T/C Encore 30-338 Win Mag

[Rog]

A few months ago, I had a 30-338 Win Mag handgun barrel built on a Blackstar Accumax 1 cut rifled blank I supplied to one of the T/C barrel builders.  The barrel blank was originally purchased by my uncle back in September 2001, if I recall correctly.  My uncle never did anything with the blank and offered to sell it to me.  I bought it, originally planning to use it on an XP build.  A couple of months later, I decided to see if MGM could/would build me a barrel on the Blackstar Accumax 1 blank.  They would and did.
 
This blank is a tight bore 30 cal (0.299"/0.307") and was already octagon profiled by Blackstar.  The blank had some cosmetic flaws in the machining of the octagon profile, but nothing I couldn't live with.  In fact, those flaws are all but invisible after the barrel was finished.
 
This is the Blackstar Accumax 1 blank:

 
Some of the flaws are evident here:

 
The completed barrel:

MGM did a good job of turning down the chamber end and then fitting the scope base to a half round half octagon profile.  Very good work by Kerry @ MGM.
 
I installed a Burris 3x-12x AO with target knobs on the MGM 6 screw scope base.  I then mounted the barrel on my T/C Encore Pro Hunter frame wearing Pachmayr clothes.  Scope rings are Weaver Quad Lock rings, which are economical and work extremely well.  I've used these rings on multiple setups, including muzzle loaders, and nearly all of my handguns.

 

 
After getting some components together, reloading dies, etc., and finally some ammo loaded, I was ready to head to the range.  Two shots were needed to get on paper at 100 meters.  I cleaned between those two shots to assist with barrel break in.  I had planned to shoot/clean for at least 5 shots, maybe even 15, but alas, I could wait no longer.  I proceeded to shoot the next three for group.  These were shots #3, #4, #5:

 
The next load I tried:

 
I was pretty excited!  Looked like my new barrel was gonna be a shooter after all!
 
My setup at the local range:

 

 
I also loaded up some ammo using IMR4350, as online research indicated that this was one of the better powders for the 30-338WM.  Below are the results of some of those loads:
 
This was my first group at 200 yards.  I pulled the 3rd shot - yeah, my story and I'm sticking to it... - and was sorely disappointed in the resulting group.

 
Later, I managed to test the above load again to see whether I had indeed pulled the shot.  This was my follow up to the above load/target:

 
At a later date, and after having cleaned the barrel and shooting some fowler shots, I proceeded to shoot this target at 200 yards:

 
Now, I was really pleased.  This load has been averaging right at 2850 FPS.  That's nothing to sneeze at.  Berger 175 VLD's at 2850 FPS will work for me.
 
I also tried some H4350 just to see how it compared to the IMR4350.  Very similar results both in terms of velocity and accuracy to what I get with IMR4350, though I have not shot enough of the H4350 to say for certain.

 
Here's a target shot mainly just to see what velocity I could get with a 165 gr bullet.  I happened to have some Hornady 165 Interbonds on hand.  2928 FPS isn't too shabby!  Decent accuracy as well.

 
I have grown to really like my 30-338WM Encore barrel.  Starting to become my favorite chambering in the Encore.
 
 
Regards,
Rog

[Larry L]

You're only starting to like the 30/338 mag. You're about to have another one. They get kinda addictive considering they can make an average shooter look like a pro. I have a Remmy 40x and a custom Sako with an Apex match barrel and Traister trigger. I use the Remmy for matches and hunting from blinds and the Sako for hunting. Both are sporting competition Leupold 6.5-20 scopes with the knobs. Accuracy for both is the one hole groups at 100 yds with a 190gr Winchester HPBT over IMR4350 at 2750'ps. You might wanna look for a Sierra manual for data. I've never thought about one on an encore. With your barrel length it should be a bad boy even though a pistol....of sorts. I've also shot the 168's for varmint hunting. Accuracy was just as good as the heavier bullets but you have to know at range, the 168s will disassemble a coyote at 300 yds. I hit one in a full run going away from me, in the back right knee at 350+ yds. Killed him like he got hit with the moon. As the bullet blew up, it took out all of his guts and what was left of the bullet core was sticking out of the top of his skull. Wasn't a good shot but good enough. Just wait, you'll be wanting another one.....and another one....


I almost forgot. Don't discount a not so good group at 100 yds. Some of the loads I have are so hot but within loading data that the bullet core goes molten. Until it reforms, it will effect accuracy. So what may not shoot to expectations at 100 yds, may go to a tiny group at 300 yds. This comes from the good folks at Sierra. If you start seeing little wisps of black, like smoke, at the tops of the bullet holes on the paper, you have this going on.

[Rog]

Larry, thanks for the reply!

I actually think this will be my only 30-338.   My next handgun project will be building one of my XP's into something like a 7 SAUM.

I do have Sierra data for the 30-338. That data account for my first two groups at 100 meters.

I planto hunt with this 30-338 this fall, using the Berger 175 VLD. If I have time, I also plan to try some Berger 185 VLD bullets out of it.

Regards,
Rog