Home Forums Hunting & Shooting The Lefty Forum Options for LH CRF build or buy

I know this has been beat to death but I am trying to round out hunting rifles with a .338 WM and LH Win 70's are getting cost prohibitive to buy if you can find your one, because all us leftties have to fight over the limited supply.

I have a 06 and 300WSM I've picked up through the years, both were sub MOA rifles and I have been pleased. I hear MRC is seriously hit or miss on quality and have never owned a Ruger I was happy with, is there any other option in CRF. Is my best bet to continue to hunt one on the web like my great white whale.

You could use a MRC action, a McMillan stock, and whatever barrel you want. Quality would be considerably higher, but price would be as well.

^^^^^^^^
That's my plan!

Nothing wrong with a 77 action, if you do a little work to it.
Bob

The Ruger is my preference in a CRF over the Win or MRC based on a lot of rifles. Welcome lefty 777

Have you ever shot or handled a LH Ruger Hawkeye in 338 RCM I have 2 RH SS and LH Wood Blue great rifle and CDNN has a few at $499 . Very accurate, smooth, LW, LH with sights.

Pretty sure my next LH build will be on a M77.

Besides hunting for a Win M70, or going with the MRC, there is also the handful of Mausers out there you could build off of. The Zastava is probably the most accessible.

Also been thinking about trying a CZ but I am not very familiar with them.

How about the Tikka T3 closeouts? Would a 300 Win Mag work in a rebuild?

I think he wants strictly CRF, which rules out Tikka.

Valid point though. The RH 338 stainless were going for $400, and I have heard that a simple barrel swap does work to get a LH 338 with a factory pipe

I built up about a half dozen rifles on Ruger actions. They all easily exceeded my accuracy standards. Most were rebarreled with Lilja stainless barrels and then bedded by myself in McMillan stocks. I wouldnt hesitate to do it again. By the time you are finished you are close to having $2,000 into the rifle including the Lilja and McMillan, gunsmith fees, and the cost of the rifle.

I was surprised that this LH SS Ruger in 338-06 didn't sell when I posted it about a year ago.

Campfire ad

It was priced way below the cost of making it.

Yeah...that surprises me too.
Still have it?

Yep.

Oh I know the answer to the riddle. I'm surprised Bricktop didn't chime in.

Utah708, your Ruger 338-06 isn't selling because:

1. You make it abundantly clear you wont shoot it, so you can say you can't comment on its accuracy. Shoot it and post the groups.

2. It hasn't got the rings it should. Mine has stainless not blued rings.

3. Not matching the barrel contour to the stock is a mess. You say its a Shilen barrel with sharp professional lettering and name the previous owner, but you don't offer any proof.

4. Why get a 338-06 wildcat that's a mess for $700 + shipping when you can get a Ruger Hawkeye 338 RCM for $499 + transfer, with ammo and brass readily available?

Bam,it is no mystery why the rifle wont sell.


Lefty777 - You have never owned a Ruger you've been pleased with, and MRC actions are made by Ruger. You'll have to search for a used Winnie left hand. Go sharpen your harpoon.

As my posting history shows, I won't engage in flame wars on here. But I do have to say that for someone with only 4 posts on the campfire, you are swinging for the azzhole side of ledger pretty hard.

RgrRSI, care to share with the group what your previous screen name was ?

Doesn't matter. He probably is on multiple ignore lists already, so half of the members will only see a blank white space.

Thanks to all for the responses. While I am "new" to the forum I have used the site for awhile to further my rifle education.

I am not bashing Ruger by any means I just have not had much luck there. While the M70 Classics are not perfect by my standards they seem to be a better donor to work on.

Also, I may be listing a M70 Sporter LH Wood Stock and a spare Brux .30 cal featherweight contour barrel shortly on the classifieds. Was going to build a mtn rifle and remembered I live in TN.

Sorry for taking liberties being a newbie. I have no previous screen names.

It is frustrating that there are so few choices for lefties.

Again my apologies.

This ^^^^^

Lefty777, I have a couple LH MRC's. Slickest rifle action i have owned. Only downside, the two I have are not the lightest rifles in the cabinet.

If you wanted to build a rifle, a stainless MRC action would get you into CRF. You could then add barrel and stock to suit your fancy.

Just a thought...

I wish Ruger made a left hand 338WM. I would have bought one a long time ago. They don't even make a left hand 338wm Hawkeye. I've never owned an RCM, but I've always been a little intrigued. Still that's not a WM... welcome to the fire... Your options are as follows:

1. Winchester model 70 left hand classic.
2. MRC left hand.
3. Custom barreled Ruger m77.
4. Zastava model 70 left hand. I'm not sure if they chambered one in 338WM, you'd have to find out.

That is my pet peeve if you do not like something that is for sale express that via PM ! Or a lo ball offer !

RGR you made my Ignore list!

Utah you had a lot more than that in parts re-barrel is over $650 in 17.

Buy one of the Ruger Alaskan 375 Ruger and rebarrel it. I did that and made a 330 Dakota, but other options would be the 338-375 Ruger or even the 338 win. mag. Could be all in for barely over $1000

Went down the same road as KenMi and really happy with my 338WM with Douglas barrel. The rifle is around 9 lbs and has a recoil reducer and limbsaver which makes it a pleasure to shoot from the bench.The Balance with a 22" barrel is great Hope this pic works..

Just get a LH Zastava in 375 H&H and be done with it. Mine shoots 5 shots into .600 at 100 easily, out of the box, no tinkering except adjusting a creepy trigger. Feeds and works flawlessly. No, it's not for sale.

Zastava M70 has not been available in .338 WM., It is a definite rebarrel proposition.
Your best bet is to get a Ruger and rebarrel for the money.

I have a Win 70 CF,LH .338WM, Lilia 26"+break in a McM stock laying around. If your interested, PM me contact info for pics & more info.

That's a beauty. It really pizzes me off that Ruger never made a LH 338WM....