I want to build a rock chucker!

[Morelia6]

Hello folks I’m now to the forum and I came here hopefully to get some advice.

as the title says I want to build a rock chucker, a rifle with a short barrel and a cartridge that’ll throw heavy bullets slowly.

move mostly been looking at thing based off a 6/7/30BR case like .338BR (whisper) and was wondering would a Redding full length bushing die work or would it need to be a neck bushing die?

Other things I’ve considered are necking up the BR case to 9.3 to mimic a 9x39 with a .308 bolt face (but can’t get big enough bushings) or even necking it up to 8mm…

many options for a universal necking die or something I could use until I get custom dies?? Any other options welcomed needs to be .308 bolt face.

cheers.

 

[hpshooter]

I want to build a rock chucker, a rifle with a short barrel and a cartridge that’ll throw heavy bullets slowly.


If you want to throw rocks instead of gravel you may want to consider a .458x2

 

[Morelia6]

I thought about .458 socom and .510 WSM but concerned about feeding from ACIS magazines.

 

[rockhound78]

You could also make a 35 Br. Many more bullets available. Also, look at the 45 Raptor

 

[Morelia6]

You could also make a 35 Br. Many more bullets available. Also, look at the 45 Raptor

I like the .45 Raptor but really wish it was .458 not .452, 35BR is also a option.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

458x2 or the 450 Hornady - the same thing in a factory case. Works well. Mind you, I lost my shades with the recoil on the first shot in a modified 303 No4. Landed in the nettles behind me. Wicked bush gun though - 18in barrel. I eventually sold it to a guy who did home kill butchery, so it's probably shot a lot of beef by now.

 

[Bill K]

Get yourself a good old fashioned 45-70. Henry makes some fine repeaters. That cartridge will do everything you want.

 

[Morelia6]

Get yourself a good old fashioned 45-70. Henry makes some fine repeaters. That cartridge will do everything you want.

Honestly I was going to sell my Tikka T3 and buy a Marlin 1895 but I decided I want to do something I’ve always wanted to do a build a rifle off the T3.

 

[Treerat-sniper]

.358 or .375 Whisper? There was a thread on the .375 Whisper here a few years back... Barrel life should be forever.

 

[Morelia6]

.358 or .375 Whisper? There was a thread on the .375 Whisper here a few years back... Barrel life should be forever.

Talking to my gunsmith and as much as I’d like a 9x39 copy a .375BR sounds like a better option.

 

[Fuj]

Shorten a 350 Legend

 

[dellet]

If you are going with a .308 bolt face, .470” rim, you might consider one of the many cartridges from JDJones based on the 444 Marlin.

The 44 magnum based cartridges are essentially a rimmed 308 base diameter case of .470” . This allows you to use off the shelf dies. 444 case length is between 308 and 30-06 at 2.225”.
Al you have to do is run the .308 case into the 444 based die of your choice.

A lot of what Jones did was tailored to short barrels.

 

[Spook]

Talking to my gunsmith and as much as I’d like a 9x39 copy a .375BR sounds like a better option.

I can get you into a Howa in 338 whisper, or 375 whisper and die sets pretty quickly if you have an interest?
Also, I do both 338 and 375 off the grendle case if you want to be even more efficient.

 

[darkangel_r2]

I'd suggest a 308 family cartridge. Standard dies, lots of data, easy component availability.

338 federal is actually quite a competent cartridge. The light bullets easily fit a 2.86 or 2.96 mag length and you have the option of tough bonded bullets (ex. nosler partitions) that won't fall apart unless you hit the trunk of a tree or some slipperier bullets (ex. 230 eldx) to reach a little further. You can use the fastest 308win powders for reloading so it will get a complete burn in a short 16-20" barrel.

358 winchester is also a fairly competent cartridge. Id say less so than 338 federal but if you want heavy and slow in an aics mag and 308 bolt face this is about as big as I would suggest.

 

[DiffEQ]

Find an old rifled Ithaca Deerslayer in 12, 16, 20 or 28 gauge. Shorten the barrel. Throw slugs.
Buddy has one for his wife with MS, loads the shells for reduced recoil, alternates 00 buck and slug in the mag tube. I understand she's a good shot from the hip.

Get an old smooth bore and you could pack the shell with rocks, and have a *true* rock chucker.

 

[RandyB]

358 Gremlin AKA 6.5 Grendel necked up to 358

 

[Morelia6]

358 Gremlin AKA 6.5 Grendel necked up to 358

A grendel/x39 based case was considered but I have a .308 bolt face so would require a new bolt or heavy modification

 

[Fuj]

Well with that .308 bolt face, how about looking at a pistol
cartridge such as the .44 Auto Mag ?? Cases would be a cheap
date, by just shortening .308's or any of the .473 based cases.
Then you could cast any weight bullet you desire. With the
speeds you could hit, use gas checks, and your gold. .....

Now switching gears, and since the 45/70 was mentioned.
I always liked the 44/40, and especially the black powder loads.
another plus when smokeless powders become nada on the
shelves.

 

[AlNyhus]

Make it easy for yourself and do a simple 338 Federal. Available dies, lots of ways to go for cases, huge range of bullet weights, 308W based case works with your bolt face, will feed reliably and you can load it up or down.

Good shootin'. -Al

 

[matthias]

375 socom is a pretty interesting cartridge with a standard bolt face.