350 Ultra Mag

Greg Nolan · Jul 22, 2009

A few weeks back I posted an Idea about a 350 Ultra or Supermag based on the Ultramag or 378 Wby case. I havn't forgot about it. I'm still waiting out the AT&T contract negotiations for my work. The question now is: Who can do the barrel and muzzlebrake work at a reasonable price with real good quality. Does anybody know who can do fluted barrels with good quality also?
If this sounds like a ultimate elk, moose, big bear and African rifle you are not alone. Not that I could ever afford to go to Alaska, much less Africa. But,
"WHAT IFF"? :twisted:
Greg

nitis · Jul 22, 2009

I think it is an excellent idea. Call it the 350 Nolan

Here is how I would do it. keep in mind I am a remington guy

Buy a cheapo all black 700 sps in 300 rum new they go for 500.

You can sell the barrel and get 50-100 bucks for it

then send it to Utah to christensen arms and have them install the barrel and stock.

Shilen barrel turned down and wrapped 995 plus 200 for the titanium break and 500 for their stock. maybe spend a few hundred on some of their other options and you got a pretty sweet gun for 2500ish. Or you can use your own stock and they will make it fit for 75 if you want a laminate or something.

thats my pipe dream I just dont know what caliber I would get it in I would want it in something that would get used alot to justify the cost.

bullet · Jul 23, 2009

Greg, 35 cal in anything is a killer and I think a real hot rod in 35 would be one bad dude.

Antelope_Sniper · Jul 23, 2009

Ammo guide list a .358 Ultra here:

http://ammoguide.com/cgi-bin/ai.cgi?sn= ... &catid=637

250gr bullet over 3000 with a 24" tube. Looks like a thumper to me! :grin:

.405 · Jul 23, 2009

I don't believe there are any T Rex's left.. :lol:

OldMan · Jul 23, 2009

Can we say a muzzle brake would be manditory? If a guy could figure out how to make sure he had ear protection on it would be great! I cronograghed a 338-378 wby for a guy with a factory weatherby brake and it felt like a 270 to me. My son unscrewed the brake and shot it once and said "NEVER AGAIN". The guy had a box of factory ammo to test at 5 buck a shot! :shock:

Guest · Jul 23, 2009

The 358-378RG is exactly what you're describing based off the 378Wby case. Take a look at it here:

http://www.realguns.com/Commentary/comar31.htm

The author is a temperamental guy who used to be a friend of mine, but this article is spot on despite his issues. About 75% of what you see on RG is, but the trouble is you have to weed through the 25% of crap to get it. Anyway, the link above takes you to the first in the series, and you can go from there to every installment, including load data, by way of the links at the bottom of the page. I'd bypass Joe altogether and call up the reamer shop to get any help on this thing.

FOTIS · Jul 23, 2009

Sounds like a thumper!

Greg Nolan · Jul 23, 2009

dubyam
Thanks for the link. It looks like just what I'd hoped it would.
This could be the ultimate elk rifle!
Now I have to either find a rifle or sacrifice my 30-378 for the project.
What would you all do?
Greg

bullet · Jul 23, 2009

Greg Nolan":2t4r5mdl said:
dubyam
Thanks for the link. It looks like just what I'd hoped it would.
This could be the ultimate elk rifle!
Now I have to either find a rifle or sacrifice my 30-378 for the project.
What would you all do?
Greg

Get another rifle if you can afford it so as not to give up the 30-378 but if you do not have the funds to get another rifle for the job then I would sacrifice the 30-378 because I love the 35 cal.

Antelope_Sniper · Jul 23, 2009

+1 Bullet.
The 30-378 could throw the 150 AB's hot and flat, and the 35-378 could really thump the big stuff. Sounds like a nice combo to me, but we all have limited resources.

Guest · Jul 23, 2009

I'd start saving/shopping for a nice Mark V in 30-378 or 338-378. Look for a synthetic and you can probably pick one up for under $700 if you shop hard, or an accumark for around $1000. then have it rebarreled by someone who knows 'bees (I can recommend someone for you) and you're set.

DrMike · Jul 23, 2009

Greg,

That would be a great cartridge. I certainly like 35s, and that one would do about anything you could ask of it. Wish I had the money to start such a project. I'll perhaps enjoy it vicariously as I watch you develop it.

JD338 · Jul 23, 2009

Greg,

You would have yourself a real long range hammer. Go for it! 8)

JD338

coltauto · Jul 24, 2009

The .358-378 RG is just a .338-378 Weatherby necked up in one step, or a .378 Weatherby necked down in one step. The case retains the Weatherby double radius shoulder for the sake of simplicity, not necessarily performance. it is far from an original concept and there are some related cites and references on Wikipedia. Hollywood Gun Shop is one of the oldest producers of a similar cartridge that departs from the .358-378 RG only in having angular shoulders.

There is a reason for the scarcity of very large capacity cases being made in the .358" bore rather than small or medium capacity cartridges. Most popular .358" bullets have low sectional density and less than exciting BC. In brush guns or at modest ranges where retained energy and velocity are not key to performance, the .358" bullet does fine. For every long range shooting, both .338" and .375" bullets have much more favorable characteristics. 280 and 310 grain .358" bullets were thumpers and carried well at range, but these selections were too narrow. Anything bullet of less weight was OK, but nothing special other than some spectacular muzzle velocity. Fun, but not very practical

The .358-378 RG was put together to test the strength of the Ruger No.1 and similar near 1" barrel tenon guns and to outline the process of making a moderate wildcat, securing tooling, modifying a firearm, etc. for readers. All of the details of this combination and project, including drawings have been open to public use on the RealGuns site for over seven years and there has always been a list of suppliers and tool makers that was intended to be open to readers for direct contact. I love to hear from readers, however, I rarely have the time to exchange signficant details.

The Ruger worked fine, however, I would have had Dennis Olson bore the receiver to 1.100" if I were to build another for additional chamber strength when working with very high pressure loads. One of the best candidate rifles for this size case, diameter and length is an inexpensive CZ550 Magnum. Donor .375 H&H guns are inexpensive, under $600 in like new condition, and they handle even our .500 Jeffery and .416/500 Jeffery hot loads.

"dubyam" Not sure why you felt a need to slime me in a public forum or what put wrinkles in your party dress. If memory serves me right, as it has been several years, you were one of a number of people who occassionally posted when RealGun operated a beta message board. You and I do not, nor have we ever had any personal association, much less a friendship. I don't mind critism. I just prefer it be truthful and without the obvious malicious intent and I don't take crap from people. If that makes me tempermental, so be it.

Guest · Jul 25, 2009

Joe, you're welcome to frame the conversation your way. I did used to post on your board, though occasionally is a misrepresentation of the facts. I was a moderator for a considerable length of time, and posted prolifically as I recall. We exchanged emails and had several discussions, and I believe even spoke on the phone once, or exchanged messages. I considered buying a rifle or two from you, but then had some financial issues that curtailed my gun buying for the time being. When you quit responding to my emails, I figured I had done something to irritate you, so I just went about my business. My fault for classifying our 'online acquaintance' as friendship. I was not trying to slime you, just trying to be sure folks understood that I don't agree with 100% of what you write, as some of it is stuff I do not wish to be associated with.

You need not worry anymore about it. I will not be posting links to your site or commenting on you further. Good day.

Greg Nolan · Jul 25, 2009

Im not worried about it being a new idea, I just think it would be a great all around cartridge. The fact that there are dies, specs, loads, etc. just makes it easier(spell that "Cheaper") :grin: I will start looking whenever our union contract ever settles :?
Thank you all for the advice and information.
Greg

jtoews80 · Jul 25, 2009

I seen a 358-378 on the PacNor reamer list as availible wildcats. If you can get a print of that reamer and make sure it matches whatever dies you will be using it should save you the cost of a reamer. Just get PacNor to prefit and thread your barrel for you for $150 and you get a prefit barrel for teh price of a blank and reamer.
CH4 dies is a good place for custom dies as well.

JT.

SJB358 · Sep 3, 2009

Seems like I read about some guys making a 358 cal off of a 375 Ruger. Seems like that would be a heckuva round and be a real thumper!! Anybody seen or heard anything like that? Scotty