New Caliber ...for me.

[Larryjk]

Today we, my son and I , shot a new caliber I barreled up at his request. The 9.3 X 64mm. He got a .375 last year and using the Nosler manual #5, he came across the write up on the 9.3 x 64 and the juices started to flow. We planned a rifle that would weigh about 9 1/4 lbs. His 375 weighs 10.25 and is a pussycat to shoot. We felt this caliber would be liveable at a pound lighter.
Bought a Ruger in .280 on the internet for the project. Got the new barrel from Shilen (#4), some brass from Huntington's (no longer available as a component from RWS), and went to work. Opened the bolt face and extractor to .500, and put the barrel in the lathe. Rented the reamer and headspace gauges as I figured I probably wouldn't be making many more. Cut off the front sling swivel base and just left a rounded button that I slotted for a screwdriver. Sweated a Dakota swivel base on the barrel ahead of the forend (and drilled and tapped for screws also) and inletted to mate of the pair over the hole that held the original rear swivel base. My son let me have the first shots, the first and second were sighters and then I shot 3,4, and 5 for record. Heavens, even these old eyes were able to keep them just a little over an inch at 100 yds. Those were loaded with 64 grs. of RL15 behind a nosler 286 gr. bullet. Recoil was there, a little more than the 375, but not bad.
Jeff shot groups with 64.5 and 65 grains of RL15. His groups were right at an inch and he was very pleased. I shot the gong at 300 meters with 65.5 grs. and the bolt had a little sticky just before it broke the shells loose from the chamber. We decided that 65 grs. was probably our max with this bullet. We had a lot of fun on this little project. If I an lucky in the antelope draw, I will have to take a buck with it this fall. I will hold back in the lungs so I won't ruin too much meat. If I do that, I may put a picture on with the evidence.