After several months of research online I have just about talked myself into a second barrel for my Stevens 44 1/2 single shot rifle. This action was pretty much designed around the 32-40 round but research shows a few were made in 30-40 Krag. I have decided that I would use the 303 Savge for a parent case and move the shoulder forward and increase the shoulder diameter creating a 303 Improved. This case has a base diameter smaller than the 30-40 and larger than the 30-30 so it is a happy medium which will result in a 30-30 AI on steroids. Could somebody please look in AckLey Handbooks to see if there are case dimensions given. My Quickload shows a case capacity of 50 grains. Now the first thing everyone will say is why? 303 brass is available, I will order a custom sizing die no matter what wildcat I choose, and will use my Vickerman die for seating. My first step is going to buy some brass and seat a bullet to measure what my neck diameter will be and to measure what my throat should be. Any other steps before I contact PTG for a reamer? Thanks. Tom
need help from PO Ackley Handbook
- Thread starter Bulseyetom
- Start date
It is the 303 Savage Improved I am hunting for. The Stevens 44 1/2 is very capable of handling this wildcat. One reason for selecting this particular cartridge is that factory rounds are only loaded to 34000 psi I believe. Tom
bigedp51
CPA Stevens 44 1/2
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?178085-CPA-Stevens-44-1-2
Quote from post #14 below.
"The CPA action is designed for use with black powder or black powder equivalent loads developing no more than 30,000 psi.
NOTE: The CPA action is newly manufactured and still limited to 30,000 psi
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?178085-CPA-Stevens-44-1-2
Quote from post #14 below.
"The CPA action is designed for use with black powder or black powder equivalent loads developing no more than 30,000 psi.
NOTE: The CPA action is newly manufactured and still limited to 30,000 psi
So far nobody has mentioned if the case dimensions are in the handbook. I am not sure where the Sammi pressure of 49000 came from but that is for a 303 British and not a 303 Savage which my search reveals 34000 cup. The new CPA action is available in 225 Winchester as well as numerous other modern cases. I realize a Stevens is not as strong but ce from the factory in 30-40 Lrag as well as 30-30 Wcf. The 44 1/2 action was used to create the 25 Krag which was the forerunner of the 257 Roberts. My current 44 1/2 is fitted with a 6mm 30/30 Improved and has functioned for 30 years. I am not talking of loading to 50,000 psi here but 34000. I just really want to know if there are dimensions for an Improved 303 Savage for a starting point in one of Ackley's Handbooks. I appreciate the fact that nobody wants me to build an unsafe rifle. Tom
Tom. I found dimensions by Googling: .303 Ackley Improved. This leads to a Wiki P.O. Ackley page that lists case dimensions for all of Ackley's cartridges. The drawing there is in Metric so you'll need to use the conversion factor of Millimeters X .03937 = inches. Have fun 
...............Sounds like a project you might co-op with BIGED ???
...............Sounds like a project you might co-op with BIGED ???Thanks Gotcha. Do you have a link to that site? I cannot find that page to save my sorry posterior! Tom
Sorry Tom, Maybe try .303 British Ackley improved case dimension. I actually used Yahoo but playing with the words should give you results and eventually lead you to the Wiki-pedia P.O. Ackley page. Or perhaps some one here that is able to post the link (I can't) would be kind enough to help. Hint Hint ;D
The 303 British is a completely different cartridge than the 303 Savage. And yes those are the books I was hoping might have some information on an improved 303 Savage. Is there load information for a 303 Improved in one of the Handbook's? If not I would think it has not been tried yet
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
I know people like projects and i can really appreciate it, but just cause brass is available doesnt make it a good option. Great Brass is available for hundreds of cartridges
Brians356
Silver $$ Contributor
I've only got Ackley's Volume 1, and while he lists 303 Savage data, he does not list 303 Savage Improved. And, no case dimensions are provided in this book anyway.
Ken Howell provides case dimensions for the parent 303 Savage in his book, but it sounds like you already know those.
Ken Howell provides case dimensions for the parent 303 Savage in his book, but it sounds like you already know those.
I don't recall that Ackley ever did much with the 303 Savage. I don't recall any 303 Savage improved being listed in either of the two volumes from either Ackley or anyone else. So that said. There are many suitable rimmed cartridges that would be interesting to play with. One that comes to mind is a 7x57R. If it was also Ackley improved, but still with the rim, I think it would be a fun and interesting combination. The Euro specs for the R series is less than the rimless pressure wise.
I am looking at the 7x57R for a Borchardt action. The reason I s elected the 303 savage case is at 0.442 base it is smaller than the Krag and the 7x57R by enough to cause less pressure on the breech block. The case is larger than the 30-30 so for equal pressure I can exceed 30-30AI velocities. Also since it is a long way between hardware stores where you can buy a box of 303 Savage shells it will be a handloading only proposition. I could load it with pistol powder and develop 100000 psi but by being a prudent handloader and keeping the pressures reasonable this will be a nice rifle to hunt any animal in the lower 48. People always question why go to the trouble and expense when easier rounds will work. This is a hobby and I look forward to creating the brass and all the time spent in my reloading room. Thanks to all that responded. I will call PTG and give them my idea and let them make me a reamer. I am looking toward a 0.420 shoulder and a 25 degree neck resulting in a neck probably .310 long. Tom
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