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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Lee Speed Forum & Archive

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leeenfield
.275 member

Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 53
Loc: Canada

The 338-303 and the 35-303
#268075 - 15/07/15 09:42 AM

I would like to hear from those of you who have done either of these. I am planning on reboring two rifles to either 338 (if the bores clean up well enough) or 35. I am leaning slightly toward the 338 because there would be more of a shoulder and perhaps fewer mag problems. What have been your experiences re mag feed and anything else you might care to mention. What size is the chamber neck of your 338s? Possibilities are anything from .366 for a 33 Winchester to 372 for a 338 Lapua.. I should say I did a 375- 303 and am still working on the mag issues.
Many Thanks

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Gun
.224 member

Reged: 25/06/15
Posts: 7
Loc: Nebraska, USA

Re: The 338-303 and the 35-303 [Re: leeenfield]
#268694 - 29/07/15 10:57 AM

I am unable to help. But I am greatly interested in what you want to do.
I will follow this as I too would like to do a bit of converting outside of the replica Lee Speed I am doing but with other Lee Enfield's I own.

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“I’m a-comin’ over the wall after ya … and I’m a-comin’ in a-shootin’!”-Yosemite Sam

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Deutsche_Vortrekker
.333 member

Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA

Re: The 338-303 and the 35-303 [Re: leeenfield]
#268697 - 29/07/15 11:36 AM

Quote:

I would like to hear from those of you who have done either of these. I am planning on reboring two rifles to either 338 (if the bores clean up well enough) or 35. I am leaning slightly toward the 338 because there would be more of a shoulder and perhaps fewer mag problems. What have been your experiences re mag feed and anything else you might care to mention. What size is the chamber neck of your 338s? Possibilities are anything from .366 for a 33 Winchester to 372 for a 338 Lapua.. I should say I did a 375- 303 and am still working on the mag issues.
Many Thanks

http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat....rt=all&vc=1
I rebored a Lee Speed to 338/303 Nitro Express . Read the entire thread and I will answer any questions you have when you are through

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26992
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: The 338-303 and the 35-303 [Re: Deutsche_Vortrekker]
#268699 - 29/07/15 12:03 PM

OK - after re-reading that old thread - I'd seriously consider going with a 9.3 (.366" bullet) on the .375/2 1/2" case.

The neck-down (or small shoulder if desired) given from .375 cal. on the 2 1/2" case is not much - .0045 per side extra taper seems to me. My main reason for this is the 270gr. Speer with it's very thin jacket (unsuitable for 9.3x62 OR 9.3x57 speeds imho) would be perfectly suited for the speed range of this old case. It would do for heavier game than deer, as well. Within decent range, it would be suitable for elk and moose. As well, the 232gr. Vulcan would also be well suited for slightly longer distances, in the 2,200fps range, if desired. Mind you, the Vulcan has a rather thick jacket and might just be the best all-round bullet for a slow 9.3.

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Igorrock
.400 member

Reged: 01/03/07
Posts: 1649
Loc: Finland

Re: The 338-303 and the 35-303 [Re: DarylS]
#268710 - 29/07/15 04:57 PM

It seems that NORMA Alaska -bullet seems to be one good candidate when loading 9,3 caliber with modest speeds.

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http://promaakari.wordpress.com/

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26992
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: The 338-303 and the 35-303 [Re: Igorrock]
#268728 - 30/07/15 12:15 AM

Igorrock - you are right - I had the names wrong. Should have been the Alaskan, not Vulcan, which is bonded, I think.

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Igorrock
.400 member

Reged: 01/03/07
Posts: 1649
Loc: Finland

Re: The 338-303 and the 35-303 [Re: DarylS]
#268731 - 30/07/15 03:01 AM

Quote:

not Vulcan, which is bonded, I think.

Quote:

The Vulkan is a classic hunting bullet with a thin front jacket to give rapid mushrooming and high energy transfer. The jacket is folded at the tip to protect the lead core against recoil damage in the magazine. This is a very popular bullet for wild boar and red deer hunting.

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Deutsche_Vortrekker
.333 member

Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA

Re: The 338-303 and the 35-303 [Re: Igorrock]
#268733 - 30/07/15 05:05 AM

I did not go to a 9.3 for a few reasons . First of all from other projects I had read about the 9.3 would need the magazine and feeding ramp altered . With the .338 this was not necessary . Headspace is exactly the same as a .303 : just a matter of re boring the barrel to 338 .Secondly I wanted to use .303 neck sizing die with a 338 expander ball for reloading. The 338 expander plug fit perfectly with no neck collet in the .303 die . Perfect . A 9.3 /303 would have needed an entire set of custom dies . The choice of 338 bullets is 100 times greater than the 9.3 choices . I have tailored loads to perfectly fit my Cape sights with the 338/303 Nitro Express .

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26992
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: The 338-303 and the 35-303 [Re: Deutsche_Vortrekker]
#268753 - 30/07/15 03:13 PM

Are there any .338 bullets soft enough for 2,000fps muzzle velocities are are they all designed for 2,500fps or more?

I sectioned a couple 9.3 232gr. Vulcan bullets and they had very thick rear jackets.

I figured they would be OK at up to about 2,450fps for heavier game like moose and elk.

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39877
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: The 338-303 and the 35-303 [Re: DarylS]
#268756 - 30/07/15 03:41 PM

Wouldn't some of the lighter .338 bullets be designed for use in the .338/308?

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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Deutsche_Vortrekker
.333 member

Reged: 27/04/08
Posts: 449
Loc: From the Kalahari to the USA

Re: The 338-303 and the 35-303 [Re: NitroX]
#268768 - 30/07/15 08:30 PM

Yes and they work well .I am shooting Hornady and Woodleigh 200-225 grain bullets in the 2100-2300 fps range and all are accurate and did well on expansion tests . there are many bullets made for the 338 Federal around. As I am hunting with iron sights in the 50-200 range it is exactly what fps these 338 Federal bullets would be travelling at 300-400 yards so finding a correct bullet in the target rich 338 bullet environment was never an issue.

Edited by Deutsche_Vortrekker (30/07/15 08:40 PM)

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