30-06 to 308 conversion question

[ChevellRCR]

I have a Winchester Mod 70 30-06 that I lucked up on and got really cheap. I found a company that makes an insert for the chamber that will convert it to a 308. I would rather have a 308 because I have a few thousand rounds laying around for my FAL. Is this a fix that will work or would it be a waste of time?

Here is the page the adapter is on. It is the one all the way down.

http://www.eabco.com/sale8.html

 

[Preacherman]

It works, given reasonable care on the part of the shooter - in other words, every time you extract a fired .308 round, make sure that the chamber insert doesn't come out with the round! This has been known to happen sometimes, and the next round of .308 fired in your suddenly-resized-to-.30-'06 chamber can ruin your rifle, and your day...

 

[Sleeping Dog]

With an adapter, the bullet will have to fly an extra half inch before encountering rifling. Think that'll impact the accuracy?

Also, try chambering a spent .308 brass in the rifle. The .308 has a different taper than 30-06 and may be "fatter" near the shoulder. You would feel resistance closing the bolt. In that case, the adapter will do you no good without reaming the chamber.

If it chambers, try filling the mag with 308 and see if they'll chamber and extract ok running the action. Use blanks or do this at the range, just in case. Don't pull the trigger . The shape of the 308 may be different enough that they won't feed from the magazine.

Or, since you got the rifle cheap, go ahead and spend a little more on 30-06 ammo or reloading gear.

Regards.

 

[foghornl]

Some Military Branch...US Navy, perhaps(???) tried this insert trick to convert .30-06 M-1 Garands to .308. Not a rousing success, for the reason listed above. The inserts didn't always stay in the chamber, and firing a .308Win/7.62 NATO round in a .30-06 size chamber was...well, exciting, to say the least.

Just look around a bit for Mil-Surp .30-06 ammo. Southern Ohio Gun, Ammoman, Cheaper Than Dirt, etc frequently have .30-06 on sale.

 

[ChevellRCR]

Ok thanks for the help. After reading what you wrote I may just sell the rifle and buy a 308. Maybe a savage with a heavy barrel.

 

[Slydlok]

For your needs I think that is the best thing to do, Savage's are great rifles for the money.

 

[ChevellRCR]

Yeah my friend has a 110 7mm Mag and he loves it. I think that would be the best to do. I first have to shoot up those 4 boxes of soft point ammo I bought for it though. Looks like I will be deer hunting with it this year and then sell it. Who knows... I dont.

 

[JonnyB]

Can't a 'smith simply machine the barrel to shorten it, and then ream the chamber for .308 Win?

Or, buy a new barrel, and have it fitted. Neither is as inexpensive as the adapter, but *are* more reliabale.

JB

 

[kimbernut]

.30-06 to .308 conversion

You've been steered in the right direction but ,if it's an option ,hang on to the .30-06 you may find you like it better and the price was right.