338 for elk hunting- Build a lightweight rifle

[dennisinaz]

I have a 8.5# 340 Wby. I just ordered another barrel (8 twist) weight shouldn't change much. It kicks but a soft pad and good eye relief make it doable.

Factory 250 Norma are 3200@ muzzle

 

[freddiej]

finally a thread I can add a little of my experience to. The 338 Lapua is a great round. you want to lessen the weight, and maintain accuracy and then shoot 300 grain slugs.
My suggestion is this:
27" or 28", #5 to #7 Taper W/ 8 flutes (use 1:8" twist; I have found it better for 300 grain slugs)
small muzzle brake
Chet Brown's best Kevlar/Arimid/Fiber glass "pounder" stock
you can run an improved case if you want, but I do not see much improvement in down range ballistics.
I have found many good receivers to put the 338 Lapua on. I personally like the slightly heavier TRG 42 action by Sako, but you have 4 other actions I have seen the Lapua round in.
the rest of the gun is up to you. I am just giving you what I have seen that made the guns I have tested out via friends and clients that made a significant difference in weight, and accuracy. after that its up to you to either take the advice or not.
later Y'all. the shop is going to open in about 15 mins.

 

[Nellej12]

finally a thread I can add a little of my experience to. The 338 Lapua is a great round. you want to lessen the weight, and maintain accuracy and then shoot 300 grain slugs.
My suggestion is this:
27" or 28", #5 to #7 Taper W/ 8 flutes (use 1:8" twist; I have found it better for 300 grain slugs)
small muzzle brake
Chet Brown's best Kevlar/Arimid/Fiber glass "pounder" stock
you can run an improved case if you want, but I do not see much improvement in down range ballistics.
I have found many good receivers to put the 338 Lapua on. I personally like the slightly heavier TRG 42 action by Sako, but you have 4 other actions I have seen the Lapua round in.
the rest of the gun is up to you. I am just giving you what I have seen that made the guns I have tested out via friends and clients that made a significant difference in weight, and accuracy. after that its up to you to either take the advice or not.
later Y'all. the shop is going to open in about 15 mins.

What the barrel weight on a #7 with flutes?

 

[Aoudad shooter1975]

finally a thread I can add a little of my experience to. The 338 Lapua is a great round. you want to lessen the weight, and maintain accuracy and then shoot 300 grain slugs.
My suggestion is this:
27" or 28", #5 to #7 Taper W/ 8 flutes (use 1:8" twist; I have found it better for 300 grain slugs)
small muzzle brake
Chet Brown's best Kevlar/Arimid/Fiber glass "pounder" stock
you can run an improved case if you want, but I do not see much improvement in down range ballistics.
I have found many good receivers to put the 338 Lapua on. I personally like the slightly heavier TRG 42 action by Sako, but you have 4 other actions I have seen the Lapua round in.

Love the ol TRG 42 or Sako 995..great action to build on--but where I differ, if building a light weight high performance 338, a brake is essential, and a brake on a 28 in barrelmakes it looooong...it is a PIA to to put in a pack, carry in a plane, ride on a horse with (in a scabbard or on your back). I would suggest a shorter tube it makes the gun a lot more huntable--I'd suggest 23 to 24 in tube--you will not lose much performance and will keep it a usable length to pack.

 

[Marine sniper]

Love the ol TRG 42 or Sako 995..great action to build on--but where I differ, if building a light weight high performance 338, a brake is essential, and a brake on a 28 in barrelmakes it looooong...it is a PIA to to put in a pack, carry in a plane, ride on a horse with (in a scabbard or on your back). I would suggest a shorter tube it makes the gun a lot more huntable--I'd suggest 23 to 24 in tube--you will not lose much performance and will keep it a usable length to pack.

My 338 LAI hunting rifle has a 24 in tube. 270 ELD'x at 3040 fps.

 

[SLEDGE HAMMER]

338 Excalibur 9.5 lb Stillar action Lilja no 5 Terminator T2 Mcmillan carbon stick NXS 5.5-22x56 300 Berger's at 3040 FPS

 

[Skinem]

I'm certain not same! But I hunted all 23 of my north American species with a 700 kevlar stock , scoped and sling 7 lbs 1 ounce. It worked great.
No complaints. No break.
sure the bigger calibers with break should be fine.

 

[Skinem]

sorry 300 weatherby

 

[sp6x6]

340 old school.338NM new school

 

[dogz]

I'm certain not same! But I hunted all 23 of my north American species with a 700 kevlar stock , scoped and sling 7 lbs 1 ounce. It worked great.
No complaints. No break.
sure the bigger calibers with break should be fine.

That 700 KS is absolutely one of the sweetest rifles made of all time for a serious hunt rifle

 

[Ace Quackhunter]

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?

I have a 338 Win. Mag with scope and bi-pod comes in at just under 10 lbs. It throws 225 Barnes out of a 20" tube at 2700 fps good to about 600 yards.

 

[RH300UM]

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?

I know exactly what you are talking about. Did the same thing with a 338 edge in the Wyoming high country.
Those experiences lead me to a different rig
338 Norma Mag Improved. 24 inch proof barrel. 9.5 pounds hunt ready. 260 Hammer Hunters @3000 fps.
I tried the lapua variants along with the 30/338 improved
The 338 NMI was my choice

And it's brothers

 

[dogz]

Nice RH

The bull on the right must of been a scrapper...what ranges did you take these two at?

 

[Jakeweb09]

I know exactly what you are talking about. Did the same thing with a 338 edge in the Wyoming high country.
Those experiences lead me to a different rig
338 Norma Mag Improved. 24 inch proof barrel. 9.5 pounds hunt ready. 260 Hammer Hunters @3000 fps.
I tried the lapua variants along with the 30/338 improved
The 338 NMI was my choice

View attachment 231513
And it's brothers

These are done by Travis at rbros correct? I wonder is it doable or reasonable to change a current 338 Norma mag into a improved? Maybe loose a bit of barrel in the process? Travis builds hammers and would love to try this out!