.338 Edge W/30" BBL in HS stock question

[BillR]

I just picked up a new .300 RUM Sendero II to build a .338 Edge with. 1st Reason? I got it cheap. 2nd reason is Because most everything is ready to go already. Bolt face correct and already using the .300 RUM case.
My plan is to have the action face, bolt, lugs all checked for square and square up what is necessary. Add a thicker recoil lug. Install a SS fluted barrel that will finish to 30"s and add a Holland break.
Gunsmith says this will work EXCEPT. My plan was to use the H.S. Precision stock with the original aluminum bedding block and all would be well. Gunsmith say's it won't work with a 30" barrel and a 2" Muzzle break as it is too heavy for the stock. He also said you cannot do this as the action on the Sendero will flex in the area of the magazine and the gun will not shoot worth a hoot. He further says that I will need to have a block soldered into the mag well of the action to prevent this or put an aluminum block under the barrel to support it right ahead of the recoil lug.
I had intended to have a Wyatt's extended magazine put on the gun.
He is a really good gunsmith and I usually do not question him on what he says but it looks to me like the price on the build is going to go up a bunch by doing this and I was planning on keeping the price down as much as I could by going this route.
Is there a way of doing this that I can keep the original extended mag idea or should I just go with his idea of soldering in a block and making it a single shot. And as far as the barrel what is a good method of supporting the barrel with it being a basically 32" length including the MB. Right now it does not make me any difference if its a single shot as this is not going to be a rapid fire rifle and I shoot a couple other guns of mine that way now and am use to it.
What are you other gunsmiths running into as far as problems with a build like this. Don't want to mess it up and I want an accurate long range rifle when I'm finished.

[highridge1]

I think it would work just fine especially since many have done it. Just bed the action and about the first 2-3 inches of the barrel. I would just go with a 28 inch barrel though plus brake. IMO a 30 inch barrel is not needed.Alot of guys have built edges on the sendero platform.

[trueblue]

You should have your gunsmith give Shawn Carlock a call right away to let him know this won't work. From what I have read Shawn has this same setup and has taken elk out to almost a mile with it.
It will work, don't sweat it. Put in the Wyatt box, skim bed the action in the aluminum bedding block and you have a sweet setup.
I had this same setup 2 years ago and sold it to a guy on this site, who proceeded to take a mule deer at 1365 yards with it. 30" barrel on that rifle .

[lazylabs]

What contour of barrel are you talking? Straight 1.250 blank might be a bit much. I would think if went with the sendero contour but 28" and added a 3 port 1.5" brake you would be fine, fluted even better. A solid bottom would be better but a repeater should still work. You could always use a one piece steel picatinny rail and solder that on for a little more rigidity. I know you said 30" barrel but I don't think you get much velocity from 28-30 in the edge but the 30 will still work.

[BillR]

Its probably going to be a Sendero taper on the barrel. My gunsmith also told me that you cannot skim bed the action as it will flex and break out. Maybe its the type of bedding he is using that causes the problem, I don't know. ....... What is the best type of bedding to use on a build with the aluminum bedding block??? And is there a better taper on the barrel to use than the Sendero taper.

[Oliveralan]

Honestly I may look for a different gunsmith for this build. One who has built something like this before and isn't saying it won't shoot from the get go, because if you tell him to build it anyway and for some reason it doesn't shoot, all your getting is a I told you so.

I have a similar setup, not 338 edge, a 308, with a 28" SS bbl 1.25 to .9" at the muzzle straight taper. Bedded with devcon in an hs precision "psv" series stock and I set an LR f-t/r national record with it, so I'd say it works ok.

mine also has the first 2" of barrel beyond the recoil lug bedded.

[geargrinder]

You need to find another smith.

Go with the 30" barrel, put in the Wyatts and keep it as a repeater.

Skim bed it with Devcon, Marine Tex, or even JB Weld.