Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Need Help Grading a p64

I tell you what, the McMillan on my Alaskan feels night and day different in regards to recoil vs the old wood stock. It is very pleasant. All the same spec's and such, just "feels" lighter recoiling.. The McM actually feels a little trimmer as well.

You know realistically, the .338 win is so versatile a lot of different bullet weights work in it. I know some guys down here that use the 210 partitions for elk and it hamers them. The guys I hunt with run the 250 gr. sierra's (don't laugh). This year, I hope to try the 225gr Hornady interlock on a big bull (or little bull, I don't care!!!, any bull ..). You know how it is here: take what you can get...

Sure rub it in .. I have a line on a nice swirly that I've been contemplating putting on one of my pre 64's.

For any realistic use I'd have for my 338 I wouldn't need a 250. But back when I used to play with it, the rifle made it clear to me a 250 was what it liked.

Oh yeah, nothing much has has changed since the 338 was released, for the guy that wants something more than a 270/30-06 class the 338 really fills the gap better than a 300 magnum. My opinion on that as I like the 300 mags a bunch, but with 200's and 210's humming along at around 3000 they don't give up much of anything to the 300's ballistically and really seem to be very effective elk bullets. The 250's and 275 are in a whole nother class, maybe not as perfect as a 375 but still effective.

Amen...

Back to the OP's question. I'd like to see a few more pics, just to see what he has. Maybe some close ups of the bluing job, the bolt face, the crown, muzzle, top of the receiver/bridges, and stampings (including proofmarks, under receiver and bottom of the recoil lug). Also, condition of the bore would be good to know as well. Even though we know the majority of 338's didn't get shot much: It's hard to find one with a worn out bore...

My Ruger m77's were the same way. I even tried the 180's back in the day and the 250's always seemed to edge out everything in the accuracy dept. However, I always suspected it was because of the particular type/brand of bullet (Sierra gameking). My first 2 Rugers loved a stiff charge of IMR 4350 which ran the 250's at 2,700 fps and my last Ruger liked a somewhat anemic load (67gr. IMR 4350) that ran 2,600 fps. My Alaskan doesn't seem to be as particular as the Rugers and has seemed to shoot just about everything I've tried in it pretty accurately. The Rugers were very decisive when the accuracy node was achieved. 1/2 a grain in either direction would make accuracy suffer big time. Here's the last Ruger m77's load:

Just like EricM said, this is a great post...tons of information. My dad and brother both shoot 300 roys and I just felt the 338 win was much more versatile, which is why I bought one a couple years ago (a sako) and used it on my first elk hunt.

BSA...I have not gotten additional pictures. The owner was out of town for a couple days. I've asked and need to follow-up with a call.

setch, in your opinion, is his price reasonable for the condition of the rifle? I know you don't have all the specifics since the rifle is not in hand, but what is your gut feeling?

That is the question. Given the lack of data, I'm not sure what would be reasonable. It can be had for something between $1000 and $1200...probably more towards the top end of that range. On the one hand, I'm not about collecting, more about rifles that can be used, if I want to use them. But I don't want to overpay just because it is a p64. There's a lot of goodness in a an alaskan of that era, even with the alterations. And for that reason, I was/am interested. Absent some better information, it'd be a leap of faith, which I'm never real good at making.

I am going to try to get some additional and better pictures, so we'll see.

I'm looking forward to seeing more pics. Sounds like you are thinking logically as well. Keep us posted.

I believe $1200 would be a fair price if it is indeed an original .338. Drop it in a Mickey and proceed to slay critters.