School me on this- 30-338

SurfcasterPE

SurfcasterPE

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I went out to the family farm today to zero in my new AR build and mentioned to my uncle that my next goal would be a long range gun. He has a few, and dug this one out and gave it to me on a long term loan to try out. He said a gunsmith told him it needed a new bolt and he just put it in the safe and moved on to another.
So, what is it? What do I need to look at on the bolt and elsewhere? And what else do I need to know? I know nothing about these, but I do know my uncle put many small groups at 1000 yards with it. Hope to make it safe to shoot and run it a while and either give it back or make him an offer on it.
Came home with a big bag of green peanuts too! 😁
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So, what I’ve learned so far. It’s a German Mauser. I haven’t found any ammo for it, but my uncle reloads to keep feeding his other more recent versions of the same caliber. I’m dropping it off with a gunsmith tomorrow to see what it needs and if it’s worth doing much with it. We’ll see.
 
30-378 is a Weatherby magnum round if memory serves.
I vaguely remember a Guns Magazine article from years ago that chronicled its performance at range and through various real world obstacles to rifle bullets.
It's a performer, no doubt, but it's HOT, a real barrel burner. And it's a LONG way from reasonably expensive, even reloads aren't inexpensive.
Good luck to ya........
 
I had a Springfield that had been rebarreled in 30-338. The bolt had to be opened up a bit. I was able to get dies for it and shot it a few times. It should be a fine chambering if you can figure out a steady supply of ammo for it. I always thought the 300 WM should have been a 30-338, but they did not ask me. I think I started working up a load looking at 308 Norma data. I wound up donating it to the Friends of the NRA along with the dies and some formed cases I made from 338 WM brass.
 
Is 30-338 the same as 30-378? I’m assuming not, but I didn’t know either existed until today! 🤣 The barrel in the OP has 30-338 stamped and there are a couple mentions of 30-378 above. What am I missing?
 
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willpgn said:
Is 30-338 the same as 30-378? I’m ass7ming not, but I didn’t know either existed until today! 🤣 The barrel in the OP has 30-338 stamped and there are a couple mentions of 30-378 above. What am I missing?
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This is the kind of stuff I’d like to learn too. Or Is there any similar, more common size I could run through it?
I wish I’d spent more time on the farm over the years. My uncle grew up there (now 75+) and no doubt wore that gun out right there. Next to Holly Shelter if anyone is familiar.
 
It's a 30-338, like @Walkabout Dan said. If you have the dies it shouldn't be a problem. Hopefully you can neck up some 7 mag. I do own a 30-378 Wby Accumark that I picked up years ago for Elk. For many years this Wby cartridge held the world record for tightest group at 1,000. Been thinking of selling it. I have dies, brass, even some factory ammo for it. ;)

If you have the capability to handload, this would be a fun gun to play with.
 
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