As I stated on another thread, I'm having a 338 Win Mag built by Mark Penrod on a Model 70 Action. I've decided on a D'Arcy Echols Legend stock (Mark is sold on these - I've never seen one, but bow to his salesmanship and knowledge - if and when he can get one in left-handed), 2.5-8X Leupold VariXIII in David Gentry Featherlight rings, with a Krieger barrel (probably 24"), Williams bottom metal, and PCI extractor. Now I'm thinking overall weight -is 8 - 8.5 lbs about right? I'm thinking of between a 3 - 4 contour. I have a 300WSM Ultra Light Arms Model 28, and love carrying a lighter rifle, but I don't want it to kick the snot outta me either. My Model 70 375HH weighs over 10 lbs, and while it isn't excessive, isn't fun to carry all day. Suggestions? Jeff

Jeff, you'll never make that weight with what you've described.

My 338WM is a stainless M70 with the factory tube cut to 22". The factory barrel is very close to a Douglas #2 which has a significantly shorter shank than the tube you're contemplating. The "tupperware" factory stock weighs 32 oz's (which is the same weight the D'Arcy stock will be). My rifle has a Leupold 2x7 (10.2 oz's) in Burris all-steel Zee's and steel bases (4.6 oz's), an Uncle Mikes " Mountain Sling (3.3 oz's) and three rounds (3.7 oz's)... my entire rifle goes 8lbs 9.5 oz's. Even though I'm using a slightly heavier ring base set (about 2.5 oz's heavier than the Gentry's) my scope is an ounce lighter than yours... I'd suspect your rifle will be right at 9lbs (+/-) ready to go... IF you use a light sling. I've been down this road before...

M70's are not light!

BA

Jeff, unless things have changed in the last month or so a Legend left handed stock is probably a long waite. D'Arcy needs a commitment of 100 (I think) of them before production can begin. So unless us lefties put our money where our mouth is....

The right handed Legend stocks are fantastic and am considering sticking something in my left eye to necesitate shooting right handed .

Chuck

P.S. 8.5-9lbs field ready seems to be about right for the 338. Planning the same rifle and that is the weight I will shoot for (it will also have a 24" barrel).

Jeff, you have a PM but not via AR

[ 11-11-2003, 05:43: Message edited by: Chuck Nelson ]

My own .338 Win. Mag. is an Echols "Legend" with the previously mentioned 24" Kreiger barrel, Model 70 action, milled-steel bottom metal from Tom Burgess, Leupold 2.5-8X scope, plus D'Arcy's own McMillan stock. It weighs nine pounds, all up. I wouldn't want it any lighter, nor would I be hesitant to hunt with it anywhere. I've hauled nine-pound rifles up lots of mountains between Alaska and Mexico, and I haven't suffer too much because of it.

To be honest, there are certain cartridges that simply need to be housed in a heavier package, and the .338 Win. Mag. is one of them. Eight pounds is great for a .270, but a .338 that's built that light is going to kick like a sumbitch, plus it won't hold as stead.

One of my friends has a .338 Win. Mag. built by H-S Precision on a Model 700 action with a very light H-S barrel, and of course, H-S's own stock. It weighs right at eight pounds. I've shot that rifle plenty of times over the years, and I loath it. It kicks like a bay mule with the 250 gr. loads that are used exclusively in it. It's a miserable thing to shoot, and my nine-pound Echols .338 feels like you're shooting a completely different cartridge. Of course, D'Arcy's stock makes a big difference, but so does the extra weight. Physical laws can't be denied.

Here's a story: About a dozen years ago, one of my friends had a .280 Ackley built by a famous southern riflemaker. It ended up weighing about a pound more than my buddy wanted, and he complained about it. The gunmaker shot back, "Loose five pounds off yer ass!"

That was a pretty snotty comeback, the manner of which I don't care for, but I agree with the jist of his point......

AD

Allen - What contour Krieger barrel do you have on your 338? 9 lbs might be the answer. Jeff

Win 70s are heavy as far as actions go. I have a rig similiar to Brad's but with a 23"bbl and McMillan stock. Weighs just a couple oz more I believe. Recoil is managable and she's not all that bad packing. I would opt for a weight between 8.5 and 9lbs in a 338WM. You generally won't notice the recoil in the field and it can be controlled by certain means while at the bench. Good luck on your project, sounds like a winner.

2003 Wyoming Shiras Moose, 140 class (self-guided)
338WM, 225gr Hornady at 2850MVfps


MtnHtr

What an awesome pic!!!!

Jeff, D'Arcy has his barrels contoured to his own set of specifications by Kreiger. He has them contoured to achieve the weight and balance he wants for each given chambering.

A close match would probably be something like Hart's #3 contour.

AD

Jeff,
You picked a good metalsmith to build your rifle. I have worked on two or three of his jobs plus I own a 458 Model 70 that he did the metal on. It is resplendent to behold and it works like greased lightning.

Does Echols sell his Legend stock outright?

Roger, yes he does.

Chuck

If want a light weight rifle that doesn't kick much, you'll have to go to a lessor cartridge or at least downsize the .338 mag to a .338-06 which is a pretty damn good compromize. Remember, it equals the old .318 WR.

Yeah, Allen. Kenny has never been especially shy about telling people what THEY want in a rifle!

I had a similar conversation with him when I ordered my .300 Jarrett "Coup de Grace" Series rifle some years ago. When I started to describe the features that I wanted, he stopped me and said, "Leave it to me, I know what you want."

In my case he was right; if I could only keep one rifle, the .300 Jarrett would be my choice.

However, he has become a little more "user friendly" in recent years and now offers everything from 9 pound "Series" rifles to the "Moon Walker" at 6 pounds 10 ounces including scope with several other models in between.

Check them out at www.jarrettrifles.com

My .338 weighs 9.25 lbs. complete with Talley R&Bs and a 1.5x5 Leupold...24" Obermyer barrel, quarter rib etc. I made the stock and its in English styling with 8" forend, leather covered recoil pad...It is just right for me...sucks up recoil like a sponge and works with irons and scope.

chuck,

the comment about poking out your eye is priceless, you got me in stitches! Very good laugh.

Anybody have a picture of this legend stock?

Red