Hello: I need some information. I have a Winchester Model 70 that is a 30/06AI. I am going to have it converted to an 338-06AI. I am a regular reloader that reloads my own ammunition. I also at times reload for others as well. Currently I reload a 30-30AI, a 22-250, several different makes of 30/06's and some pistols. I'm certainly not an expert in the art. I call it art because to do it well it is an art. There are many variables to take consideration of. What I need to no is just exactly what do they do to my 30/06AI to make it a 338-06AI. I have the gunsmith picked out and the rifle bore company picked as well. I'm going to buy a new stock for it to since I'm going this far. The rifle is an old Model 70 in very good condition. I want to use it for some years then when my grandkids get old enough I'll have it built back to a stock rifle. Even the rifle barrel is in good condition and shoots better than I do which is not giving it due credit. It shoots much better than I do. Do they still make barrels that last 60 years of regular shooting?? So my point is this. Is there anyone who has the time and knowledge to explain to me just what they are going to do to my rifle to improve the punch. Any information will be very much appreciated. Thank You, Jim Lawrence

Jim,

Why don't you tell us what you think will be done to convert from 30/06 AI to 338/06 AI.

I am sure that some members will be able to either confirm that what you think is "right" or offer some other thoughts.

Mike

OK If you take this in a lite mood I'll just say that they will adjust the flamus delectorus .135 degrees due up and reduce the feeding trails by a hash mark. Boy, this is a hard question to get answered. All I want to know is if my good old 06 can be reborn as an 06 a decade from now. Now its not important enough to cause anyone grief over it so I'll just move on. Given a half a chance you might be suprised as to my character. I am one you know! Enjoy yourself and have a fine day tomarow. In spite of my mistakes I'll do the same If I'm lucky enough I'll get to speak to you again 24 hours from now. I mean it when I say "take care of yourself." God Bless and United we stand. Old Jim

Jim,
Have your gunsmith order a barrel in .338 caliber and then chamber it for .338/.06. Keep your old barrel and when you are ready have it put back on so you can pass it on.

One last thing. I have absolutely no idea what will be done. Maybe he'll blueprint the action if I beg him and true the action threads. He might even face the front of the receiver and lap the lugs to even contact. My trigger is set at about 16# pull so he might adjust that. I'll forego the spiral fluting and just go with the standard 6. I'm going to get a sporter barrel, that will be of medium weight by the time the metal is removed. The barrel will be plenty stiff for hunting purposes. I'm a fair shot so I'll come get you to test the rifle for accuracy. I'm going to send him the complete rifle so he can check/adjust the bedding while he's in there. It's been quite some time since that has been done.
I'm going to have him bead blast the stainless barrel, then coat it with Tuff-coat. It will look like matte black as does my titanium 7mm-08 Ackley. I had it done the same way. I'm going to go with the 1/10" twist. That way it will stabilize any weight bullet I'll ever want to shoot in it. It will handle anything from the Barnes 165 grain round all the way up to the 275 grain Speers if I want to. I have a feeling that I won't want to. I think I'll shoot the 210 Nosler Partition mainly and expect to get 1/2" groups at 100 yards as that is about what I get with my 7mm-08. When I decided to convert my .30/06 to the 338/06AI I was still thinking about 165 and 180 grain bullets. However, I don't want to use up powder space with a bullet neck. I'll have a bit more freebore than most use but then I won't have bullets comming out because of powder compression. It'll be 200 gr. Ballistic Tips for the deer and 210 grain Nosler Partitions for the elk. The two bullets give the best performance in terms of trajectory and terminal ballistics, all the way out to 600 yards. I could hunt the rest of my life in america, africa, or alaska with this rifle. On a short note would you like to discuss the effects of sectional density and bullet coefficients? Remember that the energy of a bullet is a function of its weight and velocity. More importantly and the point you ought to remember is that the bullet weight is a function of the SQUARE of the velocity. To put it another way you can say that double the weight and the energy is doubled, but double the velocity and the energy is FOUR times as great. Think on that a moment. double the weight and double the energy but double the speed and it is squared!!! That's it for now but I want you to know how much you helped me learn about my new rifle. Jim

Jim,

You do remind me of someone

Mike

Jim: Living in Oregon, I can see no reason to convert to 338 over 30 AI. Most likely you'll end up shooting 200-210 bullets in the 338 at around 2600+. The 30 should make an easy 2700 with 200 gr'ers, so there's no reason to. Now the 338 would have advantage with 250's- but that is another recoil plain, as in considerably more.

Tune your trigger, load a premium bullet to all it'll handle- and be happy.