Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 338 win mag in a mcmillan edge

I have ran this set up for 15 years and would do it exactly all over again. When this barrel is shot out it will be replaced and nothing else changed.

Standard 700 S/S BDL in .338 Win Mag of course. Brown stock, Rick Bin did the paint 13 yrs. ago, barrel shortened to 22.5". Karl did his bolt thing. Warne steel bases & Burris Signature Zee rings. Leupy 3.5-10x42.

I may upgrade the glass soon.

Thanks guys. I'll probably just end up going 338-06. I've always been a sucker for a 338-06

I have three of those in my safe, all Remington 700s.
One McMillan, one Brown, and one
Banser.
Just my preference, but I like the Banser best.
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What are your build specs and weights on these?

Weights I don't know, but the Micky has a 22" Shilen #4.
It's the only one I had built
The Brown has a 24" Shilen (I think), maybe a factory profile.
The Banser I bought as a barreled action, 23 " Lilja, another slim profile
The Micky is the heaviest, Brown next, then the Banser.
I'd say the barrels have more to do with that than the stocks.
The mickey is the most accurate, most likely because I had the 'smith build it specifically for the 210 Nosler, all it's ever shot.
Sorry to not provide more info, but I'm not a real rifle Looney, I just hang around the edges of the group.

Tracks the edge of the group is probably the safest place to be.

Bansner.

After a lot of debating, I picked a Bansner but it isn't finished yet. Part of the reason is that Brad hasn't convinced me to chop my 338 down to 22", I think edge is better proportioned for the 22 inch barrel and I am keeping mine at 24. I like the ergo's of the Bansner. Brad is probably right on the 22" though.

22" for the win

I agree with Brad on the Bansner. It's going to soak up more recoil because of the ergos (more of a parallel comb and not so much drop at the comb). However, I'd leave it at 24". Here's a 30-06 sporter I had in a Bansner. It sported a 24" tube:

I like my .338 XCR much better since Brad convinced me to chop it. Now I can't remember if it's 22" or 23", though.

If it's 23", it's likely Dober convinced you...

Brad sold me on the 22" 338 when I had one built. One of my better decisions.
Despite what some may claim, he's not often wrong .

If you reload you can have a .338 Fed or 338-06 by downloading a .338 Win Mag. I have been doing that for years. A few years ago when we were all in hoarding mode I bought 2 lifetime supplies of 180 BT's from Shooters Pro Shop. These thing shoot light out with a reduced load of H4895 around 2800 fps. This load is great for deer and hogs. I also tried the 60% rule of H4895 and I get around 2000 fps with the same 180's for a great plinking/position shooting ammo that is easy on the shoulder.

For elk and mulies I can load it back up to 338 Win Mag velocities. As a Loony, I could never be a 1 rifle man but if a cruel fate destine me too I could be a 1 rifle man with my .338

I have and have had .338WM rifles in McMillans-5, MPI-Dakota 76 factory-1, Rimrocks-2, Clifton-1 and Browns, can't recall, but, have six now and have owned/used seven over some 31+ years with plastic handles.

I also have several rifles with Micky Edge stocks, Edge fill and my largest is a Brno ZG-47 in 9.3x62, which I am a tad nervous about.

I would NOT use an Edge-Edge stock for a .338WM, I load 250s only and much prefer 24" of tube, but, have shorter ones.

YMMV, JMHO after many years with this round.

I agree with SNAP. Would not go Edge/Edge with a 338 and would limit it to 300 WM as D'Arcy suggested..

Although I was unaware it was possible to get other fills for an Edge shell,before hearing it from Pathfinder and confirming with Darcy.

This opens up new possibilities for sure.

I started using the .338 around 30 years ago, after building one on an FN Mauser commercial action. The rifle evolved over time, through changes in barrel, stocks, scope, mounts, etc., partly because the first thing I noticed was the cartridge didn't generate as much recoil as some people claimed.

Within about 10 years the rifle's overall scoped weight dropped from over 9 pounds (which some said was necessary to tame the fearsome recoil) to an ounce under 7-1/2 pounds. During that period I also noticed 250-grain bullets weren't necessary, since newer 200-225 grain bullets penetrate plenty.

The stock is a Bansner, with the forend shortened a little. The barrel is 22" long, which obviously reduces velocity so much some bullets will bounce off larger big game, but apparently have been lucky.

Bansner stocks fit me a little better than McMillan's shapes, but that depends on the individual.

Have also owned two .338-06's and a .338 Federal, but eventually decided a light .338 Winchester worked just as well, since back when mine first appeared I found it easy to load to the same velocities, with fine accuracy.

Must be shooting them there Afreekin Rhinophants again, eh!?

Never yet had a bullet "bounce off" any BC animals, have 22.5, 23 and 24" tubes, as well as 25" and had 26" on a Ruger No. 1. I just prefer to use 23-24" as I use irons on my mediums and the sight radius works for my 70 year old eyes.

That said, I now carry my KMA-280AI-160 NP, most of the time. Old age, busted up carcass, what can I say, eh!

John: Bansner has always been good stock. Had a few but for some reason none in calibers larger than a 7 mag.