Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Sent Off My Tikka T3

To JES to rebore from 30-06 to 338-06. Been wanting a 338-06 hunting rifle for over a decade and finally broke down and sent it off. I purchased some 225gr and 250gr hornady interlocks so if anyone has any good load I am definitely open to them. I was wanting something a little heavier for the brushy spots I like to hunt in and am not really a fan of the levers. Can't wait til it gets back and I can get to put some lead downrange.

Sold my Tikka T3 in 338 Federal today, got a new Ruger 338 RCM on the way. Its pretty close to the 338-06 I've got some 225 grain core lokts that worked well in the Federal on critters as big as bison so will try them first. Hornady will be similar Im guessing.

I had a kimber Montana 270 rebored by JES to a 338-06 several years ago. He also cut it down from a 24” to a 21” barrel. From the 21” barrel I am getting 2835 fps with 210 Sciroccos and 2690 with 225 accubond with RL-17. I will be working up loads with the 230 eldx and RL26 here in the next couple weeks. If I can get 2650+ with the 230s and good accuracy it will likely be my go to load. Thus far the 338-06 has worked great on moose, caribou and grizzly bear.

What's the accuracy of JES barrels? For the price, I could see just picking up a rifle with a smaller bore and having them bore it as necessary.

My 358 shoots slightly better bored out than it did prior to reboring as a 308 though that could be because I had the barrel cut down as well so it’s shorter and stiffer as well. The 338-06 I never shot it as a 270 so cant comment on that. Both rebores are consistent 1.5” at 100 yards and occasionally I can fling 3 into 3/4 of an inch for each, so I guess they are sub MOA all day long

Thanks. If you can shoot a 338-06 that weighs roughly 2lbs, give or take, into 1.5" I'd say it's just fine.

Haha hardly...the 338-06 is just under 5 pounds naked and 7.25 pounds scoped as I have it currently.

Cool! What do they do with the barrel shorten rotate and re label?

Shoot straight

Bob

RL 17 and I used Ramshot Big Game with 225 accubonds.

I’ve got a rechambered 338 to a 35 Newton. It’s an amazing shooter but seems to be crushing Leupolds.

With the couple of rebores I’ve done I’ve used a bunch of JBs to smooth them out and DBC’ed them and they’ve been pretty smooth after the treatment.

Can’t wait to hear how it shoots.

My Tikka 270 rebored to 35 Whelen by JES shots better now than before!

My vanguard 7mm-08 to 358win shoots great as well or better than it did new. He will stamp the correct cartridge above the original marking and x out the original. Neatly. Quick turnaround and quality work.

I predict satisfaction! He's done two '06 to 9.3x62s for me and the boy, and a Ruger no 3 is there now, going from .223 to 9.3. The two bolt actions already done shoot bug holes with multiple loads ranging from cast bullet plinking loads to full power stuff with different bullets. I will send him more work in the future!

Yes, I researched JES’s work for about a year and there is really noone not satisfied with his work. I can’t wait til it gets back. I think it will be an excellent rifle to carry at about 7.5lbs loaded out and also not so light as to punish with the recoil. Should also have power to spare. Super excited for next November.

Reloader 26 is too slow burning for that application. Won't be able to fit enough in the case to make good speeds. Reloader 17, CFE 223, Ramshot Big Game, that's where you want to be for powder.

I will keep ya posted...same thing was said when I asked about it in the 6.5 Creedmoor and it’s driving 143 eldx to 2900+ fps, and 75 ELDM to 3380 fps out of the 22” 22-250, and 178 eldx to 3180 fps out of a 300 wsm. It’s a dense powder and I have 16 pounds on hand. A simple ladder will cure my curiosity if it’s a flop I am out a couple hundred grains and being too slow the brass won’t be hurt at all in the process.

On Quickload, Reloader 26 is listed as the powder attaining the fastest velocity with the bullets you listed in the 6.5 Creedmoor and 300 WSM, and very near the top with the 22-250, so you were apparently asking the wrong people.

You're going to be way over 110% load density with the 338-06 (aka won't be able to fit enough powder in the case).

When I asked QL didnt even have info on RL26 everyone just assumed it wouldn’t work.

Like I said it’s only a couple hundred grains of powder if it sucks will go back to RL17. I certainly won’t have to worry about over pressure atleast haha
People are getting great numbers with heavies from 30-06 and RL26 so it’s an itch I gotta scratch. If it works I will use it if not oh well. If it’s only 2500 fps with the 230 but super accurate I may still use it.

Have you shot any of those over another chronograph? I guess the good with rl26 it’s slow powder so be damn near impossible to blow oneself up. Kind of like h4831 in the 270and 06

Magneto speed and Labradar (2 different units)

Gotta find pressure signs to know where to back off to right?