Rechambering a .30-338 Winchester

[lp6]

The muzzle is .800 and 24”. I am going to reload for it after all. Check out the solid scope base. That was made by David Miller out of Tucson I might assume the whole gun was smithed by him but only the base was marked. 10.8 pounds.

 

[Ggmac]

looks good .

 

[cohiba2]

Nice. You will not regret keeping it in this chambering. Mine is stocked in English walnut , I still have mine built on 1917 enfield action back in 1982 by Ron Dewarf in Tucson Az. I have used 7mm mag and 338 brass to shoot with, just size full length then trim then fireform with some light loads, Lots of powders to choose from, I used H4831 and Winchester Mag primers. They now have the H4831sc ( short cut) and that meters a lot better than the old H4831. I averaged about 5 reloads for brass before signs of stress at base. Big advantage of this round over the 7mm is choice of bullets, both hunting and long range shooting. I have taken many one shot mule deer at over 400 yards. And coyotes from 200 to 600 yards. Also a great elk gun, at 8.5 pounds not that bad to pack. I feel it kicks less than a 300 win mag. Mine is a great cold bore rifle always at zero at 200 yards, and yes it will reach out to 1000 yards and ring steel if that is your game. I have taken the old Burris scope off and have new Swarovski 6x18 scope to mount. Hope you get to go hunting with it. I had 4 x 12 power for years on it then went to 3x9 burris range finder scope now went back to higher power. Happy hunting and range time.

 

[lp6]

The loads I got with the guns and I am starting with is 78 grains of H4831sc with a 150gr bullet. I have shot a few pigs with it already and it is more than up to the task. I have toyed with the idea of putting a muzzle brake on it. Anyone want to opine on that?

 

[cohiba2]

I Only have breaks/flash suppressor on my AR platforms. On the 308 it helps to reduce muzzle rise. I know some say on the big magnum rifles it helps with recoil. I have only shot 190gr BTHP and BTSP hunting rounds with 67gr h4831. I have shot on the firing line next to a few 300 win mag rifles with breaks. Not fun and very loud the blast is directed to the side. I now hunt larger game with 375 HH. I have learned over the years a heavier barrel, a great recoil pad and a rifle that fits make the recoil easier to take. Magnums are never fun to shoot off the bench when I do now i use a past recoil pad and vest. I shoot standing kneeling or siting positions when hunting. The lighter calibers 223 thru 243 are my favorite range guns now. I have just recently got a 6.5 creedmoor, I have not mounted a scope or shot yet. Just got ammo last weekend and dies to reload for it once I shoot the factory ammo to sight it in. Bullets no problem but brass is short supply. In my early 20's a friend and I both had 30.338 rifles we hunted rabbits on weekends shooting offhand at 200 to 600 yards. We Used 308 and 30.06 until ranges got over 400 yards then the 30.338 was our go to rifle. We often shot 20 to 30 rounds a morning of hiking 10 miles of wide canyons. Ate a lot of rabbit too as I was a working college student with loans , that I paid back by the way after I graduated AND GOT A JOB. For about 20 years the 30.338 was my go to rifle for deer and elk and cougar. As well as coyotes at long range. I replaced the spring in the bolt to make it a speed lock and cock on opening, added a timney trigger and set for hunting weight at 2.5 pounds and glass bedded action and free floating barrel. I think once you find a comfortable shooting position, the recoil will become secondary. I was about 180 pounds when I was in my 20's and recoil was never a consideration, No Muzzle breaks used back then on hunting rifles. Are you sure the rifle weighs 10.8 pounds. If it is a 10 pound rifle you should not be feeling that bad a recoil with a good recoil pad?? If the scope base is marked 10.8 that maybe the base length or signifies hole to hole base ??? Just looked at the barrel size, it does look like a heavy barrel so maybe is 10.8 ,I would put on scale and check, the stock looks to be fiberglass or composite. That maybe the problem all the weight in the barrel and none in the stock lets that energy transfer to your shoulder. I had a 7mm rem mag that was in wood stock, I replaced it with a composite to save weight for a mountain rifle. It seems the recoil was much worse with the lighter stock. Ended up giving the rifle as a wedding gift to a nephew with both stocks. He liked it with the wood stock also. Said recoil was lighter and wife would even shoot it.

 

[Sniperhandle]

The loads I got with the guns and I am starting with is 78 grains of H4831sc with a 150gr bullet. I have shot a few pigs with it already and it is more than up to the task. I have toyed with the idea of putting a muzzle brake on it. Anyone want to opine on that?

I don't shoot anything without a brake anymore, A brake will make this a very enjoyable rifle to shoot. That would be quite a heavy rifle for hunting with the diameter and length you posted, Nice looking rifle!