Whats involved in a 375w to 356w conversion?

[andym79]

Hi guys what is involved in converting a 375W Winchester 94 bigbore to a 356W apart from re barrelling? Does it need different cartridge guides?

Does anyone know if the 356 version has the same thread .875" 28tpi as the 375 big bore?

[Hickory]

I think the biggest thing involved in a conversion would be money.
The easiest way would be to sell what you have and buy a .356.
I would keep the 375 Winchester as it is a very good caliber in it's own rite.

[Djones]

Get a 30-30 and send it to JES 35caliber.com for a 356 win conversion.

[021]

Get a 30-30 and send it to JES 35caliber.com for a 356 win conversion.

This would be the easy way. BB 94 .356 Winchesters are out there, but mighty rare. I bought the first one I ever saw, and should have bought the second, but let it slip away. It's stout in the light little BB 94, but will stomp a mudhole in whatever you point it at. As has been said, the .375 is no slouch, I have it also and the .307. Regards, 021

[missionary5155]

Good morning
Yep.. send a crummy bore ($100) 30-30 to JES and have your rifle for another $255. I have several of his Rebores and all are 1st rate.
With the money you save you will need to get the expensive reloading dies and none no where brass. But be persistent and it will all come together. Then think about a 405 JES ! If you want to get exotic with the 336's !
Mike in Peru

[sthwestvictoria]

The biggest obstacle to my mind is finding 356w brass in Australia.

Even 35 rem is hard enough to find.
would you consider 35-30?

[AnthonyB]

I have both Marlin and Winchester rifles in 356W. Both run fine with converted 308 brass.
Tony

[dragon813gt]

I have both Marlin and Winchester rifles in 356W. Both run fine with converted 308 brass.
Tony

I have a Marlin and the converted brass runs just fine. I'm not one that likes to tempt fate. So for hunting purposes I will use 356 brass.

[bikerbeans]

In theory, the 94ae BB rifles all have the same shank. I don't know if they will index correctly without machinig. Numrich has both the standard and xlr 356w barrels for sale. Not sure if they have the cartridge guides.

BB

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Gee, guys, I don't know about using a regular '94 .30-30 receiver for a .356. That's why Winchester redesigned the receiver to be heavier around the locking lugs, for higher pressure rounds. :shock:

[andym79]

I have both Marlin and Winchester rifles in 356W. Both run fine with converted 308 brass.
Tony

Are your sure they run fine, I haven't ever tried so couldn't categorically say! I thought 356 brass had a rim added on to a 308w cartridge?


Gee, guys, I don't know about using a regular '94 .30-30 receiver for a .356. That's why Winchester redesigned the receiver to be heavier around the locking lugs, for higher pressure rounds. :shock:

I never said beef up a normal 30-30, I am considering changing a 375W BB into a 356W.

A 35/30-30 would be fine, but I figured you can buy a threaded and chambered barrel from Numrich for not much in 356W. Granted I have to get it out of the US and to OZ that is expensive and time consuming, but not so bad if I bring it with other items!

[OnHoPr]

Gee, guys, I don't know about using a regular '94 .30-30 receiver for a .356. That's why Winchester redesigned the receiver to be heavier around the locking lugs, for higher pressure rounds. :shock:


Yea, I have noticed that a bit here and there. Sounds like if you wanted to do that big stamps referring to the pressure issue for the rifle and not to shoot factory ammo through it would be appropriate.

[OnHoPr]

I never said beef up a normal 30-30, I am considering changing a 375W BB into a 356W.

Just for the heck of it, why the interest in a different cartridge make up job with such a decent rifle and caliber to begin with, could it be components, ballistics for a intended purpose, or just a change for the heck of it? Heck that 375 Win BB is almost a banteng or water buffalo weaponry.

[JFE]

I don't know the answer to the thread on the barrel shank, but you will need different cartridge guides (or modify your existing ones), a different barrel band for the larger diameter barrel and to cut a new extractor slot in the barrel for the top eject bolt. There will be some minor internal adjustments required to make them feed properly. Win 94's may or may not feed rimless cases. My 375/356 does not but have heard of others that do so flawlessly.

If you really had your heart set on a WinBB in 356 and you can't find an original (they do come up occasionally) then I would personally look for the AE version of the 375 BB. These were quite rare but I have seen 1-2 a year come up for sale in Oz and they don't seem to attract a premium over the top eject version. A 356 bbl would screw in, the barrel band would fit and all you would need to do is alter the guides and tweak the internals.

Alternatively, buy a Marlin in 35 Rem and have the chamber reamed out to 356. That would be quite practical for here in Oz as finding 35 Rem brass or ammo is problematic.

[rockrat]

358 Win. dies work just fine and are inexpensive

[MT Chambers]

The .356 Win. is a great cartridge for hunting and cast bullets, quite a bit more stomp than say the .375 Win........I'd just do it!!!