• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

Building 338 lapua help

corycarner

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 17, 2012
12
0
34
Kansas
I am starting to build a 338 lapua from ground up and looking for some opinions on what would be a good setup. It will be mainly used for bench shooting but do take an elk trip each year and this will be my main hunting gun for this as well. I know price is always an issue but budget is 5k. Any help would be appreciated
 
My 338 lapua build I did a few years back consists of a Rock creek barrel in a 1:9.4 twist 30" long with an ABS carbon wrap with my own built muzzle brake. The action is a Stiller 338 on my own custom built stock. But you could use a manners stock instead. I take this hunting every year and shoots sub 1/2 moa. The longest shot I have taken with this platform was 2308 yards

 
I just had a 338 built for me by dave viers (viersco.com) he can build a hell of a rifle. my rifle consist of a stiller action benchmark 28" barrel 1:9.4 twist and in a manners T5A stock I will put up pics as soon as I can
 
I am currently waiting on my 338 lapua ackley imp. to be finished but the specs are as followed
Stiller tac 338 action
Bartlein 1/9 spiral fluted by kampfeld 28in long 1in at the muzzle
Jewel trigger 13oz
Mcm A5a
Seekins 338 lapua dbm
CSR 4 port muzzle break.
Badger rings
Nightforce optics

I hunt in west Texas and this gun will prob make a few outings with me this summer for hogs and this season for whatever. I will be pushing 300 grain Berger OTM hybrids out of this as well
 
I just finished my .338 Edge with a Manners T4, Rem LA bedded with Devcon Ti, Timney trigger, NF 20 MOA rail pinned to the receiver, Wyatt's 4" internal mag for running the bergers long, PPR fluted bolt, Benchmark 1:9.4" Sendero contour fluted barrel with their Muscle brake finished at 29".

It's my newest bear, deer, and whatever I can put a tag on, rifle. Weighs 14lbs unloaded with bipod and NF scope and rings.
 
I am currently waiting on my 338 lapua ackley imp. to be finished but the specs are as followed
Stiller tac 338 action
Bartlein 1/9 spiral fluted by kampfeld 28in long 1in at the muzzle
Jewel trigger 13oz
Mcm A5a
Seekins 338 lapua dbm
CSR 4 port muzzle break.
Badger rings
Nightforce optics

I hunt in west Texas and this gun will prob make a few outings with me this summer for hogs and this season for whatever. I will be pushing 300 grain Berger OTM hybrids out of this as well

Does anybody know if the "Seekins Lapua DBM" and the "Seekins AICS" DBM use the same bottom inlet dimensions? I just waited 7 months for a McMillan A5 stock and it is inletted for Seekins AICS. I asked for "Seekins Lapua 3.900 DBM". I thought they would have known the difference with that description.

Maybe they are the same inlet? I don't know.
 
Last edited:
Stiller Tac 338
Bartlein 1.350" to 1" taper 1:9.5 tw 30" finish length
APS Painkiller brake
AICS 2.0 folder

Purposely built it heavy as it will not be carried long distances....... weighs in at 23 lbs and is a dream to shoot.
 
Thanks, glad I saw your post. I just emailed McMillian about my A5 on order. I am using the same 3.900 DBM. I asked them for confirmation.
 
I am starting to build a 338 lapua from ground up and looking for some opinions on what would be a good setup. It will be mainly used for bench shooting but do take an elk trip each year and this will be my main hunting gun for this as well. I know price is always an issue but budget is 5k. Any help would be appreciated


Clarifying questions - what distances are you planning to shoot out to if this is to be used for bench shooting? I don't mean to offend, but even shooting ranges that go out to a 1000 yards don't give teh 338LM a chance to show off its full potential, and seems to be a waste of ammo (given the cost of reloading components) when many other calibers could hit out to a 1000 more efficiently. Also is the $5K budget for just the rifle and you already have some nice glass to put on the rifle?

Here's my 338 Lapua Magnum; Built by Mike Bush of BlackOps Precision LLC

- BlackOps Precision Model 911 (Manufactured by Defiance Machine) Action
- BlackOps Precision 20 MOA Rail
- BlackOps Precision Ground Recoil Lug (pinned)
- Bartlein 5R Barrel, 9.3" RH Twist, 27" Finished Length, Fluted, Chambered in .338 Tactical Match
- Surefire FA338SS03 Brake; (not shown Surefire FA338SS quick detach suppressor)
- Accuracy International Chassis System 2.0, OD Green
- Timney Trigger, narrowed andd re-contoured shoe, Tuned to 2.5 lbs
- All metal surfaces Cerakoted to Flat Graphite Black
- Premier Heritage 5-25x56 Scope, Mil/Mil, Gen 2 XR Reticle
- Larue LT-112 QD, 20 MOA Scope Base/Rings
- Atlas Bipod

 
Derek01, the bottom inlet on my A5 was not correct for the Seekins Lapua DBM. Total length was a bit short. Also, the relief for the mag catch was not milled.
 
Clarifying questions - what distances are you planning to shoot out to if this is to be used for bench shooting? I don't mean to offend, but even shooting ranges that go out to a 1000 yards don't give teh 338LM a chance to show off its full potential, and seems to be a waste of ammo (given the cost of reloading components) when many other calibers could hit out to a 1000 more efficiently. Also is the $5K budget for just the rifle and you already have some nice glass to put on the rifle?

Here's my 338 Lapua Magnum; Built by Mike Bush of BlackOps Precision LLC

- BlackOps Precision Model 911 (Manufactured by Defiance Machine) Action
- BlackOps Precision 20 MOA Rail
- BlackOps Precision Ground Recoil Lug (pinned)
- Bartlein 5R Barrel, 9.3" RH Twist, 27" Finished Length, Fluted, Chambered in .338 Tactical Match
- Surefire FA338SS03 Brake; (not shown Surefire FA338SS quick detach suppressor)
- Accuracy International Chassis System 2.0, OD Green
- Timney Trigger, narrowed andd re-contoured shoe, Tuned to 2.5 lbs
- All metal surfaces Cerakoted to Flat Graphite Black
- Premier Heritage 5-25x56 Scope, Mil/Mil, Gen 2 XR Reticle
- Larue LT-112 QD, 20 MOA Scope Base/Rings
- Atlas Bipod


Flash....nice rig you got there! Where in the local area do you take that in order to stretch her legs out a bit. I'm down in the Tacoma area.
 
Flash....nice rig you got there! Where in the local area do you take that in order to stretch her legs out a bit. I'm down in the Tacoma area.

Thanks, I'm pretty happy with this rifle. I have a honey hole a couple hours north of where I live that allows me to go out a little past 1000 yards. Beyond that distance, I have to go to the dry side of the state on the other side of the pass. I actually have a road trip planned in about a month to spend a day in Eastern WA and plan to bring my 338LM along.
 
I've been toying with the idea of going down to Vale Tree Farm area and set up in the powerline clearings there. Other than that...yeah...other side of the mountains. Have fun over there!

 
Mudpig, you have a nice boom stick too! I'm actually getting a small LR group shoot together for August 24th over in Eastern WA. It'll be near the same area where the 2013 JC Steel Match was held. You're more than welcome to join if you have the weekend available.
 
Thanks and I will keep you posted. I think the wife and I are supposed to be taking the kids down to Florence, OR for some Dune riding that time frame, but the shoot sounds like a hoot!!
 
Welcome to the .338 club CoryCarner.

I purchased my first rifle a few years back. It's a Savage BA110 .338LM. It has a Harris bipod on it. I have swapped out the factory base with a Murphy Precision
titanium rail with a 40 MOA cant. This got me back 17 MOA on my Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50 scope. I shoot a mile with this stick with good results.

I have about $4,500 invested with an extra mag, custom base, tac bag etc. It's been a very good starter rifle for me and I have enjoyed it very much. It is
currently back at Savage Arms having a new barrel put on and a new Accu-Trigger.

I am however, close to receiving my custom build from SAC/Mark Gordon. This stick has the following components:
Fat Bastard Break, 30" Bartlein Barrel 1:9.35 twist / Defiance Machine Alpha 11 Action / Murphy Precision Base with a 45 MOA cant /
Jewel Trigger / Black Opps Bottom Metal / Manners T4-A stock / Harris Bipod (for now). I'm putting a NF ATACR on it.

It's not a cheap caliber to shoot. However, I love the ability to shoot 1 mile + with it. Good luck on your build.




I am starting to build a 338 lapua from ground up and looking for some opinions on what would be a good setup. It will be mainly used for bench shooting but do take an elk trip each year and this will be my main hunting gun for this as well. I know price is always an issue but budget is 5k. Any help would be appreciated