New Russian Cartridge – .366 Magnum
Russian companies Techcrim and Molot Oruzhie have released another new cartridge called .366 Magnum. This new round belongs to the family of cartridges that are designed to be certified as smoothbore slug ammunition. Other cartridges in this line include the .366 TKM, .345 TK and the 9.6x53mm Lancaster.
All of these cartridges were designed to make it easier for the Russian citizens to acquire firearms with a rifle-like performance that are legally considered shotguns. Russian citizens can own rifles, but to be eligible to buy a rifle they need to have owned a shotgun for no less than five years. So it is much easier to obtain a shotgun.
The “shotguns” chambered in these calibers utilize smooth bore barrels with about 6″ rifled section from the muzzle end (legally considered a smooth bore with a built-in rifled choke) or barrels with oval-bore (a.k.a. Lancaster) rifling which don’t have distinct lands and grooves thus qualify as smoothbore.
The .366 Magnum is based on the 8mm Mauser case. This straight walled cartridge is loaded with 9.58mm (.377) bullets just like the .366 TKM. According to Oleg Kuzmenko, chief engineer of Techcrim, in terms of the muzzle energy, the .366 Magnum (with ME of 3,500 Joules (2,580 ft-lb)) lies right inbetween the .366 TKM cartridge (2,500 Joules (1,845 ft-lb)) and the 9.6x53mm Lancaster (4,500 Joules (3,320 ft-lb)). The .366 Magnum pushes 15 gram (230 grain) or 18 gram (277 grain) projectiles to muzzle velocities of 700 m/s (about 2,300 fps) and 620 m/s (2,035 fps) respectively. For comparison, the .366 TKM launches the 15 gram (230-grain) bullets at 600 m/s (1,970 fps) – 330 fps of muzzle velocity difference.
Most likely, Molot will soon introduce firearms chambered in this new caliber. Because the new cartridge basically has the same case head and rim cut dimensions as the .308 Winchester and an overall length no more than the .308 Win, it should be relatively easy for Molot to rebarrel their .308 Win firearms such as the Tayozhnik bolt action rifle or one of the RPK-based semi-auto hunting rifles.
Images from www.molot.biz, www.techcrim.ru
Managing Editor Being a lifelong firearms enthusiast, Hrachya always enjoys studying the history and design of guns and ammunition. Should you need to contact him, feel free to shoot him a message at Hrachya@TheFirearmBlog.com
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So how about some test data? Anybody in the US trying this? We really need some new cartridges as the old ones just do not work very well and are quite obsolete. I killed 2 deer last year, A 9 point with a muzzle loader at 70 yards. It did not work very well, 250 grain Hornady bullet with 3 pellets, 150 grains of powder. Right at dark, hard to find him, darn thing ran over 50 yards. Second one also a big 9, at 205 yards in a high wind. Hit him the first time but he did not go down. 257 Weatherby just does not work anymore. So, I fired twice more an he disappeared. Darn thing went about 50 yards too. We need some new rounds, something where we don't have to chase them so far. Maybe a 6.725 Creeeeemoore loaded with duplex powder and maybe a little rocket booster that kicks in after say 300 yards and some little fins that fold back until after the round leaves the bore and an outer bullet shell that actually peels off after say 563 yards? My longest antelope kill was 563 so I am looking for something better than the old 30-06. That antelope by the way dropped I his tracks so sometimes the old calibers do actually work. .But we really need some new stuff.
Looks like a .30 CARBINE!