416 Barrett Model 99

[lole]

How much time are you giving the necks on the annealer with the double torch setup?

[brett1868]

The Tempilaq started to run at 7.5 on the timer controller which is allegedly 7.5 seconds but having used a stopwatch it's more like 11.5 seconds. The challenging part is that there are 2 different gasses available for the torches, there's the regular propane and then there's MAP which is supposed to be hotter. Bunning's looks to have shafted Bernzomatic and gone direct to the Chinese manufacturer to make the "Trade Flame" line of products.

I'll make the switch to the MAP gas on the next run of cases and I suspect will only need to run the one torch. I used both torches this time as propane didn't heat the case enough before the timer expired. Bear in mind these are shortened 50BMG cases that have been neck reamed so the brass is going to be thicker then usual. I'll start saving my damaged cases in other calibres' to experiment with annealing them.

[lole]

That's crook if it's 4 seconds off how long it tells you.

Turn a lot of cases to useless butter if you hadn't caught it...

[brett1868]

That's crook if it's 4 seconds off how long it tells you.

Turn a lot of cases to useless butter if you hadn't caught it...

It's not really a problem cause I calibrate using Tempilaq paint so all I'm only interested in is what number the dial is sitting on when I hit the right time. I start low and gradually increase the time till the paint melts. Short video below.

http://youtu.be/5_mugWV7w0s

[lole]

You're on top of it which is good.

What I meant was if you just got it out of the box and hit the go button trusting it was on 7 seconds you could ruin a lot of brass before you figured it out.

Not having a go or knocking it, just an observation.

It's obviously working well with your timings sorted out

[Hercl]

Looking good Brett.

[AussieTimmeh]

Great thread, thanks for sharing all the photos! Your stories of 416 makes 500 Nitro Express seem like a walk in the park.

I'm surprised somewhere like Bertram Bullets in Victoria can't get you what you need at a good price. I buy my 500 Nitro Express cases and projectiles from them new and they are cheap and fast to deliver.

Peace.

[brett1868]

Great thread, thanks for sharing all the photos! Your stories of 416 makes 500 Nitro Express seem like a walk in the park.

I'm surprised somewhere like Bertram Bullets in Victoria can't get you what you need at a good price. I buy my 500 Nitro Express cases and projectiles from them new and they are cheap and fast to deliver.

Peace.

I did try talking Bertram into making the .416 Barrett brass for me but their machinery is quite old and reforming 50BMG is too harsh on it for the volumes they'd sell so they declined. I buy my .375 Cheytac brass from Bertram and have had some issues around rim thickness but they sorted it near instantaneously and are great to deal with. I ended up forming 100 cases of my own from used ADI brass, bought 100 loaded rounds and have 1000 cases on order direct from Barrett via NIOA so I should be right for cases for some time. On a positive note for keeping as much of my business local I have been talking to Eric and Woodleigh and they are going to machine some sample brass VLD projectiles for me to test. If they test well then I'll do a bulk order and they'll add the projectiles to their catalogue.

[Tiiger]

I did try talking Bertram into making the .416 Barrett brass for me but their machinery is quite old and reforming 50BMG is too harsh on it for the volumes they'd sell so they declined.

Brass is too harsh? Wouldn't have expected that answer.

[AussieTimmeh]

On a positive note for keeping as much of my business local I have been talking to Eric and Woodleigh and they are going to machine some sample brass VLD projectiles for me to test. If they test well then I'll do a bulk order and they'll add the projectiles to their catalogue.

That's awesome mate, good stuff!

[chacka]

Brett brand projectiles eh. That's cool.

[brett1868]

An update of sorts, the Barrett .416 brass I was chasing finally arrived and I picked up the first 100 cases yesterday. The boys in shipping at NIOA stuffed up the order and sent 100 cases (5 bags of 20) instead of the 100 bags of 20 we ordered. My other 900 cases should show up in the next few days or early next week. Projectiles are now my next problem, Woodleigh have been rather silent on the ones they were going to make for me so i'll start chasing them. They never promised anything and were sort of doing it as a favour so I can't push them too much. As a side plan I've ordered 1000 Barrett 398Gr brass VLD's and with some luck they'll be on the next shipment of dangerous goods into NIOA which looks like March / April. At my current rate of fire I expect 1000 rounds will last a couple years at most.

I have finally organised a trip north for the weekend after this, work is on hold, permission slip signed by senior management (wife) and the weather looks like it'll behave. Packing a threesome of 50's, a pair for .416's, a 375 Cheytac, 338 lap, my trusty Sako 85 22-250 for some hunting and a brand spanking new Mark 5 .257 Weatherby Magnum that I recently added to the collection if I can get ammo organised in time.

I have a spare 8-32x56 NXS and a Khales K624i to play with as I really want to sort this elevation issue on the Steyr 50 so it'll be a process of elimination and hopefully my groups improve. If time / weather permits I'll try some shooting out to 1500m which is about the limit of the property without cows or trees getting in the way though I'm sure the trees can be removed with a few well placed shots

These are once fired cases that'll need to be resized and de-primed before reloading but they look brand new..


Nice head stamp


ooooo...Shiney


Believe it or not but this mono-pod is classified as dangerous goods....W.T.F it's a piece of threaded metal and a rubber knob.


Bought a couple of spares kits...just in case and only $50 each

[AussieTimmeh]

Impressive, look forward to more updates!

[Bourt]

I have finally organised a trip north for the weekend after this, work is on hold, permission slip signed by senior management (wife) and the weather looks like it'll behave. Packing a threesome of 50's, a pair for .416's, a 375 Cheytac, 338 lap, my trusty Sako 85 22-250 for some hunting and a brand spanking new Mark 5 .257 Weatherby Magnum that I recently added to the collection if I can get ammo organised in time.

Sure you've got enough?

[BBJ]

Believe it or not but this mono-pod is classified as dangerous goods....W.T.F it's a piece of threaded metal and a rubber knob.

camera monopod, no one gives a rats ass.

shooting monopod, deadly weapon.

[brett1868]

I have finally organised a trip north for the weekend after this, work is on hold, permission slip signed by senior management (wife) and the weather looks like it'll behave. Packing a threesome of 50's, a pair for .416's, a 375 Cheytac, 338 lap, my trusty Sako 85 22-250 for some hunting and a brand spanking new Mark 5 .257 Weatherby Magnum that I recently added to the collection if I can get ammo organised in time.

Sure you've got enough?

Funny enough I asked myself the same question but since I can shoot all the small stuff anywhere I'll just take the big guns. Managed to source some .257 Weatherby brass and dies today so it'll be making the trip north. Will head to the workshop and get the scope mounted tomorrow night or possibly later tonight if the wife doesn't have other plans for me.

[horter]

Will head to the workshop and get the scope mounted tomorrow night or possibly later tonight if the wife doesn't have other plans for me.

Gotta get out before she gets home and 'forget' to take your phone so she can't call you back

[brett1868]

Will head to the workshop and get the scope mounted tomorrow night or possibly later tonight if the wife doesn't have other plans for me.

Gotta get out before she gets home and 'forget' to take your phone so she can't call you back

My wife has serious issues with direction, she's got left and other left, straight is whatever direction she's looking irrespective of where her car or body is pointing. If I want to see a dazed and confused look, I pass her map, unfortunately for me she can find her way from the house to the garage and talks loud enough that my mate across the street can hear her

[Gregg]

straight is whatever direction she's looking irrespective of where her car or body is pointing. If I want to see a dazed and confused look, I pass her map

The map is funny.

Can't look at the map without holding it in the same orientation as the landscape and goes round in a circle on the spot a few times finding it

[brett1868]

This is what 1000 .416 Barrett cases looks like...So shiny, if the wife wasn't home I'd fill the bath with them and jump in

[anthillinside]

This is what 1000 .416 Barrett cases looks like...So shiny, if the wife wasn't home I'd fill the bath with them and jump in

Kinky
The only place I've seen more brass in one place was a scrap metal yard

[Norton]

So shiny, if the wife wasn't home I'd fill the bath with them and jump in

Just do it, she'll get over the weirdness soon enough.

[AusC]

The only place I've seen more brass in one place was a scrap metal yard

I got some .50 cal brass for you...

[anthillinside]

Ggggggrrrrlllllll (Homer drooling)

Looks like a Garden supplies mulch bin.

Or is it your private stash?

[brett1868]

I got some .50 cal brass for you...

Bugger the bath in .416, I'd fill a pool with that and swim

[Monty]

Bugger the bath in .416, I'd fill a pool with that and swim

Not sure how the dive would go?

Weeeeeeee *crunch* ah my back

[AusC]

Or is it your private stash?

If only.

[brett1868]

An update of sorts, managed to get 4 days off and headed bush last Wednesday night. Managed to get 39 rounds through the M99 and roughly sight it in though with the scope on the bottom stopper of elevation it was 10" high @ 200m.

Windage was spot on and the initial groups of 1.5" were promising considering the brass was being fire formed. It's currently sporting a Nightforce NXS 12-42x56 with the NP-2DD reticle cause it's what I had on the shelf and whilst a good scope it's a poor choice of reticle for this type of rifle.

Due to cattle on the property and calves the best we could manage was a 520m (569yrd) range to stretch it's legs so to speak. We were using 20L drums filled with water so we could "see" the hits but after 7 shots and not seeing any water we drove up and checked. Found 6 holes within 12" of each other with the 7th shot possibly going through the same hole.

I'm reasonably happy with that group considering it was early afternoon 39c, fire forming brass, crappy reticle making holdover difficult and terrible mirage making the target difficult to see.

The MagnetoSpeed bayonet I modified for the chronograph didn't work so I've got no idea what the velocities are to calculate the ballistic curve though the 400Gr CLVD dropped approximately 30" over the 520m. I'll post some video in the coming days when I get some time to edit and upload. I didn't shoot at much as I'd like to have but family first and fun second. Counted my brass and the tally came to 38x50cal, 39x416cal, 19x375cal, 32x257cal and 65x204cal.

An old family friend dropped over Saturday afternoon to check out all the fancy city boys toys. Watching a 62kg 70yr old fire the big 50's and grinning from ear to ear after nearly being knocked on his ass was the highlight of my trip. He showed a liking to the .204 Ruger so I loaded 6 in the mag and told him to go for it, the old bugger nailed a 3/4" group at 200m in less then 3 minutes.

Some of these old country fellas sure can shoot. Eric from Woodleigh contacted me last Friday to let me know the sample .416 projectiles I asked to be made are ready and I should have them tomorrow or Wednesday.

Already planning the next trip and eager to see how the .416 performs out past 1500m (providing the cows co-operate).

[inventurkey]

providing the cows co-operate

They don't clear out if your shooting a few hundred metres away huh?

[AusC]

Nah, you could be shooting 100m away and they'll just stare at you.