Never Been
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- Mar 4, 2024
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I'm sure this has been covered somewhere on the world wide web but here it goes. I've heard a lot of claims about similarities and differences particularly when the subject of a big bore conversion comes up. Here are my two cents with two Classics in hand, one in .338 Win (normal long action) and the other in 300 RUM, a popular starting point for a 404 Jeffrey build.
Long action window (top if you couldn't tell) is 3.110" and the magnum window is 3.365".
The RUM follower has a really complicated, funky shape with a relief in the rail.
The .338 follower is very simple with straight rails.
Here was a suprise for me--look at how little ejector sticks out from the bolt on the RUM. I guess a little goes a long way!
The .338 has had the mag box spacer removed to allow 3.6" COAL to be used. This necessitates the bottom of the ejector having a relief ground into it so that it doesn't hold rounds below the bolt, and in this case the top of the ejector is factory length. The bolt stop is unmodified and appears to be the same as the RUM.
It makes sense why people start with the magnum action. The rounds are easier to load in, you can eject unspent cartridges without fear of them getting hung up (which happened multiple times while I was experimenting), and feeding is smoother. Could you pay a smith to make a long action work just as well? Sure, but it would likely cost a lot more than just starting with the right action.
Long action window (top if you couldn't tell) is 3.110" and the magnum window is 3.365".
The RUM follower has a really complicated, funky shape with a relief in the rail.
The .338 follower is very simple with straight rails.
Here was a suprise for me--look at how little ejector sticks out from the bolt on the RUM. I guess a little goes a long way!
The .338 has had the mag box spacer removed to allow 3.6" COAL to be used. This necessitates the bottom of the ejector having a relief ground into it so that it doesn't hold rounds below the bolt, and in this case the top of the ejector is factory length. The bolt stop is unmodified and appears to be the same as the RUM.
It makes sense why people start with the magnum action. The rounds are easier to load in, you can eject unspent cartridges without fear of them getting hung up (which happened multiple times while I was experimenting), and feeding is smoother. Could you pay a smith to make a long action work just as well? Sure, but it would likely cost a lot more than just starting with the right action.
