WTB .280 Dubiel Die Set

PNW Skipper

Silver $$ Contributor
Recently acquired this Dubiel barreled rifle built for Elmer Keith in 1936. It is chambered in .280 Dubiel, a 1930's wildcat cartridge based on the 300 H&H. I am looking for a set of dies, a steer to potential sources, possible alternate die sets that could be adapted, or even a set of dimensioned drawings for .280 Dubiel dies.

I am aware of Strobl as a potential resource and have an enquiry in to them since they only list the .276 Dubiel Magnum die set.
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Recently acquired this Dubiel barreled rifle built for Elmer Keith in 1936. It is chambered in .280 Dubiel, a 1930's wildcat cartridge based on the 300 H&H. I am looking for a set of dies, a steer to potential sources, possible alternate die sets that could be adapted, or even a set of dimensioned drawings for .280 Dubiel dies.

I am aware of Strobl as a potential resource and have an enquiry in to them since they only list the .276 Dubiel Magnum die set.
View attachment 1516963
Good luck with search
 
I don’t have what you need, but I wonder if you can tell me what makes this cartridge different from the 280 O.K.H.? I have Elmer Keith’s rifle in that chambering. There is a lot of misinformation about these two and the 30-06 based 7mm.
 
Quick web search shows PTG has a resizing reamer available. Is Forster still making the oddball dies? I know RCBS no longer is.
 
I'm sorry, I have seen the 280 OKH mentioned online, but I don't have any authoritative info on it.

My source for authoritative info on the 280 Dubiel is J. J. Donnelly's Handloaders Manual of Cartridge Conversions.

It does not list the 280 OKH, only the 285 OKH.

Sorry to be no more help.
 
Congratulations on your find!!
I shot that rifle about forty or so years ago on a visit to Mr Keith and Don Mijahelovic (Sp?, Keith's gunsmith late in his life).

The OKH, iirc, was on the 30-06 case; O'Neill, Keith, and Haskins were the create ors.

I am envious... The Ten Commandments say that coveting is a sin; and I am definitely guilty on this rifle.

I would bet a yankee dollar that FL sizing a 300 H&H and then easing it into a 7STW FL die would create a round that might chamber.

Wow...

ISS
 
Do a chamber cast, that will give you dimensions. Looks like a 1903 Springfield action?
 
I did some searching and found out that the Dubiel and O.K.H. cartridges are very similar, and that your rifle is (likely) pictured on page 269 in Elmer Keith’s book “Rifles for Large Game”
 

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Wait until you pull the barreled action out of the stock. If I am correct you will find that the box is composed of two straight plates, one on each side, and two U-shaped plates, one at the front and rear. They are riveted to the side plates. The companies that built H&H Magnum rifles would drill out the rivets and turn the U-shaped pieces around then re-rivet them. That would make the box long enough for the 300 and 375 loaded rounds, and wildcat custom cartridges like your 280. Simple fix, and rather inexpensive. I had a 505 Gibbs that was built by Gibbs that was done that way.

ISS
 
Congratulations on your find!!
I shot that rifle about forty or so years ago on a visit to Mr Keith and Don Mijahelovic (Sp?, Keith's gunsmith late in his life).

The OKH, iirc, was on the 30-06 case; O'Neill, Keith, and Haskins were the create ors.

I am envious... The Ten Commandments say that coveting is a sin; and I am definitely guilty on this rifle.

I would bet a yankee dollar that FL sizing a 300 H&H and then easing it into a 7STW FL die would create a round that might chamber.

Wow...

ISS
This should work.
 
Wait until you pull the barreled action out of the stock. If I am correct you will find that the box is composed of two straight plates, one on each side, and two U-shaped plates, one at the front and rear. They are riveted to the side plates. The companies that built H&H Magnum rifles would drill out the rivets and turn the U-shaped pieces around then re-rivet them. That would make the box long enough for the 300 and 375 loaded rounds, and wildcat custom cartridges like your 280. Simple fix, and rather inexpensive. I had a 505 Gibbs that was built by Gibbs that was done that way.

ISS
There won't be any box. It's set up as a single shot, with not even a stiffening plate or a loading platform. You look thru the base of the receiver at bare wood where the 1917 magazine would have been!

Good thing it's a stout barrel, because there's not going to be any stiffening provided by that receiver!

Phil
 
curiosity may not have killed the cat; but it has been bugging me all week. I have to attend a gun show tomorrow, but I may have to sacrifice a couple of my 300 H&H cases to run thru my 7 STW FL die and see how they look. If they come out looking decent I will send you a couple. No magazine? That is odd since it had one, IIRC when I saw it at Keith's house about forty years ago.

ISS
 
curiosity may not have killed the cat; but it has been bugging me all week. I have to attend a gun show tomorrow, but I may have to sacrifice a couple of my 300 H&H cases to run thru my 7 STW FL die and see how they look. If they come out looking decent I will send you a couple. No magazine? That is odd since it had one, IIRC when I saw it at Keith's house about forty years ago.

ISS

Could that have been the 280 O.K.H. Built on a 98 Mauser?
 

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curiosity may not have killed the cat; but it has been bugging me all week. I have to attend a gun show tomorrow, but I may have to sacrifice a couple of my 300 H&H cases to run thru my 7 STW FL die and see how they look. If they come out looking decent I will send you a couple. No magazine? That is odd since it had one, IIRC when I saw it at Keith's house about forty years ago.

ISS
1706945058785.jpeg
 
Interesting reference.. I have the 1936 Book Big Game Rifles and Cartridges by Keith that was published by Thomas G. Samworth Small-Arms Technical publishing Company of Plantersville, South Carolina. Book is 4 1/2" by 7 1/2" and shows Keith on page 24 with his best antelope. Caption states it was killed with the 280 Dubiel Magnum. He discussed two different rifles, the one was a 280 OKH, O'Neill, Keith, and Haskins. IIRC, that one was the 30-06 necked down to 7mm. The Magnum was on the 300 H&H Magnum. Funny with the proliferation of 30 caliber Magnums, my 1951 OM 70 is just roll marked 300 Magnum. 180gr bullet at about 3000fps, dating back to 1925. We have come far in 99 years...

It is fascinating to see that Keith had a full mustache. The antelope pictured had horns over 17" and very wide spread. This is most likely the rifle I held at his home in Salmon about 1978 or '79.

ISS
 
Photos of that rifle in "Hell I was There!". Cool stuff. Good luck on the dies.

You might call Redding and talk to AJ. Not sure if they are building custom dies again, yet. Wrth a try.
607-753-3331. EST.
 
Photos of that rifle in "Hell I was There!". Cool stuff. Good luck on the dies.

You might call Redding and talk to AJ. Not sure if they are building custom dies again, yet. Wrth a try.
607-753-3331. EST.
Thanks. I've been thru "Hell I Was There," "Big Game Rifles and Cartridges," and "Keith's Rifles For Large Game" and haven't seen any rifle built on a Remington 1917 action or with a stock like this. Still looking.... hope springs eternal!
 

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