I'm getting geared up here. And putting together a bill of materials to start on a Tactical .338 Lapua Bolt action.

What I would like is suggestions on actions. But here's the catch. I'm a cheep bastard and would like to build this for less then $2K in materials alone, less the scope.

I've sorted it out to two action I could use

One would be a Magnum length Rem 700.
The other would be a Stiller's Tac 338

I want an action that will only require fit up and assembly. I don't want to be screwing around converting something. I realize these actions will also require some work but they are as close to drop in as you can get.

The other option is an AR30 At an MSRP of $2100 it's seems a waste of time to piece one together.

So I'm stuck do I build my own or just buy one off the shelf???

Buy the factory Remington 338 Lapua and tweak it.

They make one other then the m24??
I'll take a look.
Thanks

A friend of a friend had one a little while back he was selling for $1400.00. I don't know if he still has it. Nice looking rifle. All black.

http://www.snipercountrypx.com...-700p-338-lapua.aspx

I found that link pretty quick. That's the way to go.

find a savage 338 lapua tactical -- and be done
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/110BA

110 BA

Before I bought a Remington or a Savage, I'd find an AR-30 in .338 Lapua.

BRNO 602 action

quote:

Originally posted by Toomany Tools:
Before I bought a Remington or a Savage, I'd find an AR-30 in .338 Lapua.

The Savage is borderline to expensive, And I've been told the Remington may require bullets seated a bit deeper then normal so I may just stick with the AR30

BRNO 602??? I need to look into that

quote:

Originally posted by kcstott:

quote:

Originally posted by Toomany Tools:
Before I bought a Remington or a Savage, I'd find an AR-30 in .338 Lapua.

The Savage is borderline to expensive, And I've been told the Remington may require bullets seated a bit deeper then normal so I may just stick with the AR30

BRNO 602??? I need to look into that

In order to beat the 338 RUM, which is a great round by itself, you need to seat the long 300 grain Sierrra MatchKing out so it is not interfering with case capacity. That makes for a pretty long round to house and feed.

the .338 RUM is looking like a better option.
I was only planing on using 250 grain bullets anyway

My AR-30 with 250 grain Nozler bullets shoots 2" groups at 500 yards easily and with no more recoil than an AR-15.

For the money I don't think you can beat the AR-30; however, it is heavy and I'd hate to carry it around while hunting. I just delivered a custom Rem 700 in .338 RUM that with scope weighs just a couple ounces shy of 10 pounds, over 4 pounds lighter than my AR-30.

Keep in mind it's not for hunting. It's for shooting great distances and seeing if i can judge range and wind correctly and hit a target a damn long way away.

Where I shoot I can walk from my truck to my bench in about ten to fifteen steps. the target on the other hand is as far out as you care to take it. with nothing to worry about hitting except Mexico.

In that case, the AR-30 is what you want for sure.

Yeah I didn't plan on doing any long walks with it. Just pull it out of the car set up the target and shoot some groups.

Well it boils down to the AR30 which was my first choice or the .338 RUM

It was something on my plate as to weather I should build one or buy one and Buying is looking better then building

Well, building rifles is a big part of how I make my living, but I bought an AR-30.

quote:

with nothing to worry about hitting except Mexico.

.

quote:

Originally posted by Toomany Tools:
Well, building rifles is a big part of how I make my living, but I bought an AR-30.

That's what I was getting at. My time would be better spent doing something else

Check the barrel twist rate. 1:9" or 1:9.5" is optimal for use with 300 grain bullets. 1:10 is industry standard, but Sako uses a 1:12" twist which is good for 250 grain bullets, but not 300 grain bullets. If the AR-30 has a 1:10 twist, you will be in good shape. Just do not shoot the new Berger 300-grain bullets farther than 1,250 meters.

Have fun!

LD

PS The 338 Norma Mag gives the same velocity as the 338 Lapua while burning 20 grains less powder. Then you could seat your bullets out further. FWIW, YMMV, etc.

It turns out that Remington has been making one run a year since 2008 of a Remington Police MLR 338 Lapua (Medium Long Range).
quote:
700 Police in .338 Lapua features a composite stocks reinforced with Du Pont Kevlar and fiberglass. They'll stay dimensionally stable in any weather and under the worst tactical situations. The stock is laid up around an aircraft-grade aluminum bedding block that runs up the entire length of the receiver. It has a textured, black, non-reflective finish and comes with sling swivel studs.

NOTE: This is the NEW IMPROVED version.

Specifications
.338 Lapua
26" Barrel with 1:10 Twist
Custom Shop Trigger set below 4.0 pounds
HS PRecision Stock w/aluminum chassis
3/4 Inch Recoil Pad
3 Sling Swivel Studs
Badger Ordnance TYPE Floorplate & Detachable magazine (Remington Copy)
Muzzle Brake
Long Action Receiver fits standard Long Action M1913 Rail systems


The magazine system is similar to, but not a Badger Ordnance bottom metal plus an Accuracy International Magazine Knock off. The company that contracted with Remington for the bottom metal and magazines is Mystery Magazine Producer.
Imagine having the capability of having 6 rounds in a magazine with 3/4 inch less of a profile than a standard single stack magazine on your rifle, well now you can. A new cross breed of a long action magazine bottom metal kit has been created for civilian shooters, LE operators, and military users. This product shares many traits that shooters from multiple communiies will enjoy. More information will be coming toward 2011. This set of DS SF magazine is for the standard long action length of 3.850 inches.

Features include:
Enhanced Trigger Well
Features new logo
Fully CNC machined from solid billet material
Comes with highest capacity magazine

The barrel is a slightly fatter Sendero profile (closer to the M24 profile).

The Bolt is a standard .700" Remington LA bolt with an M-16 extractor and a .585" bolt face.

The barrel is actually only 24 1/2". It is threaded 5/8 x 24. It comes with a muzzle break that has drilled through holes in all directions (e.g. a dirt and debris maker). The stock is the standard H/S Precision police model with the fat palm-swells. The earlier runs had X Mark triggers. The latest rifles have externally adjustable 40X triggers.

Earlier in 2010 the price was running +/- $1,000.00 USD, with the normal gouging on Gunbroker and Guns America.

I read about two dozen accuracy reports on various long range shooting blogs. After some bullets downrange to smooth out the bore (the chambers were reported to be excellent), accuracy seemed to settle into the .75 MOA range. The better shooters were reporting (with videos and photographs) .5 to .6 MOA out to 1,000 yards/meters.

The US DOD decided it wanted longer magazine boxes to load cartridges out to full CIP specifications. Those are now available, and provide about 3.850". One company is now making some nice double stack/single stack feed magazines that hold seven cartridges and are .75" shorter than the regular five round single stack magazines. These magazines will of course easily hold the .338 Norma Mag/.338 Sloan (designer). That round gets the same ballistics a little more efficiently.

Soooooooo, If you have a well blueprinted Remington Long Action, a bolt with the M-16 extractor and .585" bolt face, a true 27" heavy barrel in a 5R or 5C configuration at 1:9.5" twist rate, a suppressor (or Fat Bastard, FTE/Badger Ordnance, Vais or Reorbach muzzle brake) and a decent stock (the new M-24 modular frame, Manners Carbon or even a McMillan); you can get there in style (to include a CJ Jackson trigger).

LD

Mr. Scott, I think that this project's gauntlet has fallen onto the pavement pavement. With a blueprinted action (well within your capabilities, you can save enough for either the barrel, the stock or an awesome trigger. Did I mention the extreme likelihood of sending 300-grain bullets out to 1,500 meters at .5 MOA (there is that little matter of reading the wind, I suppose).

Thanks for the info LD.
I'll keep an eye out for a long action. I haven't made up my mind yet but Savage and Armalite make a decent rifle at a decent price. Both around $1900.

My only issue with building one was sourcing the parts Remington actions aren't just laying around. And that would be a reason to go with a Stiller's Tac338, Pre built ready to go. Just add barrel, bottom metal, and a stock. This is a back burner project right know I'm just trying to figure out which way to go.

The Stiller action is great. I can trade for a long action for no $$ out lay and also have access to the Greg Tannel (made by Dave Kiff) receiver fixture, reamer/mandrel, lug truing collars, etc.

Sorry that you are not allowed suppressors where you live. That turns shooting a .338 Lapua Magnum from a chore into an act of relaxation.

Fortunately (for me) Remington Varmint rifles are often put together poorly. After a working over the action is just fine, and I have no trouble seeing my way clear to gouging out the foam and filling much of the action with steel putty.

In any case, it is a truly marvelous caliber; so long as the barrel is at least 27" long.

LD

well I cut my teeth on a 50 BMG and fell in love with big long range calibers. So the suppressor would be nice but not exactly needed in my case. That's a moot point anyway as you said My state has seen fit to prevent ownership of any such device. It's food for thought though. And I am taking copious notes.