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re-chambering a .308 barrel
- Thread starter scoobydoo6906
- Start date
It's the other way around. The OP has the .308 and wants .30-06. That's why all the action length and reaming considerations and alternate chambering suggestions.
Dooh. That's what I get for not paying good attention in class.
scoobydoo6906
New member
ok to relieve all confusion... I have a remington 700 chambered in 30-06. I am interested in buying a take off .308 barrel from and sps varmint or police model and re-chambering it to 30-06 or 30-06 AI or maybe .30 gibbs.
ok to relieve all confusion... I have a remington 700 chambered in 30-06. I am interested in buying a take off .308 barrel from and sps varmint or police model and re-chambering it to 30-06 or 30-06 AI or maybe .30 gibbs
It turns out I was paying attention after all. Why not keep the new barrel .308? The ballistic advantage of a 30-06 really only comes into play if you want to launch bullets greater than about 200grn. Certainly, the cost of rechambering would be much higher than just finding a 30-06 barrel in the first place.
scoobydoo6906
New member
aftermarket barrels run $300+ without the chamber cut. I can't see how
re-reaming a new chamber would be any more than cutting a new one into a new barrel. I think even with the new barrel you still would want to square everything up even the barrel. if everything ends up costing the same I would get a new barrel but I don't see that being the case
re-reaming a new chamber would be any more than cutting a new one into a new barrel. I think even with the new barrel you still would want to square everything up even the barrel. if everything ends up costing the same I would get a new barrel but I don't see that being the case
lefteyedom
New member
Scooby,
I have a 26" barrel long action 308. There really is nothing that a 30/06 can do that this 308 can't. If you get a chance to chronograph loads from a 308 and load from a 30/06 you will fine very very little difference. The difference often goes towards the 308.
A heavy 308 is a sweat shooting rifle, with little felt recoil. The accuracy greatly increase ones confidence in the field.
If you feel that the 308 is not enough gun for your elk hunting needs then you may want to make the jump to a 300 Magnum class or larger. I have a 338 Win Mag for my Elk, Moose, Mastodon needs.
Build a long action long barrel 308 and try it. If you don't like it have it rechambered to 300 Winchester.
I have a 26" barrel long action 308. There really is nothing that a 30/06 can do that this 308 can't. If you get a chance to chronograph loads from a 308 and load from a 30/06 you will fine very very little difference. The difference often goes towards the 308.
A heavy 308 is a sweat shooting rifle, with little felt recoil. The accuracy greatly increase ones confidence in the field.
If you feel that the 308 is not enough gun for your elk hunting needs then you may want to make the jump to a 300 Magnum class or larger. I have a 338 Win Mag for my Elk, Moose, Mastodon needs.
Build a long action long barrel 308 and try it. If you don't like it have it rechambered to 300 Winchester.
Scooby,
Brownells used to send a list with their catalogs to dealers of suggested service prices. Back in the early 90's it was $40 to rechamber. Today it's probably $60-$80, but that's just labor. If Reamer rental is involved you'll have to add that.
You still have the issue of whether or not there is enough metal. If you have something beefy like a Shilen #7 contour barrel to start, you'll be fine because the thick portion goes forward of the receiver 4". But if you start with a light sporter one, like a #3, where the thick portion is only 2.5" long, you may not. That will have to be determined by the gunsmith. But I would think that in most instances there will be enough to go from .308 to .30-06 AI because you don't need to set the shoulder back or re-thread the barrel. If you went to regular .30-06, the added labor is unlikely to make it as worthwhile.
If you load the .30-06 and the .308 to their respective SAAMI maximums (60 kpsi vs 62 kpsi), you get about 100–150 fps more velocity out of the .30-06 from a 26" tube, depending on the bullet weight. Add another 50 fps for the AI format, and you should have a 200 fps advantage over the .308. It's not magnum but it's not nothing, either.
With commercial loads you often don't see that .308 and.30-06 difference because the latter is more likely to be underloaded out of liability concerns for old rifles. The velocities were much closer when both were constrained to using 4895, which the .308 handles more efficiently. But the '06 can actually handle a slower powder better than the .308, and that picks up its potential. You just can't count on using a slower powder in the Garand or other gas guns as readily.
Loading for yourself, you can work up reasonably to maximum performance for your weapon. If you work up based on brass pressure signs, you'll likely discover your gun is happy running .30-06 AI at the same pressure as .308, in which case another 25 fps will be picked up.
Brownells used to send a list with their catalogs to dealers of suggested service prices. Back in the early 90's it was $40 to rechamber. Today it's probably $60-$80, but that's just labor. If Reamer rental is involved you'll have to add that.
You still have the issue of whether or not there is enough metal. If you have something beefy like a Shilen #7 contour barrel to start, you'll be fine because the thick portion goes forward of the receiver 4". But if you start with a light sporter one, like a #3, where the thick portion is only 2.5" long, you may not. That will have to be determined by the gunsmith. But I would think that in most instances there will be enough to go from .308 to .30-06 AI because you don't need to set the shoulder back or re-thread the barrel. If you went to regular .30-06, the added labor is unlikely to make it as worthwhile.
If you load the .30-06 and the .308 to their respective SAAMI maximums (60 kpsi vs 62 kpsi), you get about 100–150 fps more velocity out of the .30-06 from a 26" tube, depending on the bullet weight. Add another 50 fps for the AI format, and you should have a 200 fps advantage over the .308. It's not magnum but it's not nothing, either.
With commercial loads you often don't see that .308 and.30-06 difference because the latter is more likely to be underloaded out of liability concerns for old rifles. The velocities were much closer when both were constrained to using 4895, which the .308 handles more efficiently. But the '06 can actually handle a slower powder better than the .308, and that picks up its potential. You just can't count on using a slower powder in the Garand or other gas guns as readily.
Loading for yourself, you can work up reasonably to maximum performance for your weapon. If you work up based on brass pressure signs, you'll likely discover your gun is happy running .30-06 AI at the same pressure as .308, in which case another 25 fps will be picked up.
scoobydoo6906
New member
according to noslers website the difference in a 180 grain bullet is more like 300 fps.
If my memory is correct, .308 barrels have a twist that optimizes 150 grain bullets and 30-06 barrels have a twist that is intended to stabilize 180 grain bullets. So (if my fuzzy memory is correct), such a re-chambering would not make sense if the OP wants to re chamber to use heaver bullets.I would like to stay with the 06 because I hunt elk and heavier bullets are needed.
Dahermit,
Actually the common 10" twist in .30-06 military barrels came from stabilizing the old 220 grain round nose Krag bullet. They just kept it when the .30-03 and later .30-06 were developed. For .308, the army started with a 12" twist n the M14, IIRC, which is just fine for even 180 grain bullets if the air conditions are normal. The military marksmanship units later switched to 11" twists, but most civilian .308's I see these days are using the 10" twist same as the .30-06.
Scooby,
300 fps is pretty optimistic. If I look through my Nosler Reloading Guide No. 6, the maximum velocities they list for their fastest loads with 24" tubes on both are:
There are some new higher speed powders from Alliant and Hodgdon. I don't know yet how these will stack up. Take a look through other load data to get a better idea what's out there. Hodgdon's site is another place you can look.
Actually the common 10" twist in .30-06 military barrels came from stabilizing the old 220 grain round nose Krag bullet. They just kept it when the .30-03 and later .30-06 were developed. For .308, the army started with a 12" twist n the M14, IIRC, which is just fine for even 180 grain bullets if the air conditions are normal. The military marksmanship units later switched to 11" twists, but most civilian .308's I see these days are using the 10" twist same as the .30-06.
Scooby,
300 fps is pretty optimistic. If I look through my Nosler Reloading Guide No. 6, the maximum velocities they list for their fastest loads with 24" tubes on both are:
Code:
Bullet .308 .30-06 Difference
125 gr. 3284 fps 3418 fps 134 fps
150 gr. 3001 fps 3056 fps 56 fps
165 gr. 2910 fps 3002 fps 92 fps
180 gr. 2718 fps 2872 fps 154 fpsThere are some new higher speed powders from Alliant and Hodgdon. I don't know yet how these will stack up. Take a look through other load data to get a better idea what's out there. Hodgdon's site is another place you can look.