.400 Brown Whelen

[FrankG]

I chambered my .400 Brown Whelen yesterday and loaded one round with mild charge of 4895 and 320gr cast bullet to check my work . It formed perfect and no flattened or blown primer .

I would like to fire form the rest of my cases that were semi formed (straight) with light 700x charges ,polenta and tissue paper wads. Sized and trimmed but the case bodies aren't fully expanded.

I don't want to burn a bunch of 4895 forming these and was thinkin that maybe around 12 grs of Unique would do the job .

Anyone have any experience in this area ?

[shooter93]

If you have Designing and Forming Custom cartridges by Howell there is a very good explanation and formula in it for fire forming cases without any bullet at all.

[Old Coot]

I would just use 13 to 15 gr. of Red dot COW, and a wad of Toilet Paper to keep it all in. Fire straight up.
Brodie

[FrankG]

Ive already fireformed them with 700x to a straight case like a rimless 444 Marlin with polenta and tp wad in a bored out barrel . I sized them in the 400BW die to get the shoulder to headspace off of but the case body isn't fully formed .

I just tried 12.5 grs and 320gr boolit a bit ago and it isnt enough to expand case body outward to chamber wall .

Looks like using my 4895 charge under the boolit is needed for a complete expansion of case.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Frank: good to see this project progressing. Want to see the completed gun.

Randy

[FrankG]

Randy, Ill post some pics after I get stock whittled down .

[Von Gruff]

Watching this with interest. I have done my case forming with red dot and generally get well formed cases. I anneal the case then seat a bullet long for a jamb fit over 13gn RD in 30-40 krag brass to form to 303 Brit. This makes a good plinking load later.

[FrankG]

This is what I end up with.
On left is annealed neck/shoulder '06 case , center is fire formed in bored straight 2.5" chamber to make a straight case with 700x and cream of wheat,right is case after annealing ,sizing and fire forming with medium charge of 4895 and 325 gr cast boolit.

After last fire form process the case ends up a few thou over 2.5" so they can be trimmed to 2.485"

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b74/ModocWrangler/400%20Whelen/DSCN1523_zpsf495d999.jpg (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/ModocWrangler/media/400%20Whelen/DSCN1523_zpsf495d999.jpg.html)

[Stephen Cohen]

I used 18gr of AS30 or as you guys know it H Clays toped with wheat germ or similar and cap with wax, That filled out cases no worries.

[saz]

Interested, very interested.

[taco650]

What kind of rifle is this?

I'll have to agree with the suggestion to use a faster powder than 700X. Got any Unique?

I'm also looking forward to seeing the finished product.

[FrankG]

Mauser 1908 action 24" Douglas barrel 1:16" twist .400"x.412" bore-groove.

I had a Commercial FN stock from late 50's that I traded for ,so I put it to use. It needs refinishing that will come later.
Metal will get cleaned up and cold blued with Brownells Cream .

I cut, bent and welded bolt like a FN sweep.

Just finished putting some acraglas gel under recoil lug and in front of action for about 2" .

Be ready to try some 4895 loads in a few days and fully form cases on firing. That's been doing a good job on my test subjects.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b74/ModocWrangler/400%20Whelen/DSCN1527_zps10438681.jpg (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/ModocWrangler/media/400%20Whelen/DSCN1527_zps10438681.jpg.html)

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b74/ModocWrangler/400%20Whelen/DSCN1528_zps650a9db2.jpg (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/ModocWrangler/media/400%20Whelen/DSCN1528_zps650a9db2.jpg.html)

[taco650]

NICE!! That will slam a Rocky Mt Elk with ease! What bullet weight do you plan to run?

[FrankG]

A 325gr cast . Need to mix some 50/50 WW/pure lead water dropped to try .

[FrankG]

Well I think it is going to shoot . I slipped out after cold bluing and assembling it and fired off three rounds with 40.5 grs 4895 and 325gr cast . Noticed target was upside down after shooting . At any rate I need a shorter front site.

I just shot offhand standing at 25 yds. Ill go to range next week early morning when its quiet and empty !!

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b74/ModocWrangler/400%20Whelen/DSCN1529_zps079bb5ec.jpg (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/ModocWrangler/media/400%20Whelen/DSCN1529_zps079bb5ec.jpg.html)

[zuke]

So far,so great!
I was thinking of building one of those year's ago but put it on the back burner. Now you have me thinking again!

[taco650]

Interesting target holder LOL! Shoot it at 50 yards before adjusting that front sight too much. Nice grouping so far.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Frank: Good to see this one coming to fruition, and I have to say I am thrilled that you chose to put a Redfield Receiver sight on this one instead of a big clunky scope.

We are all waiting patiently for finished pics! Looks real proper so far.

I'm looking for a Springfield 03A3 to do the same way except I'll probably have the existing barrel rebored and rifled.

Randy

[FrankG]

Randy , I have another in the works on Springfield 03 Mk1 action .Waiting on throater for the 405x412 barrel so I can use same reamer as used on 400x410 barrel . Thinking of cutting barrel at 26" on it .

[saz]

I need one with a 22" barrel on a ruger #1!

[W.R.Buchanan]

I have always been partial to the looks of a long barreled Bolt Action Rifle with Iron Sights. It just screams "Adventure!" 26" is great and the only reason for a 24" bbl is you can't add 2" to a Springfield barrel!

I have a pic of Ernest Hemmingway slinged up in the sitting position shooting his G&H Springfield Sporter with a Lyman #48 rear sight. Probably circa 1930.

Pictures of men on horseback with pack mules and knee high boots heading to the high country with Elmer Keith and Townsend Whelen leading the way.

All of these adventures were built around these rifles, and it's too bad they can't talk. The stories they would tell.

You are helping to keep this alive with these guns, and these guns will outlast us all. Just make sure when you pass them on that the new owners know the whole story of how and why they were built.. So much gets lost with the passing of time.

Just look at the whole .400 Whelen Story and how it got convoluted.

Randy