Author Topic: .30-06 to .338-06 (how much/little is required??) (Read 19423 times)

HiVelSword · « **on:** July 09, 2012, 03:29:15 pm »

For a bolt-gun starting as a .30-06 my ignorant mind tells me, "a barrel".

Parent case is .30-06 so that's why I think that. But what else is involved? I'm thinking it's more than a simple barrel swap.

Thanks in advance for making me less ignorant.

WeTheArmed.com

JesseL · « **Reply #1 on:** July 09, 2012, 03:31:05 pm »

Just to convert the rifle, I can't think of anything besides swapping the barrel. The bolt face is the same, the body of the cartridge is the same width, and the overall length is about the same.

I suppose that depending on the particular rifle it might need a little tweaking to feed right, but I think that's unlikely.

Evil Jim · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2012, 03:55:50 pm »

What Jesse said... swap the barrel, set headspace, load, chamber, point at target, make Boom.

Jim

HiVelSword · « **Reply #3 on:** July 09, 2012, 04:05:20 pm »

That's kinda what I was thinking as well.

Now to figure out which platform would need the least amount of tweaking. And this is fairly easy. Winchester, Remington, Savage, Browning etc, etc. I have no preferences.

I might eventually but this would be my first bolt-gun so I'm starting with a clean slate. Doesn't even have to be perfect. Could be a budget rifle with a polymer stock. Though I've always been attracted to the Remington 700 SPS tactical. Alas they are only chambered in .223 and .308. But I'd be happy with something halfway close.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want a tactical rifle in that chambering. I'm not going to do any "sniping" or even hunting for that matter. I just happen to like black rifles with matte finished black barrels.

Evil Jim · « **Reply #4 on:** July 09, 2012, 04:18:39 pm »

I am biased, but I say Savage.

Jim

JesseL · « **Reply #5 on:** July 09, 2012, 04:43:19 pm »

Me too.

You can still get a long action Stevens 200 (Accutriggerless Savage 110) for under $350.

Than you can have some gun mangler shoehorn in a BAR mag.

HiVelSword · « **Reply #6 on:** July 09, 2012, 04:47:21 pm »

Quote from: JesseL on July 09, 2012, 04:43:19 pm

Me too.

You can still get a long action Stevens 200 (Accutriggerless Savage 110) for under $350.

Than you can have some gun mangler shoehorn in a BAR mag.

A 20+1 20" bolt gun in .338-06!

Gun manglers FTW!!!

Harm · « **Reply #7 on:** July 09, 2012, 05:40:18 pm »

Forgive the question but 338Win = 338-06?

JesseL · « **Reply #8 on:** July 09, 2012, 05:51:03 pm »

Quote from: Harm on July 09, 2012, 05:40:18 pm

Forgive the question but 338Win = 338-06?

.338 Winchester is a belted magnum, think of a necked up .300 Win Mag (but in reality the .300 is a necked down .338).

.338-06 is a necked up .30-06.

There's probably a 100-250fps difference between the two.

Evil Jim · « **Reply #9 on:** July 09, 2012, 08:21:06 pm »

What about .35 Whelen?

Jim

Lokidude · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2012, 01:03:53 am »

Quote from: Evil One on July 09, 2012, 04:18:39 pm

I am biased, but I say Savage.

Jim

Especially for this project. That "ugly" barrel nut makes swaps fairly easy/straightforward.

Harm · « **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2012, 01:16:12 am »

Quote from: JesseL on July 09, 2012, 05:51:03 pm

.338 Winchester is a belted magnum, think of a necked up .300 Win Mag (but in reality the .300 is a necked down .338).

.338-06 is a necked up .30-06.

There's probably a 100-250fps difference between the two.

I imagine 338-06 has a milder recoil. How easy is ammo to find?

JesseL · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2012, 01:36:45 am »

Quote from: Harm on July 10, 2012, 01:16:12 am

I imagine 338-06 has a milder recoil. How easy is ammo to find?

Nosler loads it for about $80 a box.

I never saw HVS get excited about a cartridge that cheap or easy to find though.

coyotesfan97 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 10, 2012, 04:53:17 am »

Quote from: JesseL on July 10, 2012, 01:36:45 am

Nosler loads it for about $80 a box.

I never saw HVS get excited about a cartridge that cheap or easy to find though.

$80 a box? Ouch I thought 45-70 was bad.

HiVelSword · « **Reply #14 on:** July 10, 2012, 09:08:47 am »

Quote from: JesseL on July 10, 2012, 01:36:45 am

Nosler loads it for about $80 a box.

I never saw HVS get excited about a cartridge that cheap or easy to find though.

Guilty as charged!

I will buy one or two boxes but that's pretty much it. Definitely be reloading for this cartridge.

seanp · « **Reply #15 on:** July 10, 2012, 09:15:12 am »

You should look at .338 Federal.

Just saying.

HiVelSword · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2012, 10:49:46 am »

Except the .338 Federal is not the .338-06.

I don't always seek the most powerful or perfect cartridges. Sometimes it's the idea behind them, their name or the sequence of numbers. Sometimes it's because they "aren't" what other cartridges are.

And as Jesse pointed out, I have a thing for cartridges that I can't find in gun shops. People can shake their heads or facepalm but I just gotta be me.