c-g-designs

THE BIG BANG SENIOR.

            At the time,around 1992-1993, there was lots of talks about the recent introduction of the .338 LapuaM Mag num. I had received 2 dummy rounds at the IWA Lapua booth and gathered there all the existing  informations.        

            Chris Dichter, PAC-NOR boss, visiting IWA, proposed lme to test one of his barrels and, as the calibre was already running in  my head, I asked him a srtaight diameter blank, .338 calibre and 36 inches long as, if I was to enter that game, I intende to mlake ‘Heavy’.

            The barrel arrived safely, but what to do with it ? Always pushed by Philippe, companion of all the v,ntures and who saw that as a good enjoyment posibility, I started to build an over-dimensionned C.G  action, able to receive this heavy barrel and feed and shoot  the cartrigge.  

            I just had a quick look on my drawings of the time and quote here a few dimensions :

                        Receiver diameter = 42mm.

                        Bolt diameter = 24mm.

                        Overall lenght = 220mm.

                        Barrel shank lenght =  45mm.

                        Barel threads = 30 x 1,50mm .

                        4 Bedding Screws .

            It was big, but necessary to balance the rifle.

            The action was realised in a record time . The barrel entered just in the lathe spindle and was chambered, threaded and crowned . I used for the first time the double cylindric registers of the shak, ahead and at rear of the central threaded portion.

            It was then to stock this piece of artillery and, by chance, I acquired a McMillan composite stock intended for a .50 BMG action who was perfectly suited to serve as a carriage for this piece of artillery !!.

            There was still to find a bipod, and I was not sure the Harris would stand, and I adapted a MG 34 bipod who worked parfectly !!.

            Some testings to zero and find the right load for the 300 grains and on the way to Bisley.

            We first tested it the day before the Autumn English VIII Meeting and most of the MR entrants were already there, practising at 1000yards,also the NRA Chairman who all quickly assembled behind us,in full astonishment and admiration.

            The shots were short (15 rounds) as, if it was pushing well the bullets forward,  it shaked well also backwards !!. I remember elevations about half those of our MR .308 190 grains (18 minutes if memory serves well).

            I had quickly to learn to not over-estimate the 9 o’clock wind. I would say here it was 1/3 of the MR 190grains.

            My shot finished, I moved back to breath and reply to questions. Philipppe was waiting to shot the next string . I prefer to quote him on my first comment (I do not remember it)n , who perfectlly  resumed my feelings  :

            « But also remember, that,when you first brought the .338LM for a first 1000 yards  shot at Bisley,when you left the firing point,  you had this comment pf pride : ‘ With this rifle, I wond er if the wind is still a factor of concern !!’. And,from then, the first Big Bang was renamed ‘Big Bang Junior’ ».

This was the conclusion.

R.G.C