Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats 338-06 build

I am in the process of gathering parts for a 338-06 rifle build. The rifle will be used foe hunting Deer on up to elk and Moose. I will be using the 185gr to the 225gr bullets. I would like to hear you suggestions on:

Rifle action
Barrel length
Barrel twist

I am thinking of a budget of $1,500 not including optics.

Very interested in what you all have to say.
Thank you
Simply

If I wanted a 338-06 and was starting from scratch with $1,500, I think that I'd consider this:

$500 - for a used CLR in 270 or 30-06.
$250 - for JES to rebore it to 338-06.
$600 - for NULA to install an upgraded stock, trigger, and safety.

$1,350+/- leaves 10% of your original budget to cover contingencies.

I would then settle on the one .338" bullet that does it all and does it well, the 210 grain Partition.

If I were doing it again, I'd buy a Kimber Montana 84L and put a 22"-23" 1:10 custom barrel on it. My current one is built on a Savage 110 action with a 22" barrel. Mine seems slow relative to load manuals and what others report. Only ~100 FPS over my 338 Federal, although better suited to the 225s. The 225 Accubonds and Partitions are what I focused on, but if I decide to start using it I will probably work up a 210 Partition or 185 TTSX load. Some 160 TTSXs at >3100 would be fun too.

They certainly are..know you've seen this pic before.Still experimenting with different powders as they become available..so far chrono reads 3210 from my S/S Pro Hunter AI barrel.

Those little 160s are some killing mo' fo's! I shot an Elk, Kudu, Waterbuck, Gemsbok, Blesbok and Impala with 160 launched at ~3030. They did not fail to impress!

Mine is the Ackley Improved version, based off a Sako m75 Greywolf with a PacNor Supermatch grade stainless barrel, cut to 24", fluted. All work done off a blank barrel by my gunsmith (Corlanes in Dawson Creek). I believe 1-10 twist. Great Shooter !!! I fireformed my 338-06AS headstamped Norma brass with medium/hot loads. In a pinch I could use new non fireformed brass and the rifle shoots good too.

I shoot 225gr AB's and TTSX's as this is what I built it to shoot. If I wanted 180gr bullets, I would just use my Sako m75ss 300WM.

If I was to build another and going lighter, I would still go Sako m75 rifle with a MacMillan Edge stock, a #3 barrel cut to 22" and fluted to shave some more weight. Reloads of 210gr TTSX's would be sweet or Swift Scirroco II's. 200gr AB's as well.

Awesome..I'm surprised how flat they shoot with a .342 BC...But the extra speed sure don't hurt!

Remington adl $450
#3 contour of your choice $300
TI takeoff stock $250
Gunsmith cost $250

Barrel cut to 22" or 23" throated for 225 grain accubonds with H4350 underneath it for 2625fps.

I love the idea of the 338 low recoil version but if your flinging 185's to 200's I can't imagine an 06' for very hundreds less could not match it with eyes closed flinging very high BC wares. Not trying to piss in soup but 250's up with mild recoil and great energy would seem to be where the 338 version earns it's keep..... JMO

W

I am into my 338-06 $1350.

Took a Kimber Montana 270 (bought used for $925), sent it to JES to rebore and cut down to 21" for $275, $150 more for a Ti fluted bolt handle and aluminum tirgger guard and ended up with a sub 5 pound rifle. Even with a 17 oz scope on it its just over 6 pounds.

Shoots 210 Sciroccos at 2760 out of the 21" barrel under an inch. Also loaded up some 250 a frames to just north of 2550 fps for when I want to chance some big and furry and has long claws and teeth.

I like hte setup and its a dream t ocarry so far. We'll see if I can kill anything with it this year

Remington action, send to PacNor for #3 barrel at 23in, Bansner stock from classifieds, 210 Noslers in front of 62gr of IMR 4350 for 2750fps to hunt everything. powdr

Remington C series Action, blueprinted
Basner High Tech Sheep Stock, bedded
Timney Trigger
Hart #3 Contour
Cerekote by Eddie
metal by Barry Davis

Simply, I have a 338-06AI. I started with the venerable Rem 700. Had a 24 in Gaillard barrel mated to that with I think a 1-10 twist. Have settled on using the Swift Scirocco on top of some RL-17. I'm into the gun for about $1200 before the optics.
Glad I did the project. It compliments my 270 and shoots great. On game performance is second to none.
Good luck.

Winchester Model 70 classic action
#2 contour barrel 1:10, 22-23"
PT&G aluminum bottom metal
Lightweight stock of your choice/fit
Talley lightweights
Leupy 2.5-8
210gr Barnes TTSX, TSX or NP

or
Just get a 30-06 Classic FWT, leave as is, or send to JES for a 338 rebore.

Shooting heavier bullet in a standard, 30-06, length actions seems to fall more into the 9.3x62's sweet-spot than the 338-06's. The variety of lighter .338" bullet has increased significantly since this rifle was built I had initially intended to shoot 225 grain bullets in it, but after shooting a bit, I settled on the 210 grain Partition. I haven't shot it in awhile, maybe four or five years, but think that I blow the dust off it and look at loading some of those lighter/faster bullets.

My 338-06 is a Husqvarna-built S&W with a Douglas stainless barrel in the "C" style stock and was built as a pair, with the mate being chambered in 256 Newton.

Close to what I did, but I went Pac Nor #3 contour 3 groove 10 twist 24" and McMillan Edge. With 6 rounds of 200 grain ammo in it and a cheap Allen nylon speed sling it weighs 8 lbs 9 oz. I blew the $1500 budget as I had $1200 in the action, barrel, and stock. Cost me $800 more for Kevin Weaver to blue print the action, install and chamber, and bed the stock.









If I were doing it for $1500, I'd find an M700 ADL, B&C ADL Mountain Rifle stock, Timney trigger, and rebore. This should keep you well under your $1500 budget.

Simply, I had a 338-06AI version built using the venerable 700 action. I then had a 24in Gaillard barrel mated to the action. The twist I believe is 1-10. The action is trued and bedded.
The load I've settled on uses a 210gr Scirocco on top of 61.0gr RL-17. This chrono's 2850 and groups under an in. Great ballistics.
Glad I had the gun made. It compliments my 270 well.
In total I have about $1200 into the gun before optics. It helps to be good friends with the gunsmith otherwise you can add some green to that dollar amount.
Good luck with your project.

I'd go with a Tikka T3 action with barrel of choice finished at 21" in a Manners stock.

The reason I would finish at 21" is the 338/06 loses little velocity vs a 24" barrel. About 50 fps total

Hand loads would be Norma Brass headstamped 338/06

59-62 gr Reloader 17

CCI 250 mag primer

210 partition

Shod

A Wallyworld 270 ADL with a LaBounty rebore that I bedded into a KS take-off. I did this in 1995, assume today all can be had under what you are shooting for. I have used many bullets with all performing well. Most recently the 225 gr AB on grizzly and black bear. It shoots that bullet exceedingly well.

I went with a M98 and had an old guild barrel rebored. It turned out pretty nice.

I went the full blue print 700 route and after hunting with it for a full season, I am completely enamored with it. It shoots extremely well, has fairly moderate recoil, and the 225 accubonds has proved excellent on game. I told Benchmark Barrels to optimize the twist, rifling, and chambering for the 225 AB and it came back with a 1/9.4 twist.

Rem action, 22 inch #3 1-12 twist Pac-Nor barrel, TI stock, 2.5X8 scope in DD's. 7.4lbs

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Great rifle and cartridge, but knowing what I know now, I would have just done a nice .30-06.

Throw in a few more bucks and get a Cooper excalibur
Shooting 185gr TTSX over R15



Ranged 400yds these suckers a little



Ranged 359 yds these suckers are big

Mine is a Model 70 rebored.... I bought a Model 70 in 270 in Montana at Walmart just after hunting season was over for $300 or less... Had Bob West in Eugene OR rebore it..think he charged me $200 back then., late 90s...

Mine lives happily with Hornady 200, 225 grain SPs and 250 grain RNs...the last one is my favorite....

Understatement of the year, you shouldn't be so modest.

Who needs a .338 barrel...............???

The 185 TSX thumped this critter at 290 yards. Dropped at the shot, lights out. That said, the 210 gr Partition has delivered well.

I am looking for a 338 barrel.....

Can anyone post a web address for getting a rebore done? My BIL let his Tikka 270 bore rust and needs to replace or have the barrel rebored.

Thanks,

Richard

Much of the advice given in this thread is useless as you are here in BC-Canada and sending a rifle to the USA is so much hassle that it is seldom worth doing, IMO.

So, you are confined to using Canadian smiths and good ones here are few and far between as compared with the States. Given, your relatively low budget, I would suggest a simple re-barrel of an existing Classic Mod. 70, especially a stainless version, or, a Ruger MKII.

There ARE some FINE barrel makers here, Ted Gsillard's sts tubes SHOOT and Bevan King, if still working, RKS, the same and a newer guy in AB whom I just spoke with and intend on ordering from soon, can all supply a good tube in .338" bore.

Smiths whom I can and do recommend, based on work done for me and on some pricey rifles, ie, my two Dakota 76-.338WMs and many others, are Jan Kolenbrander, VERY good, SLOW and a bit more costly than some, but, WORTH IT, Blackart, very busy, EXCELLENT work, good as Jan, super guy, maybe Bevan, maybe Nobby Uno, in Comox/Courtenay IF these guys are still working.

Others, whose work on friends rifles I respect, Denis Sorenson of the Victoria area and some young'un near Cranbrook,"Bill".... thinks he is "old", but, I am older than he is.....not as ornery, tho'....

IF, you need an action on which to build, look into the fine HVA actions now sold in used Husqvarna 1600 rifles by Tradex, I have two customs built on these and would do more if I were not so ancient and gimpy......

Lots of MK-Xs around and the fine, fine Brno 21s are out there if you look hard and these would be my first choice.

Here is mine. It's a late 1950's BSA Royal Featherweight. The barrel is a 1 in 10 twist 24" Bevan King SS. The action and barrel are teflon coated. I would highly recommend Bevan but age has caught up to him and he is now 99.9% retired. As mentioned there are many good gunsmiths in Western Canada and some exceptional ones in BC like Bill Leaper and Martin Hagn.

The final load I settled on is a 210 grain Barnes Tipped Triple Shock (TTSX) launched at 2850 fps.

The rifle tips the scales at 8 pounds scoped with a full magazine.

The 24" barrel gives the rifle of front end "hang" and it is very easy to shoot offhand.







Exit wound from the 210 TTSX. Moose was shot at ~250 yards and he went only about 50 yards before the blood drained out of him.