338/30

[Sim G]

There's a rifle that's been sat in the back of my local shop for an eternity! The subject often comes up when my friend who runs the shop is either clearing the back or storing a "project" for me. The subject came up again as I don't currently have anything stored...

It's built on a Parker Hale long action that has a nice walnut stock with a heavy, flat fore arm and one piece mount with inch rings. The reason it's always come up is the barrel. 26 inches long, target crown and 1.25" at the muzzle! We've always thought this was a big boom stick and .30/338 has always been mentioned....

So we do a deal. I've gone and bought it, and will have it when the variation is submitted. But,min closer inspection, it is not a .30/338 but a 338/30.... Curious.

The proof mark, Birmingham, reads;

338/30 2.50
70 grains NC powder
200 grain bullet


So initially thinking it may be a .30/338 Lapua, it may be a 338/30-30. That is a .30-30 Win case blown out to take a .338 bullet. Ironically for me, it seems this was done for lever guns and it's not in a Marlin!

Anyone got any mention of it in their reference books? I've come across very little so far. Even a work dedicated to Wildcats gives nothing more than above! Where on earth I'm going to get dies from....!

[DOGGER2UK]

I have a 30-338 win mag ( 338 win mag necked down to .30) I load 70 grains of powder behind a 185 gr Lapua Scenar.( I don’t think it is possible to get 70 gr of powder into a 30-30 win case.) The 2.50 probably refers to the case length.
I can send you a dummy round to try if you wish.
To form the cases I use a Redding body die No 75394 . To full size cases and seat bullets RCBS F L die set No 29401.
30-338 was the 1000 yard benchrest round back in the 60’s and 70’s till replaced by less manly calibers.

Have a look here http://ericsettle.co.uk/Development.htm

[ovenpaa]

There is a Lapua 30-338 and we have a club member that routinely shoots his out to 1200 yards. Interestingly Lapua actually produced factory brass in this size at one stage however it is long since stopped as far as I know. The club member was struggling with the original barrel and eventually swapped it out and as far as I know the new barrel is shooting well. He was running Amax bullets last time I looked and they did occasionally blow us on very warm days...

[Sim G]

No, it's not a .30/338 (Lapua) it's marked as a 338/30. The closest I can find to such is a Wildcat cased on the .30-30 Win...

[saddler]

So....30-06 necked out to .338

Have ya slugged it?

Get a chamber cast too....

[Sim G]

I liked your train of thought, considering how the U.S. refer to the .30-06 as "30 cal". But, research shows that a 338/30-06 is wildcatted as the 338-06.

Looking more and more likely that it is possibly the 338/30 or 338/30-30. A wildcat based in the .30-30 Win, blown out to take .33 cal bullets.

[Sandgroper]

Nothing specific mentioned in my reference books regarding necking up a 30-30 to 338 but I did find a 35-30(!) so anything is possible.
However, couldn't it have just been marked opposite to the US convention for naming wildcats? The same way as a 303 necked down to 25 cal is known as a 303/25 in Australia/NZ? Just a thought...

[DOGGER2UK]

What size is the bolt face? may help to determine the parent case.

[M99]

I am sure that Tiff on here has a 338 wildcat and for some reason seem to think it is a 338-30

Be worth sending him a message

[Sim G]

Thanks for the input lads, I appreciate I gave you scant info to go on. When it's home, we should have more of a chance with a chamber cast, bolt face measuring and the like.

I'm leaning more towards some big than something small. I suppose a Wildcat could have any designation. If it along a .338 Lapua or Springfield parent case, I reckon it gives half a chance to get if going. Along a .30-30 case and it's probably a dead duck...

But that said, it's a nice Parker Hale action and stock. The detachable magazine is actually marked up .30-06 but has had the follower removed and a flat piece of steel fixed in the box to form a single shot platform...

Always a rebarrel option though.