338-06 Rifle build. Ideas please

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Toomanyguns

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I wish to put together a 338-06 hunting rifle.

I want it to be reasonably lightweight, stainless barrel, synthetic stock and most importantly, a tack driver. I will utilize a pre 64 model 70 action. I plan on having the action trued, bedded, trigger adjusted and barrel floated. And yes, I will be putting a Jennings muzzle brake on it!

Many of you have done this very thing. Your thoughtful ideas for quality components, barrel twist and modifications will be appreciated.
 
No comments on mods, as I don't know the fine points of the Mod. 70 action. The only thing that comes to mind is to make sure the mag box is as long as possible to allow seating the heavier bullets long to keep the case capacity up.

I would use 1:10 twist, that will easily stabilize 250gr bullets and that is about as heavy as would be practical with the 338-06. Barrel blank could be from any one of a number of makers. Shilen, McGown, Guillaird (sp?), etc. all produce a quality product. Use a light contour and keep the length at 24" or shorter for weight and handling reasons. I would skip the brake, it is just noisy and unnecessary for a hunting rifle. Get the fit right and put a Limbsaver on it and you shouldn't need a brake. For a stock I would pick one of the lightweight B&C stocks, depending on what style fits you best.

IMO, the smith you choose is more important than the individual components because he will have a far bigger influence on the final product than a couple of brand names.

Mark
 
I have a Cooper Jackson Game rifle in .338-06, it has a 1-10 twist. It's the easiest rifle I've ever loaded for, the thing shoots tacks. Not sure if it's the cartridge or the rifle OR my excellent shooting abilities ;) but the outfit works. I'm sure an RKS or gailard barrel on your pre '64 will work great. I have a pre'64 winchester with an RKS barrel and a bansner stock chambered in 8mm Gibbs. Nice rifle but so far it doesn't shoot like the Cooper. I wouldn't be to quick to install a brake, these two rifles aren't too bad to shoot at all, a .340wby maybe but not the .338-06.
 
Skip the brake, it's not needed.

A 24" barrel is what I recommend.

1 in 10 twist is what you need.

My rifle wears a Bevan King barrel and it's both accurate and easy to clean.
 
Thanks guys.

Have any of you ever used a Jennings muzzle brake? I can tell you that the sound is actually reduced to the shooters ears because the blast is directed forward. Same for persons beside the shooter. Felt recoil is reduced significantly. It is a fantastic product.

Boo, does the 24" barrel achieve muzzle velocity of 2700 with 225 gr bullets? If I could get 2800 with a 250gr I would be in heaven! I'd chuck out the 338 Win Mag.
 
No comments on mods, as I don't know the fine points of the Mod. 70 action. The only thing that comes to mind is to make sure the mag box is as long as possible to allow seating the heavier bullets long to keep the case capacity up.

What magazine length would I need if using Barnes TSX in 225 with appropriate amount of powder to get at least 2700 fps?
 
with a pre-64, you are stuck with a 3.400" magazine box, with a practical COAL of 3.340"

2700 with a cup/core 225 is achievable (barely) with a 22" barrel and a compressed load of 4350 (60-62 grains). A 225 TSX would not fit. Maybe with RL-17
 
Toomanyguns said:
What magazine length would I need if using Barnes TSX in 225 with appropriate amount of powder to get at least 2700 fps?
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Skip the brake, Jennings or otherwise. You can extract more accuracy and speed if you use 12" twist instead (plenty fast even for 250+grainers) (10" twist will stabilize 300gr bullets easy) 10" one and medium countur barrel with at least .625 dia at muzzle. Your rifle shouldn't be less than 8lbs in that caliber everything included and Limbsaver recoil pad is exelent idea. I build many rifles in 35Whelen around this concept with 16" twist and 22" barrel lenght with no complaints b/c it works....BTW your magazine lenght is long enough.
 
Toomanyguns said:
If I could get 2800 with a 250gr I would be in heaven! I'd chuck out the 338 Win Mag.
Click to expand...

That I think is being a bit unrealistic.

I am running a 225 grain Hornady SP at 2740 fps and am getting 15 - 16 reloads per case. I had them as high as 2775 without pressure signs but accuracy was better - 5 shot 1" groups @ 100 m - with the lower velocity. 250 grain TBBC launch at 2600+ fps and will put down anything with 4 legs in Canada.

BTW, Bevan King long- throated the chamber in my barrel in Weatherby fashion so that I could load the cartridge fairly hot.

I am well aware of Dave Jennings brake and in my opinion it's a noisy beast - like all non-mechanical brakes - and as hunting with ear muffs is not my thing I would not have one on my rifle.

While the 338 -06 can generate stiff recoil in a light rifle I think it is very manageable for the average shooter. Use a sissy bag at the range to shoot off the bench and practice standing off-hand if you are recoil sensitive. You will never notice the recoil while shooting at an animal but the results of shooting a braked rifle without hearing protection will stay with you for days or weeks.
 
Also .................

After trying several different types and weights of bullets in my 338-06 I have now settled on the 210 grain Barnes TTSX as the perfect bullet for this cartridge.
 
Toomanyguns said:
What magazine length would I need if using Barnes TSX in 225 with appropriate amount of powder to get at least 2700 fps?
Click to expand...

My Hornady manual lists a number of loads that get a 225gr bullet up to 2700fps and their loads are typically pretty soft. The 225gr TTSX is a long bullet, as long as a 250gr Accubond. If you want to use a TTSX, I think the 210gr would be a better choice.

The TTSX's penetrate fantastically well at lighter weights and you get a bit of extra velocity to help overcome the lower BC that the TTSX has compared to a good 225gr lead core bullet.

Mark
 
on my second 338 06 i went with a trued up rem 700 action, 23 inch light conture douglas xx barrel and a light weight b&c stock. all parts picked up on site so the build was quite cheap. work done by guntec. this one is fairly light weight and i still wouldn't want a brake on it. i had a mnt rifle with a kdf brake in 280ai that was fun to shoot at the range but never went hunting as i don't use hearing protection in the bush and prefer not to be stone deaf. 225 noz ab or hornaby ib at 2700 + is fast enough. i think the 225's are an ideal bullet in this calibre.
 
On the stock: get a McMillan Edge or a Bansner.
On the barrel: get a Krieger, Pacnor, Gaillard or Shilen and IMO that order. If you want light and handy, any of their #2 with a 1" shank will do nicely.
And just to be a thorn, if it is a pre'64 get a CM barrel and have a hardy rust blue done on it. It looks too nice and when oiled a little when warm a couple times a year, its as good as stainless.
For the Smith, try to get Leeper to do it. The three nicest Model 70's I have ever seen where done by Nobby Uno, Fischer and Leeper.
Skip the break and you will probably have little issues. Even with the lightest components this gun is going to weigh 7lbs unless you use a really short stock and a 20" needle barrel.
210gr TTSX's, RL15 and a 24" barrel will get you 2800fps. That a hammer of Thor right there.
 
I'm in the middle of a 338-06 build.

I am going with a Hart 1:10 barrel, I have yet to decide on the final length, my first inclination was to go with a 20" but the blank came 28" so I have options...... I will be utilizing a brake, a custom one from my local smith.

I'm also using a model 700 action and an HS percision stock. I was thinking about a peep set up for sights, but with a drilled and tapped reciver it will be switch to a scope later.
 
rem338win said:
210gr TTSX's, RL15 and a 24" barrel will get you 2800fps. That a hammer of Thor right there.
Click to expand...

My recipe is 61 grains of W760 under the 210 TTSX in a reformed Winchester 30-06 case lit with a WLR primer. 2800 fps on the nose and all the punch I will ever need. (even if I eventually win that damn bison draw!)

Here is the exit wound on the moose I took this fall. The bull was shot at ~200 yards using the 210 TTSX.
210_TTSX_338_exit.jpg

210_TTSX_Exit.jpg
 
Toomanyguns said:
No comments on mods, as I don't know the fine points of the Mod. 70 action. The only thing that comes to mind is to make sure the mag box is as long as possible to allow seating the heavier bullets long to keep the case capacity up.

What magazine length would I need if using Barnes TSX in 225 with appropriate amount of powder to get at least 2700 fps?
Click to expand...

You could get a 338-06 AI chamber. @ 100-150 fps slower than 338 WM
 
It would be hard to find a smith with the reamer, but a 338-280AI would be interesting. Just a tad more capacity and who else has one?? Brass is now available already formed, or can easily be formed.

There is a wyatt's box available for m70 long actions (http://www.wyattsoutdoor.com/mbeeight.html) , however I do not know if it works with a pre64. This would let you thoat and seat a bit longer for the longer ttsx bullets. Is your action a true pre 64 or a newer "classic" action? If it is the newer action I would also get a Williams extractor.

I would stay Canadian and go with a wildcat stock, they are in the same weight range as a McM edge stock. There are so many options a guy could go with...
 
dan belisle said:
If you want 2800 with 250 gr bullets, build a 358 Norma Mag. You'll never do it with a 338-06 (and it's difficult with a 338 Win Mag). - dan
Click to expand...

Exactly. I think you'd be doing well at 2500fps with a 250gr in the .338-06; and quite frankly that is plenty of go for moose and elk.
 
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