Author Topic: new elk barrel (Read 1735 times)

shooterpunk · « **on:** November 05, 2008, 04:52:45 AM »

Hey guys, I am wanting to get a new barrel for elk hunting. I want something that can reach out to 200 yards. I am thinking either a .30-06, 45-70, or 460. Any other opinions are welcome. I will be getting this barrel from MGM too. Thanks guys!

Greenmtnboy66 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 05, 2008, 05:34:35 AM »

my 375 jdj is a tack driver and recoil is manageable

shooterpunk · « **Reply #2 on:** November 05, 2008, 05:54:27 AM »

Would the .375 JDJ be affective on elk sized game out that far? Also I cant find any brass online for it and i have no interest in fire forming brass. I have a .30-06 JDJ right now that I am selling because of it.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #3 on:** November 05, 2008, 09:11:06 AM »

My vote of your choices is 45-70 and a scope with ballistic drop scope.
Lots of practice will make a 200 yard + shot easy.

lastchanc54 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 05, 2008, 09:20:42 AM »

You did not mention if you were looking for an elk caliber in a handgun or rifle barrel. In the Encore pistol, I and many others, like the 308. Recoil is lighter, flat shooting and ammo is everywhere for a decent price. My 15" Encore in 308 is sighted for the 150 grain bullet at 100 yds and holds dead on to over 200! In fact, there seems to be little drop until about 250 yds. The ballistics are nearly as good as the 30-06! Half the battle is making the shot. If you have too much recoil, it makes it harder to pin point your shot. In the Encore rifle, the 30-06 is comfortable to shoot and packs plenty of Punch for elk. All of the calibers you mentioned are powerful encough for shooting elk to 200 yds. Happy shooting

shooterpunk · « **Reply #5 on:** November 05, 2008, 09:27:28 AM »

Ya this is for an encore pistol barrel. I was leaning more towards the .30-06 rather than the .308 because I have all the reloading supplies for the .30-06 already. I have a .30-06 rifle that is why i am kinda wanting a 45-70 or 460 to have a big bore handgun, i just like them. Thanks for the replies guys.

yooper77 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 05, 2008, 09:32:58 AM »

I know you said you hated fireforming the 30-06 JDJ brass, but you can find a good load to fireform and also hunt with, then use the formed brass for your Elk loads.

From your list:
I would suggest the 30-06 Springfield in a 15" Encore barrel and a very decent scope using 165 grain Nosler Partions will be effective on Elk out to 200 yards.

Is your 30-06 JDJ in a pistol barrel?

yooper77

Grumulkin · « **Reply #7 on:** November 05, 2008, 09:39:08 AM »

The best of the cartridges you mention for 200 yard shooting is the 30/06 and the second best is the 460 S&W. In my opinion, you will have the easiest time working up an accurate load for the 30/06 and your bullet options with that cartridge will be huge compared to the 460 S&W.

I also saw you might be interested in a 375 JDJ. It would be a good to 200 yard elk cartridge. I believe brass for it is available through SSK Industries.

shooterpunk · « **Reply #8 on:** November 05, 2008, 10:03:57 AM »

Ya the .30-06 JDJ barrel I have is a pistol barrel. I still have a little while to decide, I have to wait for my barrel to sell first.

Dezynco · « **Reply #9 on:** November 05, 2008, 11:44:50 PM »

I think the 30-06 would be the easiest to get started with. However, if you want a big bore, you might consider the 375 JDJ like someone mentioned. I think you form the brass by sizing down a 444 Marlin case, which is supposed to be fairly simple to do.

I read an interesting article about the 375 JDJ not too long ago, here's the link:

http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/jan96big.html

If you already have the 30-06 JDJ, why not use it unless you just want something else (which is what I'd do

)

Graybeard · « **Reply #10 on:** November 06, 2008, 02:13:21 AM »

If you are a reloader then forming cases for the .375 JDJ is no different than reloading them really as it's a straight forward process of running the case into the dies and it's sized and formed same as others are just sized and then afterward it is sized only.

Factory ammo is now available for it as well so you can buy brass already formed tho if you just gotta. Still there is nothing wrong with the choice of the .30-06 which you are already set up for.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 06, 2008, 02:36:58 AM »

I say do the 30-06.

shooterpunk · « **Reply #12 on:** November 06, 2008, 04:10:28 AM »

explain to me how to form 375 JDJ brass from the .444 please. do you just run the .444 brass through the .375 JDJ die?

yooper77 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 06, 2008, 04:15:40 AM »

Take a read below Accurate Powders talks about the 375 JDJ.

http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Handgun/Standarddata/375Cal(9.55mm)/375%20JDJ%20T_C%20pages%20112%20and%20113.pdf

yooper77

shooterpunk · « **Reply #14 on:** November 06, 2008, 04:20:13 AM »

So it says i just run it through a 375 full length sizing die. So if I understand correctly, after I size it for the first time, I can load it how i want? That round is sounding better and better to me.

yooper77 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 06, 2008, 04:28:04 AM »

The 375 JDJ has been around for many years and people seem to love it.

The 375 JDJ set up with dies, 444 Marlin brass and 375 caliber bullets will be a lot higher then the dies, brass or bullets for the 30-06 JDJ.
-Just wondering why you don't want the 30-06 JDJ anymore? (well I guess the die price would be around the same)

Is your 30-06 JDJ a SSK barrel and what kind of scope mount does it have?

yooper77

shooterpunk · « **Reply #16 on:** November 06, 2008, 04:32:28 AM »

The main reason I want something else is because I dont like having to fireform all the brass for it. the ballistics are great for it, its just the fire forming. It is an SSK barrel with the arrestor muzzle break and T'SOB mount.

Do not post trade information on this discussion forum. I will continue to remove it. Read the rules for posting at the top of this forum. Continued violations of the rules could get you banned.

yooper77 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 06, 2008, 04:39:31 AM »

I just wish it was a rifle barrel.

I have handloaded for the 30-06 Springfield Ackley Improved and 7x57 Ackley Improved for many years, and I use my fireforming loads for hunting.

yooper77

Greenmtnboy66 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 06, 2008, 06:38:56 AM »

Quote from: shooterpunk on November 05, 2008, 05:54:27 AM

Would the .375 JDJ be affective on elk sized game out that far? Also I cant find any brass online for it and i have no interest in fire forming brass. I have a .30-06 JDJ right now that I am selling because of it.

I used 444 cases that are readly avalable.
I use H322 and a 225 grn Hornaday SP.
very accurate and fer sure a 200yrds gun.

Graybeard · « **Reply #19 on:** November 06, 2008, 12:26:51 PM »

Quote from: shooterpunk on November 06, 2008, 04:10:28 AM

explain to me how to form 375 JDJ brass from the .444 please. do you just run the .444 brass through the .375 JDJ die?

Yes it's that simple. Be sure to lube it tho so it doesn't stick.

shooterpunk · « **Reply #20 on:** November 06, 2008, 02:13:55 PM »

What would you say is the max effective range for a.375 JDJ in a pistol barrel? 200? 300? Thanks a lot for all the info guys, I really appreciate it!

Graybeard · « **Reply #21 on:** November 06, 2008, 06:51:07 PM »

Personally I consider it about a 225-250 yard round same as I do the 7-30 waters but folks have successfully taken game with them to over 400 yards. I don't approve of such personally as the trajectory is pretty bowed way out there and you need to know both the range and your trajectory really well to put such shots off successfully. Most don't know either that well.

shooterpunk · « **Reply #22 on:** November 07, 2008, 03:15:33 AM »

Nice, thanks Graybeard. Assuming I can sell my barrel, an MGM .375 JDJ(.444) will be heading my way. Thanks for all the input everybody. How do the Nolser accubond 260's compare to the hornady 270's? I hear the hornadys are the more common bullet used

Graybeard · « **Reply #23 on:** November 07, 2008, 04:09:59 AM »

Both are sponsors of this site BUT if MGM makes it then it is NOT a .375 JDJ as those are made ONLY by SSK and TC. It will technically be a .375/.444. Perhaps a small difference but to be technically accurate only TC is authorized use of the copy righted name .375 JDJ by the owners of it which is SSK.

shooterpunk · « **Reply #24 on:** November 07, 2008, 04:18:32 AM »

Ya, I know but they are the same thing so I still call it a JDJ.

banjoman · « **Reply #25 on:** November 07, 2008, 04:23:10 AM »

I don't want to throw a wrench into your works but. Have you considered a .338-06 or even a .35 whelen. Brass is readily available for both. (30-06 or .35 whelen will make both and are available commercially) Both have better ballastics than the .375 JDJ Neither have the power of the JDJ but both are close. In a 16.5 in barrel you can get 2700+ with 180gr accubonds. Reloading components will be cheaper all the way around. Remember that you are only shooting an Elk. That can be done with a .308 and any of the quality bullets out there. Just my opinion but unless you really think you might be going after an animal that will eat you some day the .375 JDJ is way too much gun on both ends of the barrel.

shooterpunk · « **Reply #26 on:** November 07, 2008, 04:47:00 AM »

I have thought about it, what kinds of ballistics will a .338-06 and .35 whelen have in a pistol barrel? With a .338 i would like to shoot 225 gr bullets. Is there a place where I can view ballistics of rifle calibers in pistol barrels? And no I wont be hunting anything that can eat me.

Graybeard · « **Reply #27 on:** November 07, 2008, 11:43:58 AM »

Personally I'd go with the .358 JDJ over either of those for an elk gun. I like it better than the .375 JDJ tho most don't agree with me. On the one trip I took hopefully to hunt elk that fell apart on me part way thru so that I ended up not getting to hunt elk only mule deer that's what I took with Nosler 225 PTs.

In a handgun length barrel it gets almost the same velocity as the Whelan and has a rim which I prefer in all the TCs.

shooterpunk · « **Reply #28 on:** November 07, 2008, 12:01:52 PM »

Im still itching for a 375 JDJ now after reading more on them. I was hoping to get someting that could reach out to 300 yards, but after some practice with it, maybe i will. What bullets are good in the .375? i hear the hornady 270's are the standard. what about the accubond 260's and the gameking 250? Thanks guys

banjoman · « **Reply #29 on:** November 08, 2008, 07:32:56 AM »

check this out http://www.handgunhunt.com/readArticle.php?letter_id=43

copy and paste this into your browser window for some gr8 reading