doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com I JUST BOUGHT A CUSTOM FN MAUSER IN 30 COUGAR CAL

I JUST BOUGHT A CUSTOM FN MAUSER IN 30 COUGAR CALIBER

Its a nice looking rifle with a Striped Maple stock with several contrasting inlays. It was made in the 1960s. I don't have the rifle in hand yet. I should have it by early next week.

Here's my question .... what is a 30 Cougar? It doesn't come with brass or dies and I will do a chamber cast when it arrives.
So, in the meantime .. what is a 30 Cougar?

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/cougar-000.jpg

I really like the maple and the metal work but could dispense with the inlays and shape of the stock. But, that's all a matter of taste. What matters is that you like it.

...30, too young for a Cougar....

buckstix
This is only a suggestion: If the bolt face is opened for belted case, see if 300 H&H will chamber, if so fireform a case. If bolt face not opened up, fire form a 270 case. A fireformed case will give you a general idea and a couple or three can be used to set up lathe to make dies. Just easier than chamber cast, if it works.
Mike

Hello Der Ami,

I have done many dozens of chamber casts. I have the process down to where it only takes me 5 minutes to do a chamber cast. I will post pictures when done.

Here's the answer to my question .... what is a 30 Cougar? Thank goodness it had nothing to do with a 30-30 Winchester cartridge as some had opined. When the rifle arrived, a quick inspection of the bolt face showed it was a Magnum size. Inspecting the chamber showed a Belt recess. Testing with different brass showed a 300 Win Mag was too long. In my assortment of misc. Reloading Dies (I collect dies and have over 400 sets) I found a set of 30 Newton dies. In the box was a "belted" 30 Newton Sizing Die that I bought some years earlier. Since I will never own a 30 "belted" Newton rifle, I gradually ground the die's length until it produced a sized case that fit the chamber.

I formed brass by starting with a once fired 7mm Rem Mag case. I pushed the shoulder back using a 350 Rem Mag sizing die. Then I full length sized with the shortened 30 belted Newton die which de-primed and opened the neck to 30 cal. The formed case's neck was too long and had to be shortened to 2.400 inch case length. Last I polished the case and now its ready for loading. Finished cartridges were loaded with a Hornady 165g BTSP and 55g IMR 4895 and WLR primers. Range report will follow. I added a 4x Walther Scope in the rings that came with the rifle.

So, how did the 30 Cougar cartridge come to be developed? I believe this rifle was built in the late 1950s when the only 30 cal magnum cartridge available was the 300 H&H. By shortening the 300 H&H case and expanding the shoulder, the 30 Cougar was formed. In the early 1960s both the 300 Win Mag and the 308 Norma Mag came onto the market. The 300 Win Mag case is .200" longer, and the 308 Norma case is .150" longer than the 30 Cougar. So the 30 Cougar was actually an early "short Mag."

and as usual - your comments are welcome.

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/COUGAR-FORMING.jpg



http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/COUGAR-ID-SM.jpg



http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/COUGAR-SCOPE.jpg

buckstix,
For whatever it is worth, if I remember correctly, the 30 belted newton is the 30-338. Your 30 Couger looks suspiciously like the 7x61 Sharpe and Hart necked up to 30cal. You didn't show the case length, so I couldn't check.
Mike

I did show the case length in the first picture ... 2.400" OL ... yes, case is very close to the 7x61 case.

I guess I should pay more attention.
Mike

Here is an update ... I went .. to the range and test fired the rifle .. excellent accuracy .. and I fireformed the cases .. see pics ... No signs of high pressure so I increased the load by 2 grains to 57g for the next test and I will post the results.

http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/FIRE-FORMING-SM.jpg



http://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/COUGAR-TARG-SM.jpg