UPDATE: FAQs are lower down in this thread.

Seeing as people ask about them.

I'd be willing to do the writeup if others could help collect data and put it in this thread.

Info we need:

Sources & Manufacturers (who makes parts (esp barrels)).

typical performance data (chrono results with barrel length)

Supressors

For the .338
Brass (how to make using 10mm Magnum and 6.8 SPC)

Sounds great, do you any data for 16" barrels as well?  (I'm thinking 16 & 20" are the most asked about).

It would be nice if we could compare your favorite handloads and factory ammo between your 20" and a 16" so we can get an apples to apples comparison of the ammo.

That would be great!  

7.62x39

Link to Wikipedia Entry with Cartridge Dimensions and History

Q: Where Can I find a Chrome Lined 7.62x39 barrel?

Q: Can I use AK-47 Magazines?

Q: What kind of lower do I need?

Q: What kind of Bolt Carrier do I need?

Q: Do I need the extended (M4 type) feed ramps?

Q: What kind of buffer do I need?

Q: Can I shoot surplus 7.62x39 in these rifles?

Q: Do I need to reload with .311 bullets, or can I use .308?


Sources for Rifles:

Sources for Complete Upper Assemblies:

Sources for Barrels or Bolts:

Sources for Brass:


Typical Performance: (courtesy of Krochus)




Q: I've heard the 7.62x39 is ballistically similar to the .30-30, but how close can I really get it as it normally uses lighter bullets?


Q: Are there any sub-sonic loads for the 7.62x39?

Q: How should I zero a 7.62x39?

Q: How can I modify my stock 7.62x39 bolt and firing pin to reliably fire surplus ammo?

Q: Can I use 6.5 Grendel magazines?
A: Courtesy of LRSNutJob


Sources for RELIABLE magazines:


Info from Boomer:

I'm still looking for the following info on the uppers:

- Twist Rate

- Bore Diameter (.308, .310, or .311)

- How they are threaded

Any other questions or info that needs to be covered?

.338 Spectre

Q; Who invented the .338 Spectre? What is it's History?

Q: Where Can I find a Chrome Lined 7.62x39 barrel?

Q: Where kind of twist rate is used on the barrels?



Q: What kind of lower do I need?
.

Q: What kind of gas system does the .338 use?

Q: What kind of buffer do I need?


Q: What chamber pressure does the .338 run?


Q: What weight bullets can I use?


Q: What kind of Supressor can be used with the .338?


Sources for uppers or barrels:


Sources for Brass:


Sources for Loaded Ammunition:


Typical Performance:

Sources for RELIABLE magazines:


Looking in the Archive I found Marty's FAQ post from 2005, we'll incorporate that, as well as update some of his info from 2005:

Who developed the .338 Spectre?
Like the .458 SOCOM, the .338 Spectre was developed by Marty ter Weeme, founder of Teppo Jutsu LLC. It is the result of improvements to the earlier .358 CQB cartridge, which itself came about during the design of the aforementioned .458 SOCOM. The concept behind the .338 Spectre was to offer a cartridge with broad spectrum application but primarily designed to deliver a heavy bullet with very high ballistic coefficient subsonically at extended distances. While the .458 SOCOM offers superlative performance at short(er) ranges under 150 yards, the .338 Spectre is capable of MOA accuracy out to 500 yards. In addition, it allows both high velocity and subsonic loads in the same system and delivers more energy on target than some of the competing cartridges like the .300 Whisper®. Currently, we offer complete AR-15 upper assemblies in this caliber, as well as single shot and bolt action rifles and we are working on the prototype AK-74SU version.

Can I form my own cases?
Actually, since formed brass is not yet available, forming your own cases right now is the ONLY way to get brass. The parent case is the 10mm Magnum case from Starline and a simple pass through the full-length sizing die will do the job. One could try and use the .30 Remington case (if you can find them) or the 6.8 x 43 SPC base, but we found the wall thickness to be such that it would require neck turning. For expediency sake, the 10mm Magnum brass is really the way to go.

What does Spectre stand for?
The name Spectre was chosen for to reflect the fact that when properly suppressed in a suitable host system, this cartridge can deliver tremendous long-range energy with minimal signature, “like a ghost”. That and the name Whisper was taken :o)

Where can I buy an upper?
At this time only Teppo Jutsu LLC (www.teppojutsu.com) offers complete uppers. That might change in the future … In addition, there we do have an agreement with RIP Custom Arms to supply them with complete uppers as part of their “Package”.

You mentioned the .300 Whisper®. Which is better, the .338 Spectre or the .300 Whisper®?
Credit must be given where credit is due. The .300 Whisper® from SSK Industries is the progenitor of this type of cartridge, the grand daddy of them all. The 300 Whisper® has a number of advantages over the Spectre, however, we feel the Spectre offers some improvements over the Whisper in the AR-15. I admit I cannot be impartial, but I will give as honest a comparison of the two as I can:
Base cartridge/rim size – the Spectre, being based on the 10mm Magnum, has the same rim as the .30 Remington and the 6.8 x 43 SPC. With the advent of the 6.8 SPC, OEM bolts and magazines for the AR-15 are now available, making the .338 Spectre a viable option to the Whisper. Before that, the Whisper, based on the .221 Fireball or shortened .223 Remington brass, was the winner without doubt.
Now, both enjoy similar ease of assembly/maintenance, as well as similar magazine capacity. The Whisper runs at higher pressure but has slightly smaller case capacity, the Spectre brass might be easier to get (Fireball brass can be hard to find at times and forming Whisper brass from .223 can be a laborious process).
Bullet selection – The Whisper enjoys the truly amazing selection of .308 diameter bullets, which arguably is the most prevalent bullet in the world. The Spectre, however, enjoys a nice selection as well, ranging from 160 grain Barnes X Spitzers to 300 grain Sierra Hollow Point Boat Tail Match Kings.
Cost/Selection – Both uppers are custom jobs however the Spectre is only available from Teppo Jutsu, whereas the Whisper can be bought from several companies under other names like .30/.221 Fireball or .300 Fireball. Best part about the Whisper is that you can buy loaded ammunition from CorBon, but we are working with Reed Ammo to bring loaded Spectre ammunition to the market as well.
Power – This to us is the main difference between the two cartridges. Both have similar magazine capacity and both are primarily intended for firing heavy aerodynamic bullets at subsonic velocity for “hush hush” applications. But where the Spectre shines is in the fact that the .338 bullet is abut 10% larger in diameter and more importantly, the heaviest load in the Spectre is a full 25% heavier than the heaviest Whisper load. This means that when fired at subsonic velocity, typically the Spectre will deliver 25% more energy on target and cause a larger permanent wound channel due to the larger size bullet.
As you can see, the difference is really not that big. A lot of it depends on personal preferences, or perhaps what your budget is or whether you already reload or similar considerations. You can’t go wrong with either.

What is the best twist rate?
Because the primary intent of the Spectre is to fire very heavy bullets at subsonic velocities, a relatively fast twist is needed to ensure stabilization. Basically, only one twist rate will really do, namely 1 in 6.5, but 1 in 7 will work as well.

What is the optimum barrel length?
Because the cartridge is intended for subsonic suppressed work, most uppers are offered with short barrels to keep the overall length with a suppressor to a minimum. However, we have built uppers with barrels as long as 20” and because we are talking about custom uppers, we can meet most any request.

What is the shortest possible barrel?
The typical short barrel upper will have a 10.5” barrel; you can’t go much shorter than that and still have the gas system work. UPDATE TO REFLECT BIG BORES 8" BARREL

What type of velocity can I expect?
Velocity will vary from rifle to rifle and obviously also depend on the bullet that is being loaded. And again, the primary purpose is heavy bullets at subsonic velocity. However, some of the velocities recorded from a 16” barreled upper are as follows:
180 grain bullet – about 1700 fps
200 grain bullet – about 1600 fps
225 grain bullet – about 1400 fps
300 grain bullet – about 1000 fps

What type of accuracy can I expect?
As with velocity, accuracy will vary from rifle to rifle. The cartridge, however, is capable of quite respectable accuracy. With hand loads, good optics and the shooter doing his job, groups as low as 0.5” have been recorded. We typically tell folks that 1.0” groups at 100 yards are the norm for the 180-grain load.

What is the maximum range I can use the .338 Spectre?
The cartridge was primarily intended for short(er) range work, such as urban theaters for LEO/MIL applications. As such, after 125-150 yards, the bullets tend to drop off VERY rapidly and we tell folks to consider it a 100-150 yard cartridge. Accomplished shooters can shoot the cartridge accurately at much greater distances and we have heard of folks shooting it in excess of 500 yards.

What kind of recoil can I expect?
Recoil is subjective, however, due to low pressure and relatively low velocity, the recoil is very mild. This, in fact, makes the cartridge a good choice for beginning shooters who might be recoil sensitive. For the professional user, it means greater ease of follow-up shots.

What lower, stock, other parts can I use?
The .338 Spectre was designed to work with as many mil-spec components as possible and requires no special parts other than the barrel. Any of the lowers out there that meet mil-spec should readily accept the .338. The only dedicated items required that are not “standard .223” are the bolt and magazines. For the magazines, we offer the following information:
Magazines – the .338 Spectre, unfortunately, will NOT work with standard .223 Remington caliber GI/Mil Spec magazines. Specific, dedicated magazines are needed and magazine capacities vary for the different size magazines. The ones we have found that work are as follows:
USA Brand 7.62 x 39 “Franken-mags” (AR-15/AK-47 hybrid)
Colt Brand 7.62 x 39 AR-15 magazines
PRI Brand 6.8 x 43 AR-15 magazines
The PRI magazines offer the best solution and are readily available. The largest version will hold 28 rounds and comes equipped with the excellent MagPul follower. We are still hoping to hear of a BETA Drum style magazine but suspect that none will become available. It is interesting to note that the magazines for the AK-74SU “Krinkov” in 5.45 x 39 will fit the .338 Spectre without modification. TO BE UPDATED

What are the best or preferred optics?
The choice of optics really depends on the budget of the shooter and intended use of the rifle. For CQB/MOUT, the vast majority of shooters use either the Aim Point or the EOTech, whereas for longer ranges any type of magnified optic should work.

Where can I buy loaded ammo?
Right now, loaded ammunition is not available YET. We are working with Reed Ammo (http://reedammo.com) to resolve this, and the future may have more good news in store. Who knows …. TO BE UPDATE FROM ABOVE

Can I shoot subsonic loads?
Considering this was part of the original design intent, the answer is a resounding YES. The 300-grain subsonic load has proven quite popular and will function without issue through the uppers.

How loud are the subsonic loads?
While not as loud as the high velocity loads, they are still not quiet enough to forego ear protection.

What about putting a suppressor on one of these?
Several uppers have been fitted with suppressors, either muzzle mounted or semi-integral versions. Different brands have been reported, such as SRT and GemTech, as well as Form 1 versions built by qualified individuals. With the 300-grain subsonic load they tend to make for a very nice and quiet package. Note that a lot of the noise is from the action cycling. If you want the ultimate in suppressed .338 Spectre, a bolt action rifle with semi-integral suppressor would have to be it. That, or switch off the gas on the AR-15 to prevent the action from cycling …

Do I need a muzzle brake? Do you offer one? What about flash hiders?
Because of the low recoil, we feel a muzzle brake is not really needed. We do offer different versions for those that insist and also offer a number of different flash hiders, such as the Phantom and the OPS Inc.

What about reloading?
Because loaded ammo is not yet available, reloading right now is the only way to go. All the components are available as is load data so that is not an issue. With the nice selection of .338 bullets available, (re)loading your own ammunition allows you to tailor a load both to your needs and your gun, which means you can work on getting the utmost in terms of accuracy or velocity out of your particular rifle.

I am new to reloading, would this be a good cartridge to learn on?
To be honest, the Spectre is relatively new in the world of firearms compared to such rounds as the .30-06, the .45-70 and many others. It would probably not be the best one to learn on, as it has a few idiosyncrasies, but if you like a challenge….

Where do I get brass, bullets, etc.?
The brass is made by Starline and can be bought straight from them or else through the larger reloading specialty outlets like Midway and Graff and Sons. Just about ANY of the .338 diameter bullets out there will work, and these are readily available at most gun stores that offer reloading components.  UPDATE FROM ABOVE

What is the trim length for the brass?
The official length is 1.250” but you can leave it untrimmed at 1.255”.

How do I resize the brass?
More important than trim length is shoulder set back as this cartridge head spaces on the shoulder. Experienced reloaders will know what this means, but for those that do not – you have to set up your dies such that when you full length size the brass after firing, you do not push the shoulder back down the case. If you were to do so, the case would still chamber, but likely FAIL upon firing. Not a huge issue, just a pain. I have had several do this, before I got my dies dialed in properly. Sometimes the shell holder can make al the difference needed …. I run my dies all the way down to where the fully contact the shell holder and this works for me but again; there are variances in shell holder thickness which can cause problems.

What bullets can I use?
As stated above, just about any .338 diameter bullet, ranging from 160 grains to 300 grains is what we have found out there. Cast lead could be used, but we would recommend limiting the number of cast lead bullets as the lead may foul the gas system. Seating depth can be a bit of a challenge with some of the heavier bullets. NOTE that the crimping groove on many .338 caliber bullets was designed with a totally different cartridge in mind (typically .338 Win Mag). Therefore, the crimping groove will likely NOT line up with the case mouth when seating to an overall length that fits in the magazine (or chambers).

What about crimping? Bullet set back?
Crimping is recommended to prevent set back of the bullet due to recoil or during the feeding process. I tend to put a light crimp on my loaded rounds with my CH dies and have not encountered an issue … yet.

What primers should I use?
The cartridge case uses the large pistol primer pocket and we recommend the CCI350 or the WLP primers. DO NOT use rifle primers as the primer pocket is not deep enough to seat them property which could lead to a very dangerous situation.  NEED INFO FOR GUYS USING TRIMMED 6.8 CASES

What powders should I use?
With a relatively small powder volume and low pressure, the faster rifle powders tend to be the more popular and effective. Typical powders include Hodgdon H110, Winchester Win296, Norma N200, Alliant Reloder7, IMR4198 and VVN110. We have also been hearing that Hodgdon Lil’ Gun is producing nice results …

Where do I get dies?
The first set of dies was made by CH Tool and Die (www.CH4D.com) and they carry them. If you ask us, we can work with you if you want a different brand like Redding or RCBS.

Can I load these using a Dillon progressive?
You sure can. The fine folks at Dillon can help you with specifics; I still plod along with my trusty Rock Chucker …

Where can I find load data?
Right now, the best place is to Email us at [email protected] however we hope to post it on our website soon.

When we get these a bit more fleshed out I'll make 'Content pages' for the calibers and ask one of the Variant Mods to put their links in the Caliber specific FAQs.

Consider it tacked.

When I move it to the Contents Page I want to add links to other important 7.62x39 threads (particularly get the thread number so when the threads are archived Members can still find them).

Like this one: Thread #373257: 7.62x39mm AR-15 configurations

You mean suggest the 7.62x39 owner get/add extended feed ramps?

I think Scott makes a good point.  While not absolutely required, if anything is less than perfect they allow a cartridge to feed that would otherwise fail.  It's the same with 6.8.

Good idea Mr Jones, I'll add a Q&A about the feed ramps.

Bump

Seeing as these FAQs are no longer tacked - does that mean you want me to transfer these FAQs to content pages?