Powder shortage hibernation

[davidjoe]

When energy sources are scarce, the big bodies have to slow down. My big McMillan/BAT .375 Cheytac, .408 Cheytac and 50 BMG bench rest with a 5 inch fore end remain quiet, but they are good for pictures, and the barrels sure are lasting. This is equally true of the less photogenic factory single shots, the .416 and AR 50’s.

The difference between a 2-1/2 inch diameter BAT EX action and a 2 inch model L action in .375 Cheytac is 6 pounds, versus 13.5.




The 2-1/2 EX uses standard 5/32 action screws, but to affix the picatinny rail. It uses four huge action screws, shown next to a standard, and the bolt for the EX is much longer than the whole Bat L long action.







A 2 inch action is not small, either. The .408 Cheytac is built on a 2 inch action with a 2 inch straight barrel. A Remington tactical contour shows how big a two inch barrel or action really is,




The Cheytacs easily burn 125 grains of powder per shot and the 50 is approaching double that amount, which just its primer costing $1.25, or about what 3 rounds of factory .223 can be bought for.



With barrels and bullets in reserve I’m unfortunately oversupplied, given the way the ELR matches outlook remains. But with powder supplies slowly improving, the .375 makes some sense to resume shooting. The .408, like some of my “F-Unlimited” guns, awaits a rule change, lol.

 

[JLT]

That's some serious iron, David. I almost hesitate to ask - What does that .50 with the giant BAT action weigh?

I'm guessing the .408 is wearing a 12-42 NXS. It looks small on that rifle!

Beautiful rifles.

 

[1911mag]

Nice rigs

 

[davidjoe]

That's some serious iron, David. I almost hesitate to ask - What does that .50 with the giant BAT action weigh?

I'm guessing the .408 is wearing a 12-42 NXS. It looks small on that rifle!

Beautiful rifles.

Thank you, JLT, with no scope that 50 Bench gun indicated ~43 pounds and the .408 indicated 48.5 with it’s scope (8-32 NSX, I still like the old NSX series, even when I see deals today).

The .408 could make the 50 pound limit of most ELR matches but not the KO2M match, which is 40. That’s ok though because the .375 has both a higher velocity and BC solid, and at 28.2 pounds, it would have almost 12 pounds to put into a big bipod, scope, and rings which means no limits at all.

I worked directly with Kelly on ordering and inletting the 50 and finished it in 2018. (Richard King chambered up the barreled action before I even had a stock, and Phil Burr handled both of the Bat L’s.) That gun loves Hornady factory match ammo with the 750 (original) A-tip.

 

[Retired shooter]

Big boy toys. Very nice.!

 

[Tucker65]

I used to have a 50 bmg built on one of those 2" Bat actions. Those actions were smooth as silk and cycling the bolt was like closing a vault door.

I bought a bunch of surplus powder from Bartlett's to play around with. While I probably could have gotten more speed out of a different powder it shot excellent with the surplus powder. I was blown away with the group I shot with it @ 200 yards. And on a windy day I shot a great group @ 1000 with it also.

Rifle is long gone now but was fun to play with while I had it.

 

[SKWERLZ]

I’ve had no issues finding slow powders for the bigger magnums.

 

[nakneker]

Impressive!

 

[Geno C]

You say energy sources are scarce but Bruno’s just put H50bmg on sale

 

[Geno C]

2” barrels really are massive! Bought this specifically so I can chamber the big 2s

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

What powders are you having trouble getting?

i’m going to attempt to make a few powder swaps to some of the more available powders (ramshot LRT, viht 24n41, viht 20n29)

 

[davidjoe]

H-1000 has been slow to come back. Retumbo is very close to its burn rate, and it’s also scarce, still. But H-1000 starts working at a saum’s capacity up to Cheytacs, which makes it attractive. The tier just above the very slowest powders still seems to be bought up instantly.

 

[cuznguido]

Would say something witty, but drooling too bad.