[slyaskiw]

I've got a Savage 1899A in .303 Savage with a completely shot out barrel. As it is not an original gun (the wood serial #s don't match the receiver serial #), I was thinking of using it as intended- shooting it, after having the barrel rebored to .338 caliber.
I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with necking up the .303 Savage case to accept a .338 bullet?
My other thought was to rebore to .338, and rechamber to .307 Winchester. I think necking the .307 up to .338 would make for a kickin', brush-bustin' cartridge (I'm calling it a .337 Federal, inspired both by Federal's newish .338 Federal and Win's .307).
Or am I overlooking an already existing .338 rimmed cartridge? I didn't have much luck finding something with google, but there are an awful lot of wildcats out there and may have missed it. Am I reinventing the wheel?
slyaskiw
Manitoba, Canada
'99R .308Win
1899A .303Sav
12 VLP LH .223Rem
Stevens 520 12ga.

[Mad Dog]

Whats the serial range?

I wouldn't try running the pressures of the mentioned cartridges through an old 303 Savage, especially the ones with serial numbers under 100,000.

[nathangdad]

the point made about age and the ability to handle modern pressures
is absolutely valid.

Please do not do anything until you know that your gun can stand up to the demands of modern performance levels.

I always try to forward this type advice when I hear of anyone wishing to put a new barrel/cartridge on an older firearm.

Safety is the most important issue.

[338RUM]

if safe I would do the 337 just because I like the 338 Diameter

[slyaskiw]

The serial number is quite low, 24,xxx. Hodgdon lists the max pressure for the .303 Savage at 32,000 CUP. The same rifle (same era) was also offered in 30-30, which SAMMI lists at 38,000 CUP or 42,000 PSI. I would be comfortable going up to those pressures.

Would that pressure level not be sufficient for a .338 bullet?

[338RUM]

you could safely load a 180 grain, 338 Dia bullet to 30-30 velocity or a bit higher which in my book would be kick ass!!!

[slyaskiw]

Cartridge Loads - Hodgdon Reloading Data Center - data.hodgdon.com shows plenty of loads for the .338 Federal in that pressure range, with velocities in the 2200-2500 fps range. I think the .337 Federal is do-able... Yes/No?