338-350 rem mag

[All That is Man]

so i have been doing a lot of reading up on the 350 rem mag and think it would be cool to neck it down to 338. Has any one done this? If so how did it turn out. It seems like i would be able to get the same performance as the 338-06 in a short action handy rifle.

[BBF]

Why not, cartridges have been necked both ways. I've always thought necking up a 300 Win Mag to .358 would be interesting.
Gives you more then a Whelen and brass is easier on your pockets then .358 Norma

[parkergunshop]

The easiest way to make .358 Norma Mag brass from an existing case is to simply use readily available .338 Winchester Mag Brass.
.
    "If you use 338 brass you have to run it through an expander ball and then fireform. I use 66 gr. of H380 for my fireforming loads. This process leaves the 358 case about 020 -.025 short in the neck. After several firings, the brass will grow to the proper length. In my rifle, by the time it has grown to full length (about 8-10 firings, full house loads) it's time to pitch the case. I have loaded over 500 358 Norma cases like this and have NEVER lost a case to splitting."
Making cases could not be simpler or cheaper. 

 
 

[roper]

so i have been doing a lot of reading up on the 350 rem mag and think it would be cool to neck it down to 338. Has any one done this? If so how did it turn out. It seems like i would be able to get the same performance as the 338-06 in a short action handy rifle.

 
 
Since you want a short action why  not do one of the WSM case you have more case capacity than the 350Mag  and case be headspaced on the shoulder.
 
I did the 338x280AI was an intersting project i was pretty close to 338mag velocity.

[All That is Man]

I want to build it with a 18 to 20 inch bbl so more powder will not help a whole lot. I want this rifle to weigh around 7.5 lbs.  I know it will kick like the devil and be loud as all get out but I cant ever remember feeling recoil or hearing the muzzle blast after putting down an animal.

[BBF]

I can't be worse IMO then the original Rem carbine with the18 1/2" barrel.

[yooper77]

I want to build it with a 18 to 20 inch bbl so more powder will not help a whole lot. I want this rifle to weigh around 7.5 lbs.  I know it will kick like the devil and be loud as all get out but I cant ever remember feeling recoil or hearing the muzzle blast after putting down an animal.

I am sure it can be done and I just love all the 338 caliber bullets, it offers a huge selection.
 
My Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight in 338-06 A-Square has a 24" barrel and weighs just over 7 lbs with the Leupold VX-III 3.5-10x40 scope.
 
yooper77

[jedman]

All that is man,   The H & R handi rifle is not a good platform to build any of the belted magnum calibers on.  Due to the large base diameter and hi pressures involved the handi is to weak for such a wildcat.
 When considering what happened to the 350 Rem. Mag back when Remington was chambering them in a 18 - 20" barreled gun the .338 version would benifit even less than the .358 version.
In a handi rifle you would be better off  having a .357 mag or 35 Rem. barrel rechambered for 358 Win. or if you want a .338  cal. go with a 338 Federal and the performance would be close to what the magnum wildcat would have in the short barrel you mentioned.

[Drilling Man]

so i have been doing a lot of reading up on the 350 rem mag and think it would be cool to neck it down to 338. Has any one done this? If so how did it turn out. It seems like i would be able to get the same performance as the 338-06 in a short action handy rifle.

  Is there a long action handy??  lol
 
  If it was me, i'd stick to a rimmed cartridge, there's planty of them out there to choose from!
 
  DM

[yooper77]

so i have been doing a lot of reading up on the 350 rem mag and think it would be cool to neck it down to 338. Has any one done this? If so how did it turn out. It seems like i would be able to get the same performance as the 338-06 in a short action handy rifle.

so i have been doing a lot of reading up on the 350 rem mag and think it would be cool to neck it down to 338. Has any one done this? If so how did it turn out. It seems like i would be able to get the same performance as the 338-06 in a short action handy rifle.

  Is there a long action handy??  lol
 
  If it was me, i'd stick to a rimmed cartridge, there's planty of them out there to choose from!
 
  DM

All that is man,   The H & R handi rifle is not a good platform to build any of the belted magnum calibers on.  Due to the large base diameter and hi pressures involved the handi is to weak for such a wildcat.
 When considering what happened to the 350 Rem. Mag back when Remington was chambering them in a 18 - 20" barreled gun the .338 version would benifit even less than the .358 version.
In a handi rifle you would be better off  having a .357 mag or 35 Rem. barrel rechambered for 358 Win. or if you want a .338  cal. go with a 338 Federal and the performance would be close to what the magnum wildcat would have in the short barrel you mentioned.

I don't think All That is Man is talking about a H&R Handi-Rifle, but simply a short action (handy) rifle. Handy meaning (Convenient to handle or use; useful).
 
I do agree not using a belted magnum case for this and I would stick with the 338-06 Square using 30-06 Springfield brass or 338 Federal using 308 Winchester brass. Much cheaper and easier.
 
yooper77

[parkergunshop]

I see don't see enough  advantage to justify using a short action for a short cartridge over a standard 30-06 length action and a 30-06 length case.
I have a .308 Winchester on a K98 Mauser standard length action and another .308 Winchester on a small ring short action Mauser action and there is no real difference in weight, handling or functionality with the same length barrel less than 1/2 inch in overall length. and 3-4 ounces in weight.
You can seat the .308 bullets out as long as you want with the standard length action, but you are limited with the short action because of the magazine length. 
I think that .350 Remington Mag  brass availability will be an issue down the road.   The various .338/06 rounds are easy to make from standard 30-06 brass which will be around forever.  And they are more flexable when handloading  ammunition.  The standard 338/06 will easily equal the performance of a .350 Remington Mag necked down to .338 and the various improved 338/06 rounds will surpass it by a considerable margin.