What would be the lightest contour Douglas SS possible for a .340 Weatherby? What about a #2 @ 24" with a muzzle diamter of .600?

I am looking at building a .340 on a CZ 550 with a McMillan stock and I am trying to keep the unscoped weight at under 8 lbs.

Thoughts?

Contact Douglas for recommendations.

I have a douglas #2 on a 338 wildcat. M98 action blind box in a MPI 1# stock weighs around 7.5# with scope.

quote:

Originally posted by Badboyz:
What would be the lightest contour Douglas SS possible for a .340 Weatherby? What about a #2 @ 24" with a muzzle diamter of .600?

I am looking at building a .340 on a CZ 550 with a McMillan stock and I am trying to keep the unscoped weight at under 8 lbs.

Thoughts?

Douglas will do the .375 with their No.3 Sporter contour, even in stainless, and I have one. It is .625" at the 24" muzzle.

Your choice of No.2 Douglas Sporter contour for a .338-caliber will leave even more wall thickness at the muzzle and is the minimum barrel that I would choose.

I think my Weatherby Fibermark in 340Wby is either a No.2 or No.3 equivalent. In 1985, that was the first factory rifle to use a synthetic stock, and it was a McMillan.

Your choice is sound for barrel contour, but I think you will be a little heavier than 8 pounds with the CZ 550 Magnum and a standard-fill McMillan stock. Should be a good combo and maybe about 9 lbs, bare and empty.

I have a 23" barreled .338 Lapua on a CZ 550 Magnum, but that barrel is about a No.4, and it has a "Feral Hogback" stock that has had the crossbolts added, and pillar bedding. It weighs about 9.5 lbs bare and empty, with Dakota sights and Gentry barrel band sling stud, IIRC.

Since your weight goal is blown you might want to choose a No.3 and have better accuracy potential, and probably better balance with that action and stock.

.338+.1+.1
.540 is basically it

No no no.
+.1+.1 might apply to low pressure DR's trying to make balance weight with twin tubes.

The more prudent rule is +.125+.125
or
groove diameter + .250" total for muzzle diameter
therefore:
.338" + .250" = .588" minimum

Besides strength issues, regarding bulged or split barrels, there is also the flexibility/stiffness issue for accuracy.

Go with .600" to .625" diameter at the 24" muzzle
That is either a No.2 or No.3 Douglas, certainly no bigger than No.4 (.675"), whichever balances better with stock and action.

Thanks guys, appreciate the input. I also have a Model 70 Stainless that was originally a .300 Weatherby, so I may just use it. I was just worried about magazine length as many sources list 3.67 OAL for some of the .340 loads.

Guess I will just have to make sure my reloads fit the magazine.

IIRC the #1 contour is in .30 cal max nd the #2 can be had in .338.