Years ago I had a Rem 700 in 30-06 re-barrelled to 338-06 by Pac-Nor (24" 1-10 twist). They used a JGS reamer. Which is close to but possibly not the same dimensions as a reamer for 338-06 A-square. Weatherby 338-06 ammo (210 gr. Partition) was available but would not chamber in my rifle. Pac-Nor increased the throat length to accommodate the Weatherby and other ammunition (Superior Custom). The throat may be longer than necessary, but I cannot determine that. This leaves me with two reloading issues:
1. The rifle is very accurate with some ammunition including Nosler Custom 225 g. AB, and some of my low velocity practice loads. The Nosler ammo is woefully slow. Advertised velocity is 2600 fps. while the chronograph velocity is less than 2400 fps.. I use Nosler, Weatherby, and and Norma brass which is on the soft side. I am trying to achieve 2600 fps with a 225 gr. Hornady SST/IB, Barnes TTSX or Nosler AB without much success. This velocity will not give me long range capability, but it should be reasonable for Elk. I have read many posts and reloading guides which claim 2700 fps. without excessive pressure. I cannot get above 2550-2580 fps with Rel 15, IMR 4064, H4350, nor H4895 without high pressure when maintaining a COAL max of 3.340". Any thoughts on this other than Rel-17? Also my best accuracy comes from a COAL of 3.385" to 3.295", possibly due to the aforementioned long throat.
2. Most reloading posts and manuals use reformed 30-06 brass which is harder and heavier than the Nosler/Weatherby/Norma brass. Also reforming yields a case length of about 0.020" or more shorter than the trim length of 2.284". So my thinking is that reformed brass has a smaller volume, shorter neck hence less neck tension, and does not deform as easily as my softer brass. Do I have to throw away my expensive brass with the proper head stamp and buy 30-06 brass to improve performance? Again any thoughts would be helpful.
1. The rifle is very accurate with some ammunition including Nosler Custom 225 g. AB, and some of my low velocity practice loads. The Nosler ammo is woefully slow. Advertised velocity is 2600 fps. while the chronograph velocity is less than 2400 fps.. I use Nosler, Weatherby, and and Norma brass which is on the soft side. I am trying to achieve 2600 fps with a 225 gr. Hornady SST/IB, Barnes TTSX or Nosler AB without much success. This velocity will not give me long range capability, but it should be reasonable for Elk. I have read many posts and reloading guides which claim 2700 fps. without excessive pressure. I cannot get above 2550-2580 fps with Rel 15, IMR 4064, H4350, nor H4895 without high pressure when maintaining a COAL max of 3.340". Any thoughts on this other than Rel-17? Also my best accuracy comes from a COAL of 3.385" to 3.295", possibly due to the aforementioned long throat.
2. Most reloading posts and manuals use reformed 30-06 brass which is harder and heavier than the Nosler/Weatherby/Norma brass. Also reforming yields a case length of about 0.020" or more shorter than the trim length of 2.284". So my thinking is that reformed brass has a smaller volume, shorter neck hence less neck tension, and does not deform as easily as my softer brass. Do I have to throw away my expensive brass with the proper head stamp and buy 30-06 brass to improve performance? Again any thoughts would be helpful.
) I was using the Speer 225gr SBT, H414 powder, CCI Magnum primers and Winchester 30-06 brass. That combination consistently printed between 1/2 & 3/4 MOA at 200 yards. Took out many a white-tail deer with it. I didn't have a Chrony at that time so I can't comment on the velocity, but it was sure an accurate load/combo.
