That's right. I did it. After way too much thinking, I just took the plunge, and instructed my smith to build a 338-06AI. Should be in my hot little hands in May sometime.

Anyway the specs we decided on are as follows:

24" #5 contour stainless 5-land Pac-Nor barrel, non-fluted as of yet.

Chambered in 338-06AI

Rem 700 action with Timney trigger

Grey Teflon Coating

Stock: Undecided...

FYI:
I was actually deciding between a .280AI and the 338-06AI. In the end the 338 won out for the following reason: If I'm plinking only varmints I'll use my 22-250. If I'm hunting only deer then my 25-06 gets the nod. But, if Elk and bigger sized game is to be taken, then the .338-06 will be the weapon of choice. In otherwords, the .280 lost because it offered to much competition for my beloved quarter-bore. Even so, I don't think I can live without one.... so that's my next project.

Kool...Mine is sposed to be ready around the first of April...I went with the standard 338-06..

25 inch Donnelly barrell on a 1948 pre 64 action and a rollover stock that I checkered myself...Looks pretty good as long as you don't look real,real close....

I think you will find a 24 inch #5 contour barreled rifle to be a pretty hefty peice . You sure you want to make an elk rifle that heavy ?

I agree. There is no way I would put a #5 on a rifle I was going to carry in the mountains. I have my 340 built on a 24" #3 Douglas and it works great. But, that is just my opinion.

[This message has been edited by ramrod340 (edited 03-18-2002).]

For what it is worth about barrel weight here is my 2 cents.
I believe each barrel mnaker makes their tubes to different weights according to different to numbers. I guess what I am trying to say is that a 5 weight with one company is not gonna weigh the same from another company.
That said I primarily use tubes by Schneider. When I saw you are using a #5 I also thought hmm that's heavier than I would like.
I have always found 4 weight to be about right for me and with the 340 I go to a 4.5 weight from Schneider. (personally I would not find a likeing to a 3 weight of Schneiders in a 340)
I went to a 5 weight on my 375 Wby and it is just too darn much metal out there for this kid for chasing around in the mountains. Now when I take it to the plains it is ok.

I usually just tell my smith what I want it to mike at the muzzle. And for me that is usually something between .65 and .7". I have African walnut (fiberglass) on most all of my rifles and that helps to keep the weight out in the muzzle where I like it.
It helps me to settle into a target and it helps it to hang there.

Just my thoughts,good luck.

By the way I have a 338/06 on a G33/40 Mauser it has a Chanlin tube on it. It is cut to 23" and is about .675 at the muzzle and I just love it!

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dog

[This message has been edited by Mark R Dobrenski (edited 03-18-2002).]

I thought about that a little after I posted it, the #5 did make it sound awefully heavy. We guesstimate an 8.5lb gun with a Synthetic stock. I do think there is some difference from manufacturer to manufacturer and smith to smith. Anyhow, I selected it from a .284 bore of the same diameter he had the shop. That rifle seemed to balance real well though it was a bit on the hefty side. Evenso, we decided to err on the heavy side of perfect, and lightly flute away any excess weight. #5 is just what he called the barrel that felt right to me.

Also, the gunsmith only lives 2.5 hours away, so we'll get just what I need.

Good luck I hope it all works out for you!

Dog

Welcome to the club! I think you have made a great choice. My own .338-06 wares a 22.5" #3 contour, that's .625 @ the muzzle. In a laminated stock w/ a Leup. 2.5x8, it weighs in @ 8 1/4#. I find it comfortable to carry in the mountains after elk, & w/ 210grNP @ 2750fps, it is a great slayer of beasts! Enjoy your new toy!

I 'm also taking the plunge. I have a couple of Mausers that I got a few weeks back to get into the hobby of gunsmithing...I plan on making an 8mm-06 and a 338-06 out of them, but I still have a bit of tool gathering to do before I can get started in earnest.

I haven't decided on barrels or stocks just yet for that 338-06, but I do want to install a Timney trigger, have the final barrel length ~24-26" with a 1:10 twist, and have the final gun weight be around 8#.

Well, perhaps some of y'all might be able to give this ol' Aggie some pointers for this, as everyone knows we're REAL savy people down this way.....

TXLoader

recycling old archived reads,. which beat what is currently being posted...

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
recycling old archived reads,. which beat what is currently being posted...

Ok, here is one that is roughly what waldog wanted to build.

A vz24 with a 26" Douglas #4 barrel. Dehorned issue trigger. Gussied up 1909 Argentine bottom metal. Weighs a right at 8.75 lbs as it sits. First trip to the range netted me some very nice 1.5" groups at 200 yds. I was shooting Hornady 225's and AA2460.

I just HAD to have a 26" bbl. If I could have gotten a #3 contour to finish at 26" I would have gone that route but I can't argue with the accuracy.

Hi, first congrat's on the project... sounds good!

I had a 338-06 that mic'd .660 at the muzzle (22") and I found it too heavy for my taste... I don't recall the contour, but can assure you you'll be way too heavy with a Pacnor no. 5 contour. That thing will mic around .720" at the muzzle. I assume this is a hunting rifle and you don't want it overly heavy?

http://www.pac-nor.com/contours/

Based on the Pacnor chart, I'd personally do a a no.2 which will finish around .640" at 22" (that's my length preference) and certainly no more than a no 3.which will mic around .645 at 24".

I'd also have the smith cut the entire shank (including the threaded part) to 2" (1.25" visible shank).

It's made sense to me to always use the lightest contour barrel available and add weight, if desird, at the end of the project by epoxying lead shot to the underside of the barrel channel. This allows one to also change the balance point of the rifle.

It's a lot easier to add weight than take it off.

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
recycling old archived reads,. which beat what is currently being posted...

Keep it up, these are more interesting than the most recent threads.
Just don't dig up the hunting with Matchkings thread.

My 338-06 Pac-Nor is a #3 and I wish it was a #2... I think you'll find that #5 way too heavy.

FWIW, go to the PacNor site & see what the diff. bbl. contours are. A #5 is a light varmint, .700" @ the muzzle. I would definetly have that beast fluted.

On a rifle like these, I like the barrel to be 24 in. and .650 at the muzzle. This gives a little bit of muzzle weight for offhand, but the rifle doesn't feel like a brick in your hands either.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:
Welcome to the club! I think you have made a great choice. My own .338-06 wares a 22.5" #3 contour, that's .625 @ the muzzle. In a laminated stock w/ a Leup. 2.5x8, it weighs in @ 8 1/4#. I find it comfortable to carry in the mountains after elk, & w/ 210grNP @ 2750fps, it is a great slayer of beasts! Enjoy your new toy!

Mine too, Fred. 22.5" barrel #3 Douglas.

Mine will have an American walnut stock, barrel band front sling stud and a black tip.
Black 1" decelerator and two screw gripcap by Dakota.

Just about right for mountain toting!

Waldog,

Remember that since you have this long action, there is room for setting the bullets further out, specially if you want to use 250 grainers - it will give more room for powder, and fill up that magazine!

A rebarreled Savage Model 110 from ER Shaw with a contour #2.5 (.625), 24" long in SS in a standard .338-06.

Shoots like a dream.

The best choice of the cals you mentioned you already had..............now the long wait until you get it !!

Mine is the standard 338-06. I should have my H-S precision stock for it on Wed. Upgrading from a Ramline. I have a 3 X 9 Conquest sitting on top. Love that rifle

I have a 338-06 Weatherby Ultra-lightweight and it wears a 24" fluted tube that mics .625 at the muzzle. It weighs right at 7-1/4 lbs. with Talley custom QD bases/rings and a Leupold 2x7 scope. I don't think I would want a big game rifle much heavier than 8 lbs ready to go.

Ol' Waldog ain't around no more. If he was, I'd tell him he made a good choice in calibers, if nothing else. I hope he's got a few elk under his belt since '02.

I had RW Hart make their cousin's SS barrel the same contour as the original Rem 700 sporter barrel. It fits in the H-S Precision stock real nice. Free-floated. I had them throat it for the 250 Nosler Partition, knowing I would not ever load anything longer or heavier.

How did you guys have yours throated?

My Hart barreled up at 23" .710 and was 8.0 on the nose, NO scope......if I did it again I would do .675 and 22.5-23"

It's recoil was fine with decelerator pad, I would contact Pac-Nor and lighten it up a tad if it were me.

Same as above accuracy, .5moa 100yds, 1.25 at 200.

200-2909 fps
215 2790
225 2670

IMR 4320 hard to beat, used WW brass, std. chamber-NON ai

Now all you need is a matching 35 whelen.

I like you chioce of chambering and action,both will get the most out of the basic 338-06.the long COAL and the extra couple of grains brings the the 338-06 very close to the 338WM.

quote:

Originally posted by downwindtracker2:
I like you chioce of chambering and action,both will get the most out of the basic 338-06.the long COAL and the extra couple of grains brings the the 338-06 very close to the 338WM.

I love the round, can't argue with the performance and accuracy. That long barrel makes it real easy to shoot offhand. Makes for a very steady hold & good balance.

It's a joy to shoot with negligible recoil.

If I need something lighter and handier I can switch to my full stocked .338 Federal.

I generaly like Douglas barrels,
for most purposes I like my barrels to be .600 to .625. Plenty stiff for accuracy and not to heavy.
I like the .338,06 and if i were to do one, I might go with the AI also. I am thinking the .338 06 would be a great round for all american big game out to 350, yards. farther for deer, with a 180 grain balistic tip.
And if you can get a 185 grain barnes tripple shock to shoot from your rifle , you would be in great shape for elk hunting too !
...tj3006

I batted this idea around for a while and then went with the 35 Whelen. I quess there are pros and cons either way. Good luck with your new rifle.

I went with ER Shaw as well. They have done half a dozen for me.

Someone mentioned something I fail to remember, HART put a 250 grain chamber spec in my gun, even though I did not ever use over 225's, it might have added capacity a bit....OAL was never an issue.

On that 338 Federal FULL STOCK, love to hear about the gun.

WallDog...I think that is just about the best all around caliber for a hunting rifle made. I do have a 300 Ultra mag (that kicks like 2 mules!) and a .338 win mag too.

Somehow I just like carrying the featherweight model 70 with a 2x7 Leupold on top the barrel. It can tackle any big game the other two calibers I have out to 300 yards. Truely a grand caliber to own in a hunting rifle.

If I was building a 338/06 I would not want it to weigh more that 7.25 lbs without scope.

agreed, that would be 'steady enough', managing recoil, w/o over tiring to lug around.

I think Ruger could sell about as many 338-06's as Whelen's if they would mfg them.

Wow nice rifle!!!

quote:

Originally posted by T/C Nut:
Wow nice rifle!!!

agreed, given my 2670 with 225's in a 23", I'd bet that can do 2700 plus, not that it matters much, Nice......me, I am average height so I can live with a little less bbl, but those things are personal preferences, very functional and easy on the eyes as they say.

Nice wood....

I too am taking the plunge!! Can't let all the fun slip by. I'm going with a 24" tube. Will post pics when done.

Incidently, I chose it because it's like a smaller version of my 9.3x64.

My 'smith just finished up on my rifle and sending it out next week. Mine is a Rem 700 action, timney trigger, HS Precision stock, 24" Lilja barrel. Mine is the 338-08 aka Federal.

Since mine started out life as a left handed 308, I had no options unless I wanted to buy another rifle or action for him to modify. I think I would have like the 338-06 better since I could use heavier bullets, but I think it's a moot point and I know I'll be happy!

Hey Torque, have you decided on a gunsmith? I used Alberta Tactical Rifle. He uses either Lilja or Krieger barrels.

I'll post pics when it comes in, but at first I was going to have the stainless barrel blackened, but after all we decided to keep it two tone.

Good luck with your project.

I had P.O. Ackley rebore a Rugger 77 in the mid 70's to 338-06. After harvesting several big game animials with it includeing several moose and brown bear, i decided it's what i wanted for my "one gun for everything big"...

So, by 1977 i had bought a LH Rem. 700 BDL 3006 and had WC Strutz re-bbl. it with a #1 or #2 ? Douglas in .338-06. By 1978 i also stocked it with a decent piece of european walnut and installed the Leupold 2.5x8 that's still on it today.



I harvested (13) big game animials with it includeing moose, blk. tailed deer, brown bear, caribou and many others the first 3 years i hunted with it.

Now, more than a thousand rounds later, i can say it's been a great rifle. And i still feel i made good choises in the action/bbl. and cartridge i picked...

BTW, i like the heavier bullets best..

DM