I'm currently having a 338-06 built on a mauser. My smith has recomended numerous barrels makers; including Pac-Nor. I'm probably going to be ordering the barrel in the next couple days and was hoping for a touch of advice regarding contour and twist rate. i'm thinking a finished barrel length of 23" and looking at Pac Nor's site was thinking a five groove with 1-10 twist. What would be a good contour for a 338? #3? #4?

I went with a Pac-Nor (5 groove) 1 - 10" #3 Contour @ 24" for a Win. Classic action.

Many, forum members here, are VERY pleased with the 3 groove barrels from Pac-Nor too.

I think the #4 contour might be too heavy.

Things you'll want to consider is shank length (as members will tell you short is better, but it's purely up to you).

What's the weight you want this rig to come in at?

I have a #3 Shilen cut at 23" short shank.

1~10 inch twist

I used a #4 and it is a CH heavy. 1/10 #3

I had Pac-Nor turn my 338-06 Ack barrel to Remington Factory Contour and used a SS Match for the build

Mine's a Rem magnum sporter, .650" at 23", whatever the hell number that is in everyone's stat sheet.

I'm not really aiming at a finished weight, the rifle will be walnut stocked and I would be real happy with a finished weight of anywhere from 7 to 8.5 lbs. Sounds like a #3 would be my best bet. Would a #2 be too "whippy"?

If you get down below .12" wall thickness, then you are getting toward "whippy;" stay around .15 (which would mean a muzzle diameter of about .64" (2x.15+.338) would be ample. So that is very similar to aalf's .65".

I would think about a #2 or #3; I have a #3 Douglas on a Mauser in 35 Whelen and it is a good match.

I'd go with a Lilja #2, 1 in 10

If I'm right, and I'm often WRONG, but that would be .607" muzzle diameter with a 23" tube.

Here's my math (I admit I flat SUCK at math)

Lilja's #2 Contour is .575" @ 27"
Their barrels have a .008" taper per inch.

27 - 23 = 4
4 x .008 = 0.032"
.575" + 0.032" = 0.607"

I'm fairly new to this but taking the word of barrel makers and smiths; this would be pretty thin on the skin for a 338 bore..

Someone, please, correct me if I'm wrong...

My Lilja is a #4. My finished weight was 8.25lbs.

If you go Pac-Nor and go #3 Contour:

Muzzle diameters should be:

26": .625"
24": .645"
23": .655"
22": .665"
20": .685"

Yeah, mine is .660" at 23".
Lee

I built a 338-06AI this last Summer. I went with a fluted #4 magnum contour which measures .675" at 24". The barrel is a Rock 6R, 1 and 9.7" twist. I built it with a Basner stock and the total rifle weighs in at 7.14 oz with scope (Leupold 1.75-6X) and sling. The rifle shoots and balances well.

I went with a Shilen #3 @ 23" w/ 1-10 twist.

Word of caution, my mauser (Mark X) barreled action weighs in at ~ 6lbs before stock/scope/sling. Just a heads up that you might need to do some dancing to get 8lbs all up and ready to hunt.

[quote=midget]I went with a Shilen #3 @ 23" w/ 1-10 twist.

Word of caution, my mauser (Mark X) barreled action weighs in at ~ 6lbs before stock/scope/sling. Just a heads up that you might need to do some dancing to get 8lbs all up and ready to hunt. [/quot

You sure about that? 6lbs for the barreled action seems incredibly high!

Dober

#5 Douglas@23"

I like it.

If it isn't, it's pretty close. Of course, I also didn't work to hard to save any weight; commercial mauser action, commercial steel bottom metal, steel enclosed trigger, wound up having to use nearly the full shank on the barrel to get 23".

I've got a #3 Lilja at 22-inches. On a M70 in a Bansner without floor plate. Balances and feels real good. I went 1:12 but would probably go 1:10 if doing again. Shoots 210 Sciroccos into an inch.

TTone,

My .338-06 is a factory Remington .30-06 rebored to .338 with 1~10" twist. I had it abbreviated to 21" in a Brown Precision stock, it weighs in at exactly 6.5 lbs, naked. W/Leupold 6x42 installed in Talley Lwts it tips the scales @ 7.5 lbs.

AFAIC, it's perfectly blanaced. A joy to carry, and everything I've ever wanted in a medium bore. 1st load work-up put HOrnady 225 SPs in < an inch. Impressed the hell out of the guy at the next bench at the range. If I ever go west again Elk hunting, you can bet that I'll be taking it along. In the Spring, I'm going to do load work-up with Nosler 210 partitions...

Grasshopper

I went with a #4 contour and twisted 1-10" and it shoots real well even with the 250 grainers..........

I purchased a Brux #5 countour in a 10 twist, and had it fluted to finish at 24 inches. These are excellent cut rifled barrels at a VERY modest price. This is also going to go on a Win 70 classic receiver.

I know Krieger has a minimum contour of 5 for the .338 caliber in stainless. Brux said they would go to a #4, I just decided to go #5 and flute to take off about a 1/2 pound of weight.