Finnlight or Superlight Re-bore

[edg1967]

Does anyone know if a Tikka Superlight or Sako Finnlight have enough barrel to re-bore? I'm thinking of turning a 30-06 into a .338-06. I'll JES to confirm but wanted a little info here first. I know it has been done with a Montana is why I ask. Thanks.

 

[GKPrice]

my 7mm RM superlight was picked up by JES today to rebore to a 338 Win Mag - he regularly rebores Kimber 84L's to 338-06 and 35 Whelen

 

[scott]

why don't you just use 200 partitions or accubonds with RL 17 save your self $ for the rebore and dies.

 

[luke moffat]

my 7mm RM superlight was picked up by JES today to rebore to a 338 Win Mag - he regularly rebores Kimber 84L's to 338-06 and 35 Whelen

Really?? He told me I was the first one to request a 338-06 on a 84l and when asked about whelen he said it would be right at his threshold for enough meat left on the pencil barrel with such a big bore. Interesting he "regularly" does them now

 

[luke moffat]

Anyone know the muzzle diameter of the tikkas? I seem to remember hearing the flutes on the super lights not leaving enough "meat" on the bore or 35 cal but 338-06 would be ok.

Perisnally if you can find a stainless synthetic sako that wasn't a finnlight and rebore that so you could get 5+1 in 35 whelen now that would be a packing a lot of heat in a lightweight package with half dozen 250 or more grainers locked and loaded

 

[luke moffat]

why don't you just use 200 partitions or accubonds with RL 17 save your self $ for the rebore and dies.

Actually on the tikka platform there is no gain in weight savings (other than shorter barrel) between the 30-06 and 300 wm and you don't get an extra spot in the magazine either for the 30-06 so might as well just go 300 wm and shoot 200 grainers faster than you could with a 338-06.

On a different platform yes the 06 case makes sense certainly as it saves weight and gives you another cartridge in the mag, but Tikka is 300 wm all the way! Unless you wanna rebore that to a 338 wm since tikka quit doing it, like GKPRICE is doing.

 

[edg1967]

The reason I ask & why I want to do it is that I already have an 06 & a 35 Whelen AI and am looking for something in between. You gotta have something in between...

 

[tstowater]

The reason I ask & why I want to do it is that I already have an 06 & a 35 Whelen AI and am looking for something in between. You gotta have something in between...

I like it when we need to split hairs. But for that reason i could get by with a whole lot less rifles and wouldn't need as big of a safe, or another one. BTW, I like your idea.

 

[GKPrice]

Really?? He told me I was the first one to request a 338-06 on a 84l and when asked about whelen he said it would be right at his threshold for enough meat left on the pencil barrel with such a big bore. Interesting he "regularly" does them now

luke - THAT might be the reason Kimber didn't come out with the 35 Whelen in the 84L line, it was originally listed on the website - Dennis, the former co-owner of Mazama Guns (now deceased) had Jess do a 338-06 from an 84L Montana '06 that I sold to him, I tried to buy it back from his estate but no luck - The reason I went with the re-bore of the Tikka is that the 7mm RM never did shoot to my expectations and I "was" going to just peddle it but I was hesitant to sell it knowing that so now I will have a 338 Win Mag (my all time favorite elk round) in a reasonably lightweight rifle set up exactly to my specs with a cut rifled bore, what's not to like about that ?

 

[luke moffat]

Exactly!! JES does great work just how you want it just a matter of when not if I use him again for another project. So has JES done any 35 whelen rebores on the 84l platform then? Be interested for sure! I think he would do it but you make it sound as he regularly does them which I don't believe is the case at all.

 

[GKPrice]

Exactly!! JES does great work just how you want it just a matter of when not if I use him again for another project. So has JES done any 35 whelen rebores on the 84l platform then? Be interested for sure! I think he would do it but you make it sound as he regularly does them which I don't believe is the case at all.

I'll be seeing him when I pick up my "new" 338 and I'll ask - I had him bore a Montana 270 WSM to 338 WSM (project didn't work out) and he had no compunction about doing it, actually nonchalant, but that might be the threshold - I'll get back to you on it for sure - Actually, the 35 Whelen is intriguing me more and more almost by the minute (not that I need one, I assure you)

 

[scott]

Ok so I was giving the practical side but some of us just love guns so I say go for it. And enjoy my 338-06 mauser action and an E R Shaw barrel shoots Noz 225 Accubond with 60 grains of Ramshot Big Game .

 

[AXEL]

My "short" tubed .338WM rifles, a pair of Dakota 76s and a custom STS Mod. 70 Classic wear 23" barrels, my favourite length in my favourite cartridge. You have to "stand on them" to get 2700 fps.-mv with 250 NPs, but, my 25" barrels on my P-64 Alaskans, run 2800+ with the same loads.

I have not recently checked the 225 bullets, as I prefer to run heavy here in BC, but, I would expect at least 2900 and change from the 23" tubes and I wonder WHAT speeds you chrono. from .338/06s, with this weight of bullets?

I have, since May, 2006, gone to the fine, old 9.3x62 in a few rifles and now own four rifles so chambered, this case is almost identical to the .06 case and this is a very potent round, loaded to 2500+ with 286 NPs, seems an excellent option for a real "thumper"; but, would require a new barrel....and it has a bit of "boot", about like the .338WM-250 factory loads.

 

[luke moffat]

I'll be seeing him when I pick up my "new" 338 and I'll ask - I had him bore a Montana 270 WSM to 338 WSM (project didn't work out) and he had no compunction about doing it, actually nonchalant, but that might be the threshold - I'll get back to you on it for sure - Actually, the 35 Whelen is intriguing me more and more almost by the minute (not that I need one, I assure you)

I think if you cut one back to 20-21" it would be no biggie boring one out to 35 whelen. Just wondering how you came up with the "regularly" comment.

 

[GKPrice]

I think if you cut one back to 20-21" it would be no biggie boring one out to 35 whelen. Just wondering how you came up with the "regularly" comment.

a mere slip of the tongue I think - Jesse is a soft spoken seemingly relaxed guy with a matter-of-fact demeanor who puts you at ease when talking to him, too easy for me to make assumptions I guess - "regularly" should have been "non chalantly" or "readily" in retrospect as I really don't know how many guns he does or what his schedule is, my terminology gets too relaxed sometimes - My intent when referring to JES, is simply to relate that he is very easy to talk with, does wonderful work for a very fair price, innocent enough intentions - He does do 338-06's and .35 is one of his favorite bore size to do and I'd recently talked with him about doing an old Model 70 and "35 Whelen" was discussed, just a slip - As I said before though, I've not had him put a mic or caliper on any Kimber muzzle I've taken to him, he simply looks at it and gives a yes or no (and I've not heard a no, someone else might have) like when I dropped the Montana 270 WSM off for a re-bore to 338 , a simple shrug of his shoulders and "there's plenty of barrel there" was it .... - I'm leaving options open for cutting the barrel down on this 338 Tikka - My thinking is an elk gun out to the 500 yd +/- but as I get older and the knees get stiffer those Snake R. canyons seem less and less inviting so I'm not saying it won't happen down the road, it's only 24" now though -

 

[luke moffat]

I hear Ya!!! I think part of the reason punching out a Kimber 8400 montana is not just a big deal is because their barrels aren't nearly as slender either! Regardless JES does great work for sure and I think you will dig your 338wm tikka no doubt! And for that caliber I would likely leave it at the 24".

As for the OP If you want the tweener 338-06 go for it man!!!

 

[GKPrice]

I think the 338-06 AND 35 Whelen are very intriguing chamberings - that pre 64 model 70 is a "featherweight?" w/ 22" tube - now it's haunting me to do one or the other with it (DAMNIT Jim ! I'm just a hunter !)

 

[edg1967]

I got a call back from Jesse & he didn't think it would be a problem since only about .012" would be coming off.

 

[GKPrice]

Yesterday I picked up my "new" 338 Win Mag Tikka superlight - Jesse (and I) are very happy with the outcome - without bases it tips the scale at 5 lb 13.5 oz - it is going to be interesting to say the least to shoot I think

 

[luke moffat]

Should be ok GK...its 20% heavier than my 338-06 so that will help.

My 338-06 which is just over 6 pound scoped shooting a 225 grainer at 2700 comes in at 45 ft/lbs of recoil

A 338 WM shooting 225 grainer at 2900 that is roughly 6.75 scoped should be roughly 47 ft/lbs.

No both will likely get your attention, if wimpy me can shoot 50 rounds off a bench in a session I think most can do it.

Sounds like a sweet rifle there GK!! Very cool indeed!