Have a 1903-A3 action and a long winter

[Float Pilot]

My mind is tossing around a few ideas for a new rifle project built around a 1903A3 action (rem) I have laying around...

338-06
35 Whelen Ackely Improved
375 Whelen Ackely improved...

Anyone have any interesting barrels ?????

 

[Uncle Grinch]

I've always admired the 338-06. Never had one, but in comparing it with the 35 Whelen AI and the 375 Whelen AI and even with the round I went with, the 9.3x62, the 338-06 came out ahead as far as being more ballistically efficient. In addition, I believe there maybe a better bullet choice with the .338.

I know my 9.3 has a very limited choice, but it's probably closer to the 35 Whelen AI ballistically.

 

[texas chase]

338-06 or 35 whelen

You can't lose. Pick one and go with it. You won't be sorry.

 

[Float Pilot]

I used to have a 358 Norma Mag which I loved.
Now I have a 350 Rem Mag, which is OK but suffers from no being able to seat the bullets long.

 

[rcmodel]

30-06????

You can't beat them with a Hickey Stick!

I don't care who ya are!

rc

 

[texas chase]

Hey Float Pilot, forgot that you're up in AK. So, I'd lean a little towards the 35 whelen, or the AI version , or if you've really got a wild hair - 9.3x62.

Probably better to stick with the Whelen just because I'm sure you could at least get 30-06 brass (for fire forming of course) if availability was a problem for the other choices way up yonder in the frozen tundra

I just got a Rem 700 classic in 35 Whelen from my dad for Christmas. From my limited experience and from others I've talked with about the head space "issues" associated with the whelen, I really don't think it's an issue at all. I think it just gives us gun nuts something else to gab about quite honestly.

But... Take what I say with a grain of salt... I'm just a rifle looney from Texas.

 

[Float Pilot]

30-06????

You can't beat them with a Hickey Stick

I already have 5 rifles in 30-06, a 300 win mag, a 350 Rem Mag, 416 Taylor, 45-80 and a 458 Win...
Don't get me started on the rifles of smaller calibers...

I am getting long in the tooth and will be thinning the herd...

 

[texas chase]

What's the verdict ?

 

[Babarsac]

Here is the route I went considering I already had a .308 Garand.

Last year I inherited a 1903-A3 after my grandfather passed away. By the time I got the rifle it had been sporterized. All the was left was the receiver and even the rear sight base had been ground off.



Needless to say something had to be done with this poor rifle so I removed all the commercial parts parts leaving pretty much just the receiver. I added:

-New Criterion barrel in .308 (I have lots of 308)
-Surplus USGI stock
-USGI stock hardware from Numrich\Old West Scrounger\CMP Forum
-Redfield 1-piece mount and rings
-Older Weaver scope

I had a shop down in Richmond parkerize the whole thing and cut the notch for a bent bolt. What I ended up with was a sort of faux 1903-A4 considering I couldn't replace the rear sight.

 

[col.lemat]

you don't have a 308 on the list

 

[Float Pilot]

you don't have a 308 on the list

I have an M-1A Bush Model buried around here someplace. In fact I will probably sell the darn thing since I have not fired it in 10 years. My 6.5x55mm (plus 7x57mms) are more accurate and my 30-06s have more thump.
I used to have a bull barrel Remington target rifle in 308... but it was traded off for something or another....

Right now I am wheeling and dealing with a guy a couple hundred miles north of me who has a couple of barrels.... On is bored to .375,,,,,,,, so a 375-06 Ackley Improved might be a thought... I know where there is a set of dies for it....

 

[dirtyjim]

If you decide to do a 375AI i have a reamer you can borrow

 

[badasp118]

Have you considered the .308 Norma magnum? I have an older 03 conversion that basically equals my .338 win mag. Great rifle!! Just a thought.

Badasp118

 

[Float Pilot]

I had thought about the 308 Norma mag... Which is about the same as the 300 Win Mag...

Then I started thinking about another 358 Norma Mag since it is better for Alaska... Of course with the magnums you loose magazine capacity... And after 5 decades hunting up here,,, I have come to believe that a magnum belt on a cartridge is a good way to have feeding problems while in a stressful situation.

 

[lefteyedom]

My suggestion is to chamber it in 35 Whelen.

It would be nice to build it like Griffin and Howe would have a back in the day.

 

[Float Pilot]

Yah Sure,,,, that is pretty sexy....

 

[fguffey]

I have an 03 A4 barrel that has been chambered to 308 Norma Mag, it is full length with a brake, the barrel was removed when when the receiver was discovered to be an A4, the rifle has been returned to ‘period correct’ for the serial number. I do not have a Springfield action I am willing to give up. M1917s? that is different.

F. Guffey

 

[Float Pilot]

I think I will go with a 338-06 on this one....

I am just about finished with another project rifle which is chambered for 375 Ruger.
So considering all the other cartridges I have, the 338-06 fits better into the only empty spot left....

 

[Mobuck]

The 338/06 is a dandy cartridge if bigger game is on your plate. I have one on a 98 Mauser action with a full length magwell. Using 180-200 garin bullets for medium sized game and 210 partitions for everything else gives you a powerful but still controllable medium range hunting rifle.

 

[Catpop]

I rebarreled mine to a 270 winchester in 1980.

 

[Catpop]

With the price of WWll military rifles today, why not leave it or return it to original and reap the big bucks?

 

[Mobuck]

I built a Mauser 98 338/06 several years ago. Recoil is between a 30/06 and 300Win mag while pushing a heavier, bigger diameter bullet which was my goal. I don't shoot it since elk hunting has gone out of my budget.