Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing 30-06 to ?

I have a vanguard 30-06 with a 24 inch barrel. To me, it’s a heavy clumsy rifle but it has sentimental value because it way dads (even though he rarely used it).

I’ve been thinking of rechambering it to something else. What would be the easiest 30 caliber conversion to make? Would 300 Norma or 300 Win maybe feasible?

Thanks.

Both of those would be alot of work. Try JRS for having it bored to 35 Whelen

Second the rebore, thats a good action on whatever you decide, but similar case diameter is easier in everything I have had altered.

I would leave it an .06, but put money into a lighter more refined stock that fits you

I second...

I third. Why dump money into a gun that by your own admission you don't care for?

Clean it, put it in the safe or wherever if you don't like it, and are not going to use it.

If you are going to use it and want to spend money on it, a lighter stock and 2" off the barrel would be a start. Then maybe go to the 35 Whelen, which will lighten it up a bit more, and make for a better handling (though not necessarily better shooting) rifle.

I went with a .338.06 and very happy with it.

How is re-chambering it going to make it a less heavy and clumsy rifle?

More metal gone from the bore (assuming you go to a larger diameter), same happens if you cut the barrel back some.

I have never liked Wbys, partly because they are clunky. overpriced. overhyped. many are over flashy. And the Wby calibers are too much powder for too little gain.

Their reliance on just-so screw tension mandating a torque wrench is also a huge turn-off for me. But necessary if they can't decently bed a receiver......

IMO. YMMV.

I'll endorse the the "restock" train of thought, but las's answer is one I really like.

The rebore is actually the easiest thing to do--no bedding or rebedding required-- just send the barreled action to JES, get it back, put it back together and shoot it. Plus it takes weight off the front end of the rifle. 35 whelen for max weight savings. A slightly heavier 35 whelen is not a bad thing.

If you really want to change it you can go from 30-06 to 9.3x62 pretty easily. But the easiest conversion would be the 30-06AI. Just a chamber ream for that.

Leave the barrel at 24" leave it in std 30-06 .Find a nicer stock either nice wood or higher quality synthetic. Develop a load in the 3100fps range using the 130 gr Barnes X bullet for fast and light. Then work with 200 NPt's and either Stabill 6.5 or Rl -26 powders for as much speed and accuracy as you can get. Exhaust potential performance increases with load work before unchangeable expensive metal work that is not reversible. You did ask right? MB