REQ: Action length for .338 BR???????

[solidstate]

I am shopping for a donor rifle to make a .338 BR rifle. Information on the .338 BR has been pretty hard to find (except for this forum!).

From what I have found so far a .338 BR rifle can (should?) be built on a "short" action (.308 length). Unfortunately most of the rifles I see for sale are "long" actions (.30-06 length).

So far it looks like I should buy a donor rifle with a 0.473-inch bolt face and short action. Suitable calibers appear to be .22-250, .243 Win, .257 Roberts, .260 Rem, .308 (or anything that is X-08), .338 Federal and .358 Win.

I'm leaning towards a Browning A-bolt for the donor rifle. Second choice is, of course, Remington 700 BDL-type.

Does any one have any other suggestions?

Thank you

[Rikky Lee]

It is very hard to go wrong with a short action Rem 700 with a 308 bolt face when it comes to after-market accessories.

If you want a light carry rifle, you might want to consider a Model 7 - takes the important Rem 700 stuff (like a decent trigger!!).

For example, my 30BR feeds easily through the AICS mag boxes - so you could fix Badger bottom metal onto a Rem SA and have a detachable mag.

I suppose the key question is - what do you want to use this rifle for? Hunting, plinking, targets etc...

[Spook]

308 length action, Howa if you can find one, Remington if you cant.

[solidstate]

Thanks for the replies.

This is for long range target practice.

I have a private range but noise is very important.

[Rikky Lee]

If you want to go all out have a look at the AICS then. Be warned - heavy in the field but does the job well.