30-338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM
| The 30-338 Winchester Magnum fills a void in Winchester's Magnum line, created
when Winchester introduced the
300 Magnum. The
264 Winchester Magnum,
338 Winchester Magnum,
and
458 Winchester
Magnum all share a 2.5 inch case length. Evidently to avoid direct
competition with existing
308 Norma Magnum
and to better compete with the well established, and substantially longer,
300 Weatherby Magnum,
Winchester opted to increase case length and push the shoulder forward on their
new 30 calibre magnum (actual usable capacity increase was marginal). The
Wildcat 30-338 is likely exactly what Winchester would have offered had Norma
not beaten them to the punch. Ballistics are very similar to the
300 Winchester Magnum,
despite the slight reduction in powder capacity. Compared to that commercial
chambering, a slightly longer case neck provides superior purchase for longer
bullets.
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| Powder/Wt | Bullet/Wt | Velocity Fps | Energy/FtLbs | |
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HISTORY:- The modern Browning Model 1885 High Wall, produced from 1985-2001, is descended from its immediate predecessor, the Browning B-78. The B-78 was produced from 1973-1982. The B-78 was a modernized, improved version of the Winchester Model 1885 High Wall. The Winchester 1885 was itself an improved version of the original Browning Model 1878 Standard rifle, produced from 1878-1883 by the Browning Brothers. The 1878 was John M. Browning's first commercial rifle design, and he sold the production and distribution rights to Winchester in 1883, which began a long and successful relationship between Browning and Winchester. Which is kind of ironic when you consider that both Browning and Winchester were acquired by Belgian interests in 1997. The 1885 is one of the high end falling block single shot rifles which emerged after Bill Ruger proved that there was a market for this type of rifle with his No. 1 single shot. The No. 1 is loosely based on a modernized Farquharson (European) hammerless action, while the Browning Model 1885 is a modernized Browning (American) self-cocking exposed hammer action. Either one is cocked when the under lever is operated to lower the breechblock for loading. The quality, fit, finish, features and accuracy of the standard Browning 1885 High Wall are simply superior. Among its distinguishing features are a medium-heavy contour 28 inch free floating octagon barrel, self-cocking rebounding hammer, user adjustable trigger, ejector (which can be set to eject to the right, to the left, or to retain the case for easy hand removal), highly polished high lustre blue barrelled action, gold plated trigger, and a select walnut, straight grip stock and Schnabel forearm graced by plenty of cut checkering and a durable glossy finish. Detachable sling swivel posts are included, as are solid recoil pads on selected calibres. All standard model rifles are drilled and tapped for scope mounts; only rifles in .45-70 calibre come standard with iron sights. The forearm is attached directly to the receiver on a husky hanger that prevents wood to barrel contact. The High Wall is a big but graceful and very handsome rifle. Its precisely machined action is very strong and a joy to operate, without the slop that plagues repeating actions when they are opened.
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