gents:

I have been having this discussion with other forum members. thinking about rebarreling a m70 classic to 338-06. initially, it'd be a barrel duplication with the addition of iron sights. step two would be a new stock made of a nice piece of walnut I have on hand. I would also consider a synthetic for rough weather/terrain. however, i dont' know what my m70 classic 30 06 weighs (straight factory). what is an appropriate weight for a 338-06?

Howdy,

I did the same thing about a year ago - M70 SS CRF action, Pac Nor barrel in 338-06 -same contour as factory 270, McMillan Supergrade style stock-without scope it weighs about 7 lb 14 oz and is perfect for the cartridge.

adios

Sport

quote:

what is an appropriate weight for a 338-06?

gun and scope/sling/ammo combo about 8 pounds.

Darn things get carried a lot more than fired and I'd build light rather than heavy.

I'd even recommend glass bedded Claro walnut and #2 contour 22" barrels as well.

Depends on your ability to handle recoil. I built mine too light for me, a bit under 7 1/2 lbs scoped and ready. While working up loads I've spent too much time at the bench with it and redeveloped a flinch I thought I had about whipped. I'd much rather carry a little extra weight than let the rifle cause bad habits.

i gotta agree with ole 270.
it's not that hard to carry a little extra weight compared to getting beat up at the bench by a light gun. i once had a pretty light 7mm. mag that i spent about two boxes worth of shots at the bench just a few days before deer season opened. that saturday morning i serious had to debate whether i wanted to pull the trigger on a deer or not1,
i can't see what would be wrong with 8 to 8 1/2 lbs with a .338-06.
i have a 6.5x.270 ackley that i bench shoot alot. it weighs 9lbs.4oz. (heavy sporter-bull barrel IIRC, lam'd stock) on a long day in the field/woods it gets a little heavy but most times you aren't carrying it all day. and the weight sure sits nice! evan the little 6.5x270 will bump you plenty good if in a light gun, and i have to admit, i am somewhat of a recoil whimp, so the weight is a good thing. in fact i've been considering a .338-06 or .35 whelen for my next build and wondering how bad they smack you.

Jeff, my laminate stocked M77 weighs 8 1/2#. I would like to be closer to 8#, but that will be tough to do on a M70 w/o going to a very thin bbl. Maybe a fluted #3 @ 22" & you could get under 8# I don't think they will flute a #2). With a #2, you might get close to 8#. Still easy shooting from the bench.

thanks, all. I have also given thought to synthetic vs. wood. actually it was last night's storm around here. quite nasty and I dearly love hunting in bad weather. in fact, I've had my best luck deer hunting in bad weather. it's nice to cruise the woods where sound is largely negated.

i've asked around, but does anyone have experience with Lone Wolf stocks? They appear to offer cast on/off in their products which I like a lot.

Mine weighs in at 9 lbs even scoped. It's a 98 with 26" bbl. Recoil is (seems) non-existent. Shoots great, particularly off hand.

The cartridge is not one that recoils a lot so a 7 1/2 lb rig is not unreasonable. I just HAD to have the 26" bbl.

MIne is a bored out pre 64 fwt (30-06 first life) that comes in at just under 8 lbs all in and ready to hunt. Recoil is not bad even with full loads of 250gr A Frames.

Put a good recoil pad on it and keep it about 8 lbs. or so. That would be about right I think.

Here is my rifle I just had built and picked up on tuesday. Its a new Sako m75 Greyolf 338-06 Ackley Improved with a PacNor 24" #5 fluted barrel, with Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40 gunmetal grey scope with new style Sako Optilok rings. The barrel, bolt, receiver, trigger guard, clip and rings are all powdercoated gunmetal grey to match.





The complete package weighs in on my scale at work @ 4.36kg or just under 9 5/8 lbs. Not a big deal to me as I'm 6'3" and 225 lbs. and use to packing my Sako m75ss 300WM. Factory rifle weight from Sako's website says a Model 75 Greywolf #IV action (30-06/270) weighs in at 7 3/4 lbs. and a #V action (7mmRM/300WM/338WM) weighs in @ 8 3/8 lbs.

Planning on developing loads with 225gr Accubonds and 225 TTSX's.

VERY NICE! Thats one gorgeous rifle, while still being good and rugged. Kudos to you my friend!

We all have our own ideas on rifle weight and recoil.
With a classic model 70. I think the way I would go would be a 22 inch light sporter barrel, and an MPI stock.
with a 1 inch decelerater, and some sort of wetherproof matt coating.
Slam somthing like a 2X7 or a 2.5X8 on her and she should be good.
I have a 30,06 JC higgins set up as above except I went with a half inch pad, and its no problem to shoot.
MY MPI stock , bedded at the factory was about 650.00. I think mabye a little more.
But the stock is so light that the rifle feels a little muzzle heavy.
The nose weigh absorbs recoil to me and with a timney trigger and a VX 3 2.5X8 my custom 06 is excelent.
Somthing similer in .338 06 would dynomite for elk. and to carry too.
...tj3006

I am not a big fan of ultralight rifles, since it always seems the weight comes out of the barrel. That makes it hard to balance, can be done on customs, of course. I like one that is 8.5 pounds or so with a muzzle diameter of .650 in. That makes it hang nice offhand. I know the old talk about carrying more than shooting, but I sure don't want to carry one five days in elk country just to miss an offhand shot.