I'm thinking of getting a .338 Win Mag. Does anyone have comments on the factory rifles out there in this caliber? I'd really like to have a 26" barrel.

By factory, I mean Win, Rem and Ruger. (By the way, did I read the the Win. Super Grade has a plastic forend tip?)

Thanks for any help,
Dave

I bought a Ruger Synthetic with the Mark II action. The rifle functioned perfectly, was accurate, handled well but kicked impressivly with full power 250 grain bullets. This rifle ate three scopes before I found one that lasted two seasons, a Nikon 4 power.

Dave: I bought a Ruger .338 last spring. It's the stainless steel, laminated stock model. It's the first stainless rifle I've ever owned but I like it a lot. Doesn't seem to copper foul as bad. I got the stainless version for several reasons, one of which is that I wanted something that would tend not to rust in inclement weather. I absolutely hate fiberglass stocks so I opted for the laminated version. Another thing I like is the open sights that come standard since when I go hunting, it's for up to 2 weeks at a time & and I'm nowhere near a town. It comes with a 24" barrel however & I've been told that Ruger will cease putting open sights on their rifles sometime soon. I replaced the trigger with a Timney & had the action glass bedded. With a 1.5 - 5x Leupold, I can get a consistant 1" group, or close to it with a 225 gr. Northfork and Rldr. 22 powder. I really like the rifle. I'm a big believer in a set of open sights as back up in case of scope failure. Hope this helps some. Bear in Fairbanks

Dave. I picked up a Winchester M70 Stainless Classic about two months ago. The rifle has a 26" barrel, controlled feed, and has been reasonbly accurate so far. The one thing it needs is a decent trigger job to make it about perfect. You may or may not like the synthetic stock, but I bought it for an all round, all weather serious hunting rifle. I have not experienced and feeding problems with it. Accuracy is good with Winchester factory ammo (haven't had time to do either the trigger ot handload any ammo) with groups running in the 1.25" range when I do my part. I do believe I can get it down to 1.0" or better with handloads and the trigger job. Weight is reasonable for a rifle in that power class.
Paul B.

Dave T
Go and look at a Blaser R-93. It is a very good rifle. As a plus you can get several barrels.

I have a Tikka Whitetail Hunter, blued in synthetic stock. The barrel is a touch over 24-inches (metric length, I'm sure.) It shoots Hornady, Nosler or Barnes X bullets, all 225 gr, into 5/8 inch groups at 100 yards - consistently, not occasionally. I use IMR-4350 powder or RL-22.



The action is quite smooth. It does have a detachable magazine, in either 3 or 5 shot capacity, which some like and some don't. This one works for me.

I have a Ruger stainless/synthetic. This is one of the older ones with the hollowed out stock. I call it the ugly gun but it has served me well in Alaska and will go with me to Africa. I have never reloaded for it but it shoots Fed Premium 250gr very well and the recoil isn't bad. Scope is a Leupold VariXIII 3.5X10.

PaulB,

Have you had any rusting problems with your Win M70 SS? I've seen THREE M70 SSs in two different stores that had rust on them, out of the box. (And no, it wasn't dried grease - it was rust.) One of the stores tried to clean it off, but couldn't.

Thanks,
Dave

I bought a .338 WM two years ago in a Browning A-Bolt Stalker II with a composite stock. I forget what ammunition I bought to go with it, but it started firing near-MOA on the first day.



I had a Pachmyer Decellerator installed and the trigger checked over, and put on a Leupold VariX III scope, but that's it.



Today, I can shoot sub-MOA any day with my standard load for this gun: 250 gr Nosler Partitions pushed by 71 gr of H4831. My most recent target (before deer season) was 1.67 inches at 200 meters.



FWIW, I have shot 30 rounds consecutively at the range without any shoulder soreness or other recoil problems, and I could have shot more. It's just too expensive, even with reloads.



At deer camp this year I saw two deer shot twice and killed two. The first was a running head shot through beech and oak (couldn't get on the body because of the saplings), and the second was straight-on standing at about 150 meters. That shot entered the chest, took out the heart, exited below the rib cage and blew off the back right leg below the knee. No meat lost on either deer.



It's not the most expensive gun out there, but I have always had good luck with Brownings and I wouldn't trade this gun for another.



The barrel is 26 inches, but I am considering cutting it off to 22. Not done thinking yet.



kk

Dave,
I can concur with kk. I have a Browning A Bolt in 338 WM that shoots under MOA with 210 grain Nosler Partitions. I still have other loads to try!

Bob257