Something about building new rifles and handguns, I just can't stop myself, and I always have a reason, this time, I don't have one for big game this light, but I think I have a need.
I've gotta be outa my mind, but I am thinking of doing this in 338-06 AI caliber, only a complete custom build. I have a new Stainless Steel 700 Remington Long Action, standard bolt face ordered. I also ordered all the hardware for a BDL bottom metal and mag box follower and spring. All this to go in the, under 20 oz. Peak 44 Blacktooth stock. to top it off, I will building it on a Douglas #3 remington Sporter blank.
I say outa my mind as I'm 70 years old, and with severe arthritis and 3 vertebrae pinned in my neck to go with the 8 fused vertebrae in my lower back, I aint sure how much fun this will be to shoot in 338-06 AI. I aint even sure I will even be able to use it? But I've had about everything else in the past, and since I want this to be light, I figured the 338-06 AI was about all I should try in a 7ish pound hunting gun?
I know in the past, I decided some 15 or 20 years ago, I don't really care for the magnums, they just don't offer anything to kill big game that I can't do with non magnums, as long as I have a medium to heavy bullet that shoots accurately out to 500 hundred or so yards. Besides, I never thought those magnums, belted or unbelted, had as much class, or as sexy as the Ackley cartridges on 7x57 or 06 brass were.
But if this caliber is to hard on the old bones, I can always screw a 6mm rem, 257 Roberts, on the 7,8x57 case or even a 25-06 or 280, all in the Ackley Improved versions. The Long Action will work with either, and accommodate longer seating for those Xx57 rounds. But my thoughts are, the 338 with 180 grain I can use for even whitetail, and still take the recoil. Hunting them is still doable in my condition, not so sure I could still hit Public land for Elk, or even draw a tag.
Then something keeps telling me, even the 25 calibers will do that,, and maybe in my physical condition, at my age, maybe a better choice. I always loved my custom 300 WM qand 338 WN I had years ago built by Fred Sinclair back in my 20's. Knowing those old guns were built much like I am planning today. We just didn't have 20 oz stable hunting stocks, the General Purpose classic McMillan hunting stock was what those used. Probably 20 to 30 oz. heavier to start with. But they were built with the same light hunting contoured barrels I'm choosing today. I've just always enjoyed building new rifles, and this one, will be the lightest I've ever built over 30 cal. will it be a smooth shooter, ar a snappy kicker?
But I have 90 days or so to change my mind, and only need 3 to 4 weeks to get a barrel from Shilen Douglass or Hart. So I'm waiting a couple months to order it. My question to you all is, is this new stock package going to make the 338-06 AI fun to use, or will it be a safe queen, only taken out to shoot when I want to hunt with it. 2 years ago my Linebaugh's got sold, because they were just to hard on my wrists after 20 or rounds, and I hate safe queens!
I've gotta be outa my mind, but I am thinking of doing this in 338-06 AI caliber, only a complete custom build. I have a new Stainless Steel 700 Remington Long Action, standard bolt face ordered. I also ordered all the hardware for a BDL bottom metal and mag box follower and spring. All this to go in the, under 20 oz. Peak 44 Blacktooth stock. to top it off, I will building it on a Douglas #3 remington Sporter blank.
I say outa my mind as I'm 70 years old, and with severe arthritis and 3 vertebrae pinned in my neck to go with the 8 fused vertebrae in my lower back, I aint sure how much fun this will be to shoot in 338-06 AI. I aint even sure I will even be able to use it? But I've had about everything else in the past, and since I want this to be light, I figured the 338-06 AI was about all I should try in a 7ish pound hunting gun?
I know in the past, I decided some 15 or 20 years ago, I don't really care for the magnums, they just don't offer anything to kill big game that I can't do with non magnums, as long as I have a medium to heavy bullet that shoots accurately out to 500 hundred or so yards. Besides, I never thought those magnums, belted or unbelted, had as much class, or as sexy as the Ackley cartridges on 7x57 or 06 brass were.
But if this caliber is to hard on the old bones, I can always screw a 6mm rem, 257 Roberts, on the 7,8x57 case or even a 25-06 or 280, all in the Ackley Improved versions. The Long Action will work with either, and accommodate longer seating for those Xx57 rounds. But my thoughts are, the 338 with 180 grain I can use for even whitetail, and still take the recoil. Hunting them is still doable in my condition, not so sure I could still hit Public land for Elk, or even draw a tag.
Then something keeps telling me, even the 25 calibers will do that,, and maybe in my physical condition, at my age, maybe a better choice. I always loved my custom 300 WM qand 338 WN I had years ago built by Fred Sinclair back in my 20's. Knowing those old guns were built much like I am planning today. We just didn't have 20 oz stable hunting stocks, the General Purpose classic McMillan hunting stock was what those used. Probably 20 to 30 oz. heavier to start with. But they were built with the same light hunting contoured barrels I'm choosing today. I've just always enjoyed building new rifles, and this one, will be the lightest I've ever built over 30 cal. will it be a smooth shooter, ar a snappy kicker?
But I have 90 days or so to change my mind, and only need 3 to 4 weeks to get a barrel from Shilen Douglass or Hart. So I'm waiting a couple months to order it. My question to you all is, is this new stock package going to make the 338-06 AI fun to use, or will it be a safe queen, only taken out to shoot when I want to hunt with it. 2 years ago my Linebaugh's got sold, because they were just to hard on my wrists after 20 or rounds, and I hate safe queens!
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