I came across a Ruger M77 in 338-06 today at a local gun shop. It was the earlier tang safety model. It also had a Leupold FX-II or VX-II scope on it. It looked in very good shape and it was an estate purchase. I've been reading about this round and like what I've read.

The price is in the $550 range. Fair price?

My alternative is to find a decent 30-06 and have it rebarreled but that probably would cost more.

Thanks for the help and advice.

John

Buy it now!!!

I've been researching this whole thing for the past week or so as I really wanted a 338-06...I looked into many ways of getting it done but was held back by cost...

You found the greatest deal by having one already barreled for a great price...If its in good shape my recommendation is to grab it while you can...

In my search I ran across a $400 Ruger 338WM unfired, so I grabbed it instead because of my budget limitations...

Good luck!

Where was that?

If it was put together in some dudes basement with a dremel it might not be worth it.

I need to reexamine it but I am pretty sure it was a custom job.

John

I shipped a ruger 77 off to have rebored to a .358 and the said no can do,I told them to rebore to a 338 and they said no can do,they said I had to have so much meat in the wall of the barrel and if they rebored to either diameter I would not have enuff wall thickness to be safe and they refused to bore the 77,I dont know if this does you any justice,just food for thought I guess...............

As I understand what you are saying, I should check to make sure it isn't the "original" barrel on the rifle and is a replacement barrel instead. Is this correct?

John

That is sure what I would do,I believe this shop told me that if you would not end up with at least .065 {65 thousands} of meat around the bore they would not touch it,the rifle I sent up was a 308 Winchester,out side of the difference between the chamberings,I would surley think the barrels should be about the same,but as far as the 338-06 goes,that a heck of a rifle,Ive got one and I just love it...........

Get that gun. You'll be happy.

Grab it! Like Latebloomer I wanted a 338-06 but I found a Ruger 77 Tang safety with a synthetic stock in 338 Win Mag that looked almost brand new for $325. Now I just can't justify the 338-06 when I oculd just download the 338 Win Mag instead.

Without knowing which scope is on it, we're just guessing. But figuring that just about any Leupold is at least $200, you are, at most, into the rifle for $350, and probably quite a bit less.

The older tang safety Rugers are sweet, and the 338-06 is an awesome round.

If it was me, my post would've started with "I just bought this rifle...."

That very well may be what I am writing tomorrow! The shop is in an adjacent town and I just happen to have business there in the morning. The shop is on the way out of town so it would be criminal to not check it out again.

John

Update on the Ruger 338-06.

I went back to the shop today, examined it, checked the wall thickness of the barrel, etc. and decided to buy it. The scope was a Leupold VX-II 2-7 power with the gold rings intact, the wood was in excellent shape, the bore shined when I looked down it, the trigger was very nice, etc. Did all the NICS paperwork and was preparing to pay when one of the co-owner's of the shop brought out some Weatherby 338-06 A-Squared ammo. It is my understanding that the 338-06 A-Squared is the new name for the wildcat 338-06.

It chambered just fine but the bolt would NOT close. The barrel is not marked 338-06 but that was how it was sold to the shop by a dealer in PA. It does appear to be a 338 bore. Needless to say, I cancelled the transaction until they had the rifle checked out. I don't know if it has headspace problems or is actually chambered for another round. They are having a local gunsmith check it out and will get back to me on it. I'll post an update when I find out more.

John

Interesting!
You may have to load for it, which, IMO is better anyway.
I hope it works out!

Just get yourself a NIB 338Win Mag Ruger & never look back.

I used to dream about a 338-06. These days I'm a realist, the fifty year old 338Win Mag is a far superior round!

It's starting loads give warm 338-06 performance, & it can be stoked up if needed. It comes in the same action length & wears that tough looking belt(grin).


340

I concur.
I just reasoned myself out of the 338-06 in the classifieds cuz I had a Whelen and a 338. Though, it's still a really cool cartridge.

I have both a 338-06 and a 338WM.My 338-06 225 load goes 2650,my 338WM load does 2775,I use the same 180 30-06 hold over.It seems to me they are all about the same. The 338WM is the lightest,so it's my favourite.

Ruger Tang Safety in 338/06 $200
Leopold VX II $200
Together = Priceless

Scoop the bitch.

You wouldnt have seen that rifle on the rack if I had walked into that shop 10 minutes ahead of you.

Hunterbug,...that's a real good find, congrats!

How standardized is/was 338/06 before A-Square made it "honest"? Could have been cut with a reamer that was a little out of spec, for what the spec is now.

When I sent off my Model 7 for a rebarrel I was torn between 338/08 or .358 Win. I heard that the 338/08 was about to be legitimized by someone. I was worried that my chamber would end up out of spec for the "official" spec. I went .358 and have been very happy with it.

Could be something like that.

-jeff

Could it be .333 instead of .338

Or 8mm .323?????????????

Without having talked to the gunsmith who is supposed to examine this rifle, I think I may have found the issue. Looking up the 338-06 and 338-06 A-Square in The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions, I see that the overall length is just a bit longer in the A-Square version. I'm guessing this was rebarreled into 338-06 long before A-Square "standardized" the 338-06 to SAAMI specs.

Someone made the suggestion, either here or on a handloader's forum, that if I get it, I should do a chamber cast and I agree 100%. If I am smart about this, I can use it to lower the purchase price!

John

Better yet, just cut a new Improved chamber. You can buy the reamer from Brownells or Midway, or take it to good smith and let him have all of the fun. That way you will have a chamber of known dimensions that can still shoot factory ammo or handloads with standard 338-06, 06, or better yet, necked down 35 Whelen cases. I necked up 06 cases and rediscovered that they make into very short cases for the 338-06. They still work well in my T/C Encore. We'll see how well they work in the rifle Mike is sending my way.

+1 on the necked down Whelen brass.