This one is a 338 Win Mag on a Tang Safety Ruger M77. I had the parts kicking around in the shop for years, time to use them up.

The rifle will be used for high country Elk Hunting in the Snake River County accessible only by horseback. Made sturdy and simple as it will spend most of its time in a scabbard tied to a saddle horse. The area hunted is a two day horse ride from the trail head where the trucks and trailers are left. Inexpensive parts so it may be replaced at a low cost if the horse takes off and snags the scabbard on the trees or rolls over on it. Stock is a new old stock fiberglass Bell & Carlson with the integral sling mounts (no swivels) to take up less room in the scabbard. Scope will be a Leupold 3x9 40 mm for compactness.

The hunting country:







A few years ago, archery season:



Parts:

The barrel was a new take off already chambered for 338 Win. Action was an old one I got in a trade years ago for about nothing.



I faced 0.004" off the front receiver ring, to tighten up the headspace a little. New WW brass is about 0.214" belt thickness. Go Gauge is 0.220". Bolt will not close on the Go Gauge now, I have about 0.003" clearance on the brass , this should reduce case head stretch.

Then it was off to the lathe and slack belt grinder to take the bluing off. First grind at 80 grit, I will make a 320 grit pass after the stock is bedded. Then bead blast the barrel for rust bluing. Next weeks chore is to bed the stock.

The belt runs counter to the barrel, with the lathe in forward the grinding plume goes straight up and is captured by the vacuum cleaner.







More photos later as the project progresses.

End result will be a cheap rugged rifle that we will not have to worry about way back in the mountains. No way would I take one of my nice wood stocked rifles way into the back country!

I like the 358 Winchester for a horse rifle

When you are turning the barrel, does the belt sander turn opposite?

Probably work very quick. Lathes rule

quote:

Originally posted by ar corey:
When you are turning the barrel, does the belt sander turn opposite?

Probably work very quick. Lathes rule

Yep. "Counter". The barrel surface turns down, the belt surface turns up, making the upwards plume for the vacuum to suck up.

quote:

Originally posted by ar corey:
I like the 358 Winchester for a horse rifle

OK for a general purpose rifle, but we are shooting up to 400 yards and beyond. 210 grain Nosler Partitions. Out in the Snake country the distances are pretty big. Spot and stalk as close as you can. "Know Your Gun". Long range practice and trajectory plotting are important for success during the season. We have trajectory tables taped to the rifle stocks.

We like the 338 Win as we do not use muzzle brakes, too much noise. I have a 338 Lapua but do not like the recoil.

quote:

Originally posted by WoodHunter:

quote:

Originally posted by ar corey:
I like the 358 Winchester for a horse rifle

OK for a general purpose rifle, but we are shooting up to 400 yards and beyond. 210 grain Nosler Partitions. Out in the Snake country the distances are pretty big. Spot and stalk as close as you can. "Know Your Gun". Long range practice and trajectory plotting are important for success during the season. We have trajectory tables taped to the rifle stocks.

We like the 338 Win as we do not use muzzle brakes, too much noise. I have a 338 Lapua but do not like the recoil.

The 210-grain NOS should do it. Also, when you have the time to work-up a new .338 load, take a look at the 210-grain Scirocco (the tipped one). These bullets are expensive, but I found a Swift factory load (box of 20) for $54.00 at the local Sportsman Warehouse. It looks like Swift anneals the brass for it.

quote:

Originally posted by Ray Alaska:

quote:

Originally posted by WoodHunter:

quote:

Originally posted by ar corey:
I like the 358 Winchester for a horse rifle

OK for a general purpose rifle, but we are shooting up to 400 yards and beyond. 210 grain Nosler Partitions. Out in the Snake country the distances are pretty big. Spot and stalk as close as you can. "Know Your Gun". Long range practice and trajectory plotting are important for success during the season. We have trajectory tables taped to the rifle stocks.

We like the 338 Win as we do not use muzzle brakes, too much noise. I have a 338 Lapua but do not like the recoil.

The 210-grain NOS should do it. Also, when you have the time to work-up a new .338 load, take a look at the 210-grain Scirocco (the tipped one). These bullets are expensive, but I found a Swift factory load (box of 20) for $54.00 at the local Sportsman Warehouse. It looks like Swift anneals the brass for it.

Yes when the rifle is finished and I take it to the range I will try different bullets. I already have two 338 Win Mags and the 210 Partition has been very good to me.

I have five of those tang safety Ruger model 77 338 win mag rifles .I.Have Hunted with one 32years .I killed have shot 180 deer with it It shoot clover leaf groups with Winchester factory ammo .It's my favorite lower 48 fun.I have shot deer from.three yards to 425 yards with it .I.love that tang safety I can shoot it as fast as a double barreled shotgun first shot It's the best deer rifle and my.favorite .I am a big time Elmer Keith fan that's where that came from !

What will the barrel length be on the finished gun?

quote:

Originally posted by Cougarz:
What will the barrel length be on the finished gun?

24 inches

Nice bull and a nice looking Haflinger hauling it.

That's where I live and hunt..My .338 is a Ruger African, and its a decent enough saddle gun for hunting elk..and I really like it if Im walking out of camp or getting into an area where I sit an watch or still hunt (loafing around an area is more like it..

For a pure horse back Elk rifle in that country and in the Sage brush of the Southern desert of Idaho, I like my Savage 99F or EG in 308 Win. caliber and the 165 gr. Nosler.partition, it's lighter weight and flatter under my leg and I don't have to jump my weight in my left stirrup every so often When hunting horseback, I don't get off my horse until its time to shoot, and I cover a lot of country in a day and off the trails. Most folks don't actually hunt horse back they just use the horse to get to the hunting area so I have a little different approach, it works just fine for me. but you had better be well mounted..

The Stock, bedding started

My most productive scabbard rifle was a Ho-Hum 30-06 w/ a 21" barrel and a 4 power Weaver scope. I tried the mod.99 in .308 but it wasn't a happy marriage. roger

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
That's where I live and hunt..My .338 is a Ruger African, and its a decent enough saddle gun for hunting elk..and I really like it if Im walking out of camp or getting into an area where I sit an watch or still hunt (loafing around an area is more like it..

For a pured horse back Elk rifle in that country and in the Sage brush of the Southern desert of Idaho, I like my Savage 99F or EG in 308 Win. caliber and the 165 gr. Nosler.partition, it's lighter, flatter under my leg and I don't have jump weight in my left stirrup every so often..When I hunt horseback, I don't get off my horse until its time to shoot, and I cover a lot of country in a day and off the trails. Most folks don't actually hunt horse back they just use the horse to get to the hunting area so I have a little different approach, it works just fine for me. but you had better be well mounted..

Beautiful country, I love it. The daughter and son in law have 8 head of saddle horses, pack horses and two pack mules. Nothing like getting away from the road hunters!

Folks, the OP is not asking which gun should be his scabbard gun, but posted to tell us which gun he uses, and a gun he is building.

It should not matter if he his scabbard gun is a shotgun, a Marlin .30-30, not a 500 Nitro. None of that matters, but what he is doing. For the type of hunting he does, which I imagine is in bear country, I see nothing wrong with using a .338 with 210-225 grainers, nor a .300 with 180 grainers.

If I were to tell the OP my preferences, it would be an African version .338 with a 22" barrel, QD scope rings, and express sights. But I can't argue against the extra velocity he can get from a 24" barrel for the longer shots he takes.

To the OP: congratulations! The rifle project is looking quite nice.

And just in case I offend anybody with my comments, please accept my must sincere apology.

Ray, good comments. We have been using 338 Win Mags for many years for Elk and love it. Sort of like an old friend or your best dog. Every hunter has his favorite, not only in the rifle style itself but the cartridge. For me the 210 Nosler has been dependable.

To each his favorite!

I am posting the details of this rifle build to show some of the guys that you do not have to spend thousands of dollars on a suitable elk rifle.

It looks like it's coming along nicely, keep it up.

Give some 225 Nosler AB a try with IMR 4350. Works great in mine.

Woodhunter:

Great pictures, I'd like to ride around that country sometime. Beautiful.

Thanks for sharing with us, and your shop work too.

George

Nice country and rifles.Good living.

Woodhunter I have an early Ruger tang safety Mod 77 in 338. Good rifle. Took several moose a couple elk, black bears. The only issue I ever had with it was it had a very long throat and would not shoot lighter bullets worth a dam. 210 Partitions were like 4 in ,100 yd groups.225 Hornady's were a little better at around 2 inch @ 100 yds. Sierra 250 gr and 250 gr Partitions would group around an inch. The old 275 gr Speer bullet would group into 3/4 in @ 100 yds.Not sure if your barrel is of the same vintage but it could well be. For long range that 250 gr Sierra holds up pretty good. For closer range the 250 Partition or the 275 gr Speer make big holes.

OK for a general purpose rifle, but we are shooting up to 400 yards and beyond. 210 grain Nosler Partitions. Out in the Snake country the distances are pretty big. Spot and stalk as close as you can. "Know Your Gun". Long range practice and trajectory plotting are important for success during the season. We have trajectory tables taped to the rifle stocks.

We like the 338 Win as we do not use muzzle brakes, too much noise. I have a 338 Lapua but do not like the recoil.[/QUOTE]

I used the 210 Nosler for many years almost exclusively and no problems, an elk never went further than about 35 yards best I recall, some results with the 225 Nosler accubond..the 250s work as well for me, in fact most every bullet Ive tried in the .338 has worked like a charm, one reason is the velocity is just slow enough to be kind to most bullets, something Ive noticed in like calibers, better to back off a tad if you want the bullet to perform to its ultimate..speeding things up can and does create bullet problems..

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I used the 210 Nosler for many years almost exclusively and no problems, an elk never went further than about 35 yards best I recall, some results with the 225 Nosler accubond..the 250s work as well for me, in fact most every bullet Ive tried in the .338 has worked like a charm, one reason is the velocity is just slow enough to be kind to most bullets, something Ive noticed in like calibers, better to back off a tad if you want the bullet to perform to its ultimate..speeding things up can and does create bullet problems..

Best words spoken about bullets that I have heard!

quote:

Originally posted by jtinidaho:
Give some 225 Nosler AB a try with IMR 4350. Works great in mine.

Bought some for test firing.

In ten years when Nosler lead bullets are banned the monometals will rule. I would favour the Partition in a grizzly guide gun but TTSX all the way.

Next Step measuring for pillars.

Thought of checking the chamber throat while making the pillars.

Umm perfect for the 210 Partition. Photo shows where the bullet is when touching the lands.

Looks like it well be a nice rifle.

The only thing I would do is use a MKII stainless.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
Looks like it well be a nice rifle.

The only thing I would do is use a MKII stainless.

Yea if I were buying a donor rifle for the action it would be as you described. But, this Tang Safety M77 has been taking up space in the vault for over 25 years and I wanted to use it up before heading off to the Happy Hunting Grounds.

Understand about using things one has.

I have a Ruger African with the barrel band front sight and island rear, its 100% pure English/African looking, a look I gravitate to btw, but I also have an old Ruger boat paddle stock from yesteryear for when the snow flys deep in Idaho or the rifle is riding in a saddle scabbard..I wax the blued barrel and all is well..It'll do..

I have a boat paddle stainless 06 one would have to work hard to hurt it.

Pillars today.

The rear is simple. The front pillar requires a cut as we all know the front action screw is angled. I recall when the M77 was introduced by Ruger and the hype in the ads about the angled front screw pulling the recoil lug back into the stock. Hmm.

Drilling. 5/16" diameter. Then reamed to 0.314. I will give the reasons for the large hole size later.



Set up in a V-Block, angled at 30 degrees to vertical.



Making the 90 degree cut to fit around the recoil lug:



Back to the lathe. Mounted on an arbor that is 0.314" diameter. Cutting the grooves for the epoxy to lock into.



Tomorrow I will trim the front pillar to length and epoxy both pillars into the stock.

Pillars ready

I think the Mark V action is easier to work with.

quote:

Originally posted by ar corey:
I think the Mark V action is easier to work with.

And M700's. And Mausers. And M70's!!!!!

That angled front action screw on the Ruger is a real pain. Not to mention not enough lug recoil area.

Pillars curing.

The T-Handles clamp the pillars to the receiver. ID of pillars is 0.314". T-Handle shanks are 0.313". This accurately locates the pillar with respect to the screw holes for the action screws. And gives clearance so the screw shanks do not touch the pillars.

The wood clamp pulls the receiver down into the stock, there is another one on the barrel, out of the photo.

Receiver bedding today.

The heat lamp brings the receiver up to about 95 degrees and helps out the curing during the winter. Shop ambient temperature today is about 60 degrees.

Brownells Steel Bed.

Looking real nice so far. By the way, when you have the time about the time when you plan to reload for your .338, take a look at all the very useful .338-caliber bullet data. There is a wealth of information about which "bullet does that," and so on.

https://www.ballisticstudies.c...nchester+Magnum.html