M305 re-chamber feasible?

conor_90

conor_90

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Recently I saw someone take out a SOCOM by Dominion Arms at a range, nothing to write home about but the first time I have seen one in the wild.

Seems like a pretty cool platform for the price, all concerns on quality control aside.

It set my mind to all kinds of terrible thoughts about sporterising , then I realized that no one could possibly be upset by modifying a Chinese .308, it is practically a Canadian tradition at this point.

I know they are heavy etc. and could easily be out-shot by any rifle I own. I also know that some members of this forum and hunters I have met have used them with success for deer/moose hunting.

What I am interested in hearing about is if any has any experience with re-chambering these rifles in the variety of chamberings available based on the .308. The dream for me would be an 18.5 barrel iron sighted semi-auto in .338 federal or .358 win.

I know that barrel swapping is common, but I`m not sure if it would be feasible to have a gunsmith modify a "bolt action" 35 or 338 caliber barrel to fit the m305.

Has this been done by anyone in Canada? I saw a .358 m14 from the states on the internet while looking for m14 specific barrels in that caliber. If hogs proliferate in Canada as they have in the states I think this project would find its niche pretty quickly.

Thanks
 
or not- springfield marketed m1as in both 358 and 243 and both are now as rare as hens teeth- point being that if springfield went down that road and couldn't make it fly in the states, what makes you think that you could here-as far as making a special barrel goes, there's nothing special about an m14 barrel aside from getting the proper threading and right size gas port- a barrel is a barrel is a barrel- and forget 458 as there's no shoulder to headspace on -you lose the shoulder when you neck up that big
 
Not a machinist however I doubt it would be that big a deal for a barrel maker to make a barrel for the M305. It's just depends on how big your wallet is.
 
McCann makes a 458 on a garand action- runs about 2200 us with all the bugs worked out- I believe you have to supply your own action and bits
 
Making a M-14 barrel from a blank would be a lot more complicated than making a barrel for a bolt action rifle. Look at the contours, barrel face cuts, indexed grooves etc. If someone is being paid to do it, the meter is going to be running for a much longer time.
 
t-star said:
McCann makes a 458 on a garand action- runs about 2200 us with all the bugs worked out- I believe you have to supply your own action and bits
Click to expand...

My understanding is they stopped production since Mr. McCann passed away. Also forgot they used the Garand action..
 
I don't get what's wrong with the original chambering- unless you want/need to go heavier than 180 grains with the sadlak kit installed- or is it " I gotta be different" syndrome- if you got one, PRACTICE with it until you get good, then go out and get your choice of game- have you even considered your ammo re-supply- not everybody carries a 358 or 243 or 338 fed in their inventory- but EVERYBODY carries the 308- and for the price of the 338 bullets you may as well step up to the win mag- I consider this foolishness in the extreme
 
you would have to redesign the gas system, it is set up for nato 150 ish bullets. 180 she no like. me thinks you would need a really excellent gunsmith. 7mm 08 ?
 
Anything is possible with enough time/money... but it would seem like you would end up spending quite a bit of these things for not much payoff... If that's your thing... go for it!

With regards to the .458 I've seen stuff about the garand conversions, but I've always thought it would be easiest to convert a BAR in .300 win or .338 win over to a .458 win with it being effectively the same cartridge just necked up...
 
I went down this road a lonnnng time ago.
Herron arms was going to try and make barrels... Didn't happen.
Other companies in canada have talked about it but never did it.
Closest we have come was a joint venture with myself and mystic precision and Mcgowan rifle barrels.... That also never happened and was nothing more than a HUGE waste of my time..

So I'd say... Yer stuck with .308 in this platform.
 
Fairly recently a member of one of the clubs I frequent acquired a rifling machine.

He is "getting to know" the machine at this point. But I have already put a Nork 308 barrel in his hands to re-bore to 338.

No idea on cost at this point, nor time frame. But my thoughts were to see how hard it is to build up a rifle on this cal.....

The biggest problem I can imagine at this point is the gas system.....
 
notsorichguy said:
The biggest problem I can imagine at this point is the gas system.....
Click to expand...

Probably on the longer term increased recoil may cause some issues with the internals. They were engineered for .308 recoil levels so the increase might have a negative impact. Just guessing here since no one has any direct experience with this.
 
Would .338 Federal have higher gas port pressure than .308? The M-14 gas system is a cut off and expansion type, so it is self compensating. Same cartridge head size, similar pressure levels, so back thrust on the bolt would not be an issue.
Does the reborer know that the bore is chromed?
 
jsquig said:
Probably on the longer term increased recoil may cause some issues with the internals. They were engineered for .308 recoil levels so the increase might have a negative impact. Just guessing here since no one has any direct experience with this.
Click to expand...

I've been playing around with a 18.5" and a gas plug with a .040" vent hole in it.

My regular hand loads barely cycle the action, the odd time it won't pick the next round out of the magazine. It reliably cycles all other factory offerings except hornady super performance..... That stuff leaves flattened primers, but the gas system seems to chug along with-out any issues!

I got the idea from the M-14 forums after dropping down the rabbit hole and guys sharing their findings after experimenting with different bent holes etc.

Schuster (sp?) is currently selling adjustable gas systems and gas plugs with .040" vents to allow shooting heavier ammo. (available at brownelles), dropping port pressure by 2400-2600 psi. unfortunately these are all threaded for US rifles and iirc the Chinese models are a different thread pattern....

Since I had a spare plug, I figured it was worth playing with it!

If it's tweaking and playing with stuff, I can probably sus out a answer!

Cheers!
 
notsorichguy said:
Fairly recently a member of one of the clubs I frequent acquired a rifling machine.

He is "getting to know" the machine at this point. But I have already put a Nork 308 barrel in his hands to re-bore to 338.

No idea on cost at this point, nor time frame. But my thoughts were to see how hard it is to build up a rifle on this cal.....

The biggest problem I can imagine at this point is the gas system.....
Click to expand...

Gas system itself is not an issue but the port size might be a wee bit tight. .338fed should an easy peasy build if one could get a barrel. I know I've been trying to get exactly that for going on 5 or 6 years now. Google the Border Ruffian .338F , it's been done before with a springfield action.
 
tiriaq said:
Would .338 Federal have higher gas port pressure than .308? The M-14 gas system is a cut off and expansion type, so it is self compensating. Same cartridge head size, similar pressure levels, so back thrust on the bolt would not be an issue.
Does the reborer know that the bore is chromed?
Click to expand...

Sorry missed this post earlier somehow.....

The fella whom I gave my extra barrel to knows what it is. He was a bit worried about buggering the barrel, I laughed and said not to worry about it. It's a used take off, probably only worth $75. I am willing to sacrifice it onto the alter of scientific reaserch!

He was planning on testing/learning on some steel round stock last I talked to him. I'm in no rush, he can take his time as far as I'm concerned!
 
45ACPKING said:
Gas system itself is not an issue but the port size might be a wee bit tight. .338fed should an easy peasy build if one could get a barrel. I know I've been trying to get exactly that for going on 5 or 6 years now. Google the Border Ruffian .338F , it's been done before with a springfield action.
Click to expand...

That's kind of the same thought train I am on. Pretty sure it should work out pretty well, if (big IF) I can get the barrel......

I wonder if a guy could order up a kreiger or criterion M1A tube in 338 or 358 and if so how much would it cost?....... A guy doesn't need 2 kidneys does he?
 
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