Winchester M70 .338 to .416RM... possible?

[gbflyer]

Except for reaming, milling the extractor slot and threading the barrel which is a gunsmith job, the rest it is pretty much a DIY type project if you have minimal skills and a few shop tools. The 338 WM base and body are the same dimensions as the 416 Rem. I don’t know where the notion comes from about messing with feed rails and the ramp?? It’s 3.34” length cart to 3.6” length cart conversion. You didn’t mention pre-64, so assuming it’s not. I’d leave a pre-64 alone. The 416 Rem is a heck of a cartridge- IMO the best of the 416s. If your gunsmith can change out a Winchester barrel, I’d sure hope he could remove the spacer in the magazine box and install a long mag length follower!!

Maybe it goes that easy for you. Mine did too, until it was time to actually use it reliably.

 

[CoElkHunter]

BBM,
This is a great article on the Taylor from the early ‘70s. Just Google it for the entire article. Bullets and powder used in the load data are dated, but still interesting:
CEH

 

[Cleveland48]

Hey mate,

It's funny you mention that, as the .416 Taylor is the direction I think I'm going to go now.
It'll just be the easiest and cheapest route.

What velocity are you getting?
Can you get 2350fps with a 400gn projectile in the Taylor?
What barrel length do you have?
I'd love to fit a 20" but not sure I'll get the desired velocity...

I've had some feedback and although I can fit a .416RM in my action, theres a bit more involved than I first thought. And there's a bit more expense than I first thought...

Cheers,

Russ

I have both the 416 rem and 416 Taylor. My Taylor was supposedly an improved version when I got it. But I’m not 100% anymore. Starting to think my Taylor is the original version with 32 or 36 degree shoulder. Instead of the a-square version they submitted with the 25 degree shoulder. In any case I have had no issues running 400 gr bullets at 2400 fps. I know Mississippi is not Africa but it’s been in the mid 90’s here all week with 110 heat index. I left some in the sun yesterday for an hour, then fired them off with no pressure signs just to check them. Although I would back them off on a dangerous game hunt just in case. If I was going to Africa I’d load a Taylor to 2350 FPS with a good stable powder and go to town. My Taylor has also been a very accurate cartridge to load for.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I have both the 416 rem and 416 Taylor. My Taylor was supposedly an improved version when I got it. But I’m not 100% anymore. Starting to think my Taylor is the original version with 32 or 36 degree shoulder. Instead of the a-square version they submitted with the 25 degree shoulder. In any case I have had no issues running 400 gr bullets at 2400 fps. I know Mississippi is not Africa but it’s been in the mid 90’s here all week with 110 heat index. I left some in the sun yesterday for an hour, then fired them off with no pressure signs just to check them. Although I would back them off on a dangerous game hunt just in case. If I was going to Africa I’d load a Taylor to 2350 FPS with a good stable powder and go to town. My Taylor has also been a very accurate cartridge to load for.

The Ackley Improved cases have 40 degree shoulders. There isn’t much shoulder on the Taylor case anyway and headspaces on the belt.

 

[Cleveland48]

Yeah there is not a whole lot of shoulder. After a few firings I set mine to headspace off the shoulder. I usually bump shoulder back .002”

 

[John Torcasio]

I still think it would be cheaper and easier to sell the 338 and buy a 416. Unless you want a specific barrel contour or length.

Yes my thoughts exactly