338 for elk hunting- Build a lightweight rifle

[asd9055]

I currently have a 338 lapua, it comes in at 14.4 lbs. Im looking at building a light weight 338 lapua or Improved shooting 300gn bergers. I elk hunt with my current rifle but would like to drop a few pounds with all the hiking we do. Just returned from WY and hiked 32 miles in 5 days. Our group went 5 for 5 on cows.

Anyone have experience with a light weight rifle in these calibers?
Would you go improved or standard 338 lapua?

My Mark V Accumark in 338 LM comes in at 11.3 with a Zeiss scope. You can put a better scope, maybe go to 12 lbs.

 

[Elk Hunter 338]

What components are you using? Action, stock, barrel

EH1 BART terminator brake and BAT lightweight HR action.. shoots 225 accubonds at 3380 and the 300 at 2965fps in peterson or lapua brass ......
not really hard to do and don't need titanium to do it.
and with optics as good as they are these days a guy can get top end optic under 2# pretty easily

 

[Tikkamike]

I ditched my 13 lb lapua and built a 9.5 lb (scoped with a NF) 338 rum. Has a terminator T3 brake and is a great shooter

 

[sp6x6]

My kid has my ol Mark V 340 8 3/4 lone wolf stock

 

[LongBomber]

Shooting a light 338 accurately/ consistently can be a challenge. I have a 33N thats under 8 pounds ready to hunt. The recoil from that is too snappy for most people to shoot well judging by the reaction of people who have shot it.

That said it sure is easier to pack than a 14 pound gun.

 

[Jakeweb09]

Here's my 338 Norma coming in at 10lbs 1oz with scope and 27" barrel.

 

[sp6x6]

Like they say on Forged in Fire,and "that will kill"

 

[Nellej12]

Here's my 338 Norma coming in at 10lbs 1oz with scope and 27" barrel. View attachment 230767View attachment 230766View attachment 230765

What action and barrel contour?

 

[North Idaho Hunter]

My 338 lapua ai is 10 pounds w/nightforce and bipod.

300 gr. Berger's @ 3000 FPS.

Kelbly atlas action
McMillan game warden
Proof barrel
NXS w/NF ultralight's
Hawkins oberndorf BDL

STRAIGHT HAMMERS game!

 

[Jakeweb09]

What action and barrel contour?

It's a Remington 700 squared up and a hells canyon carbon hunter barrel

 

[Aoudad shooter1975]

Love my 338 Norma...10lb 2oz scoped and loaded with 3 rounds. 338 Tac action, 24 in proof carbon barrel, with iota Kremlin stock. I put a Bushnell LRHS 4.5x18 scope, I have a pretty good load shooting 285 ELD-Ms at 2745fps .good packable set up

 

[softtail103]

I run a 338 RUM Fierce Carbon Edge with NXS 5.5-22x50 shooting 300gr Nosler Accubond. Weighs under 9lbs. Side break is very efficient. Recoils like 30-06. More than manageable recoil. Absolutely hammer out too 1000.

 

[VLD Pilot]

Helped a buddy just build a 33 Nolser. It's no 338 Lapua but it's plenty for anything you'd probably hunt. Built on a Rem 700 LA, Kremlin (Iota) stock, Bartlein CFW barrel, Sightron S3 6-24. Weighs in at under 10lbs. Very manageable to shoot. 265 Nosler Accubonds are what he shoots.

 

[Send it 284]

I currently have a 338 lapua, it comes in at 14.4 lbs. Im looking at building a light weight 338 lapua or Improved shooting 300gn bergers. I elk hunt with my current rifle but would like to drop a few pounds with all the hiking we do. Just returned from WY and hiked 32 miles in 5 days. Our group went 5 for 5 on cows.

Anyone have experience with a light weight rifle in these calibers?
Would you go improved or standard 338 lapua?

Nice work on the elk!
Man I've been down this road before with a 9.5lb scoped 338 RUM.
It took everything I had to shoot that thing accurately, and tracking my shots was a fools errand.

There really isn't any need for a 338 when there are such awesome 30 cal bullets out there.
I'd look at a 30 nosler or 300 norma, the ballistics on a 245 or 230 Berger will keep up just fine with a 338 and kill anything with 4 legs.