D
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I am a firm believer in controlled round feed, fixed ejector, claw extractor actions for hunting rifles. I was influenced heavily this way in Zimbabwe and Alaska and the writers I followed like Finn Aagard and his ilk.
Having grown up under the teachings of father P.O. Ackley and Reverend Roy Weatherby I am naturally, also, an unrepentant speed freak / velocity whore
. I have seen first hand many times the effects of hydraulic overload and 'secondary projectiles' when massive velocity plus a great bullet hit game animals. But, I DO also now recognize and appreciate strides and measurable benefits made in the world of high BC projectiles. So for me, a new cartridge and rifle were warranted. Even if one had not been, shall we say, warranted, what's the fun in that! this has been a fun 3 year project!I have always believed that life is too short to hunt with ugly (plastic and unfinished stainless) rifles, as well.
But being the speed freak I am, I wanted in on the crazy fast 26 Nosler numbers, but with a standard length CRF etc action, so I went to work on a new wildcat. This meant a cartridge that was under a certain length, and also not so fat as to have to re work the feed rails too much. After trying a few formulas, I ended with the cartridge shown, which I call the .264 Claiborne Super. I used super in the name because this cartridge closely resembles the excellent old 7mm Mashburn Super that Warren Page toted all over the world and with which I have some experience.
The new cartridge is atmots heart a fairly radically modified 300 Winchester Magnum case. The shoulder is moved forward, case taper reduced to a bare minimum for function according to Dave Kiff's formula, and necked down to .264/6.5.
From my 28" Bemchmark barrel I am running Moly'ed 127gr Barnes LRX bullets to a hair over 3700fps with US869 lit by Winchester large rifle magnum primers. This makes my old
Boomer heart very happy
The rifle started life as a 1958 Winchester model 70 Weaterner in .264 Winchester Magnum. Thusly, The conversion then to this cartridge was little more than a barrel swap and my new stock. I love the simplicity and reliability of the standard model 70 'two levers and a spring' trigger, and Wayne York of Oregon Gunsmithing was able to polish and tune it down to a crisp 2lb pull. Lovely for a hunting rifle.
Stock is a custom chunk of Walnut and Rosewood shaped, checkered and finished by Marv Corbin of Eminence Missouri. I am very pleased with the end result and it feels terrific in my hands. I have size 4x hands, but love the feel of a slender grip and foreshtock.
Quid pro quo/caveat etc. Long range to me is 300-600 yards. On game, this is as far as I trust
Myself shooting. Others can do better, but I know my limits and am happy to hunt within them.
So far two elk and one good sized mule deer buck have been, shall we say, terminally impressed by my new/old setup.
