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Ok..maybe a 307 isn't a big bore but it is housed in a variant of the Big Bore 94 so I will post this here. I just bought a Winchester 94 in 307 from Ontario and it should be in the Yukon by Valentines day. Now finding brass and ammo is a bit tricky.
Looks like the 308 Marlin express is a similar case, same rim,same base dimensions but a bit shorter in OAL and shoulder placement.
So I ordered a box of 308 Marlin Express brass and will try annealing the neck, then necking up to 358 caliber to create a false shoulder when I run them back through a 308 die. This will hold head space. Fireformed they should create a perfectly acceptable 307 case but a bit short necked and in overall length. Given you often need to shorten a case by 1/10th of an inch to use flex tips anyway it shouldn't really matter at all.
I'll let you know how it goes. A 160 grain Flex Tip at 2500fps and a 2.5X leupold ought to make a nice little package for myself, my wife, and my two left handed children. Nice companion to our 348 and 405 that will be more family friendly.
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I was about to say rebore it to 356/358 and never look back, but it wouldn't be as family mild as the 307. I've heard of using 444 brass, and I know 308 brass will work, if the extractor will grab it on yours. I run 358 in my 356s, interchangeably, but I don't have a 94. I have the Marlin version.
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Yes I am a 35 bore fan with an old Rem 660 in 350 Rem Mag and a Ruger and Sako barrelled in 358 Norma ( a hum-dinger).
I like what 35 caliber bullets can do but I started my hunting career in 1978 with an 18.5" 308 Winchester and did some amazing things with a 165 grain load I later learned was loafing along at 2500fps, (when I first bought a chronograph in the early 90"s). So a 160 Flextip at 2500 ought to be just as capable.
I'll certainly try 308 Brass, and might give 444 a try too. Who knows some day I might even find some original 307. With the 160 Flextip, and 170 Nosler Partitions ought to have a pretty good all-round rifle the whole family can use.
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some ammo: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11676013/Winchester_.307_&_.356
When I die I hope I don't start voting democrat.
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Well, I had two bags of 307 brass that I never could get anyone to swap with me for 356/358 brass around here, so it became 356 brass. I hated to do it, with 307 AND 356 headstamps being so rare, but it's workin good. LOL
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Lotsa brass here:
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/11782528/gonew/1/Brass_FS__454_Cassul,270_Win,7#UNREAD
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If it wasn't so hard to export stuff out of the States and into Canada that 307 Brass would be mine!
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Also ordered some 444 Marlin Brass today. We will see which works better and I'll post here.
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Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
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As mentioned, I'd try 308 Win brass first.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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I'll try 308 as well but where is the fun in that?
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Campfire Oracle
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Yeah, why use a match to light the grill when you can rub 2 sticks together for 1/2 an hour.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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I used 308 brass occasionally when I had a 307 Winchester, but only for fairly light loads. The 307 case is much thicker at the head than 308 brass. Don't hot rod 308 brass in a 307.
Member: NRA Ohio Gun Collectors Association
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Yeah, why use a match to light the grill when you can rub 2 sticks together for 1/2 an hour. Well 308 brass will single feed and eject but when placed in the tube will shoot out under the lifter creating a spectacular jam. 308 Marlin makes a case 1/10th inch shorter than it should be. Still waiting for 444 that should do it.
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Ok.. The 444 marlin collapses when I attempt to neck down to 35 caliber in my 350 Rem Mag die. RCBS doesn't make case form dies. Any suggestions welcome...trying to be as cheap as possible.
I do have some 308 Marlin cases with a false 8mm shoulder ready to fireform with 150 Hornady RN's. Should create a nice short necked 307 that will work with the longer 160 FTX made for the 308 Marlin Express. b.c. of almost .400 at 2500fps+ ought to be quite the caribou load.
If I can figure out how to reform 444's for full length brass I'll be in business.
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My copy of Cartridge Conversions says it can be made from 7x57R. It says, "Turn rim to .506"dia. and back chamfer. Taper expand to about .315"dia. Trim to length, chamfer and F/L size. Fireform."
A fun cartridge that I used with Barnes 150gr flatpoint. Which was a large hollow point. The FTX is a natural!
"Camping places fix themselves in your mind as if you had spent long periods of your life in them. You will remember a curve of your wagon track in the grass of the plain like the features of a friend." Isak Dinesen
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Campfire Greenhorn
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The local hardware store here in Texas has 2 boxes of 307 Winchester ammunition sitting on their shelf. I think they have it marked $32 per box.
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The 308 Marlin fireformed well and makes a very good short necked 307 which uses the longer version of the 160 Grain FTX well.
The 444 Marlin I have working with the 350 Rem Mag dies but of course they don't push the shoulder back enough. I'll need to pick up some 358 Win dies to use as an intermediate step. Should work well with care.
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How much did you pay for the rifle? In an all to long list of guns I should have never sold there resides that very gun.
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