Inherited 30-338 Need Help With Reloading

[ZAquaman]

My grandfather was quite a rifleman back in the day. His preferred rifle for elk hunting was a 30-338 he built on a 1903 Springfield action. He's gone on to the "eternal hunting grounds" and his wildcat has found it's way to my collection. I plan to keep and shoot this rifle, the stock is a beauty and after some minor changes in length fits perfectly. The problem is, he never shared any technical information with me about the rifle.

I do have some clues though, along with the rifle I got an ammo can with reloading dies, several boxes of 338 Winchester Magnum unprimed cases, some reloaded ammo, reloading data from magazine articles written in the 60's, and some of grandpa's notes.

Below are the loads grandpa was using according to his notes:

Sept 12, 1961: 180 gr Nosler, 338 Winchester cases, 71 gr 4350, western Primers, 3115 fps apx. (20 rounds)

1963: 180 gr speer, once fired 338 Winchester cases, 71 gr 4350, CCI 200 primer (10 rounds)

1963: 165 gr speer, once fired 338 Winchester cases, 77gr 4831, CCI 200 primer (10 rounds)

1968: 180 gr Nosler, once fired 338 Winchester cases, 71 gr 4350, CCI 200 Primers, (20 rounds)

Here are my questions for those who might have some experience with the 30-338. Is there a go to information source for reloading the 30-338? Did grandpa get it right with the 71gr of 4350? Is it a bad idea to shoot grandpa's reloads given the fact that they're 40-50 years old?

Thanks for taking the time to read this post!

 

[jerkface11]

308 norma is nearly identical.

 

[ZAquaman]

That would explain the Speer Pamphlet "Loading Data for the .308 Norma Magnum" in grandpa's ammo can

 

[Kosh75287]

The condition of the ammo depends a lot on how it was stored. If it spend all those decades in a place without a lotta temp/humidity variation, they may be in pretty good shape. If the ammo wasn't loaded right at the pressure limit, then there pay not be any pressure excursions. If the ammo was stored in the back of a garage in Western Oklahoma, where the annual temps range from 11F to 107F, I'd pull the ammo down ans save the brass.

 

[rcmodel]

Then the .30-338 was a wildcat, and as such, there was really no "standard" factory chamber for one.
It has less case capacity then the .300 Winchester Mag, or about as much as the .308 Norma Magnum.
If a nonstandard "standard" reamer was used to cut the chamber?

As for the loads in question?

I'd say your grandpa kept pretty good notes on his reloads.
And that right there is a very good sign.

Owning a .30-338 Mag in 1960 something would tell use he wasn't quite satisfied with what the hardware store was selling as rifles then.

If he passed to his reward with all 10 fingers and both eyes, he must have known his way around a reloading bench fairly well too.

I'd shoot them.

However, I would not duplicate his loads today.
At least not without starting 10% below his loads and working back up.

You didn't mention if he was using IMR or Hodgdon 4350 & 4831?
H-4831 & H-4350 was a different bird in 1963, and was often sold out of a big surplus drums.
And sent home with you in brown paper sandwich bags!!

At this point, I'd call Hodgdon tech service and see if they can recommend some modern load data for you to use with modern powder.

So?

 

[jerkface11]

At this point, I'd call Hodgdon tech service and see if they can recommend some modern load data for you to use with modern powder

Hodgdon has data for 308 norma on their website.

 

[ZAquaman]

Grandpa's notes don't specify IMR vs Hodgdon. However, he did have Du Pont tins of 4350 so I'm assuming it's the (Improved Military Rifle) IMR 4350?

 

[ZAquaman]

You know for a guy who goes by the name of Jerkface, you're very helpful. Looking at the data on Hodgdon's website for the 308 Norma Magnum their maximum loads for the 180gr. bullets is around 3000fps. Grandpa's notes show 3100fps with the 71gr of 4350. Is this a product of a more conservative approach to maximum loads or the nature of modern powders?

 

[Sam1911]

Grandpa's notes show 3100fps with the 71gr of 4350.

Did you grandpa have a chronograph in 1963? He might have been speculating a little. Chronos are a lot more common now than they used to be.

 

[rcmodel]

The 30-338, while similiar, is not the .308 Norma Mag.

Like I said, in 1960 something it was a wildcat, and it was neither a .300 WinMag, or a .308 Norma Mag.
Even if the reamer was a "standard" reamer for a non-standard wildcat caliber.

rc

 

[jerkface11]

You know for a guy who goes by the name of Jerkface, you're very helpful. Looking at the data on Hodgdon's website for the 308 Norma Magnum their maximum loads for the 180gr. bullets is around 3000fps. Grandpa's notes show 3100fps with the 71gr of 4350. Is this a product of a more conservative approach to maximum loads or the nature of modern powders?

Granpa loaded that stuff without a chronograph so who knows that his velocities were? I would reduce the start loads by 10% and work my way up and wouldn't go over the start loads ever. You should probably get some cerosafe and do a chamber casting so you know what the neck diameter is too.