Cartridges interchangeable with a 308 receiver

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Any short action cartridge 2.80” COAL and with a .473” bolt face can be transplanted with only swapping the barrel, not changing the bolt. Anything based on the 308win case, like 243, 260, 7-08, 338fed, or 358 win or anything based on the Creedmoor case like 22, 6, and 6.5 creed. More exist, but these would be the easiest. In theory, 284 Winchester or .220 Swift (might not feed well with the rims?) could be dropped into an AR-10 as well, although I’m not sure anyone has? 45 Raptor, 22-250, and a plethora of others, before we’ve even swapped bolt faces - which isn’t as common as it is in AR-15’s when swapping from 223 to 6.5 grendel to 6.8 spc to 458... If using a bolt gun, then swapping bolts, barrels, and mag boxes can gain access to some fun stuff like WSM’s/RSAUM’s/RCM’s, or 6.5 PRC.

If a Tikka, then you’re really holding a long action, such you could swap around some additional parts and have access to anything, long, short, mini, standard, or magnum.
 
Varminterror said:
It’s a Savage, change the bolt head, magbox, and barrel, and the world is your oyster.
Click to expand...
There is and issue with the Axis going to the magnum bolt head. It requires a longer firing pin (axis pin is non adjustable), or shortening the shank of the bolt head. The other problem is that if you shorten the shank on the bolt head like i tried, the cocking pin may impact the bottom of the slot in the bolt body before enough protrusion is reached.
The magnum Axis project got dropped before i figured out if a magnum length firing pin/pin assembly would work, but i believe its the most likely, and cleanest solution to the problem.
Hog huntin Harry said:
Well I'm wanting a cartridge that has pretty good stopping power up close, so how about 358 win ?
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Im with VT, I like the idea of a .358, but the .338 may have better available bullet options. Another thought is since that IS a long action receiver, you could go to a .35Whelen if you wanted to stick with factory ammo, or the AI version of the Whelen, or the .338-06.....
Those latter options are probably just my personal bias about having the correct round/action length (or what i THINK is correct anyway)
OR hey, you could do what im doing right now and build a .375 Raptor, cause....well.....cause...
 
mcb said:
338 Federal is also a direct 308 Win derivative.
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Correct. I'm a bit disappointed that the .338Fed hasn't caught on. IMO it's a great hunting round, .308 on steroids without some of the drawbacks of .358Win. Reloading necked-up .308 brass will solve this, but my .308 annual round count and ready availability of cheap, decent surplus ammo in bulk quantities has kept me from (re)chambering anything to Fed for now.
 
Well I'm wanting a cartridge that has pretty good stopping power up close, so how about 358 win ?
Click to expand...

Both the 338 Fed and 358 are a step down from what a 308 will do and both have recoil that matches 30-06. That is why they never caught on. The same problems explain why 30-06 beats both 338-06 and 35 Whelen.

A bullets sectional density (SD) is the best predictor of how deep it will penetrate into game. SD is determined by the ratio of bullet weight to diameter. If you have 2 bullets of the same weight in 2 different calibers, the smaller caliber will always penetrate deeper.
Assuming you are shooting the same type bullet and hit the same spot. On deer size game most any decent bullet will give more than adequate penetration, but as you move up to larger game, and need to stop them quickly, then penetration becomes more important.

Bullets with a SD of about .270 are considered the minimum adequate for good penetration on really large tough game. A .308/180 gr bullet has a SD of .271. While not an option in factory loads its no trick to load a 200 gr in 308 to get a SD of .301. I wouldn't load 'em in a 308, but 220's work nicely in 30-06, in fact that was the original bullet weight for 30-06 and they have a SD of .331.

The most common bullet weights for 338 Fed are 180 and 200 gr with SD's of .225 and .250 respectively. Just to get adequate penetration for bigger game you need to move up to a 225 gr bullet to get a SD of .281 and that is well behind the .308/200 gr option.

The 358 is worse. The most common bullet weight for 358 is 200 gr with a SD of .223. You need to be shooting 250's just to reach .279. I've never seen a factory load for either 338 Fed or 358 that offer bullets with a SD of .270 or greater. In fact it is hard to make it work even with handloads.

If you have a 308, or 30-06 for that matter, and are looking for something with good close range stopping power then simply load heavier bullets in what you have.
 
jmr40 said:
Both the 338 Fed and 358 are a step down from what a 308 will do and both have recoil that matches 30-06. That is why they never caught on. The same problems explain why 30-06 beats both 338-06 and 35 Whelen.

A bullets sectional density (SD) is the best predictor of how deep it will penetrate into game. SD is determined by the ratio of bullet weight to diameter. If you have 2 bullets of the same weight in 2 different calibers, the smaller caliber will always penetrate deeper.
Assuming you are shooting the same type bullet and hit the same spot. On deer size game most any decent bullet will give more than adequate penetration, but as you move up to larger game, and need to stop them quickly, then penetration becomes more important.

Bullets with a SD of about .270 are considered the minimum adequate for good penetration on really large tough game. A .308/180 gr bullet has a SD of .271. While not an option in factory loads its no trick to load a 200 gr in 308 to get a SD of .301. I wouldn't load 'em in a 308, but 220's work nicely in 30-06, in fact that was the original bullet weight for 30-06 and they have a SD of .331.

The most common bullet weights for 338 Fed are 180 and 200 gr with SD's of .225 and .250 respectively. Just to get adequate penetration for bigger game you need to move up to a 225 gr bullet to get a SD of .281 and that is well behind the .308/200 gr option.

The 358 is worse. The most common bullet weight for 358 is 200 gr with a SD of .223. You need to be shooting 250's just to reach .279. I've never seen a factory load for either 338 Fed or 358 that offer bullets with a SD of .270 or greater. In fact it is hard to make it work even with handloads.

If you have a 308, or 30-06 for that matter, and are looking for something with good close range stopping power then simply load heavier bullets in what you have.
Click to expand...

Your logic is flawed because it does not scale. Using sectional density alone ignores kinetic energy. By your logic rounds such as a say a 240 grain 44 magnum, a 300 grain 45-70, or a 50 caliber round ball would inappropriate for hunting, but reality proves that is not the case.
 
Again, we split hairs on what caliber will effectively dispatch common North American game animals. I would guess that most calibers that would function in that action will take game effectively - pick one that you fancy and build away. I am old school and favor the .308 but there are countless others to choose from.
 
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