30.06 to 338.06

T

TrevorMack

Regular
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
Location
Nova Scotia
How hard would it be to change a 30.06 to a 338.06. Thinking on trying this for a bear gun. Short barrel on it (18 inches). Think it would be a mighty fine bear gun.
 
Bear won't be able to notice a difference.
But as mentioned, only a .338 barrel is needed. Shouldn't be any magazine issues, as long as the overall length of the rounds is within limits.
 
I did the same thing a few years ago with a stainless Ruger MKII in .30-06. Had a member here pull the .30-06 barrel and install a .35 Whelen barrel. That's it.
 
TrevorMack said:
How hard would it be to change a 30.06 to a 338.06. Thinking on trying this for a bear gun. Short barrel on it (18 inches). Think it would be a mighty fine bear gun.
Click to expand...

If you use a new stainless barrel blank it will end up about $700 hard.

220 grain bullets in your present rifle would also work very well.

I would much prefer a 338-06 with a 22 inch barrel over an 18 inch.
 
If you are talking about Black Bears, Why do you need more than the 30-06. If you do your part the 06 is easily as effective on Black Bears as a 338-06.

That being said, I love the 338-06 and if my shoulder were in better shape it would still be my all around go to cartridge. It has better bullets available in the 220grain range than are usually available in the 30cal.

I also find it to be a very accurate rifle.

Another favorite of mine is the 338-08 or the socalled 338 Federal. It does well in short barrels such as you indicate and is also more than adequate for Black bears.

IMHO any of the above cartridges listed in this discussion so far are adequate for any North American big game, including large ungulates and bears.
 
Last edited:
Or I could sell you a .338-06 RCBS Improved with 26" Ron Smith barrel on a pre-64 model 70 rifle. You can shorten the barrel if you want but I'm not a fan of really short barrels myself. You could never build it for the $$ to buy it already made and sell your 06 to help finance it. I lusted after a .338-06 and eventually built one. It was everything I hoped for but then bought a pre-64 in .300 H&H and a Husky 9.3x62. I just don't use the .338 now much. Comes with RCBS custom dies. $1100 plus shipping.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom