Is a 6 3/4lb, 338 win mag possible?

10 January 2008, 18:28

ramrod340

quote:
Looking to buy or build a light weight , left hanf 338 win mag. Any ideas

As Jeffe says "Matchgrade Arms" http://www.mgarmsinc.com/ultra.htm can get there. You can do it yourself (or get darn close)for far less $$. You will pay a lot for the removal of the last couple of ozs.

I have used Brown Precision's stock but don't know their final weight for their rifles. http://www.brownprecision.com/custom-high-country-rifle.htm

Years ago I took a Ruger MK11 stainless had the barrel shortened to 22" and the taper recut very light built it on a blind box 13oz Kelar/carbon fiber stock and used an ADL guard. With a 2.5X8 my trigger pull guage read right at 7#. There was no question if the round fired.

Barrel work was less than $100 (or just buy a feather weight) Guard was $35 and at the time the blank was around $250(I did the work). Now closer to $400+.

HighTech has a 1# blank for around $250.

This is my wifes 7x57 built with a hightech and Daly barreled action. Close to 7#.

This is my 340 built with a MPI and 98 action and Douglas (#2?) barrel.

As usual just my $.02
Paul K

Mike

--------------
DRSS, Womper's Club, NRA Life Member/Charter Member NRA Golden Eagles ...
Knifemaker, http://www.mstarling.com

Dennis
Life member NRA

As usual just my $.02
Paul K

12 January 2008, 20:01

tnekkcc

At work, I am right now trying to figure out how to make some equipment lighter for a new jet. I have some prototype parts, and we need to get some weight out, or give up.

One way I communicate with other is in terms of cost.

To make a Mauser lighter, I could:
1) At Brownells, the PAWS Aluminum bottom metal for Mausers weighs 3.5 ounces, as opposed to 8.625 ounces for typical steel bottom metal.

It costs $60 and so the weight savings is ~ $12/ ounce.

2) At Brownells has 20 ounce rifle stocks.
I have many Walnut stocks sitting around, with an average weight of 40 ounces.

The 20 ounce stocks cost $200 and so the weight saving is ~ $10/ounce.

What does it all mean?
Make a list of the parts to your project and their weights.
Next to the weights, list your options for change, the cost, and the cost per ounce of change.

12 January 2008, 21:14

Mike_Dettorre

Some easy ways to reduce weight that are fairly economical.

1) Have the barrelled re-contoured or if you starting new start with a #2 countour. Saves about 1/4 lb

2) Use a leupold 2.5x8 scope. It is the lighest scope in its class and is usually 3 oz lighter than anything else

3) S&K scope mounts pick you up a few ounces

4) Hogue over molded stock is about the lightest synthetic mass profuced stock at 1 lb 14.5 oz. About a 1/2 lb less than other synthetics.

5) Use a remington 700 action. It is the lightest long action at 2 lbs 7 oz. I don't know what the tikas weigh

Somthing to remember your four rounds of ammo are going to weigh about 5 ounces. The point being the extra 5 ounces increases the overal all weight.

If your ar talking about 6 3/4 scoped with ammo...that's a pretty tall order without spending a lot of money.

If you are talking about 6 3/4 for the rifle only...then when you add in scope, mounts, and ammo you are talking about 1 1/4 pounds.

So now your entire package is at 8lbs. then you have to ask yourself if I didn't jump through hoops and just got a base rifle at 7 1/4 or even 7 1/2...am i really concerned about 3/4 of a pond on an 8 lb rifle.

As David Kaiser at Brownells told me when I was trying to build a light rifle he said the 1/2 is really expensive and you should probably just got to the gym.

Mike

Legistine actu quod scripsi?

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.

What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.

12 January 2008, 22:06

jeffeosso

<first pass- just buying lighter stuff)
2# barrel
2.5# action
1.25# stock (20oz)
.25# pad
1.2# scope
.5# rings

7.7# or 123.2 oz... and that's about the lighest you can get without spending about $100 an oz...

OTHER than the cheapest way to get a couple oz, use a 1/4" pad.... it's "free" until it kicks you.. but at this weight, it won't matter call it 1.5oz

and you would to take 16oz out of that? Man, that is going to get spendy

you MIGHT can get 1/2oz per inch off the barrel... call it 1 oz

you could get dale christensen (its been 10 years since i've seen him) to make you a 14oz stock.. the UPCHARGE over the 20 oz will be about 400 .. call it 4 oz...

chop and channel your ring .25 oz - $50 bucks or use millet ittybitty rings

cut the holt crap out of your action .. $500 - MIGHT get 4 oz...

thats 10.25 oz less.. and over 1000 bucks...

and it's 111.95 oz or a hair under 7#...

a remington model 7 in 300 suam, at 6 3/4 is only what, 600 bucks?

opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club

Words aren't Murder - Political assassination is MURDER
Information on Ammoguide about
the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR
What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR.
476AR,
http://www.weaponsmith.com

12 January 2008, 22:16

LDHunter

I think that Bijou Creek Gunsmithing in Colorado regularly makes what you're looking for.

He uses the Remington Titanium actions, custom fluted barrels, and McMillan Edge stocks.

Making weight won't be the problem.

You might want to look at what this will do to your shoulder though. You'll likely end up with arthritis in your "shooting shoulder" in just a few short years and IMO it just isn't worth it.

Not to mention getting stuck with a rifle that nobody is likely to buy unless it's for a fraction of what you have in it.

You could more than likely get what you need from a 300WSM Alaskan Ti rifle and then if you didn't like it or it was too much on it you could easily sell it and lose no more than a couple hundred.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_r...l_700_alaskan_Ti.asp

$bob$

______________________
Always remember you're
unique, just like everyone else.

12 January 2008, 22:30

Guillermo Amestoy

If you take off weight from your rifle, you will walk very comfortable all the day until you have to shot it.
If your rifle didnt have brake, a good recoil pad and recoil reducer you will pay with a lot of "PAIN" each time you shot it, you will lose hearing capability due the brake, broke cheaps scopes and in the windy days it will move like a hell, Tikka T3 with a 1-6x42 scope is in the limit weigth for 338 and at good price, I ignored if there are a left model, I have a Tikka varmint B.B. model Cal. 338 W.M. and is very light beside itS bull barrel and heavy scope (Swarovski 6-24x50).
Im talking from my experience with my 6 lbs Remington custom Ultralight (See the photos). Keep in the 8 lbs range. Regards; Guillermo.