338... a revisit on a specific build.

[Kristopher Megahan]

It looks like this thread is drawing to a close. I appreciate everyone's insights. Final numbers below.

Norma - 7
Lapua - 10
Nos - 1
RUM - 10
Sherman - 8<-- That is an interesting result

Barrel Length - one 22, three 24's,six 26's one 28

TR - two 9, one 9.3, one 9.5.

Weight min -one 9, five 10, one 11,12,and 13, two 14#<---that is a good statistical distribution, almost gaussian

Recommended redirect to big thirties - 5

Thank you all also on your projectile inputs and the 375 discussion.

On a side note, I have a friend selling a Desert Tech chambered in 338 Lapua. Any insights specifically into this platform. I might be able to get it for a steal. Anybody here actually hunting with it?

 

[elkaholic]

I had a client build a 6.5 SS on a Desert Tech

 

[Blackdirt Cowboy]

338 Rum for my vote.
Here is the two newest 338's I'm working on . Left 338 Rum Benchmark carbon 30"
Right 338 Edge Proof 30" .
I tryed to go lighter than my other Edges,but only lost 4 pounds . Both ready to roll at 10.6 pds. Havent fired them yet .
View attachment 120140

Love the looks of the RUM!!!

 

[Toddxusmc]

I am new to the forums. When I got here the first thing I did was search and read, but I wasn't satisfied. I hope to re-stimulate this conversation and get some new insights.

I currently shoot "long" (<-- Recognise this is relative) with a 6.5-284 Norma I built. I love it, but I have been shooting it a long time and I want to hunt further. I regularly and effectively take down white tails and pigs at 300-400 yards without difficulty (several kills a year and zero losses, rarely do I have to track more than a few yards), but I want to reach out further and I believe, 338 it the way to do that. It should be noted that I reload. So....

338...

• I want it to be as light as possible and as short as possible. It will always be suppressed...So how light can it be? How short can it be? Remember it will always have a suppressor on the end.
• This is not a discussion about platforms, as I am working that out on my own, though I will take input on platforms should someone feel the need to profess. The final rifle will be a bolt with a magazine though, so the cartridge will need to reliably feed from a magazine.
• For this thought experiment, I want a rifle that can shoot and kill a bull elk ethically at 1000 yds, so that If I can ever get good enough to do it, the rifle is there with me.
• Which one? I reload, but I don't form my own brass, and I like being able to reload the same brass a lot. RUM? Lapua? Nosler? Norma?
• Thoughts on Chamber dimensions? Barrel will be custom, I can cut the chamber to saami and then load for what works in it, but I would love to here if you guys have found a custom leade length and throat that worked well for you in a given caliber.
• Rifling stlyes?
• Twist rate?

I look forward to the collective wisdom of this group.

Kristopher

Just looking at all your needs, I'm not sure if you will find that perfect rifle that meets your requirements. I know you are looking at .338 which is an excellent bore diameter, however you may want to consider the .325WSM. All the rifle racks if looked through in the last 10 years the WSM rifles seem to be the lightest compared to standard magnums and especially the ultra type magnums. Brass won't be an issue as the other WSM can be reformed. I would also keep my shots to 500 yd to be ethical. I own a .338 ultra and it's set up for exteme ranges. For every perfect shot on YouTube there are many more that don't ethically dispatch the animal(I am extremely proficient but I won't attempt any shot at game in excess of 500m). I know.338 was specified, just thinking outside the box.

 

[sp6x6]

I shoot and hunt w/2 338 NM.One is 7lb 2oz,other 9lb4oz.9 years on the lite packer,no problem shooting game raised my boy on it also and his friends on my other norma. Both Defiance,proof barrels braked 26''.Shoot everything with them,moose ,elk,deer,bear,speed goats,coyotes,wolf on wish list

 

[MAD10]

I am new to the forums. When I got here the first thing I did was search and read, but I wasn't satisfied. I hope to re-stimulate this conversation and get some new insights.

I currently shoot "long" (<-- Recognise this is relative) with a 6.5-284 Norma I built. I love it, but I have been shooting it a long time and I want to hunt further. I regularly and effectively take down white tails and pigs at 300-400 yards without difficulty (several kills a year and zero losses, rarely do I have to track more than a few yards), but I want to reach out further and I believe, 338 it the way to do that. It should be noted that I reload. So....

338...

• I want it to be as light as possible and as short as possible. It will always be suppressed...So how light can it be? How short can it be? Remember it will always have a suppressor on the end.
• This is not a discussion about platforms, as I am working that out on my own, though I will take input on platforms should someone feel the need to profess. The final rifle will be a bolt with a magazine though, so the cartridge will need to reliably feed from a magazine.
• For this thought experiment, I want a rifle that can shoot and kill a bull elk ethically at 1000 yds, so that If I can ever get good enough to do it, the rifle is there with me.
• Which one? I reload, but I don't form my own brass, and I like being able to reload the same brass a lot. RUM? Lapua? Nosler? Norma?
• Thoughts on Chamber dimensions? Barrel will be custom, I can cut the chamber to saami and then load for what works in it, but I would love to here if you guys have found a custom leade length and throat that worked well for you in a given caliber.
• Rifling stlyes?
• Twist rate?

I look forward to the collective wisdom of this group.

Kristopher

Kristopher I just had a 338 Edge finished by Shawn Carlock at Defensive Edge. I am going to let it go...I've got two other 338's and after waiting 11 months the charm wore off - lol. PM me if you're interested in talking about it

 

[Deadeye9999]

Just a thought here. Have you looked into a 330 Dakota? I shoot both the 7 and 330 long range 700yds plus with great success. Both more than enough for elk at a 1000. I know your looking for intel on 338. The only draw back is brass availability, but if you watch midway etc. It is available.

 

[drgalan]

I cast my vote for the 338 Sherman Short and you could load the ADG brass

 

[Cocadori]

Ok.. I'll bite... why 338? 1000 yards and "Elk size" is easily done with less wear and tear on you or your wallet.
Sounds like pigs and deer are your quarry 99% of the time...
300 WSM or the 7WSM can get this done and more all day long and tomorrow out past 1200 yards.
Bullet construction, impact velocity and placement superceede the big 388's power ... jus' sayin'
Unless you're married to the sexiness of the 338.

 

[cf1105]

I use a 30 nosler 215s at 3105fps you could easily shoot an elk at 1k if that was your desire,it weighs in at 8pounds 4oz with vx6 3-18 has a break on it,I have made cold bore shots out to 1820 yards its aloft of fun. Longest elk 485 with my 270wsm . 1k on animals is a long ways

How much freebore do you have on the 30 Nosler?

 

[747]

I am new to the forums. When I got here the first thing I did was search and read, but I wasn't satisfied. I hope to re-stimulate this conversation and get some new insights.

I currently shoot "long" (<-- Recognise this is relative) with a 6.5-284 Norma I built. I love it, but I have been shooting it a long time and I want to hunt further. I regularly and effectively take down white tails and pigs at 300-400 yards without difficulty (several kills a year and zero losses, rarely do I have to track more than a few yards), but I want to reach out further and I believe, 338 it the way to do that. It should be noted that I reload. So....

338...

• I want it to be as light as possible and as short as possible. It will always be suppressed...So how light can it be? How short can it be? Remember it will always have a suppressor on the end.
• This is not a discussion about platforms, as I am working that out on my own, though I will take input on platforms should someone feel the need to profess. The final rifle will be a bolt with a magazine though, so the cartridge will need to reliably feed from a magazine.
• For this thought experiment, I want a rifle that can shoot and kill a bull elk ethically at 1000 yds, so that If I can ever get good enough to do it, the rifle is there with me.
• Which one? I reload, but I don't form my own brass, and I like being able to reload the same brass a lot. RUM? Lapua? Nosler? Norma?
• Thoughts on Chamber dimensions? Barrel will be custom, I can cut the chamber to saami and then load for what works in it, but I would love to here if you guys have found a custom leade length and throat that worked well for you in a given caliber.
• Rifling stlyes?
• Twist rate?

I look forward to the collective wisdom of this group.

Kristopher

 

[Steve Sheasly]

I am new to the forums. When I got here the first thing I did was search and read, but I wasn't satisfied. I hope to re-stimulate this conversation and get some new insights.

I currently shoot "long" (<-- Recognise this is relative) with a 6.5-284 Norma I built. I love it, but I have been shooting it a long time and I want to hunt further. I regularly and effectively take down white tails and pigs at 300-400 yards without difficulty (several kills a year and zero losses, rarely do I have to track more than a few yards), but I want to reach out further and I believe, 338 it the way to do that. It should be noted that I reload. So....

338...

• I want it to be as light as possible and as short as possible. It will always be suppressed...So how light can it be? How short can it be? Remember it will always have a suppressor on the end.
• This is not a discussion about platforms, as I am working that out on my own, though I will take input on platforms should someone feel the need to profess. The final rifle will be a bolt with a magazine though, so the cartridge will need to reliably feed from a magazine.
• For this thought experiment, I want a rifle that can shoot and kill a bull elk ethically at 1000 yds, so that If I can ever get good enough to do it, the rifle is there with me.
• Which one? I reload, but I don't form my own brass, and I like being able to reload the same brass a lot. RUM? Lapua? Nosler? Norma?
• Thoughts on Chamber dimensions? Barrel will be custom, I can cut the chamber to saami and then load for what works in it, but I would love to here if you guys have found a custom leade length and throat that worked well for you in a given caliber.
• Rifling stlyes?
• Twist rate?

I look forward to the collective wisdom of this group.

Kristopher

 

[747]

No surprise to you or anyone else, barrel length is important to optimize many of the long distance potentials of the .338, I'd tend to "lighten" if really that critical in other aspects of the rig composition. Re. the chambering, I've run through some of this previously and I tend to favor the Norma … having a short, fat case like it has, does have some advantages in opening the door to more readily utilize the newer, more ballistic efficient bullets that are now available. One would also lose nothing by improving the case/chambering to ones needs/wants. // Another direction would be the .338 Ruger Compact Magnum … One does not hear much about it … however it is out there and viable for many applications … long range? Just saying, that is another very viable direction.

 

[Steve Sheasly]

I am new to the forums. When I got here the first thing I did was search and read, but I wasn't satisfied. I hope to re-stimulate this conversation and get some new insights.

I currently shoot "long" (<-- Recognise this is relative) with a 6.5-284 Norma I built. I love it, but I have been shooting it a long time and I want to hunt further. I regularly and effectively take down white tails and pigs at 300-400 yards without difficulty (several kills a year and zero losses, rarely do I have to track more than a few yards), but I want to reach out further and I believe, 338 it the way to do that. It should be noted that I reload. So....

338...

• I want it to be as light as possible and as short as possible. It will always be suppressed...So how light can it be? How short can it be? Remember it will always have a suppressor on the end.
• This is not a discussion about platforms, as I am working that out on my own, though I will take input on platforms should someone feel the need to profess. The final rifle will be a bolt with a magazine though, so the cartridge will need to reliably feed from a magazine.
• For this thought experiment, I want a rifle that can shoot and kill a bull elk ethically at 1000 yds, so that If I can ever get good enough to do it, the rifle is there with me.
• Which one? I reload, but I don't form my own brass, and I like being able to reload the same brass a lot. RUM? Lapua? Nosler? Norma?
• Thoughts on Chamber dimensions? Barrel will be custom, I can cut the chamber to saami and then load for what works in it, but I would love to here if you guys have found a custom leade length and throat that worked well for you in a given caliber.
• Rifling stlyes?
• Twist rate?

I look forward to the collective wisdom of this group.

Kristopher

Call Wayne York in Pendleton Oregon -- he studied under West who worked with P.O. Ackley. The name of the shop is http://www.oregunsmithingllc.com/ I personally know Wayne and he has done work for me. Outstanding premium work. He will answer your questions and will not lead you astray. Any good rifle in my opinion will have some weight to it. I shoot a .338 Lapua and carry it on my back with a Gun Monkey Double sling adaptor. I kill a lot of elk on our private ranch.
Wayne makes guns for people all over the world. I do know where one of his builds for Long Range Bench Shooting is and maybe for sale the owner died and the wife has it.