longrange elk gun - 338rum or 338/300rum in Savage

[skidlyman]

I want to put together a longrange elk rifle on a budget. I would like to use a new Savage with the accutrigger for a starter. I've pretty much decided to go with a 338rum or 338/300rum, 338 lapua, or some comparable wildcat. I do handload and plan on using a muzzle brake. I have a Nightforce NXS scope off my 50bmg to use on this. Any ideas on the best way to go;
should i start with a savage in 338wm, or 300rum, 300wm? and just change barrels? any ideas here? Thanks

Skidly

[COBrad]

Personally I prefer the .300's, shooting 200 gr premium bullets at 3000 fps or more, over the .338's, only because it is my opinion that the heavier bullets available for the .338 are unnecessary until one begins shooting beyond 650 yards or so at elk. For ranges beyond 500 or so, I would prefer the RUM over the Win mag. I shoot a .300 launching 200 gr Accubonds at 2996 fps, and I use a brake.

[Fiftydriver]

COBrad,


What barrel length are you using on your 300 RUM.

That sounds like a very mild load from what I have seen with the 200 gr Accubond in my 26" 300 RUM which is playing real hard with the 3200 fps range with acceptible presures.

Course, if your rifle shoots best at that velocity, an extra 200 fps will not mean a great deal.

Good Shooting!!

Kirby Allen(50)

[Shawn Carlock]

COBrad,

I to get the 200 gr Accubond at 3150 -3200 fps with H1000 or RL-25 easly and with great accuracy.

Skidly,
I see you are headed down the .338 path I love my big 338's. If you want a project that won't break the bank I would suggest the 338 RUM, if you go 338-300 ultra dies will cost more and there is no factory loaded ammo available. I would stay away from the super mag bolt faces (338 lapua 333-378 etc) in the savage. Buy a Magnum Savage in an ultra mag so the magazine will hold the rounds, the 300 win mag, mag needs to be modified and rebarrel to the length, conture etc you want.

Shawn

[skidlyman]

thanks,

Shawn,
You say you would get the Savage in 300rum, and then just get a barrel in 338rum and rebarrel it, that way i'll have all the magizine length needed for loading close to the lands.
thats what I thought.

now, finding a Savage barrel in 338rum, may be tricky. Just have it custom made I suppose.

[ 12-07-2004: Message edited by: Skidly ]

Yes you can buy a big action but the length of the bullet will considerably eat up case capacity. I suggest milling out the back side of the magazine well like I did with my rem 700 got an extra .450 thou which should place me really close to the optimum set-up of only the boatail protruding into the case rather than a lengthy section of the shank taking up valuably capacity.
One problem however about milling out the magazine well; you must also remove this same amount from the bolt stop or add a side mounted bolt stop, you also need to make the sheet metal magazine well insert (remington only as I have not done this with other actions you may not have to in a Savage dont know) that much bigger and if you have a rifle with a bottom floor plate then your in for some machining time to machine a new floor plate to accept the bigger sheet metal piece.
This may be all to much for a suggestion but it allows you the most case capacity because your bullet can be set longer in the case netting you optimum case capacity.
By milling the action you also arent stuck with a single shot rifle.
JM2C.
Dave

[SeniorSendero]

Skidly,
You would be best off with a savage already chambered for an ultra mag. This way you won't have to swap out the bolt head. You can order a Savage barrel in 338RUM with a magnum contour and swap it out directly (from savagepart.com) or order a pre-fit barrel from Pac-Nor and do the switch barrel dance.

The route I'm taking now is with a pre-accutrigger that I bought from Bass Pro for $299. The gun already shoots great but I can't be stopped. I trued the action and put on some goodies from SharpShooters supply. I'm ordering a Pac-Nor Sendero contour fluted 338 RUM with a short throat so that I can load to the lands without exceeding 3.600 COAL that the mag box restricts me to. Finally an A5 stock from Mcmillan. Like I've said many times before, I won't need anymore guns after this. Honest. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Ronnie