Gunsmithing Thompson/Center Icon action... 33 Nosler?

[BurnOut]

Yesterday, I came across a deal that I couldn't pass up on a T/C Icon chambered in 7mm RM. Not being smart enough to leave well enough alone, I started wondering what I should do with it... leave it alone and just shoot it? No, that just won't do... too logical. Re-barrel with a faster twist (factory is 10:1) barrel in 7mm RM? Hmmm... maybe. Re-barrel to 28 Nosler? Again... maybe. 26 Nosler? No, I don't want to have to replace the barrel by the time I get a load sorted out. I already have a rifle chambered in 300 WM, so I don't need to go that route. What to do, what to do...

Waitaminute... what about 338 WM? Yeah, I could do that! But if I can do 338 WM, then I can do 33 Nosler, right?? NOW we're talking... just the right amount of stupid. According to information that I was able to locate in the Interwebz (so you know it's true), it looks like the action uses the same 1 1/16 x 16 thread as the R700, so things should be okay from that perspective... my question is in regard to the strength of the rest of the action; it's a three lug design using a Savage-type extractor (not my favorite, but if it works, it works) and a plunger-type ejector. It's a flat-bottom design with three(!) integral recoil lugs, so I'm thinking that things will be okay from that perspective, too.

I guess that what I am asking is, other than the obvious (Nosler brass availability/pricing), is there any reason NOT to re-barrel this action to 33 Nosler?

 

[Supersubes]

Always wondered why they stopped making that.

To your question, as long as it will feed, i think you'll be fine. The beass quality seems a little bit questionable, but that could be hotrodders pushing it too hard. I believe norma makes nosler's brass for them in other chamberings, seems logical that they make these as well.

edited: might be worthwhile to see just how long a round fits in the mag and clears the feed ramp before you move forward.

 

[BurnOut]

Always wondered why they stopped making that.

To your question, as long as it will feed, i think you'll be fine. The beass quality seems a little bit questionable, but that could be hotrodders pushing it too hard. I believe norma makes nosler's brass for them in other chamberings, seems logical that they make these as well.

edited: might be worthwhile to see just how long a round fits in the mag and clears the feed ramp before you move forward.

Yeah, that's a good idea. I just got the tracking number from the seller today, so hopefully it'll be in my hands within the next few days and I can do some basic poking and prodding. Evidently, for the long action rounds, they used a BDL-style internal mag with a hinged floor plate, so I may end up just playing around with a dummy 7mm RM round with the bullet seated to various depths in order to check function.