338-06 Springfield 1903

[bionic knees]

You could just back off the powder a bit on a .338 win mag and get the same results.

 

[DirectDrive]

You could just back off the powder a bit on a .338 win mag and get the same results.

If I had a donor rifle and a plan (like the OP) I'd stay on course.
Launching .338 pills out of a 30-06 parent case would be a pretty cool thing.

 

[ParsonBart]

Looking forward to your review of the project.

I already have a stock of bullets, powder, and primers. I ordered 30-06 brass of a different head-stamp than my usual 06s, and brand new dies from a guy I know on Facebook. I hope to have some basic cartridges worked up before I even get the action back.

 

[ParsonBart]

You could just back off the powder a bit on a .338 win mag and get the same results.

You could just back off the powder a bit on a .338 win mag and get the same results.

I love classic rifles, and this one is perfect for me. I will also be into the gun about $650, and have easy access to brass, without a belted case. It makes sense for a guy who mostly shoots .270 and .30-06 to just add to the family.

 

[bionic knees]

If I had a donor rifle and a plan (like the OP) I'd stay on course.
Launching .338 pills out of a 30-06 parent case would be a pretty cool thing.

I don't get the draw, to each his own!

 

[DirectDrive]

I don't get the draw, to each his own!

I just did a similar thing and this is the only way I can explain it...
M700 ADL .270 donor to M700 BDL 280AI
Had I gone 7mm Rem Mag it would have been capitulation, total abandonment of the original idea.
It was about getting the mostest out of a certain parent case with the least amount of work to the donor.

 

[ParsonBart]

I just did a similar thing and this is the only way I can explain it...
M700 ADL .270 donor to M700 BDL 280AI
Had I gone 7mm Rem Mag it would have been capitulation, total abandonment of the original idea.
It was about getting the mostest out of a certain parent case with the least amount of work to the donor.

Exactly. Nearly magnum performance without the hassle, to powder, or the recoil. It is like putting a small cam, 4bbl, and headers in your old truck. It makes it a whole different animal without going overboard.

 

[ParsonBart]

Hooray!!! I shipped the barreled action out on Dec 26, it was received Dec 31, and it just came back in the mail February 2. I would say that falls within the 4-6 week timeframe perfectly. I will let you all know how it shoots!

 

[400Whelen]

I had JES do the same thing a couple of years ago. He did great work. My rifle has a 23" barrel

If I would have done this before I got my 35 Whelen I might not have gotten that rifle.

My best loads with the Hornady 225 grain Flat Base, Soft Point bullets, is 60 grs of Rel 17. This load gave me 2658 fps.

61 grains gave me 2703 fps. NOTE: this is a max load in my rifle.

Most accurate load is Rel 17, 56 grains at 2467 fps delivered multiple groups of 7/8" at 100 yards.

Every load I have used that produced velocities in the range between 2500 fps to 2650 fps will produce groups in the 1" to 1 1/2" groups all day long

400 Whelen

Ed

 

[ParsonBart]

A quick update on the 338-06:

I had opportunity to sight it in this week. I loaded up some starting loads of 57 grains IMR 4350, using Hornady 225 grain spire points. After bore sighting the rifle, I started at 25 yards, and had holes touching. Next, I moved out to 50 yards. As I made tuning adjustments, I had a few great groupings, then started to lose accuracy a little. Finally, I moved to my 100 yard target, and produced a few erratic groups. Because I have read a bunch of comments from you guys and on other groups, I recalled that sometimes a JES barrel will get some copper fouling before it breaks in, I took it home and scrubbed it out. It was pretty fouled!! I plan on loading up another small batch this weekend and cleaning every few shots as the lands smooth out.

Overall, I was happy with my initial results, and the gurus appear to be accurate. The recoil is noticeably more than a 180 grain 30-06, but not unmanageable. During the same session, I sighted in a Model 70 30-06 (now to develop a heavy 220 grain load), and fired 9 rounds out of a newly repaired 1896 Krag sporter I got for $150 a couple of months ago.

 

[400Whelen]

I also have used that load in my rifle. I achieved 2556 fps. It shot well right around 1 1/4 to 1 1/2-inch groups at 100 yards. I haven't noted any undue fowling in my rifle. I shot 1" groups at 100 yards using a 200 gr. Hornady FBSP bullet with 58.5 grs of ACC 2700 and Winchester Mag Primers; velocity was averaged 2664 fps.

 

[bionic knees]

still don't get it, but whatever I guess. I can see necking down a .338 win mag to .30 but not necking up a .30-06 to .338.

 

[red442joe]

still don't get it, but whatever I guess. I can see necking down a .338 win mag to .30 but not necking up a .30-06 to .338.

Rebore for a rotted 30 cal.

Joe

 

[orygun]

still don't get it, but whatever I guess. I can see necking down a .338 win mag to .30 but not necking up a .30-06 to .338.

Rebore for a rotted 30 cal.

Joe

Larger bore for the same amount of powder usually makes a much more efficient cartridge. The 35 Whelen will move more grains of bullet faster than a 30-06 will.. Another reason behind the 338-06 is the good selection of tough bullets designed for the 338 Win Mag. Most 35 cal bullets are for mellow cartridges like the 35 Remington.

 

[400Whelen]

Why re-bore an old rifle to 338-06? Let's consider mine.

My Grandpa bought my rifle in 1947, and he shot it quite a bit until he gave it to my Dad in 1970. Dad shot it some and he made a stock for it out of a plank of walnut. In 1973 it became mine. I shot it far more than Grandpa and Dad did combine.

Over the years I saw that the groups were getting bigger and bigger. By 2024, the groups looked more like a shotgun pattern than a group. A borescope revealed what I already knew; the barrel was shot out.

I could have re-barreled it and had barrel channel reconfigured for the new barrel contour. But Dad made that stock! I just could not change what he made with his hands. That rifle is one of the last tangible things I have of Dads. So, re-boring was the only reasonable solution.

Since I already had a 35 Whelen A.I. and a 400 Whelen it came down to either a 338-06 or the 375-06. I already had a 375-caliber rifle, but I didn't have a 338-caliber rifle. The choice was clear.

This is what I call a Chain Gun. It was Grandpas', it was Dads', it's mine and one day it will be my sons' and maybe one day it will be my Grandsons'. With a lot of luck, the story will continue. Yeah, I know the odds are that it won't. I'm getting old and I have to have hope.

400 Whelen

Ed