Rebarrel A-bolt Hunter to .338-06?

[tominboise]

I have three 30-06 bolt actions - a Marlin MR-7, a Sako Hunter, and a Browing A-bolt hunter.  I am thinking about rebarreling the Marlin to 35 Whelan and the A bolt to .338-06.  Has anyone rebarreled an A bolt, or, for that matter, an MR-7?

Tom

[Zachary]

Tom,

I haven't rebarreled any of my rifles, but I can tell you that I really like the two choices in cartridges that you want: 35 Whelen and .338-06. :grin:

These two, as you likely already know, are very similar in that they are based on 30-06 cartridges but one is opened to 35 caliber while the other is .338.

Both make great elk guns at modest ranges.  I would like to use them on the big hogs in Texas.

I keep on waiting for one of the big gun manufacturers to chamber a stainless/synthetic rifle in the 35 whelen.  Weatherby has their ultralight available in the .338-06, but that gun is just too light for my tastes.

Zachary

[PAINLESS]

i asked a similar question on another forum.  i wanted to rechamber my 300 win mag a-bolt to a 30-378.  everyone that i talked to said that they did not think it was a good idea.  my smith whom i trust with my rifles said that he did not think it was a good idea.  this is by no means an answer to your question.  my advice would be to talk to a reputable smith who has no hangs ups about working on actions other than remington and winchester.  jeff at carolina precision would be a good one also hill country rifles may be able to help.....

www.hillcountryrifles.com
www.crprifles@aol.com

[Downwindtracker2]

The 338.06 and the 35 Whelen are about the same,maybe a 25.06. The 338.06 is only about 100 to 200f/s slower than a 338WM in 210gr NP.Some gunsmiths don't like to rebarrel the Browning,ask on that one.

[Robert]

Now I just have to get the lead out..and send my P-17.  I have though and thought and thought about this for two years now.  I have two P-17 Remington in 30-06, and I just fall totally in love everytime I look at these pretty little 35 caliber bullets.  I shoot a Contender chambered to 356 Winchester, and was considering a rifle in this cartridge, but decided against it because of the possibility of mixing up my reduced pistol loads with factory or hot ammo.  So I have finally decided on the Whelen.  Another consideration over the 338-06 is with the 35's you can re-load readily available 38-357 pistol bullets for really 'SCREAMING' Varmint and Terrorist loads.

E-mail   jack@ershawbarrels.com

www.ershawbarrels.com

I have heard nothing but praise for this company, check out the prices.

[stv]

There really isnt $0.02 worth of difference between a 338-06 and a 35 Whelen.  As much as having 3 - 30-06 rifles seems like having to many runners on one base having both a 338 and 35 is redundant also.   But its your money to spend as you wish.   At least I would try doing only one and wring it out to see if I liked it before doing both.

[Robert]

I would do one or the other first.  It just makes good sense.  Unless two of these barrels just will not shoot well as a 30-06.

[Sean]

If you need a smith to do the work Montana Rifle does work on A-Bolts. I have never used them so cannot state good or bad, though. Sean