.338 snipe-tac question

[Bob lee]

So after falling in love with my .338 edge I have decided I want another .338 cal cartridge. I am looking at a stiller tac .408 action and building a . 338 snipe tac with it . I have got a 31 inch barrel on my edge and a brake as well and it makes for a loooong rifle . I would like to keep this one shorter. My question is what is the shortest barrel I can get away with and still keep this worth while ? If I loose too much I might as well go with a .338 lapua imp. . I'm hoping 27 or 28" will be ok.

 

[trueblue]

With that case capacity, I would not go shorter than 30".
You will also need to build a heavier rifle(16#or more) than your EDGE for this caliber, in order to handle recoil.

 

[Bob lee]

I shoot my BMG just fine . I am not worried about the recoil of this round. Some people are affected by recoil more than other I am lucky and to this point am not bothered by it.

 

[Joel Russo]

The optimum length will be 30".

 

[ZSteinle]

I will be doing a 338 Snipe Tac. Same plan as you, light! I will be doing a 30" sendero countour turned down to .820 at the muzzle, heavy fluting and some sort of light stock that will fit the lawton 8500 (would like to do a Greybull Precision stock but not sure on how to get it to fit.) I would like to have it around 12-14lbs with scope on. Keep me informed on what you go with and what your rifle weight is.

 

[Augustus]

I have a 338/408 with the specs you boys are talking about. 30" Sendero taper, 8500 Lawton, A3-5 mcmillian. I havent put the rifle on scales but its around 12 lbs. Recoil is not an issue with a good break. I have shot it w/o a break and the recoil is substantial but not unmanageble. You probably would not want to shoot it from a bench with a long string of fire but I intend to hunt with it w/o the break. I have an extended eye relief eyepiece and would not reccommend shooting this class of rifle unbraked w/o one.

 

[Augustus]

Clarification, the barrel is not a true sendero taper, the barrel is 1.3 for 3.5 in. on the breech end then tapers to .940 at 7.5 in. and then to .880 at 30.

 

[Texote]

Bob how did that snipe tac build work out? Im curious bc i am thinking of building one on a stiller action as well