So if you were going to build a rifle?

SetNet · 02-22-2007, 02:30 PM

A long range rifle, where do you start.
I want to build a 338 ultramag.
Recomendations?
Action?
Barrel?---Length?---Twist? (250-300gr)
Stock?
Gunsmith?

SetNet

Hunt'nFish · 02-22-2007, 03:08 PM

Good choice in calibers. I love mine.

Where to start....Well it depends on how much you want to spend and how accurate is accurate enough. You could go the route "Traks44" went and pull out all the stops and start w/ a custom BR quality action then have a match grade barrel chambered and installed, then add stock of choice.

Or you could simply pick up and Rem700 Long action in .300win or .338win as a starting point and have a smith true the action, lugs and such. And order a pre-contoured & short chambered match barrel from say Shilen, Pac-Nor, Kreiger or any number of others and have a local smith assemble and finish chamber.

Or you could just buy a Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker and be happy w/ MOA accuracy. This is the route I went. When the .338Ultra 1st came out Browning didn't offer it YET...I couldn't wait. I took a .338win and punched it out to .338Ultra and have been shooting it ever since. I get about 1/2-3/4moa out of it, which is good enough for me. Comfortable to 500yds with it....far enough.

So it just depends on how much accuracy you really want to buy.
Hunt'nFish

Hunt'nFish · 02-22-2007, 03:13 PM

Length? 26" minimum....might even go 28" if I was ordering a barrel.
(Who knows...might want to punch it out to .338-378wby when it gets a little throat erosion...wink, wink.)

Twist? Whatever is std for the .338Ultra.
Bullet weight 250-300gr??? Yikes! I suppose I have to ask what are you using it for and at what ranges?

I'm not sure I'd go with that heavy a bullet for long range elk. And if you talking Brown Bear at relatively close ranges ..then you don't need a custom rifle for that.
Hunt'nFish

traks44 · 02-22-2007, 05:23 PM

The first thing that jumps into my mind when I read your post was you wanted a .338 ultra mag. Always always get exactly what you want when you go custom, dont let other people try to persuade you for something a little better or different. The .338 ulta mag is a fine long range round.

I recommend 250 Gr. SMK bullets, now some might be skeptical with results on big game but my fathers bull at 800 yards had holes bug enough to put my fists through. Those little missles DO SOME DAMAGE!!!

You will need a 1-10 twist barrel. This is pretty standard.

Depending on how much you wonna spend you could stick with the 700 factory action or go custom. there is a company called Lawton that isnt new to the barrel world but is now producing some fine action at an almost cheap price while compared to others. Some of the top LR gunsmiths have been comparing them to the best of the best. Anyway the action is very important so if you go with a 700 blue print and accurizing it is a must.

Barrel length should be in the 30 inch range. Lija is maybe the most favorable among long range hunting enthusiasts, bnut there are others.

We used a Mcmillan A-5 stock, the newest sniper type stock, to say the least we love it, but whatever you choose be prepared to spend upwards of $400-$700 for a stock. Micmillan is highly recommended but there are others, If you wabt the best go mcmillan. There is a reason they take 6 months to get.

Scope: Lots of options here.....

whatever you choose I recommend 1/4 in MOA over 1/8 MOA turrets. 1/4 will let you shoot farther. The accuracy of 1/8 is only needed for benchrest IMO... Nightforce, Leupold, supersniper, US optics, lots and lots of good scopes and you will here a bazillion opinions!

anyway the possiblity are endless, just be patient becuase they take awhile to come togethar, do research on the internet and see what people like. You can spend as little as $1800 and more than $5000, picking a budget and then building from there is a good idea.

Last thing,

My big .338 weighs 20lbs. Most people ask why I made it so heavy....well its is the funenst gun to shoot at the range all day. It has a viaz muzzle brake on it and recoil isnt the word to descibe it, slight push would be better. When you are set up on an animal for the first time past 600 yards the last thing you should worry about is flinching or the recoil. Heck thats what makes a good shooter. Dont be afraid to make it heavy and use a Muzzle brake, It WILL make you a better shooter.

Good luck and let us know if you have any more questions!

skein · 02-22-2007, 06:22 PM

Traks beat me to it.

When I saw your post, I thought to myself, "the first thing I would do is contact Traks!"

I may drive all the way over there some day just to watch you shoot it.

Skein

baltz526 · 02-22-2007, 06:27 PM

i think i would do a 6.5 i'm getting recoil sensitive when shooting targets with the 300win mag, i can't imagine anything larger and i already have a 7mm

Catching Nemo · 02-22-2007, 06:48 PM

Action: Savage
Barrel: PAC-NOR
Stock: MPI
Gunsmith: Easily do it yourself and have the ability to change calibers at home.

http://www.mpistocks.com/
http://www.pac-nor.com/
http://www.savagearms.com/

pythonwill · 02-22-2007, 08:39 PM

Well this is what im doing.I have been collecting parts and then when I get everything I will send it to the smith to do his magic. I am going with a 700 action only because I have one handy already, but who knows I may buy a custom before I have it all put together. I am thinking about a Stiller Predator action, they are about the same cost as a Lawton 7000. The thing is if you go with a 700 and have it blueprinted and sako extractor and all the things the smiths do to them to make them accurate, it will cost you as much as a custom action will by the time your done with it.
Aside from the rem 700 action I have a McMillan A-5 stock, Williams bottom metal, and just ordered a Lilja #8 contour 30" stainless fluted barrel with a 1-10" twist in .338 cal. I still need to get the trigger which will be a Jewell. Then I will have to save for a while to get the scope, Im not completely sure what route Im going to take on that yet, I am thinking a Nightforce NXS 5.5x22x50. But may go with a leupy too.
when I get it all done it will be a longrange shooter that will shoot better then I can. Hopefully I will be able to get enough practice in to be able to punch paper at 1000yrds. and big game at long ranges too. almost forgot, its going to be a .338/300 RUM which is just a bit larger then the regular .338 RUM.and a bit smaller then the .338 Lapua. I would have gone with the Lapua but the brass is VERY spendy.
It has been taking me longer to build then I thought because me being a single parent I have to feed the animals (kids) and keep them happy before i can spend much on my hobby. maybe this time next year it will be done and I will be able to take it on a spring bear hunt in Chesnimus.
Whatever you decide make sure and keep us posted on it, I just love the longrange guns. THey may be heavy but man do they shoot

SetNet · 02-23-2007, 06:46 AM

Okay I'm looking at the Midway catalog; Shilen, Lilja and Krieger?
I'm thinking 28" plus brake 1x10 twist? If the weight is not a major concern (say under 18# for complete rifle) which contour of barrel would you recommend?
SetNet

oregonoutdoors · 02-23-2007, 07:08 AM

Well I have not built one yet, but here is what I am planning. Hopefully I will be able to start this summer.

1) Sell my Rem 700 300 RUM

2)Buy a Lawton action

3)Hide some money from the wife for a few months then:

4)Buy a great 338cal barrell

5) HS precision or McMillian stock, I like thumbhole style

6)Have a smith assemble everything and poke out the barrel to 338/300 RUM

7)Hide some money from the wife again for awhile then:

8) Buy a nightforce

SetNet · 02-23-2007, 07:15 AM

Maybe I'm looking at this all wrong the key will be points 3 & 7 thanks Oregonoutdoors

alaskan · 02-23-2007, 08:00 AM

I'd do exactly the rifly my former boss built. He regularly shoots sub 2" groups at 600 yards, 5 shot groups.
I'm not as good as he is, but I've been able to get sub 4" Lot's of fun, very little recoil.

Order a Lilja 30" match grade 2 groove gain twist barrel
JP enterprises muzzle brake
Rem. Sendero, send to local smith Stan Jackson to blueprint the action, Bed the stock and tune the factory trigger.
338 Diablo, (338-300ultra)
Nightforce scope
Warne 1 piece base, detachable rings.

brshooter · 02-23-2007, 08:03 AM

Probably a combo of a Nesika Bay action and a Lilja barrel. I would definately spend some time talking to Steve Kostanich up in Chehalis. One of the best benchrest gunsmiths & shooters in the nation.

pythonwill · 02-23-2007, 05:45 PM

I would go with a #7 contour, its the same as a Sendero barrel, you dont really need anything bigger then that. After I ordered mine I thought about it and probably should have gone with that myself but oh well, my stock is made for a #8.
If you are looking for a good smith, I am sending mine to Kirby Allen in Fort Shaw Montana. He builds some pretty sweet longrange rifles

Quote:

Originally Posted by SetNet

Okay I'm looking at the Midway catalog; Shilen, Lilja and Krieger?
I'm thinking 28" plus brake 1x10 twist? If the weight is not a major concern (say under 18# for complete rifle) which contour of barrel would you recommend?
SetNet

scottishsetter · 02-23-2007, 05:54 PM

I would buy a Rem(cal. case head you want) and send it to Shilen to true action and install Bbl./chamber bead blast or blue and then send it to Lone Wolf to put it in a Summit stock(20oz.) with their carbon fiber block bedding. Done;;;;Approx. $1000+ cost of rifle.Good Luck

toas243 · 02-24-2007, 07:58 PM

Ok here`s my thing on it ,I think you should buy a Rem 700 Sindero they are a great rifle ,and you don`t need to shell out a bunch of money

Quaka Wacka · 02-25-2007, 05:03 PM

I'd get a hold of Kirby Allen. Thats pretty much all he does is longrange hunting guns. He's a no BS guy who will ask you what you plan on doing and steer you in the right direction. His prices seem pretty reasonable, and its not too long of a wait.

SetNet · 02-26-2007, 08:13 AM

If I purchase a new or used Remington for the project, do I need to find an ultra mag action or will say a 300 win mag action work for the Build?
Also has anyone used Colliers Custom Rifles in Redmond?
SetNet

Hunt'nFish · 02-26-2007, 10:39 AM

I would recommend starting w/ an Ultra Mag action as the mag mods are already done.
However I converted a .338win Rem700 to .338Ultra and found the mags mods easy enough to do. However I think that there are minor machining differances in the recievers of Ultra Mags as compared to std magnum calibers.
Again I'd recommend starting w/ an Ultra Mag action.

I have a spare Rem700 .338Ultra w/ 24" mag-na-ported barrel. Shoots very good but not as high of velocity as a 26-28". Blued Deluxe BDL. Brother's rifle...he has no need for it now.
Hunt'nFish

DRUNK COWBOY · 02-26-2007, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traks44

The first thing that jumps into my mind when I read your post was you wanted a .338 ultra mag. Always always get exactly what you want when you go custom, dont let other people try to persuade you for something a little better or different. The .338 ulta mag is a fine long range round.

This out of the mouth of a guy who did a ton of research and ended up going with a 338 Lapua

The 338 ultra is a great round for all your hunting and shooting needs. If you are going to build a rifle in the .338 range, then go 338-378 or the Lapua. Just do a search on Trask44 and his custom rifle and you will see why he decided what he did. The ultra mag is a great round, but it is no lapua or 338-378.

SetNet · 02-27-2007, 06:23 AM

Originally I was looking at the Lapua, in the 5th edition of the Sierra reloading manual it looks like I can acheive the very similar ballistics and the brass is half the cost also factory ammunition is easier to find. The .338-378 is out again because of cost, but also the the belt from what I have read and been told greater accuracy comes from head spacing on the shoulder rather than the belt.
SetNet