Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 05, 2011, 12:59:31 PM

Title: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 05, 2011, 12:59:31 PM: So I got a 30'06 from a buddy who passed away. I won't sell the rifle, but I want a .300 mag or .338 mag as I already have 2 06s. Is it possible to have a gunsmith turn this rifle into a 300 or 338? Would would it take and cost? A new barrel, action ect? It's a remington 700 adl. I want to use the rifle because I has sentimental value but it would
Be nice if it was in a caliber I don't own. Or would it just be cheaper to buy a new gun? Thanks
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: JimmyHoffa on May 05, 2011, 01:06:00 PM: I think that it would require the magnum action (long). The '06 comes in standard. So a new action and new barrel and new magazine. Unless I'm all effed up. Probably easier and cheaper to get a new gun or choose a shorter new cartridge. You can use shorter cartridges in a longer action but don't think the reverse is true.
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: Bofire on May 05, 2011, 01:21:51 PM: The action is long enough for a 300WM, but the bolt face would need to be opened up and the barrel rechambered or replaced.
How about a 338/06? or 35 whelan? mabbe 270?
Carl
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: brokenvet on May 05, 2011, 01:48:10 PM: A .300 Win Mag barrel from midway is $229.99 + shipping
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=843149 (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=843149)

Open up bolt face for mag caliber $55
Install the barrel $100-125
Shipping to gun smith & back $50

http://www.skaggsgunsmithing.com/index.shtml (http://www.skaggsgunsmithing.com/index.shtml)

I have sent my bolt rifles to this guy in Oregon and he does excellent work with about an 8 weeks turn around time.
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 05, 2011, 02:51:04 PM: Quote from: Bofire on May 05, 2011, 01:21:51 PM
The action is long enough for a 300WM, but the bolt face would need to be opened up and the barrel rechambered or replaced.
How about a 338/06? or 35 whelan? mabbe 270?
Carl
Tell me more about this 338/06, sounds interesting. Is it a 30 06 necked up to a 338 bullet? I want a dedicated large game rifle which is why I was thinking 338 mag. Would the calibers you mentioned be cheaper to convert too?
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 05, 2011, 03:07:47 PM: Yes the 338/06 is just a 06 necked up to take a .338 bullet. It is a great round!
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 05, 2011, 03:11:26 PM: I just did some reading on it, sounds pretty cool. So I could just get a new barrel installed and my action would work fine? How about the reloading process? Just fl resize a 06 shell in the 338/06 dies? Or is the process different when necking up?
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: whacker1 on May 05, 2011, 03:16:12 PM: Your other option is to go down smaller than .30, such as 25-06...
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 05, 2011, 03:18:06 PM: I think most people just FL the 06 brass in the 338/06 dies. I think a few companies make the 338/06 brass as well. Your action should be just fine with going from the 30-06 to the 338/06. I have shot 2 diffrent rifles in the 338/06 and liked both. Never handloaded for them. But with the bullets out there, it would be a great caliber to have in the safe :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 05, 2011, 03:30:59 PM: Im jacked, it sounds like an awesome elk rifle and it's unique! And it will be cheap to shoot!
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: JimmyHoffa on May 05, 2011, 03:42:28 PM: One of the other cartridges listed above is the .35 Whelen. It is also a necked up '06, this time to .35 caliber. Like a .338-06 it would only require a barrel change, the rest stays the same.
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 05, 2011, 03:46:46 PM: Quote from: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 05, 2011, 03:30:59 PM
Im jacked, it sounds like an awesome elk rifle and it's unique! And it will be cheap to shoot!

Well it depends on what bullets you are shooting :chuckle:
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 05, 2011, 03:57:36 PM: Yeah I think .338 cal bullets are cheaper
And easier to come by than the .35, but I'll look into it as
Well.
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 05, 2011, 04:05:06 PM: They are about the same, just looked threw noslers news price list. They both run right at 1.00 each.
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: Bofire on May 05, 2011, 06:08:23 PM: :)I am glad I could help.
Carl
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 05, 2011, 07:18:27 PM: Ok so for the money would you
Rather have a 338/06 or a 338mag? Seems
Like it's a couple hundred dollar difference.
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 05, 2011, 07:27:33 PM: If it was just for Elk I would go 338mag myself. Even though the 338/06 is a great round. 338mag you will get a little better range and more stopping power. If you were planning on keeping the shots fairly close 300yards and under and want a great deer gun as well I would go 338/06. I like my 338mag and have liked the 338/06's that I have shot.
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 05, 2011, 08:10:15 PM: I want to have a designated elk gun. I
Got plenty of deer rifles that can handle
Elk, but I want real elk gun, 338 mag type.
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: Bofire on May 05, 2011, 09:05:18 PM: :)I thought about this a little.
So you get the bolt opened up and a new barrel, you might as well get the trigger done or replaced and the action squared and trued, and you better get it bedded into a HS Precision stock, scope mounts and optics.
keep the keepsake gun, sell yer others and buy what ever blows yer skirt up.
Carl
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 05, 2011, 09:36:12 PM: Yeah if it was cost effective I would do it, but for 700 bucks I can add another gun to my safe. It sounds like a awesome caliber and I think I will definatley convert or buy one later. But I want a magnum!
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: bod on May 06, 2011, 07:35:07 AM: You can have your 30-06 rebored to 338-06.
1. JES Reboring Oregon
2. Delta Gun Shop Colville Wa.
You don't need a magnum in Wa. state
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 06, 2011, 07:50:50 AM: Have you used them before? I'll have to check in on the pricing.
And I know I don't NEED a magnum but I sure want one! I bowhunt most if the season. ; )
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: brokenvet on May 06, 2011, 08:01:23 AM: Great suggestion on the 338-06, it is a great caliber, although if you do not reload for it ammo it is quite expensive. This caliber is just a tad under the 338Win mag in velocity ad energy, but in a few case it out performs the 338Win Mag and it does not have the heavy recoil of the magnum.

NOW if you are going to reload for it, use 25.06, .270Win, .280Rem, 30.06 or 35whelen case that you DO NOT have and resize. Since you have the 30.06 round already I would not use that case for the 338-06. You or someone could accidentally use the 338-06 in the 30.06 rifle, it wont be a fun day.
You can buy 338-06 A-Square brass, but its a bit on the costly side.

There is also the 338 Scoville. It is basically a necked up 30.06, just like the 338-06, but the shoulder is more forward than the 338-06, thus capable of holding more powder, it literary bridges the gap between the 338-06 and 338 win mag.

.35Whelen is another choice; ammo and cases are more common than the 338-06

Good luck with the project
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: Jerbear on May 08, 2011, 07:36:25 PM: Take it to a good gun smith and have the chamber punched out to become a 308 Norma Mag. Same round as the 300 win mag. Only drawback is the ammo is not cheap. I reload. Get the reloading dies then get the brass. You will still be 30cal, so no barrel change. Look into it. I paid $165.00 to have mine done.
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 08, 2011, 09:54:37 PM: :yeah:

That is a great idea, I will ask about that. Did that 165 include modifying the bolt? I reload as well so my only concern is finding brass. Was it a model 700?
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: Jerbear on May 08, 2011, 11:19:59 PM: No. There is where I messed up. I took a brand new Marlin MR7. I did not know they were only going to make them for 2 years, and that they would become collector items. It is one straight shooting rifle. I use nothing but Hornady SST165 grain for every thing. That price included every thing.
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: addicted on May 09, 2011, 04:27:07 AM: go for the 338-06. that would be a cool one.

If you want to get even more unique turn it into a 9.3x62 :drool: its like a 35 whelen on horse steroids
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: wadu1 on May 09, 2011, 06:41:10 AM: 9.3X62 would be perfect match it is 1mm shorter than a 30-06 and it's about .36 cal. I have one and it's a real shooter and you can use them in Africa.
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: addicted on May 09, 2011, 08:34:22 AM: Quote from: wadu1 on May 09, 2011, 06:41:10 AM
9.3X62 would be perfect match it is 1mm shorter than a 30-06 and it's about .36 cal. I have one and it's a real shooter and you can use them in Africa.

:yeah:

you can get that .366 bullet well over 300 grains. wadu is right generally many big game areas in africa do make an exception for the mighty 9.3 instead of their general minimum of 375HH. So as you can see if you wanted magnum slam, 9.3 has it. if it doesnt work, they dont use it in africa. It's a buisiness, life line, and lifestyle down there.
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 09, 2011, 08:37:36 AM: I should have been a gun smith, there are to many options, I want to do them all!
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: KillBilly on May 09, 2011, 08:44:24 AM: Quote from: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 09, 2011, 08:37:36 AM
I should have been a gun smith, there are to many options, I want to do them all!

You might make some of your customers mad if you changed their calibers though :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 09, 2011, 08:57:34 AM: No customers I just want to build my own collection! >:(
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: addicted on May 09, 2011, 09:17:52 AM: Quote from: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 09, 2011, 08:37:36 AM
I should have been a gun smith, there are to many options, I want to do them all!

buy a savage and do them all yourself.
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: AWS on May 09, 2011, 09:32:09 AM: I had my Rem 721 rebored to 35 Whwlen and am very pleased with the results. The rebore to 338-06 or 35 Whelen should run around $200, if that rings your chimes PM me for a list of rebore shops.

AWS
Title: Re: Changing the caliber of your rifle?
Post by: bod on May 10, 2011, 09:16:56 AM: JES reboring I believe was a little over $ 200, I like the 338-06 there are more bullets to choose from.