What should Santa get for Xmas: 7.62x40 WT Noveske Barrel in 16" or 20"

[USMC_DS1]

It's that season again so Santa is considering what to gift himself after taking care of all the elves in his shop. In contemplating my choices Mrs. Claus just accused me of being the Imelda Marcos of firearms... I still contend that Mrs. CLaus still has more shoes and handbags then I do "red riders". If I'm going to take the hit then I may as well pull the trigger on my next build.

I'm leaning towards the 16" 7.62x40 WT barrel. I have both 5.56(Noveske) & 6.8(ARP) rifles with "18 barrels so the current thinking is to get something more compact. This would be the shortest barrel in my "shoe" collection. It will be used for hunting local hogs & deer in TX from a stand or riding the ATV... a slightly shorter barrel would make for a good trail gun. 300M range would be adequate for my needs. Potential home-D is also a consideration to augment existing firearms. I reload and have plenty of LC brass and mags from the 5.56. Also have plenty of 30 cal bullets left over from 30-06 to play with... I will likely leverage the new 7.62x40 TTSX specific 110gr bullets as well.

Questions:

• What am I giving up between a 16" vs. 20" barrel in velocity with the 7.62x40? Is it the typical 15-25 fps per inch? so 50-100 fps potentially? or is it more significant like 150-200 fps?
• I assume any 5.56 bolt will work since this is based on the 5.56 cases? or do I need a 7.62x40 specific bolt?
• What type of buffer should I use? Is heavy better?
• Anything else I need to consider before double mouse tap on this purchase?
• Question for WT... would you folks check the head space of an existing bolt I already have against the new barrel if I ship it to you? Plan on buying the barrel from your website.
• To those currently running a 7.62x40 WT rig. What do you like/dislike about it?
• Is there a forum specifically to the 7.62x40 WT?
• Load data and recipes? What are some of your pet loads?

Figure this will add one more "shoe" to my collection. At least for the AR's: small(5.56), medium(6.8), xtra medium(7.62x40), and heavy(.458 in the future? or perhaps a 6.5 BR for the reach). Happy Holidays folks and thanks in advance for your insight.

[Jamesb74]

I don't think Noveske offers the 7.62x42wt. I think that is a straight Wilson combat offering.

Noveske offers the 300BLK, 5.56,6.8 ,7.62x51.

But a Wilson build would be nice.

[USMC_DS1]

It's not directly available or listed on the Noveske website but I think they must have made some for WC: http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Match-Gr...62RC20NT-111N/

[WilsonCombatRep]

Merry Xmas!
OK, first, yes, we had Noveske turn us some of their barrels, chambered in 762x40WT( and since they were a bit more expensive than our standard barrels, they haven't sold as well, and we DO have them on sale right now- GREAT BARRELS). So, for the rest of your questions...

Assuming handloads tailored for the barrel length, you should gain 100-150fps with the right powders and the 20" barrel over the 16". We even offer 1 factory load specifically for 18"(or longer) barrels, that runs 100fps faster than the 16" barrel load with the same bullet( different powder).

Designed to use a 5.56 standard bolt.

Nothing special needed regarding buffers-we run standard carbine buffers.

Any other decisions? do you want the barrel coated? be sure to get loading dies, case gauge, maybe a few factory loads, brass, etc. I think I would get one of our Lancer mags that we modify for maximum reliabilty at max capacity.

Regarding bolts and checking headspace......we will supply a bolt that has been checked if requested, but we only do an entire BCG, not just a separate bolt. Unfortunately, we can't work with user supplied bolts.

Regarding further info, there is an "epic thread" in arfcom that has been kept alive for years, that follows the entire developement of the cartridge... http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_121/3...on_Thread.html

Also, there is quite a bit of information on our website, under the 762x40WT Project....
http://www.wilsoncombat.com/762x40WT.htm

Let me know if I can get you any further information!

All I know is that last hog I killed was with the 762x40WT....175lb boar, quartering toward me....the 110TTSX enter just forward of the shoulder, and exited the opposite side just infront of the hindquarter. He went down so fast I didn't know where he went! The 110TTSX is THE bullet for this cartridge!

[Jamesb74]

Well I stand completely corrected.
If they are Noveske barrels they will be worth the money.

I say go for it.

[USMC_DS1]

James, always grateful for your stewardship on the forum... I had to do a double take myself and look further into it. After reading into the history of the cartridge it looks like the original developer, Kurt Buchert, had sent John Noveske a reamer and HS gauge back in 2008 for some barrels then WC announced production of 7.62x40 based rifles in JAN 2011. So a new project for me... plus I really like Noveske barrels. Too bad they're not moving as fast for WC but at $297 it's a no brainer to get me into a 30cal AR.

WilsonCombatRep, thanks for the links... good read and gave me most of what I needed. Decided to go with the 16" barrel. Also got the dies and a bag of once fired brass to start with... I already have a nicely chromed RRA BCG with 5.56 bolt setting in the spare parts bin so will work on the head space fitment. I prefer PRI for the OAL so will play with my 5.56 mags for now. BTW, I called Barnes and looks like they are continuing production of the low velocity 1,300 fps expanding 110gr TTSX... they actually ran out recently but will have them in stock again starting in Jan. Great to see that you had these on your website. Nice to see some industry backing for Kurt's wildcat. For me this is a cool cartridge with a nice story to go along with it... how a common man, Kurt B., worked to fulfill his dreams and brought his creation into reality with the backing of industry players - WC and Noveske.

Happy Holidays to all.

[elkbow]

go for it, I have one 7.62x40WT that wilson built me with a 14.7" barrel with pinned on muzzle brake/suppressor mount, and getthing a Whisper suppressor to put on it, I have another 7.62x40WT barrel on order, love this round....why? because the brass is fromed from .223/5.56 brass, I've made up 1000 rounds of brass in no time, at the range the gun is very accurate....

[USMC_DS1]

Ordered... Hope to get everything from UPS/FedX next week. I have a ton of LC 5.56 brass, PRI magazines, and xmas hogs waiting for a barnes 110gr TTSX gift at the hunting least. This project should be fun to test fire at the range and ranch. May even trim some of my 5.56 Lapua brass for load development. BTW, $20/100 LC once fired brass is great from WC website. Now I just need to order an upper receiver and FF HG to complete the upper.

[BsChoy]

Hey Wilson combat Rep not to steal the thread but I have all the parts I ordered to build my 7.62x40 and I wanted to ask about reccomendations for fireforming loads? Anything special bullet or powder wise?

[WilsonCombatRep]

We load new brass as normal. You will get a slight increase in case capacity after the first firing....slight.