At least he didn't spread a lot of Christmas cheer at our shop. So, my choices are very clear to me. I can either get a barrel, or I can get a scope. There is a third option I will offer for discussion as well, but one thing at a time
First, I emailed NEF about barrel availablity and the muzzle diameter of their bull barrel. 308 BB and 38-55 are both in stock. The muzzle of hte bull barrel measures .800. That is the same as my 44 and 45-70. More a heavy varmit barrel than a bull barrel, as I was looking as much for added weight, the longer (28" vs 22") 38-55 barrel offers more forward weight, so if I choose a barrel, it will be the 38-55. I will have to get cases and a bullet mold, but my sweetie will have to pick up that tab. (I'll get to find out how sweet she is :wink: ) Do remember that my main desire in a 38-55 is to use it at 375 Winchester levels. I'm convinced (at least in my own mind) that bullets of 240-300 grains of this diameter are going to be highly effecient deer killers. We are looking at velocities of 1900-2300 fps. A lot of stop. This is very close to the performance of the European loading of the 9.3x62, and dead on the 375 JDJ
Second, a scope. The scopes I have work ok, but it is a bummer to have found that the one I had on my 30-30 is broken. Replacing it with one off another barrel got me up and running, but leaves me unable to use that barrel (I could use the irons sights if I could see 'em ok) So do I get the best scope I can buy use it on the 30-30 and hope for a more profitable spring/summer to get a barrel? Also I have decided that I want to be able to use two different scope settings, one a trajectory for woods hunting, and one a trajectory for extended range shooting. (I know some here may not think 200 yards is an extended range, but compared to 25- 40 yard shots, 200 looks like forever) :wink:
Third, there are a few bullets I would like to get to try out, as well as a mold or two that I would like to try out as well. In another thread, DJ mentions the use of a bullet mold for the 303, I was thinkingof that mold or one of those from Lyman that drops a groove diameter bullet, as opposed to a bullet with one diameter for the shank and a smaller diameter on the bore rider. I know the barrel on my 30-30 has an over size bore diameter (app .305 as opposed to the .300-.302 it should be. Consequently, it don't shoot 2 diameter bullets worth a hoot. But as always, buying a mold can be somewhat iffy, even if the bullet fits, the barrel may not like it and show it's disgust with lousy groups. Hmmmmmmm. I would also very much like to try out a box of Speer 180 Mag Tips. Over the years I have heard they are the cats meow for a heavy 30-30 bullet, and I would like to give 'em a try as well as to try out the regular Speer HotCor 180 and 200. According to Speer, they don't use the Hot Cor process in making their boat tail bullets, leaving the hunter the choice of a bullet that won't seperate from the core or a bullet that expands a bit quicker even if there is the chance of a core slippage.
So there we have it guys, I can get a new barrel, I can get a scope, or I can buy a mold or two and a few boxes of bullets. How would you spend the money?
