.30-06 to .308 chamber converters/spacers?

[artherd]

I am speaking of the spacers/bushings that actually go into your chamber to convert a .30-06 to .308 chambering.

Do they work?

Can one really go back and forth?

I am thinking about trying my Remington 7400 currently in .30-06.

 

[Delmar]

Well, if they are still making them, I hope they are better at function than the old ones. The Navy tried them in the early 60's in the Garand's because McNamara-in his infinate wisdom, stopped the M-14 manufacture and the M-16 wasn't available in sufficient quantities. The chamber adapter had a bad habit of being ejected with a spent case.

The big problem you're going to have is in your magazine length. The standard mag for your 30-06 is going to be too short, so you're going to have to modify an 06 mag for the shorter round. Doable, but this is a tricky deal all the way around.

Me thinks you are looking for cheaper ammo? After all is said and done, I think you'd be better off with two choices-trade the 06 for a 308, or start handloading for your 06. If you handload that 06, you're gonna find that it does everything the 308 does in the lighter weight bullets (under 180 grain), and much better in the heavyweights.

Think of your 06 as a 308 plus P

 

[artherd]

The big problem you're going to have is in your magazine length. The standard mag for your 30-06 is going to be too short, so you're going to have to modify an 06 mag for the shorter round. Doable, but this is a tricky deal all the way around.

The good news is, the mags are already set up for this kind of thing.

This all started when I ordered some more -06 mags and recived .308 instead. They're the same outside dimentions.

Yes, looking for cheaper ammo, and possibly more reliable mags as well. THe .308 feeding seems like it would be more reliable (partial feed ramp in the mag in .308, whereas in -06 the feeding often jams at the magazine lip with FMJ ammo.)

 

[30Cal]

A lot of people believe that the inserts are an accident waiting to happen. To get them to stay in place reliably, they need to be TIGHT.

Ty

 

[dfariswheel]

There are LOTS of problems with the chamber insert, most of them safety related.

One thing everybody agrees on is: NEVER, EVER use one in a semi-auto rifle.

The problem is, no matter how they fit the chamber, they WILL occasionally get extracted.
With a semi-auto, you will likely NOT NOTICE this when it happens, and you will then be firing a .308 in a 30-06 chamber, with catastrophic results.

People argue about the safety of these, but those who do use them successfully, do so in BOLT-ACTION rifles, NOT semi-auto.

In a semi-auto rifle, it's not a question of "IF" this will happen, it's just a matter of WHEN.

 

[Grump]

With a semi-auto, you will likely NOT NOTICE this when it happens, and you will then be firing a .308 in a 30-06 chamber, with catastrophic results.

I've seen enough "oopses" among Garands on the firing line to believe it is NOT a disaster waiting to happen. The slightly less-tapered 7.62 round jams in the '06 chamber anyway, so the nightmare of excessive headspace does not materialize. The round fires, your velocity is way down, and you get a now-neckless case ejected.

There remains some risk, but I've never heard of any gas releases from the unwise practice.

The method for chamber inserts is clean the chamber like crazy, finish with thorough degreasing using BRAKE CLEANER or something else that leaves to hydrocarbon residue, and degrease the insert as well. Insert and fire. Remove with a broken case extractor.

Personally, I'd try a small dab of white high-temp Loc-Tite on the shoulder of the insert. Too much might make it too permanent...

Sounds like you're proposing its use in a bolt gun anyway. I'd go for it.

 

[artherd]

There are LOTS of problems with the chamber insert, most of them safety related.

Eegh, I think I'll get a .308 instead

Been looking for an excuse to get an M-14 anyway.