The .338" bullet would prevent chambering,
Eggzackly.
Headspacing ceased to be ANY sort of "safety" issue when bullet manufacturers quit making balloon cases and started deflecting "escaping" gases away from the rear of the action on bolt-action firearms. I know it goes against all the "expert" gun writing (ptooey), but with precious few exceptions, the ONLY
realistic "issue" with regard to headspacing is case life, and that is
COMPLETELY mitigated by
proper resizing die setup. On the "Dark" side of the issue, the headspace boogeyman gives gunwriters more non-sense to pontificate about; gunsmiths a way to make money off of non-sense; and ne'er-do-wells a way to steal quality firearms from widows and the unitiated.
I'm sure there is a small 'low pressure' zone over northern Europe at the moment due to all the gasps at such "dangerous" heresy. However, give the following a little thought before you rise to 'set right' the above heresy: If "excessive" headspace is such a "dangerous" thing, how is it we don't kill and maim people, and destroy firearms right and left with all the people
fire-forming their cases in non-standard chambers? Fire-forming headspace can
easily exceed the "expert's recommendations" on "safe" headspace by
50-fold when fire-forming.
"Excessive headspace" is a boogeyman in any firearm made after 1896. If ANYONE tells you that your "modern" rifle has "excessive" headspace and it needs/requires "work", he's: 1) trying to steal your money, or 2) steal your firearm, or 3) "doesn't have a clue", or 4) all of the above. In my opinion, there is no greater silliness perpetrated on the firearms and hunting communities than the balderdash surrounding "excessive headspace".
And just so I'm not misunderstood, I AM NOT taking Muir to task over headspacing. I am in
total agreement with all of his post. I fully understand that he didn't say that headspacing would be 'dangerous'. Rather he was just commenting on the headspacing challenge of 'snake hips'. The .35 Whelen even more so.
On topic... The .338-06 or the 8.5x63 - Ackley'd or not - is an excellent cartridge. Barnes used to sell a 165-grain bullet in .338, but I don't think they do anymore. With the advent of the .338 Federal CARTRIDGE (AKA .338-08), there may be some more development of light-for-caliber bullets in the .338 CALIBER. I've gotten tired of waiting for bullet manufacturer's marketing divisions to recognize the obvious. I have simply started making my own bullets. As with casting bullets, once set up for swaging jacketed bullets, it's not only 'easy', it's every bit as satisfying as casting them.
Another
excellent cartridge is the 8mm-06, as is the 8mm-08.
Regards
Paul