Author Topic: 338-06 (Read 2192 times)

5 handi's + · « **on:** December 12, 2004, 10:55:22 AM »

Hello to all ,
I am a long time shooter of handi's have a battery of 5 now.
the list is as follows.
243
7-08
280 26"
308 ultra
30-06
I am interested in taking a new riffle and boring out the barely to338
chambering to the wildcat based on the 30-06 case with no other changes.
I am planing a hunt to colorado for BIG muleys and elk Maybe I don't need a new rifle but I cant be to sure I will have a good exscuse to build this rifle in the future.
i have found a reborer redmans that will do the work .the cost complete is 350 +shipping .I know that is more than the cost of the gun but a custom wildcat for under 500 is a bargain.
If any one has atemted this conversion or has exsperience with a reborreror Redmans specifical I would like your feed back.

My exsperience with handies has been totaly spectacular.
i have hunted with them for 13 of my last 18 seasons. Taking an average of 2+ deer per year with my handi's.
My most memorable handi story comes this year. after receiving a 280 from my late hunting partners estate I promised his family that I would
hunt with and take a deer in his honor . So for the past 5 years i have hunted one hunt for him. The deer steeped out at 125 yards brisket straight away slightly quartering away the only shot was to the sternum
the shot was true and the deer fell imidiatly impressed with the 140 gr ballistic tip bullet. that is the performance i have come to exspect from the
handi rifles i have had.I hunt with no other rifles as my dusty 700 and 336 can attest to
Johnnie

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2004, 11:22:15 AM »

Welcome aboard!

I know someone else here is working on that, don't remember for sure who it is, though. Personally, before I did that, I'd pick up a handi or ultra in 35 whelen since it's already been produced.

5 handi's + · « **Reply #2 on:** December 12, 2004, 11:29:13 AM »

quicktdo,
I thought of that but have had no luck finding one used on the market. h&r has not produced on in some time and wil not camber one now.
Its a real shame that h&r dosent have a custom shop.
As far as the choice as to calaber the choice was realy easy.
1st the gun had to be a handi
2nd I realy wanted a wildcat
3d balistic tips have to be available
4th I wanted the higher BC of the 338 bore.
the 338 meets all thse requirements the whelen doesnot. only thing is cost?

?
Johnnie

handirifle · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2004, 12:52:02 PM »

5 handi's
I think quick was referring to me. I have a smith located that will do the rebore for about $130 and the chamber for another 45. I have not had him do anywork for me as yet, be he came with high reccomendation from one that has. the drawback is he is about 6 months behind right now.

I'm at work and don't have his email address here, but if you PM me I'll send it to you tonight or tomorrow AM. The smith that reccomended him was Lee Shaver and he has a stellar reputation and did some outstanding work for my on a Buffalo Classic.

By the way I think the 338-06 seems like a wonderful compromise between the '06 and 35 Whelen.

Hildy · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2004, 01:11:19 PM »

You can buy Nosler 220g Ballistic Tips for the .358 caliber Whelen.

5 handi's + · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2004, 01:20:27 PM »

Hilby,
Those must be new as my manual dosent show them.
but the 35 still is not a wildcat.just something about them that has drawn me to them.
also with a rebore the barrel should come back with amuch truer bore.
than a barrel coming off the assy line.
I keep telling myself these things to justify the cost.
handi ,thanks for the info p.m. on the way.
Johnnie

JPH45 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 12, 2004, 01:37:32 PM »

Get a 357 Magnum barrel and have it rechambered.

5 handi's + · « **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2004, 02:44:16 PM »

jph45,
that sounds interesting what kind of mods are necicsary to go from the rimed 357 to the rimless 06 family???
johnnie

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2004, 02:55:52 PM »

.357 Mag = .357-.358" bullets, .338-06 = .338" bullets.....

? :? What am I missing here, Jim???

must be to 35 whelen??

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2004, 03:00:41 PM »

Hmmm, $factory$ wildcat ammo...

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteabrowse/6/10575/653***690***

and a factory wildcat rifle...

http://www.gunsandammomag.com/long_guns/mark_v_lightweight/

http://www.huntingmag.com/guns_loads/338_06_rises/

JPH45 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 12, 2004, 03:50:47 PM »

Yeah, I mean rechamber the 357 Mag to 358 Whelen. The extra .001 in bullet diameter is not going to be a problem, and if there is a concern simply lengthen the throatand change the lead angle to about 2 degrees. I and many others shoot 358 bullets in our Maximums all the time. I have never been able to detect any pressure increases or other problems as a result of that extra bit of diameter. No sweat. The only other modification would be to fit an extractor for a 30-06, the part should be available from Brownells.

Paul5388 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 12, 2004, 03:54:54 PM »

I have a .35 Whelen that was made back in the '60's. Just because Remington decided in the '80's to offer factory ammo and rifles now means that gun isn't a wildcat? Do I need to change the shoulder angle out to 23, 25 or 40 degrees to make it a wildcat again?

I think most people recognize that big fat bullet in .30-06 brass isn't anything ordinary.

Here's the link for the Hawk .358 based on .30-06 brass if you want a wildcat.

handirifle · « **Reply #12 on:** December 12, 2004, 04:26:57 PM »

The 338-06 is no longer a wildcat. It was submitted to and given SAAMI standards, just cannot remember by whom, but it and the Whelen are both factory loads now.

My concern for the 357 Mag to Whelen conversion would be twist rate. Norman Johnston will cut the rifling to whatever rate you desire. I think 1-12 or 1-14 is most desirable for the 35 Whelen, and 1-12 for the 338-06.

Neither is available in the Handi.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #13 on:** December 12, 2004, 04:37:53 PM »

Yeah, the 1 in 18¾" twist rate sure wouldn't be ideal...I'm deflated....thought there was a real good use for my .357maxi barrel.... :cry:

cheatermk3 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 12, 2004, 05:04:21 PM »

I haven't seen a drawing for the 500 S&W, and I don't know the twists for this barrel, but a necked-down 500 S&W might have possibilities. Sort of on the short fat model.

Since I don't know any details I'm just brainstorming here. But it wouldn't be a common one I bet.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** December 12, 2004, 05:27:25 PM »

Here's the 500S&W drawing...

http://www.corbon.com/index.php?uid=12665&page=1673

cheatermk3 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 12, 2004, 05:55:30 PM »

Thanks for the link, Quick. I wish I could copy the picture to save it for future reference.

So, the 500 S&W is 1/8th inch shorter than the 444 Marlin, and slightly fatter. I wonder if anyone has done something like this on this case? It'd be similar to the 375 JDJ (in concept I mean). Should be enough boiler room for loads approaching what the Whelen will produce.

Oops I misread the drawing; It's over 1/2"shorter than the 444, not 1/8". That and the slow twist make for a cartridge that'd be way below the Whelen. After you paid for 1-off reamer you could probably have the rebore done. (Sigh) oh well...

handirifle · « **Reply #17 on:** December 12, 2004, 08:22:32 PM »

5 handis sent you a PM

handirifle · « **Reply #18 on:** December 12, 2004, 08:28:08 PM »

Found it, it is now the 338-06 A Square.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #19 on:** December 12, 2004, 08:28:59 PM »

?Right click it and save it!

quickdtoo · « **Reply #20 on:** December 12, 2004, 08:33:50 PM »

If the barrel twist was correct, I'd do the 35 whelen in a heart beat, the reamer could be rented for less than $50!

http://4-dproducts.com/chamber_reamers.html

JPH45 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 13, 2004, 12:57:08 PM »

quickdtoo, while I have not tried it, DJ says that his Handi 357 Max stabilizes 250's just fine. 1 box of them is cheap enough to try, and if they stabilize at 357 Max velocities, then more velocity is definately better. As well, Fred was discussing the Greenhill formula on another thread, saying that 180 is a better constant than is 150. If that is true, then the Greenhill as written will always give a faster twist than is needed. There is not that much difference between 1 in 18.5 and 1 in 12, not like the difference between 1 in 38 and 1 in 28, yet my 44 barrel stabilizes two different 300 grainers just fine, even when the formula says it ought not. Depends on the length of bullet to its weight. Give a few a blast from your Maxi barrel, worst case is that you spend some bucks finding some 250's that shoot well at lower velocity. If you have that, you will be good to go.

I hear that the 357 is slated for discontinuance this coming year, it was gone and they brought it back, I bet it will be gone for good now, so if one wants a 357 barrel, now it the time to get one.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #22 on:** December 13, 2004, 01:06:32 PM »

That's good to hear....I really would like to have the 35 whelen much more than the .357 maxi, it's just kind of a novelty caliber for me right now, but a whelen is a real elk slayer, course so is the .45-70.... :? How hard is it to do the hand ream job?

JPH45 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 13, 2004, 02:03:06 PM »

This is not one I would do by hand, too much material has to be removed, you'll have a cocked and out of round chamber before you are finished. This needs the attention of a good smith, one accustomed to cutting chambers on a lathe. Shouldn't be hard to find one though. I've considered opening mine to 35 Remington, but I've little use for something as big as a 35 Whelen here.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #24 on:** December 13, 2004, 02:06:56 PM »

Thanks, I'll check it out.

5 handi's + · « **Reply #25 on:** December 13, 2004, 02:16:33 PM »

Handirifle ,
got pm thanks a bunch for the info.
The price is right on but the wait s#%$s but if i get one out now I could be working up loads by May.anyone seen this smiths work ?? his reputation is excelent.I will send out an e-mail to him tonight . maybe if enough of us persue this kind of mod we can get a group package deal??
Well it may not be a wild cat but I have wanted one for years.I dont see it listed in any readily available american made rifles that I could justify.
a little at a time is my MO
I guess a trip to the local gun shop is in order. the one I bought last week was 219 out the door.
Johnnie

Fred M · « **Reply #26 on:** December 13, 2004, 02:43:24 PM »

5 handi's +.

Here is a smith that will do reboring he is in Washington State.
Cliff La Bounty 360 559-2047.

Or Ron Smith in Canada will do it also. He told me today he has no trouble sending barrels to the US, 403 631-2405. He will rebore a Handi for me in 257 Roberts from 223. He is a famous cut rifled barrel maker, also makes a lot of gain twist barrels. He told me today I should have a gain twist on the Handi, it cuts down on chamber pressure.

With US$$$ you get a good deal.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #27 on:** December 13, 2004, 02:57:12 PM »

Thanks Fred, but I have access to several good smithys in the Vancouver, Wa/ Portland, Or area, much closer than northwest Washington where mr. LaBounty is, I'm as far south as I can get without being a webby in Oregon. :lol:

Hildy · « **Reply #28 on:** December 13, 2004, 03:59:54 PM »

Im sorry, those were *225 grains, not 220 like I said earlier.

Heres a link for those interested...

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/285635

hmmm, 338-06 now a factory load? We're not gonna have any wildcats left in a few years!! :cry:

Paul5388 · « **Reply #29 on:** December 13, 2004, 05:49:32 PM »

Quick,

I shoot 250 gr out of my .357 barrel all the time. I'm using 250 gr Beartooth LFNGC in .357 mag brass with 7.5 gr 800X and a CCI 400 primer. Velocity is 1200 fps and it shoots around 1"-1 1/2" at 100 yards. I've also shot jacketed 220, 200, 180 and all the lower weights without a problem. I was going to use the 250 gr for my hunting load this year, until I got the .45/70! :grin: