to use those. If going for a single shot rifle I'd look for a rimmed case (30-30, 357 Maximum, 375 Big bore, 45-70)

Really to make a best guess we need more info as to what kind of rifle your looking for. You could just pick up a Ruger Gunsite or Savage Hog hunter in 308 or a nice Military surplus SMLE - lots of options

[aspangler]

Lookin at a 98 Mauser action. Barrel would be a blank that I would turn crown and thread myself. Also chamber it myself. I can do all this as I am apprenticed to a gunsmith. Any more info needed?

[WILCO]

Lookin at a 98 Mauser action. Barrel would be a blank that I would turn crown and thread myself. Also chamber it myself. I can do all this as I am apprenticed to a gunsmith.

In the June, 1987 American Rifleman, Finn Aagaard wrote of sporterizing an ex-Israeli M98K Mauser in .308 Winchester. That cartridge works well by my standards, with plenty of cast boolit data, moulds, brass, dies and a wide range of powders available. No sense in re-inventing the wheel.

[leftiye]

What will kill well at 250 yards will also kill in closer. So your question left it wide open. If you want something that works only out to 100 yards, then .44 mag will work well. As was said .358 Win. or Whelen ain't too bad, .375 H&H is outstanding, .30-30 and on and on. For a Mauser 98 action, anything on an 06 case would be fine.

[6.5 mike]

I just finished doing the same thing. 1905 DWM action, A&B 7x57 bbl, custom raised panel stock, Redfield rings & base, & 3x9 Burris scope. It shoots the lee 130 gr very well with no feeding issues, haven't tried the soup can yet. One of the members was kind enough to loan me his RCBS 168 gr mold that drops a 176 gr boolit for heavies. And Rick, 358 would be a great choice if I didn't have a 35 Whelen on a 1909 agry action, lol. Got a 1.5 x 4.5 balvar scope for fathers day, now to find a mount & make it an old style classic.

[Wolfer]

The next 98 I build I plan on chambering in 9x57. This lets me find molds easily and it will need minimal feed rail work. I've been deer hunting with cast in my 30 cal's and see no problem but I personally think 35 cal is where cast really starts to shine.

[TXGunNut]

Lots of good choices, quite partial to the 35 Rem, 35 Whelen and would seriously consider the 358 Winchester for this project. Why? Because there's something about a flat-pointed +/- 200 gr boolit loping along at 2000-2400 fps that hogs and deer just can't resist.

[RobS]

Lots of good choices, quite partial to the 35 Rem, 35 Whelen and would seriously consider the 358 Winchester for this project. Why? Because there's something about a flat-pointed +/- 200 gr boolit loping along at 2000-2400 fps that hogs and deer just can't resist.

Quite funny really........deer and hogs dream of 35 Cal. boolits like the rest of us CB folks :). I would say if you are going to then 35 cal or up; I'm a 375 H&H guy myself but the 35 Whelen would be good as would a 358 Win.

[TCLouis]

98 action . . .

With a good barrel just stick with 8X57 and find a mold for 175grain plus boolit.

If you are gonna rebarrel anyway I think the early vote for 358 has to be a winner.

338 Federal may work for you also.

[colt1960]

If I were going to pick a cal. to shoot and hunt deer out to about 100 yards I would choose the 45-70 loaded to trap door levels. Rick!

[runfiverun]

i'm having a kinda 30X57 built right now.....
I think that would qualify to fit your question.

it's on a mauser action so I need to do nothing but barrel and chamber.
plus whatever stuff it takes to make the rifle more accurate.

[nanuk]

9.5 x 57

should work with little tweaking and would be a fantastic round out to 200yds, and you'd probably be the only one who has one.

either that or a 12ga with punkin balls.

[MT Gianni]

i'm having a kinda 30X57 built right now.....
I think that would qualify to fit your question.

it's on a mauser action so I need to do nothing but barrel and chamber.
plus whatever stuff it takes to make the rifle more accurate.

You are my new hero, R5R. I have always said that is the one wildcat that should have been.
You could also rely on a custom mold and go with 338 Federal, 9x57, 9.3x57, 375-308 or 375/06. For a real interesting cast only gun use a diameter for the 32 special on a x57 case.

[Beerd]

recommendations so far:

.50 air rifle
.358 Winchester
7mm TCU
30-30
.357 Maximum
.375 Winchester
47/70
.308 Winchester
.44 Magnum
.375 H & H
7 X 57
9 X 57
35 Remington
35 Whelen
8 X 57
338 Federal
.30 X 57
9.5 X 57
12 gauge
9.3 X 57
.375-308
.375-06
.32 X 57

(that sure narrows it down for ya)[smilie=s:
..

[aspangler]

I'm surprized no one has said 30-06.:bigsmyl2:

[Driver man]

I'm a fan of the SMLE in 303. Cast boolit hunting out to 100 yards fits this rifle and calibre perfectly. The rifle lends itself to a rapid follow up shot, has a good selection of moulds to select from, is suitably accurate and is ruggedly reliable under all hunting conditions. I have hunted the length and breadth of NZ with the same 303 for over 40 years and as long as you stalk your game and get close ,place your shot well there is little game this calibre can't harvest.

[1Shirt]

Not a bad recommendation in the bunch. Flip a coin on the top numbers listed and you would probably come out ok. If I had to pick my druthers of the top three in my gun rack, they would be 375H&H, 45-70, and 7x57 for what ever that is worth.
1Shirt!

[TXGunNut]

Will a 45-70 fit in this action?

[DrCaveman]

Hey Ill bite:

30-06

Ive shot some 160 gr to great accuracy at pretty high speeds, but i am focusing on 200 gr now and accuracy is coming to me. Its been slower velocity than i hoped, since i dont have the full fit down yet, but its happening around 1800 fps for me.

Since this cartidge digests my 150 gr cast up to my 200 gr cast pretty well, and if i want to suck eggs and load up my store bought jacketed and nail sub-MOA with very little tweaking required, its hard to beat in my arsenal.

I would actually vote for 30-30 though because of the long neck, and the desired range you have stated. 170 gr pills do awful well in that one, and there are dozens of molds to choose from. Pretty moderate powder usage to boot, and gentle shooting

[dbosman]

Your question made me do some thinking and research. Thank you.
Do you want a project or a challenge?
For a project the .358 Win would be my suggestion.
If you want a challenge, a .358 Win you'd be proud to auctioned off to pay for your tools.

[aspangler]

Will a 45-70 in this action?

I already have a 45-70 built on the MN action. Shoots great. I am leaning toward the 06 because I have brass,dies, and boolits. ( molded for the 30-30) BTW 45-70 won't work in a '98 action. (made for a rimless cartridge)

[helice]

Before I read that you were building on a Mauser bolt I had a short list:
Single Shot: H&R Handi in 357 Max.
Lever Gun: M-94 or M-336 in 35-30-30
Bolt Gun: Mauser in either .358X57 or the 9.3X57 Hey! the guides are already set up for the 55mm ctg.
Unless you have a Siamese Mauser then go 45-70

But I also can't fault TCLouis on his bid for the 8X57 or R5R on his 7.62X57. I do like the X57 case. I have a Remington M-600 in 6mm that I am giving serious thought to setting up in .358X57 or 9.3X57. What ever you decide, Please take lots of pictures and share them with us. You'll make it fun for folks like me who can only dream of making a gun like that.

[pmeisel]

How about 444 Marlin? 240 grains at 1300-1600 fps. Go to 290 grains with gas check at 1900 fps if there are bears around.

Or 30/30, can't go wrong there.

[Larry Gibson]

I am ready to start my next project and would like some input as to what caliber rifle and why to make for a cast only gun. Yeah I know. That's why I titled it opening a can of worms. Just looking for something to shoot and maybe hunt deer to about 100 yards. Suggestions please.

As mentioned the 358 Win with a 14 or 16" twist will fill the bill. I prefer the slightly smaller case of the 35 Remington with a 16" twist though. I used a Shilen barrel to rebarrel a M91 Argentine rifle to 35 Remington. Using the 200 gr RCBS 35-200-FN it is very deadly on deer. The myrid of 38/357 bullets make for great plinging also. It is an excellent cast bullet cartridge. Photo is of a nice white tail I shot with mine down texas way at around 90 yards with the RCBS bullet at 2150 fps.

Larry Gibson

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[Cosmiceyes]

358 Winchester! :)'s

[Aunegl]

Any caliber you can hit a can of worms with consistently, at a 100 yards.

[roberto mervicini]

Aspangler, if you start your project with a 98 action, you have multiple choice, however if the action is barreled and the bore is good 8x57cartridge is excellent as is, if you want more punch with minimal investment ream a new chamber 8x64, take some 06 brass, open the neck with .35 expander followed by full length resize with 8x64 die, trim and load. the .35 shoulder will head space the cartridge while fire form the first time. Use lower to middle data to reload while fire form, after that reload normally, this will give you a little better performance than the 06. No need to alter the magazine or the feeding ramp.
I use 196 grain tip on mine over a healthy charge of IMR4831. If you need a new barrel cost is going up but choice are multiple....

Larry Gibson, nice conversion your M91 Argentinian to 35 Rem.!

[Dean D.]

I'm a .35 Whelen fan. Never shot the .358 Win but understand they are fairly close in performance. One of my Uncles built one based on a 98 Mauser and it is a shooter. Which ever caliber you choose....enjoy!

[TXGunNut]

When are you starting? At least a few of us would like to follow this project, please keep us posted.

[aspangler]

When are you starting? At least a few of us would like to follow this project, please keep us posted.
Not started yet. When I do I'll start a thread and let you know how it is going. This will be my third build. First was a 8mm Mauser with Boyd's stock that I stippled and Boyd's trigger set to a crisp 2 lbs.
Second was a MN action with a 45-70 barrel. This will be my deer rifle this fall.
Both like cast boolits.

[rexherring]

I was going to say that anything you can make out of a .308 or .30-06 case should work. Twist rate will depend on what caliber and weight boolit you choose.

[Three44s]

Like the .338-06!

Best regards

Three 44s

[geargnasher]

Lookin at a 98 Mauser action. Barrel would be a blank that I would turn crown and thread myself. Also chamber it myself. I can do all this as I am apprenticed to a gunsmith. Any more info needed?

This seems to be the operative post here. Since we all know that nearly anything that can be loaded to hit a tin can at 100 will fill the bill with a reasonably appropriate alloy, it seems to me that the solution lies in something likely to FEED from the magazine and through a '98 action without a lot of trickery. There are no flies on the 7x57, 8x57, .35 Remington, etc. and all will feed through the gun. Cartridges based on the .308 Winchester body can be a little more finicky, but the rails can be tweaked to properly feed them.

One reason Runfiverun mentioned the "30x57" wildcat (several of us are doing this short-chambered .30-'06) is that it is a simply ideal for getting the most out of cast boolits and the '98 action with existing reamers, plentiful brass, and factory dies requiring only simple modifications. One could also make a .35x57 that would feed wonderfully by short-chambering with a .35 Whelen reamer, essentially a .358 Winchester with a more tapered case (lengthens the burn curve of most powders slightly, an advantage for accurate launching of cast boolits), longer neck (adds to boolit weight options), and again inexpensive brass and a die set you can buy cheaply and merely shorten by .254" for the purpose. Just something to think about.

Gear

[9.3X62AL]

You already have an 8 x 57, which would have been my first choice. It is no slouch in the game fields, and does fine things with cast boolits.

The 9 x 57 or 9.5 x 57 seem like good options. The 9.3mm does good work, but gas check shanks vary between mould makers. The 9 and 9.5 don't have that issue.