Thinking of another .338-06

[taylorce1]

I love this cartridge! I have a nice custom 1903A3 built in this caliber sporting a #5 24" fluted Lilja barrel. I've been shooting 200 grain Hornady SP at nearly 2900 fps and able to hold sub MOA groups for 3 shots, sometimes I can pull off a 5 shot string as well. I love the way it shoots but so far I've only taken a pronghorn doe at 200 yards with it.

However it is heavy ! 10.5 lbs with 2.5-8X36 Leupold, that isn't even loaded. This has really kept me from chasing elk with it. I could put this rifle on a diet but then it would require a new stock as well as a barrel, and it has a nice walnut stock. I'm thinking my real option is just to build another rifle.

I've got an old M670 .30-06 in the safe, haven't shot it yet, but I picked it up cheap. Do you guys think this would be a good donor action? I've found a pretty good deal on a Micky Win FWT stock, all it would require is the purchase of some bottom metal as well. Send it off to Pac-Nor for a 22" barrel as light of contour as they will do probably #2 or 3. Have everything bead blasted and Gunkote in matte black. Move the Leupold over in some Talley LWT rings, load up some 200 grain Accubonds and get the CDS dial once I've got my load worked up.

Do you think I can come in at 8 lbs or less and have a rifle that I can chase elk with?

 

[DrMike]

You can build the rifle you want and bring it in within that weight range. Discuss with your gunsmith steps to make the rifle lighter still. It is possible to shave off a few ounces and make it look pretty good in the process. I'd do it.

 

[taylorce1]

You can build the rifle you want and bring it in within that weight range. Discuss with your gunsmith steps to make the rifle lighter still. It is possible to shave off a few ounces and make it look pretty good in the process. I'd do it.

I'm trying to bypass the GS on this one that is why I'd just send it off to Pac-Nor and have them install the barrel and blue print the action. I'm pretty sure I can do the rest of the build myself except for the Gunkote. I got married last year and most of my disposable rifle money has gone away.

 

[JD338]

Call Pac-Nor, they should be able to assist you in a lighter weight rifle.
A light weight stock will also help you reach your weight goal.

JD338

 

[Scott Spencer]

I've been afraid to weigh my Ruger M77 with a 23" Pac-Nor barrel (in 338-06), and 2.5-8x36 Leupold, but I had them just copy the contour of the Ruger 22" factory barrel so I wouldn't have to do any stock mods. My guess is that my rifle weighs close to 8 lbs. but I always figured the less I know the better off I can handle it. :grin:

As Jim suggested, call Pac-Nor and talk to Penny. They can do what you want and will offer suggestions as well. They are great to deal with and you'll get your rifle back in 2-3 months max when they do the barrel, fix it to your action, and blue print it.

 

[BK]

One other thing to think about, a Mickey EDGE fill stock will probably weigh 6-8 oz. less than a standard fill.

I don't know that much about a Winchester 670. Is is just a budget M70, like the Sportsman 78 was a cheap 700?

I think about the lightest scope mounts are going to be Talley LWs. The scope you have is a pretty good choice for a LW build.

 

[taylorce1]

One other thing to think about, a Mickey EDGE fill stock will probably weigh 6-8 oz. less than a standard fill.

I don't know that much about a Winchester 670. Is is just a budget M70, like the Sportsman 78 was a cheap 700?

I think about the lightest scope mounts are going to be Talley LWs. The scope you have is a pretty good choice for a LW build.

I would love an Edge, but it is just a standard fill FWT stock and it is used or else I'd be looking at cheaper synthetics for this build.

The 670 is a push feed M70 with no bottom metal kind of like an ADL. If I was going to buy a new stock I'd just leave it a blind mag to save the weight of bottom metal. Even buying the bottom metal I'll be way cheaper than a new McMillian stock.

The 2.5-8X36 Leupold is my favorite hunting scope hands down, I might go ahead and buy a the new VX3 all of mine are the VX-III scopes.

 

[SJB358]

That sounds like a great build for a nice hunting weight 338. Scotty
The 2.5-8X36 Leupold is my favorite hunting scope hands down, I might go ahead and buy a the new VX3 all of mine are the VX-III scopes.[/quote]

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

The model 670 is a good action, its a Model 70 pushfeed with the remington style two position safety as well as having no bottom metal. They are very reliable and would be up for the project you mentioned.

I think I would leave it in 30-06 though personally or at most have the chamber bored out to 30-06 AI and so that way you don't have a duplicate but thats just me, I'm an '06 thumper.

 

[Guy Miner]

Weight is an interesting issue on a hunting rifle. My favorite center fire to shoot is my .308 Win "Green Machine" but it's a bit of a club to carry on hunting trips. Same thing with my .300 WSM Model 70 Coyote. Good rifle. Accurate. And a tad on the heavy side.

I seem to almost always carry a standard weight sporter .25-06 or .30-06 with simple fixed 6x scopes when I'm hunting rougher country. Give up some long-range precision, but the rifle is a whole lot easier to deal with day after day, mile after mile.

I think your proposed Winchester 670 in .338-06 seems like one heck of an elk rifle, though I'd probably just leave it as a .30-06 myself.

Guy

 

[taylorce1]

The model 670 is a good action, its a Model 70 pushfeed with the remington style two position safety as well as having no bottom metal. They are very reliable and would be up for the project you mentioned.

My 670 has the same three position safety as any other Winchester it is noting like the Remington safety. I've got a great .30-06 already in an J.C. Higgins M50, lighter than my current .338-06 and a easy to carry. I've got it set up with a 2-7 power B&L Elite scope on it and it thumps things for sure.

I've been wanting to build a .338-06 for a few years now, my current rifle I found in a local gun store and it has never been exactly what I wanted. I knew I wanted to try the .338-06 ever since I first read about it and almost ordered a Weatherby when they were producing the chambering, but picked up the custom 1903 for a lot less. I'd sure like to build this as a rough service rifle for not only chasing elk and deer in Colorado, but a rifle that can travel with me. I like to go to Alaska and I hope I can get there a few more times for black bear, and eventually moose and caribou.

 

[jmad_81]

A #4 fluted weighs about the same as a #2 non fluted. I have a number four fluted on my 280 AI, and loaded ready to hunt it weighs 8.25 lbs. I would go that direction if it were me, I like the bigger fluted barrels. And I would go with a 338-06.

Penny will get you figured right. Give them a call.

 

[taylorce1]

A #4 fluted weighs about the same as a #2 non fluted. I have a number four fluted on my 280 AI, and loaded ready to hunt it weighs 8.25 lbs. I would go that direction if it were me, I like the bigger fluted barrels. And I would go with a 338-06.

Penny will get you figured right. Give them a call.

#4 will not fit the stock, I'm sure I could open it up but McMillan only opens them to a #3 on the FWT stocks. This stock is already inletted for the standard contour Win barrel. I really don't need flutes, as they don't really appeal to me one way or another. I like them on HB target/varmint rigs but don't care for them on hunting rifles.

 

[jmad_81]

That is the beauty of building a gun! You can have just what YOU want. I can't say that I'm a huge fan of flutes for looks, but they do save some weight and allow you to get a stiffer (bigger dia.) barrel.

Have you thought about doing a three groove barrel? My 280 AI is a three groove (Pacnor), and the 270 WSM barrel (Pacnor) I ordered is a three groove as well. I've heard that they are faster (can't say I saw a big difference, over book anyways), and they clean up really nice! From what I have read the only thing they are not good for is target bullets, in steep twist, super fast rifles.

Good luck.

 

[taylorce1]

That is the beauty of building a gun! You can have just what YOU want. I can't say that I'm a huge fan of flutes for looks, but they do save some weight and allow you to get a stiffer (bigger dia.) barrel.

Well I just locked the deal down on the used stock. I was guessing it was a standard fill and it weighs 32 oz so it isn't the Edge. I have several friends running PacNor barrels in some pretty slim profiles and I haven't seen accuracy suffer because of it. At least not until the fourth or fifth shot then they start to walk because of heat. I may try a three groove barrel, I've heard they are faster as well.

I'm just hoping I can get a 200 grain AB to 2700-2800 fps without any trouble. The bullet is quite a bit longer though than my 200 SP I shoot from Hornady. I'll have to make up some dummy rounds to send out with the action.

I'm sure I'll be giving Penny a call very soon!

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Taylorce you're right about the safety, I have been unable to find any photographic evidence to corroborate my statement although I know I have seen a Winchester 670 or 770 with the Remington style two position safety somewhere along the line...just gotta keep looking. And whatever suits you brother just tickles me plum to death even if that means duplicates. I just sold a 300 Win Mag to a man who already has a 300 Win Mag and two 300 Weatherby Mags. Shoot whatever you like!

 

[taylorce1]

Here are some pictures of the McMillan stock I'll be recieving in a few days!

 

[SJB358]

Looks great. Can't wait to see the fully built rifle. Scotty

 

[Mighty Peace]

I built my 338-06AI with a PacNor #5 barrel and had it fluted.....shoots 0.5" groups @ 100m with 225gr AB's and TTSX's...but it not a light rifle ...built on a Sako m75 Greywolf with Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40. Weighs in same as a factory Sako Greywolf "V" action caliber.

As you mentioned, I would go #3 and flute it...I like flutes, save some weight, cut to 22" would be a good light-weight model rifle with a Leupold VX2 (ilike the 4-12x40 with LR duplex) or VX3 scope. MacMillan stock..and you are set for sure!!

 

[FOTIS]

The pac nors sure are some straight barrels. Mine all shot great.