I've got a 30-06 that simply will not shoot any better than 1.5" - 2" at 100 yds. That includes factory and handloads. I know that 1.5-2" is great for most but I desire a 1" or less capable rifle at 100 yds.

I have free floated the barrel, bedded the action, and had a trigger job done. With that said, I am thinking about either rebarreling to the same 30-06 caliber or changing it to something bigger.

My current battery is:
.270, .280, this 30-06, and my new 338-06.
What can I do with this Winchester M70 action and rifle? I'm seriously considering going bigger than the 338-06 but I have no idea where to go with this standard length action.

Suggestions?

If it was me, I would either go for a 7x57 or 35 Whelen.

As you say you think you want something bigger than .338, I would recomend the 35 Whelen.


Just my humble opinion.

If you're convinced that the accuracy can't be improved, I'd frankly suggest you merely trade it off for a new one.....It'll cost the same as a new barrel attached!

You didn't say if it is a CRF or push feed....the CRF models are easier to rebarrel to magnums where the pushfeeds require more work to change the bolt face.

Your .280 and .338-06 pretty much void a need for another .30-06 (assuming need is relevant).

Options for a rebarrel include the .25-06 and the .35 Whelen or if you really want.....the 9.3 X 62....the latter two are real thumpers!

Make it interesting. Look at the 375/06.

Before you do any rebarreling, have a gunsmith re-crown it. This is one of the most common causes of poor accuracy. The crown can look good and still be bad. I have fixed many a rifle by re-crowning.....Tom

You could also go with a 8mm-06.

280 Remington!

If you want to keep it as a .30-06, you might consider a stock from these guys...

www.accurateinnovations.com


Glass-bedding can do a little, but not much more. Accurate Innovations aluminum bedding takes ALL the variation out of the stock.

I used to work there, and I can't recomend their work highly enough!


I am not saying one of their stocks will cure a bum (for whatever reason) barrel, but it can (will) make a significant improvement to your accuracy.

9,3x62.

Excellent replies and fast!! Thanks, guys!

The rifle is a CRF Featherweight and one of the last made at the old factory. That may have something to do with the limited accuracy. I know the last couple of years of production were highly criticized for quality.

30378 - I actually thought about the 375/06! Seems like not only a cool cartridge but one that could have some serious thump (not that my new 338-06 doesn't)

Not sure about the .35 Whelen. Never been a huge fan of it. The other serious consideration is the 9.3x62. I have my dad's 7x57 and with me already having a .270 and a .280 Rem, I don't want another 7mm rifle.

Thanks Tapper and Nemo for the suggestions and advice!!

quote:

Not sure about the .35 Whelen. Never been a huge fan of it. The other serious consideration is the 9.3x62.

They are essentially sister cartridges.....

I wasn't a fan of the Whelen until I built one....It changed my mind real fast.....it's no slouch!

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
9,3x62.

What Tony said, it's fits the bill and gives you a bigger bore option...

quote:

Originally posted by Scott Spencer:
I've got a 30-06 that simply will not shoot any better than 1.5" - 2" at 100 yds. That includes factory and handloads. I know that 1.5-2" is great for most but I desire a 1" or less capable rifle at 100 yds.

I have free floated the barrel, bedded the action, and had a trigger job done. With that said, I am thinking about either rebarreling to the same 30-06 caliber or changing it to something bigger.

My current battery is:
.270, .280, this 30-06, and my new 338-06.
What can I do with this Winchester M70 action and rifle? I'm seriously considering going bigger than the 338-06 but I have no idea where to go with this standard length action.

Suggestions?

8x68S, 9.3x64, 358 Norma, 9.3x70, 10.75x68, 375 Ruger, 416 Ruger.

You know, it wouldn't be hard to make a .243 or 6mm/06 out of it.

ya shore ya betchya....and for all those 300 and even 400 pound whitetails in Minnesoooooda ya jus gatta have wun of dem!

.338-06AI just a chambered barrel is all you need and a set of dies

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
ya shore ya betchya....and for all those 300 and even 400 pound whitetails in Minnesoooooda ya jus gatta have wun of dem!

I see vapid troll is still alive and non-functional posting to threads for no other reason than to prove he's a troll.

Any time you can grow a pair of balls there vapid dog All you have to say is I accept show me

You got a mouth? use it or keep talking out of your ass.

Lots of good options on the table. If rebarreling it to another cartridge would leave you without an '06, then stick with that cartridge (or an AI). Otherwise, if the 9,3x62 doesn't do it for you, what about .375-06 AI ?

Assuming that you reload I would say keep it as originaly is rather than creating a need for additional dies brass bullets etc. No flies on the 30-06, unless your just bored with it.

The recrown suggestion is an excellent one.


Otherwise if the 9.3 appeals to you go for it.. Personaly I love my Whelen and the difference between the two is negligible..

I like craftimg my own bullets for the larger calibers and highly reccomend it what ever you decide..

I would opt for either a 9.3x62 or a 6.5/06 Ackley Improved.

quote:

Originally posted by miles58:
I have killed white tails over 300 pounds. In Minnesota where I live, they can be over 400.

Wow! I'd sure like to see those photos too!

quote:

Originally posted by Robert Wilde:

quote:

Originally posted by miles58:
I have killed white tails over 300 pounds. In Minnesota where I live, they can be over 400.

Wow! I'd sure like to see those photos too!

I think he meant this kind of "Deere"

quote:

Originally posted by Robert Wilde:

quote:

Originally posted by miles58:
I have killed white tails over 300 pounds. In Minnesota where I live, they can be over 400.

Wow! I'd sure like to see those photos too!

I took five minutes and found one over 3 during the 2010 season for vapid dog. Ask him to point you to it.

Vapid dog being the troll that he is dismissed the man who killed it, the people who reported it and the people who weighed it with nothing more that his little dick skinner fingers.

I have offer to do the research to find more for him at a price, but all he has is dick skinner fingers and no balls or cash to back his mouth up.

He claims to have lived in Minnesota, but if he doesn't realize that there are probably a couple hundred big buck contests across the state every year, I kind of doubt that he ever lived here and his experience in Minnesota is as bogus as his claims on the net.

The offer remains open to vapid dog I will happily go find all those contests and provide him a list of over 300 live weight bucks. Deer hunters who've lived here are aware of two the state record deer weighing over 400 dressed. There is documentation for another dressed over 4 as well.

Until vapid dog mans up and puts something up to cover his mouth he is nothing more or less than a troll posting off topic in threads like this and I will stand him up as what he is each and every time. If you would like to see more than what I have provided to vapid dog you are welcome to put up the money as well or do your own research.

Vapid dog You grown a pair of balls yet???

quote:

My current battery is:
.270, .280, this 30-06, and my new 338-06.
What can I do with this Winchester M70 action and rifle? I'm seriously considering going bigger than the 338-06 but I have no idea where to go with this standard length action.

Suggestions?

You just might want to consider trading it off for a .375 H&H.....

It's a lot of gun but it's not as excessive as many might think. It's used for plains game quite frequently.....think elk sized game!!!

Might want to think about just boring that barrel to 9.3. Worked for me going from 30'06 to 338-06 and probably my best shooting rifle. Wanted to keep the original pre 64 fwt barrel.

A 35 Newton comes to mind....

Cal30

+1 on Accurate Innovations stocks and +1 on the Wheelen. I recently got one (AI) and going thru some growing pains figuring out what MY rifle like -- but man, hell of a cartridge.

Asnwering the OP question, my vote is for the 338-06!

This site has no shortage of trolls but vapo isn't one of them. Having said that, the jordon buck was reported to weigh 400#. I asked a local venison processor if he's ever seen any 300# + deer and he said the only 300# deer that get shot are the ones that never get weighed. I don't know what the answer is but I would love to see one of those bigguns hanging from my meat pole.

quote:

I asked a local venison processor if he's ever seen any 300# + deer and he said the only 300# deer that get shot are the ones that never get weighed.

FWIW.....I've heard about all those mammoth deer and when we bought the monster home from Grand Marais, folks were saying that it'd go way over three hundred.....and when we put it on the scale it registered 202 pounds.

Like 1/2" groups.....way more of them are shot on the internet than any range and the same for field dressed deer.....a truly big one will top the scales at 200 pounds except on the internet.....those usually run 300-400 and there's no end of them!!!!! Pure BS!!!!!

I've hunted Minnesota and Wisconsin since 1962 and shot a lot of deer and personally witnessed a helluva lot more taken by others.....in the field and at locker plants.....and the largest one I've ever seen was the one we weighed at the elevator scales in Southern Minnesota at 202!!!!!

If anyone thinks I'm going to pay them to show BS.....well....screw em!

There's a lot of Minnesota and Wisconsin hunters posting here and they know exactly what I'm saying.

You live in Al and I don't know where else you might hunt. .270 is smallest you have listed. I'd say you need a small rifle. Maybe .223,.222 or .243.

If case length is any indication of what might work, I would consider the .30-338 Win Mag. A mighty fine cartridge.

I want a 9.3 badly myself, but in your situation I see too much overlap between it and the 338-06. Not a whole lot of difference besides the heavier bullets.

Have you considered going smaller? I think in that situation, I would look at the .240 Weatherby or 6mm Rem. You're a handloader, so factory ammo doesn't play a factor really.

Or the 25-06!

If you really want to go bigger, make it a legitimate JUMP.....400 Whelen or 411 hawk/Scovil!!

With a minor bit of tweeking by a good smith, you could also do a 10.75x57 or 10.75x63.

Thanks for all of the replies and suggestions! I get to hunt out west every couple of years (I've taken an elk (2008) and a mule deer (2009) the last two trips). I'd like to eventually hunt a big black bear and a moose (Canadian variety).

I know the 338-06 will cover everything I'll ever hunt in N.A. but I really love my M70 featherweight (aside from the accuracy issue) and really hate to give it up.

I'll come up with something one of these days but in the mean time I'll keep figuring out my new 338-06. I plan to check out the Nosler 180gr BT, 210gr Partition, 225gr Accubond, and I may even try the Hornady 250gr RN.

Scott:
Tho I've never shot nor handled one, I'd lean towards a 35 Whelan as well. Personally, I don't see any real reason to keep both a .270 Win. and a .30-06. They are both just too close in their capabilities for me. I've always read good things about the Whelan and in fact, an old gunsmith once told me a .35 Whelan Imp. would handle the heavier bullets better. You might want to look into that keeping in mind the attendant added complications in forming brass.
Before I did anything as drastic as a rebarrel, I'd make darn sure everything else has been checked. Crown, proper bedding, proper torque on action screws, scope is known to be good, etc. Good luck on whatever you decide.
Bear in Fairbanks

I also don't see a point for the 270 AND 30-06 when you have the better choice, the 280

Maybe sell the 270 to fund the building of the FW into something bigger? If you have a 280, 338-06 and lets just say the 9.3x62, I guess you DO have everything on earth....covered! White tail, antelope, smaller plains game, sheep/goat all are perfect for the 280, elk, mule deer, bears, moose - all perfect for the 338! DG or as a back up to any of the above, or maybe all the above but in tighter cover, the 9.3 would sing.

quote:

Originally posted by Rub Line:
This site has no shortage of trolls but vapo isn't one of them. Having said that, the jordon buck was reported to weigh 400#. I asked a local venison processor if he's ever seen any 300# + deer and he said the only 300# deer that get shot are the ones that never get weighed. I don't know what the answer is but I would love to see one of those bigguns hanging from my meat pole.

He posts an off topic insult to people he's never met in a thread unrelated to the topic. That by definition is a troll.

Looks to me like it is Miles that posted this:

quote:

Originally posted by miles58:
I have killed white tails over 300 pounds. In Minnesota where I live, they can be over 400.

All I saw was vapo asking for photos.

How's that off topic? It's Miles that bought up the large deer!

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

I asked a local venison processor if he's ever seen any 300# + deer and he said the only 300# deer that get shot are the ones that never get weighed.

FWIW.....I've heard about all those mammoth deer and when we bought the monster home from Grand Marais, folks were saying that it'd go way over three hundred.....and when we put it on the scale it registered 202 pounds.

Like 1/2" groups.....way more of them are shot on the internet than any range and the same for field dressed deer.....a truly big one will top the scales at 200 pounds except on the internet.....those usually run 300-400 and there's no end of them!!!!! Pure BS!!!!!

I've hunted Minnesota and Wisconsin since 1962 and shot a lot of deer and personally witnessed a helluva lot more taken by others.....in the field and at locker plants.....and the largest one I've ever seen was the one we weighed at the elevator scales in Southern Minnesota at 202!!!!!

If anyone thinks I'm going to pay them to show BS.....well....screw em!

There's a lot of Minnesota and Wisconsin hunters posting here and they know exactly what I'm saying.

If you had a set of balls you'd get on the hook to the people who reported the one I gave you instead of denigrating them and the man who shot it. FWIW one of the two I shot weighed out at 260 dressed. They are not that uncommon, as you well know, there are a few killed every year. Until you man up and do the work yourself before you BS another man's accomplishment, you remain a troll initiating off topic insults into threads.

quote:

Originally posted by miles58:
You know, it wouldn't be hard to make a .243 or 6mm/06 out of it.

to which vapid dog responded:

"

Posted 15 January 2011 02:35 Hide Post
ya shore ya betchya....and for all those 300 and even 400 pound whitetails in Minnesoooooda ya jus gatta have wun of dem!"

Vapid dog has done this on several threads since I provided him one example of a 300 lb deer taken in Minnesota by an old hunter in 2010.

I think trailing a user forum to forum, thread to thread with BS is a patent definition od a troll and he needs to be stood up for what her is and what he's doing.

Sell all your other rifles and buy a new savage 30-06 in an accustock. You will have a tack driver, be money ahead and shooting the only perfect cartridge in existence!