Alright, so now that my 500AR project is underway and on a straight line to pure awesome. My brain is full of thoughts for the next rilfe.

I have talked about this before and I just can get around the idea of weather or not to build a 338 or just buy one off the shelf.

What I would like to have is a ramington 700 or Savage based action of course with all the goodies installed to make this rifle an absolutel laser beam at 1500 meters. Stainless finished and matching 26" barrel. Probably a heavy profile.

Now here comes the what if...I want to do this with a reasonable budget.Can I build just as good a rifle from parts rather than buying the 338RUM straight from Remington? The rifle straight from Remington will run right at $1000 bare. It would also take a little work to make it caable of my distance goals.

So, what should I do? Should I build one or buy one?

Brando:

If you want to shoot out to 1500 meters, how about just buying a Savage 110BA in .338 Lapua? Here's the link:

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/110BA

Hey Brando

If you buy one off the shelf, say a 338RUM from Remington, then you will have a restrictive magazine that will mean you will have a very large jump to the lands, usually on the order of .250" or so. But if you assemble from parts then you can have the gunsmith ream the chamber to you specs so that you can reach the lands. Also the gunsmith will be able to ream a tighter chamber, square the action and give you a tighter neck to your specs, all of which will aid in accuracy.

Any of the big long range loudenboomers will need a slightly longer action than you usually get with just a magnum action like a 338 win mag. So if I were going to build a long range 338 then I would buy a new gun in 375 H&H, which will have an extra long action and magazine. Then I would get a premium aftermarket barrel like a Krieger, Shilen, Pac-Nor, Hart etc., and have the gun rebarreled and built to my specs. The barrel, gunsmithing and refinishing will run about $600.00.

But you will have a new gun built to your specs by a gunsmith who cares about your specs. I would recommend Westpac who posts here, he did my 338 RUM with a Brux barrel and it is a shooter

im guessing you shanked #4 shot???

Im reallly wanting a 1500 meter shooting rifle here, but I guess with a budget in mind here I need to make some comprimises...

Defensive Edge will build you one. He's pretty much the go to guy for a lot of that stuff.

quote:

Defensive Edge will build you one. He's pretty much the go to guy for a lot of that stuff.

I didn't have the best of luck with the guy, customer service or the work he did! And I left him several messages about shipping damage and recieved no return call.

I would be very careful dealing with him.

.

I would order a 338 Edge barrel, throated long, and shoot the new 300 grain Bergers! Those will get you to 1500 meters for sure.

New stock has plenty of options, laminated or synthetic. Trigger should be workable at worst, and you can upgrade things when you're ready.

With a Savage you can put the barrel on yourself, and everything is pretty cheap!

quote:

Originally posted by Tyler Kemp:
I would order a 338 Edge barrel, throated long, and shoot the new 300 grain Bergers! Those will get you to 1500 meters for sure.

New stock has plenty of options, laminated or synthetic. Trigger should be workable at worst, and you can upgrade things when you're ready.

With a Savage you can put the barrel on yourself, and everything is pretty cheap!

The 300 Grain SMK with its BC of .768 and 2800 FPS will get you to 2000 yards at sea level and is still super sonic. The Berger with its BC of .892 will get you even farther out and still be super sonic

I too have had .338 on the brain for the past few months.

I want something a little different though - a nice wood sporting stock and classic/sensible brit stock design.
Good punch at relatively long range (fifteen hundred yards isn't in my package of needs) in a nice to carry and handle sporter.
That would be nice.



Cheers
Tinker

Glad to see someone else is facing this dilema! Encouragement is just what I needed. I just returned from Namibia where my PH had a wonderful 8x68s Mauser that I lusted over. I have been thinking about building something in the 8mm/338 class since seeing his, but the 8x68 is just to impractical over here. Limited factory ammo and I can't find brass for it anywhere. So now I am thinking an 8mm/06 or 338/06....decisions decisions. Good luck with yours.

I too am fascinated by the 338 caliber. My interest lies in the 338-06. However, there is a minority love affair on this forum for the cartridge. It always comes down to a pile on about the 9.3x62 or the 35 Whelen by their champions. Yet, noone seems to have anything but praise for the 333 Jeffery and the 318 WR.

I plan to build the 338-06 sometime.

Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by jsl3170:
I too am fascinated by the 338 caliber. My interest lies in the 338-06. However, there is a minority love affair on this forum for the cartridge. It always comes down to a pile on about the 9.3x62 or the 35 Whelen by their champions. Yet, noone seems to have anything but praise for the 333 Jeffery and the 318 WR.

I plan to build the 338-06 sometime.

Good luck.

A great round and is the equal of the 333 OKH. The 338-06 will take any game and holds at least 1 more round over the fat or belted magnums.

You will not be dissapointed

Im having Kirby Allen build me a 338 AX pistol. Which is a 338 Lapua Mag improved. After sending emails back and forth and him explaining ballastics to a dummie like me. It is one of the most efficent rounds. He also make a 338 Allen Mag built off of a 408 Chy tec for the real brave.

I've been thinking .338 too. Bought this one a few days ago.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...3221043/m/4041050031

quote:

Originally posted by adamhunter:
Glad to see someone else is facing this dilema! Encouragement is just what I needed. I just returned from Namibia where my PH had a wonderful 8x68s Mauser that I lusted over. I have been thinking about building something in the 8mm/338 class since seeing his, but the 8x68 is just to impractical over here. Limited factory ammo and I can't find brass for it anywhere. So now I am thinking an 8mm/06 or 338/06....decisions decisions. Good luck with yours.

.338 Gibbs.

Thats a nice 338 you purchased!!!

Im still weighing my options, keeping an eye on Gun Broker and on here as well.

Im just so dead set on owning a 338 Caliber, but not sure what direction I want to take.

One day I tell myself to just buy a sporting rifle and try and do the best one can with the factory build.

Then the next day I wake up and sell myself how much fun I could have with a rifle capable of such long ranges. I mean my 7mm in theory is going to be a pretty nasty rifle when I finally get it developed. But that 338 caliber just has some kind of swagger about it.

I realize that I am in a tiny minority here. But, here goes:

The .338 is an excellent calibre, in whatever iteration. Remember, though, that the word "improved" in any calibre designation is a sure sign that the calibre needed no improvement.

Instead of a .338, please consider Holland's .375. One of the three truly great calibre's ever (the others, of course: .22LR, and 30.06).

quote:

Originally posted by Rub Line:
.338 Gibbs.

I've heard of a .340 Gibbs, but not a .338. What's is it?

Check these out:
http://www.snipershide.com/for...40528&gonew=1#UNREAD

http://www.snipershide.com/for...=1826598#Post1826598

http://www.snipershide.com/for...=1800192#Post1800192

http://www.snipershide.com/for...=1835874#Post1835874

Wish I had the money! I have dealt with both Propulsionclimbing and Distantfoe and they are solid top notch guys I would not hesitate to recommend either of them.

Aloha

If you want something interesting, differant, and totally awesome in the accuracy and precision departmnet, check out nemesis arms. Very cool tactical rifles. I am normally not into things like that, but when i saw one and shot it, it was very hard not to want one!

quote:

Originally posted by adamhunter:
Glad to see someone else is facing this dilema! Encouragement is just what I needed. I just returned from Namibia where my PH had a wonderful 8x68s Mauser that I lusted over. I have been thinking about building something in the 8mm/338 class since seeing his, but the 8x68 is just to impractical over here. Limited factory ammo and I can't find brass for it anywhere. So now I am thinking an 8mm/06 or 338/06....decisions decisions. Good luck with yours.

How about a .325 WSM.

I probably should have posted it over here, but if you want a .338 Edge look at the one I built for a customer in Alaska. It's in the "Medium bore" thread under ".338 Edge" on the second page now. It has the best of everything, total cost, gun, scope and case $6000. Add $800 for personnal delivery and instruction.....Tom

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:

quote:

Originally posted by adamhunter:
Glad to see someone else is facing this dilema! Encouragement is just what I needed. I just returned from Namibia where my PH had a wonderful 8x68s Mauser that I lusted over. I have been thinking about building something in the 8mm/338 class since seeing his, but the 8x68 is just to impractical over here. Limited factory ammo and I can't find brass for it anywhere. So now I am thinking an 8mm/06 or 338/06....decisions decisions. Good luck with yours.

How about a .325 WSM.

Considered that briefly, but I don't much care for the 325 WSM or any of the other short mags. No particular reason as I am sure they perform fine, just not my thing. Plus I've got two buckets full of once fired 30-06 cases that I had forgotten about until this idea came to mind. Looking to buid something based on that case.

After a long thought about the whole deal I think i have finally came to a decision...

Currently my 7mm Sendero is working and should hold up well over the next 3-4 years at the very least. When the barrel goes south I will start my 338 project. I will go for supreme accuracy with a very appealing appearance.

Im thinking at least a 26" Stainless fluted barrel will be ordered and the magnum action with stock will be sent to the smith and I will not want the rifle back till it shoots laser beams. 338 RUM all the way...

I have an 338.06 Improved that I love dearly. Gives me almost as much as a 338 Mag in a standard action and accurate as hell.

What i would dearly love is a Savage 99 in 338 Federal.

If I need a large bullet in a long range hunting package I just got to my 8x68S.

wack and stack....