Wildcatting a Model 70 currently in .308

Well.....I have even consulted with my shooting pal here on CGN on this one and I have to say that everything we came up with has been done before. I mean everything. Unless I start making my own odd sized bullets, there appear to be no truly new combinations out there. Hardly surprising I guess considering the nature of the sport and the inventiveness of shooters.

I do like the 6.5 options simply because of the ballistics factor, but .284 is the chambering that I have landed on at the moment. I like the 9.3 option in this chambering, but I do have the .350 Rem Mag as noted. Here is a possibility (and I'm sure it has been done before) that might work and qualify as being unusual enough; what if the existing chamber was reamed to the .284 Winchester spec. but as a .308? This would 'improve' the shoulder angle (IMO) and there appears to be enough meat in the .308 chamber to accommodate this? This would be, what, a 308-284 or a 30-284? Haven't found this configuration's counterpart in a commercial or wildcat as yet, but I am sure someone will point it out. :) The issue here may well be whether the existing chamber on the Model 70 is sufficient in thickness and strength to allow for the removal of .0297" from it's diameter (.01485 in radius) while still being safe to handle the associated pressures of the .284. Comparable loads on the Hodgon chart show similar operating pressures for both the .284 and the .308, so chamber strength may be an insurmountable problem in this scenario. I am assuming there is a saving in rechambering an existing barrel, and brass for this one would be easily made by necking up the commercially available .284 Winchester. What say? Tinfoil hat?
 
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There was a .30-284 in a model 70 in the EE recently.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?839208-trade-rifle-for-scope
 
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338-284win?

Your proberly right no stoned been unturned in wildcatting, but most of them arnt very popular/common at all!

Keen to see what you end up with mate
 
I must admit, after getting into this, that my thread should maybe not have used the word 'wildcat', since every possible configuration I could come up with has been done before. Here's what I believe I will do...

As anticlimactic (and perhaps as unexciting) as it is then, the 30-284 gets the nod. Dan nailed it for ballistics in that the 30-284 would appear to be simply a 30-06 in a short action and with very good accuracy prospects as well. I was seriously considering the 6.5-284 until I saw numerous references to the barrel burning characteristics of this round. With the 30-284, I should be able to have a gunsmith use a 284 Win reamer fitted with a 30 cal pilot and throat the chamber with a 30-06 throating reamer. This would save me buying a custom 30-284 reamer. Brass and dies should be no worries. In an effort to make this first foray into 'wildcatting' an economical adventure, the idea of a simple rechambering of the .308 has certain appeal. If this project goes well, and I expect it should, then I can contemplate future more exotic projects involving custom barrels etc.

Now to find a well recommended smith to undertake this project. Two have appeared already. Please feel free to PM me with the names of gunsmiths you would recommend.

A big thanks to all who commented. Much appreciated.
 
woodlotowner said:
I must admit, after getting into this, that my thread should maybe not have used the word 'wildcat', since every possible configuration I could come up with has been done before. Here's what I believe I will do...

As anticlimactic (and perhaps as unexciting) as it is then, the 30-284 gets the nod. Dan nailed it for ballistics in that the 30-284 would appear to be simply a 30-06 in a short action and with very good accuracy prospects as well. I was seriously considering the 6.5-284 until I saw numerous references to the barrel burning characteristics of this round. With the 30-284, I should be able to have a gunsmith use a 284 Win reamer fitted with a 30 cal pilot and throat the chamber with a 30-06 throating reamer. This would save me buying a custom 30-284 reamer. Brass and dies should be no worries. In an effort to make this first foray into 'wildcatting' an economical adventure, the idea of a simple rechambering of the .308 has certain appeal. If this project goes well, and I expect it should, then I can contemplate future more exotic projects involving custom barrels etc.

Now to find a well recommended smith to undertake this project. Two have appeared already. Please feel free to PM me with the names of gunsmiths you would recommend.

A big thanks to all who commented. Much appreciated.
Click to expand...

And how different from the .308 Win you have right now is that going to be!?! Seems like alot of effort for very, very minimal gain.
 
i have a win in 30 284. can match the 30 06 in up to 180 grn. mine is a lightweight compact feeds perfectly and is very acurate. it shoots best with 165's. brass and dies readily avalable.
 
Woodlotowner, what a great Idea, 30-284, nothing but reaming...
I have a 308 Ruger ultralite that might like the upgrade.
And your right, a 30-284 what the H is that?

David
 
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