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I am by no means an expert on custom rifles. However I am learning. I am also considering the same build. And I have been talking to some smith's about this very thing. I think I am going to go with the 338 Lapua Improved. My information is showing this cartridge to be easier on cases. However I do not know why.
Personally I will never build another rifle on a 700 action. And this is not to say there is anything wrong with a 700 action, I say this because after you spend your money on a 700 to do all the work needed to bring it up to custom action standards--you could have bought a custom action for the same price. It is $1,000 or close to it no matter how you get there. So why not just buy the custom action to start with?? Tom.
Tom,
a stiller predator is exactly a rem 700 action that has been trued and accurised.
Now say you want a 338 lapua, you buy a used RUM for 400.00, less if you can find a shot out one, looking at kirby allens prices a trueing and accurising job is 230.00, sako extractor is 125.00. so if you go the remington route you'll have 755.00 in the action ready to fit the barrel, a stiller is a grand without the trigger, so you have the same rifle at least 200 bucks cheaper than going custom action. unless you full length sleeve the bolt the stiller won't shoot a bit better than a 700.
if your gonna improve the 338 lapua, I'd lean towards a 338 allen extreme by kirby, same case, same basic improvements, just for some reason unknown to me, kirby's rifles shoot better and are less temperamental than most others.
I have rifles built by some of the more renouned smiths in the US and they are not in the same class as my APS rifle, and don't take my word for it, go to longrangehunting.com and read others posts, they're results are the same.
another thing, my APS is chambered so tight that it takes less effort to resize the 7mm Allen cases (7mm/338 LM imp.) than it does my 6mm PPC cases, its just been a pleasure to own, develope loads, and shoot.
RR
The reason why I was considering the 338 Lapua Improved is because it was recommended to me by the gunsmith that built my 22-250. I did not consider the purchase of a used 700 action. I know I had more that that in the new one that I just had built. He said it was a simple process of just shooting the 338 factory Lapua round to fireform the brass and that he was getting great case life out of the fire formed brass.
The gun smith I was usung is the one that told me I would have the same money in either the reworked 700 or the new custom action. I may have some trouble finding a used LH 700 in 338UM, however I will definitley start looking. Thanks for the recommendation. I know that I had $1,000 in the new Remington action that I provided the smith(after he finished the work).
Can I get into one of the Kirby rifles for under $2500?? Including bases, rings, and scope mounting??
I understand that you get what you pay for. And I am sure that some smith's work are actually worth a premium. Does Kirby have some type of guarantee?? Thanks, Tom.