Action is a commercial Mauser and barrel currently chambered in 338/06 but (a) I want a little more power and (b)I don't want to bother reloading for it.

Is this a fairly simple job to have done and will the 'smith need to do work to make sure feeding is reliable. It feeds perfectly now.
Bill

Rechambering is the easy part.

Also the bolt face has to be opened up for the magnum case, and the magazine will need to be worked on for proper feeding.

Suggest you get some quotes on how much this will cost you to gain 50 fps.

Terry, you hit that one on the head.

The extractor also needs to be modified. Email me if you want a quote.

50 fps... what!?



I've had both and both with 22" bbl's. The 338 WM beats the 338-06 with all bullet weights by 175 to 250 fps. and I apparently had a "fast" 338-06 bbl compared to many I've seen post here...

Terry,
My experience has mirrored Brad's regarding the difference in velocities between the two. Even looking at Saeeds loading data yields a difference of 300 fps with 200 grain bullets and 200 with 225's in the 338/06 versus 230's in the .338 WM. I get 350 difference with 250 grain Noslers.

You should get from 150 to 200 fps from a .338WM over the .338-06, or the .35 Whelen. Yes, you can develop hot reloads for the .338-06 or the .35 Whelen to increase speed, but so can you with the .338WM and still keep ahead.

But why don't you leave your .338-06 as it is now? You could always sell it and use the money to buy a .338WM (maybe a used one if you like). However, the .338WM is so popular with big game hunters that they are often on sale along the .30-06 and the .300WM.

Just for grins...the Hornady 5th edition reloading manual shows the .338 WM having no more than a 100 ft/sec advantage over the .338-06 with all bullet weights....BTW the .338 WM had a 1/2" longer barrel as well!

vapodog, just for grins check out Saeeds loading info as I stated, the link is on the AR home page. Or check out the Nosler book, 330 more with the 200's, 287 more with the 225/230's and 360 with the 250's.

I have a rifle in each caliber, so I am not talking about just what I have seen in a book.

You'll really need a new box and follower altogether, plus the other modifications previously mentioned. In terms of cost, it may be more prudent to buy a new .338 Win. Mag. right off the shelf.

My experience with the .338-06 is that it'll push 210 gr. Noslers out at about the same speed that a .338 Win. Mag. will 250s. The .338-06 is certainly no .338 Win. Mag., despite implications to the contrary, and is usually 200-300 fps. slower with all bullet weights.

You might not want to handload for the .338 Winchester, but most of the current factory loads are on the slow side, and some of them can be bettered by a margin of up to 200 fps. with handloads.

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