Caliber selection

[Long Time Long Ranger]

Refer to last two posts. Nomosendero has it right. Get a factory 338 ultra mag, learn it well, buy all the loading stuff for it and your done. Forget all the other stuff, your good forever with one purchase. I woulld take a straight 338 ultra and hunt everything in North America and most of Africa where it was legal and be perfectly content. If you want to stay in the inexpensive range then get the Savage in 338 win mag and again your good. If you ever wanted the edge then you have an action for it. You just got to make the call which way you want to go.

[Tyler Kemp]

I'm in the same boat as you straightshooter, except I can't legally buy a gun yet...it's coming though. Savages have shot well for me, in fact this weekend my 10 year old cousin was shooting metal silhouettes from 350-450 yards. With a stock Savage 110 in 7mm RM I can shoot a silhouette in the head at 350, and at 400 I hit a bowling pin most of the time. I can't wait to try their new Target Action.

[straightshooter]

Thanks again for all the advice. I am now looking at rifles in the suggested calibers. I can't seem to find anything in a heavy barreled rifle action any larger than a 300 wm. Does anyone know of a production rifle made in the target/varmint style in a 338 wm or a 300 ultra? My plan is to start with a good quality production rifle and build up on it a little at a time. I am trying to avoid long periods of down time waiting for the rifle to come back from the smiths.

[Tyler Kemp]

The Sendero is "sort of" varmintish. Or you could put a heavy barrel on a Savage.

[Rymart]

I would suggest the following cartridges: 338 Ultramag, 300 Ultramag, 338 Lapua, 338 Edge.

You may also be OK with the following: 300 Weatherby, 300 WSM, 300 Win, 338 Win, 7mm RUM, 30-378, 338-378, or 7STW

I would suggest one of the following actions: Remington 700 (the 700P or Sendero should both be available in 300 RUM), Savage 110 or 12, Sako TRGs-M995 (338 LM or 30-378), Tikka M695 if you can find one or a T3.

The 338 RUM in a Remington 700 seems to be the most practical route, as you would be 'ready-to-go' from the start. You could go with the Remington 700 and start building from there.

I went the Sako TRGs/338 Lapua route because I found a decent deal on a TRGs in that caliber. Once I got over the cost of purchasing the brass, there really wasn't much of a difference in the actual shooting cost over any of the other comparible calibers, and I'm still on my first 50-pieces of Lapua brass 2 years and hundreds of rounds later.

The trigger in the Sako was nearly perfect so no changes were necessary there. I hunted with the rifle 'as-is' the first year. Then added a new stock (McMillan A-5 adjustable ~$700) between hunting seasons for the next year. Then had GA Precison pillar bed, skim bed, and add an aftermarket recoil lug to the stock for the next year (again between hunting seasons, ~$400), as well as lapping the factory barrel with Tubbs FF bullets (that was definately money well spent, ~$30). Before next season I plan to rebarrel and add a muzzle brake.

During the years of building, I have taken 2 nice mule deer bucks (one at 120 yards and the other at 505 yards), One elk at 400 yards, and a nice antelope buck at ~480 yards.

The estimated cost per shot is ~ $0.40 - $0.50 per bullet, $0.20 - $0.25 in powder, $0.03 primer, and $0.15 for brass so far (~10 reloadings). I also have some 200 gr Hornady bullets that I picked up for less that $0.20 each that I practice/play around with.

Good Luck...

[straightshooter]

Rymart, you sure got my heart rate racing. Sounds like you have gone the route I am trying for. From what I picked up so far, I think I want to end up with a 338 edge. I just don't think I should start there, I want to have something more economical to shoot. I need a lot of practice.

[Tyler Kemp]

You could have the 388 Edge with a cheap take off barrel for practice. Switchbarrel.com has some real cheap barrels. Something that doesn't burn barrels, 223, 308, etc. Put it on when hunting is not going on to practice with.