Looking for a stainless 338. Considering the Tikka T3 in either laminate or synthetic or the new Remington XCR. Any opinions and/or advice from those in the know.

Thanks in advance

Mine is a M-70.....no complaints here....

Ruger MkII stainless

arn223 Welcome to AR
It is not stainless but the finish on a Blaser R 93 is plenty tough. You could almost store it in salt water.
Take a hard look at the Blaser R 93

arn223-
I like Remington's Sendero, but there is a weight penalty. Also like Sako's model 75, but it costs about a grand and has a less than stellar reputation here on AR. The Tikka you mention is a good option, and I wouldn't overlook the model 70 if the factory did their part.

The .338 is at its with 250 grain bullets.

Arn, we've been getting really wierd reports about the T3's here. In that "in between" weather (rain/snow freezing). I've had a fellow who owns two report the safety freezing up to the point the rifle couldn't be taken off safe. He reported this with two T3's. He's a guy that konws a thing or two about rifles and I take his word on the matter. Another local reported the firing pin freezing inoperable in similar weather. You'd think a bunch of Norskie engineers could do better. I'd stick with something tried and true. Me, I like M70's.

I like my model 70 just fine Too !
...tj3006

please give more info...what rifles do you have?

what do you hunt?

what is your budget?

does style, heritage, modern, traditional, light or exotic get you going?

Boom Stick, the rifle will be used for Elk in lower 48. Moose and the big bears in Alaska and British Columbia. I currently have way too many rifles to even try to justify but the 338 stainless arena is void. Reference budget, while expense is a definate consideration, I like quality and value for the funds expended. Can't really justify a custom rifle to hunt with 20 days per year. What is the consensus on having a teflon finish to a current rifle?

I don't particularly like stainless rifles and I have and do own some, but, if I wanted one for B.C. conditions, I would buy the Ruger and get a good 'smith to finetune it. I would also replace the stock with a High Tech or Rimrock.

I have never found a need for a stainless rifle in 40+ yrs. of pretty intense western Canada wilderness work and hunting. I just returned from a soggy, snowy backpack hunt in the Kootenays and my old Mod. 70 in a Brown stock is fine after days on my Kifaru Longhunter. But, I know how it is, I "need" both a light .338-06 on an HVA action and a 9.3x62 on a Brno 21 action as lighht mountain rifles although I have 25 hunting rifles now.........gawd, no wonder we are usually broke!!!!

arn223,

I would suggest the Model 70 Winchester. If you buy one, you'll have to lighten the trigger. They come set at about 5-6 lbs.

I have 2 Model 338's and I'm very happy with both. One is stainless, the other is blued.

quote:

Originally posted by arn223:
Looking for a stainless 338. Considering the Tikka T3 in either laminate or synthetic or the new Remington XCR. Any opinions and/or advice from those in the know.

Thanks in advance

Get a Ruger or a Winchester and forget the stainless/synthetic bit. Lawdog

have you looked at the 338 howa lightning stainless salt n peppa synthetic thumbhole sporter? looks kinda sweet to me but how it shoulders and feels in my hands is paramount to me. does anyone by you stock these? might be worth a gander but old faithful m70 should be in the running or just go crazy and get the sako 338 lapua and have somthin to turn heads and kick shoulders

Don't know what your budget is, but I checked with Hill Country Rifles about a restocked and accurized factory rifle they sell. Cost is about $1600, but the rifle is restocked using a McMillan, and I believe they are guaranteed to shoot less than MOA. I've paid much more than that for a couple of custom rifles over the years, that shot no better.

A 338 Excalibur or a 338/08??

M-70 or Ruger Mk 11 would be my choice.

ARN223; PM if interested in a M70 classic, 338WM, SS/Syn, trigger job, bedded & floated, recoil reducer, limbsaver, Leupold VariXIII 3.5-10x50EFR in Leo QRW rings/bases. $ 1K.

Mighty Joe, sent an email your way.

Thanks, arn223

I am on my third .338, a Remington stainless/synthetic in ADL configuration. With a Leupold 3-9x compact it's been flawless for abotu 10 years now.

The first two 338s were both Rugers, a stainless/sythetic M77 MKII (too heavy, had that funky "skeleton" sythetic stock) and a old model M77 blue/walnut.

The Remington will easily outshoot either of the Rugers. The stainless Ruger had a terrible stock, but the new ones are much better.

The Remington is considerably lighter than either of the Rugers too.

I handled a Tikka T3 lite stainless/sythetic at the new Cabelas in Ft Worth this week. The action was fantastic, I liked everything about the rifle but the plastic trigger guard.

I don't plan on selling my rem 338, but I could see adding a Tikka.

I would handle every gun that your interested in. Spend a little time with them in the shop, see how they point for you, check the fit. Put it over your shoulder. generally get a feel for the gun.

After awhile, the choice will be relatively easy.

Shoot, you already did the hard part in selecting the cartridge. Now had this been what 338 cartridge to buy.......

I have 2 Tikka T3s in 6.5x55 and 300wsm. They are both very accurate rifles with excellent triggers and an action that puts every other factory rifle to shame for smoothness, even the Sako 75. But in 338 win mag my only reservation would be the light weight. The 338 will kick like a mule in a 6.5lb rifle.

The laminate stock model is a little heavier and would be better. I would go for a Sako 75.

My experience with two model 70s is that its a great rifle and action let down by disgraceful quality control and poor assembly. And if you guys in the States think your buying an American made rifle in one I would check that out - I read a post somewhere on this forum that said that Winchester was outsourcing parts for the model 70. Don't know how true it is but would not be surprised after what I saw with my two.

Having said that they are both good rifles now after spending money on them.

I have 9 338 win mag rifles.There are 8 Rugers and one Stainless winchester.I love the stainless Rugers they are accurate as heck,very accurate and the right barrel contour that it kicks more straight back with not much barrel rise.I have a bunch of old ruger model 77s in 338 that I love to deer hunt because of the quick thumb safety.The Winchester Model 70 stainless with the boss is one of the biggest pain in the butt rifles I have ever had.Its finish rusted ,I had to replave the spring and foller and the scope mounts were drilled crooked.It still shoots good but not as good as the Ruger.I like the new fuller Ruger stock but the old Ruger logo stock is tough as nails.I watched a guy run over his by accident.I love the Rugers hands down.I even have a plated old model 77 that I lighted with a fiberglass stock.It does kick but is light to tote.I put a laminated stock on my stainless markII model 77 and it shoots like a dream.I have shot 3/4" groups at 200 yards with Remington 225 gr factory ammo.You can hardly beat a Ruger Stainless 338 win mag for the money.I bought a pair of 264 win mags also they are also awesome.I just wish the 264 was more popular its a fine round .

Although I prefer my 340 wby accumark I do like my 338 win in a m70 in the push feed verson. It shoots really well just about anything but barnes bullets into an inch or less and is smooth and functions perfectly. I'd go with a m70 for certain especially since you can get it in CRF now. The Ruger is another great choice but I would plan on having a smith go over the trigger. YOu can get the Ruger triggers to be very good but it takes someone that has done a few and knows what they are doing.

Whatever you get load it with 225 gr Nosler PT and you are set for any NA game animal peroid. That and it will reach out there if you practice and know where and how to shoot at longer ranges

JMO but I'd go with the win M70 and never look back. Best of luck.

John

I had a stainless synthetic tikka T3 in 338. It shot pretty well and was great for carrying around but kicked like the devil himself, had rather cheap and fragile magazines, and a very weak recoil lug design. It split the stock after less than 100 shots. I got rid of it and picked up a winchester.

quote:

Originally posted by cobrad:
Don't know what your budget is, but I checked with Hill Country Rifles about a restocked and accurized factory rifle they sell. Cost is about $1600, but the rifle is restocked using a McMillan, and I believe they are guaranteed to shoot less than MOA. I've paid much more than that for a couple of custom rifles over the years, that shot no better.

Correct, less than one MOA - Guaranteed.

Roland

I have put around 1400 rounds through my old ruger model 77 with no problems.I have shot my stainless model 77 338 about 350 times with no problems.They are tough accurate guns.The Winchester stainless had lots of problems I fixed most of them except the rusting.It did this new out of the box without going outside.I still use the Winchester but nowhere near as much as the Rugers.I trust the Rugers always.