Finally found a use for Cutting Edge bullets!

[yorketransport]

I've had the same box of 338 caliber 277gr MTACs sitting on my shelf for almost 2 years and I couldn't figure out what to do with them. I finally figured that I'd just use them for fireforming just to get rid of them.


On the right is an 8x68s case which has been trimmedd, necked up to .375 then necked down to .338 to create a false shoulder, then loaded with 22.8gr of TrailBoss powder with a 277gr MTAC. The case on the left is a formed case fired in a 338/375 Ruger chamber.


Left to right: unaltered 8x68s, trimmed and prepped for fireforming, formed case.


Left is a formed 8x68s parent case and right is a formed 375 Ruger parent case. The 8x68s weighs 280.2gr empty and the Ruger case weighs 261.2gr. Internal capacity is 95.2gr for the 8x68s and 99.8gr for the Ruger case. The 8x68s will gain a little capacity when it's fully formed but will still be slightly less than the Ruger case because the 8x68s is a stronger case design with case walls. This is all with Norma brass for the 8x68s. Next I'll get the same data for the RWS 8x68s brass.

[jasnt]

Looking forward to how this works out for you! I’m hoping to use the RWS brass myself

[jasnt]

How do they extract and what action are you using

[yorketransport]

How do they extract and what action are you using

These came out of my Savage Striker, so just a standard Savage style sliding plate extractor. I had a little trouble extracting them before forming them because they weren't centered in the chamber and the rim could slip out of the extractor. Fired cases extracted well but ejection was pretty weak. I can see where you may run into trouble extracting brass if you wanted to run hot loads. I imagine a Sako or M16 style extractor would work better though since they apply a little more lateral pressure on the rim of the case instead of just trapping the rim like the sliding plate extractors do.