|
|
Post by mbaneacp on Jun 29, 2016 22:47:20 GMT -5
...wth an eye on African plains game in 2017.
Ran across a really good deal on an old Ruger Frontier bolt-action ANIB in .338 Federal, a caliber I've always found fascinating (I have a Wilson Combat AR-10 .338 that'll be my field rifle this fall).
It already has a forward scope mount setup, and I have one of the new Leupold FireDot Scouts on the way. I'll probably add CDI bottom metal for AI mag (I got a bunch of them for my .308s) and a Timney trigger. Might havr to add a spacer to the stock. It will be a cool little gun, and I have visions of a decent gemsbok...
Michael B
|
|
|
|
Post by smirker on Jun 30, 2016 19:01:27 GMT -5
Intersting idea. I was thinging about a simular project but in .358 Winchester. Wider variety of bullets to load and cover the velocity spectrum. Plus..... like your .338, it should be helk on hogs with a can on it. More thump than a .308.
|
|
|
|
Post by bigbrowndog on Jun 30, 2016 21:23:47 GMT -5
Mike, as you know the Col's answer would be 350Rem Mag!!!
Trapr
|
|
|
|
Post by Rimfire69 on Jul 1, 2016 6:50:57 GMT -5
Or go nostalgic with an old african classic, 9.3x62. Many ideas will come from this thread, and all will be good. There will be a select hand full, this one included, that be avalible there as loaded ammo if yours gets lost in transit.
Enjoy the trip.
|
|
|
|
Post by brionic on Jul 1, 2016 16:19:20 GMT -5
Sounds like a neat project, Michael. I have been intrigued by the .338 Federal and think you are, again, trail running along a neat path.
I still kick myself for failing to secure a Frontier when CDNN was giving them away.
|
|
|
|
Post by mbaneacp on Jul 3, 2016 1:36:35 GMT -5
Yeah, the Colonel would go with a .350! Might even be a bigger pain than the .338 Fed! LOL!
I started on this soon to be expensive path not because of Africa, but because of ARs. On my last trip to Namibia on plains game, I used a .300 Win Mag Ruger Guide Gun and had no complaints. As you know, Ruger's not just a longtime sponsor, but longtime friends. I love their guns. It was noted on the Internet that while I was clearly a proponent of hunting with an AR, I didn't. I'd spent some time talking to my friends at Ruger about a .338 Federal, which would run on a SR762 platform. I knew DPMS and Armalite had made some and the seemed to be well received.
Ended up in Berryville, Arkansas,, putting the finishing touches on Bill Wilson's book when he told me he was rolling out a .338 on his AR-10 platform. I have some experience with those guns in .308, and they are superb. Bill made me a deal I couldn't refuse, and I had a .338 AR that I'll hunt and film with this fall. So I got reloading dies, sourced a couple of hundred rounds of brass, bullets, powder...you guys know the drill. Just started working with that rifle with the VX-6 I used in Africa.
Then My friend Richard Mann, who is finishing up a new book on Scout rifles ( and is certifiably crazy to boot) tossed out the idea of a Scout rifle safari, primarily for big kudu and gemsbock. Richard kne I'd used a RGS in NZ on stag, so he figured I was a sucker. And into the rabbit hole I fell. I sorta felt the Win Mag was more boom than I needed, but that a .308 was light. .338 Federal looks just right, but I'll have a better sense this fall.
Good point on cartridge...why I chose the .300 Win Mag in the first place. I'll be documenting the project and will have the base rifle, along with my take-down BLR .223 Scout at the GUNSITE Scout Rifle Forum in a couple of weeks if any of you guys are going to be there.
I was never much on Scouts until I borrowed the Colonel's Steyr to do an Africa hunting simulation class at GUNSITE with Il Ling. Pretty much sold me on the spot.
Michael B
|
|
|
|
Post by mbaneacp on Jul 3, 2016 1:39:56 GMT -5
PS...I briefly tinkered with the idea of a .458 SOCOM bolt action Scout, but I put my head between my knees and breathed into a paper bag until the fit passed...
Michael B
|
|
|
|
Post by jeffer on Jul 7, 2016 10:29:26 GMT -5
This thread definitely needs pictures for inspiration
|
|
|
|
Post by cddogfan1 on Jul 7, 2016 12:34:44 GMT -5
I think I am going to go the scout route with my 445 supermag build.
|
|
|
|
Post by rjm52 on Jul 8, 2016 5:16:37 GMT -5
Scouts.... .358 Frontier with a standard Ruger composite stock...2-7 Buris Scout Scope with Ballistic Drop reticle...  Now a cast bullet shooter...  Second generation Saveage Scout in 7.62x39...400 yards...  100 yards...  Pair of 600s.. .308 and .350 with original Leupold Detacho Mounts and M8-2X scopes...  Great concept not understood by many...also works great on Ars...  Bob |
|
groo
.327 Meteor
I yet live!!!!
Posts: 855
|
Post by groo on Jul 10, 2016 16:39:30 GMT -5
Groo here
If you want a set of BUS sights, I will give you a hint.
Just did this to mine.
The ruger forward mount has threaded holes for a weaver rail.
The hole is correct for an AR-15 front sight post [just screw it in]
Grind down to fit under the scope, add an NECG ruger peep sight [ that fits the rear ruger mount]
and you have your BUS!!!!!!!!!
PS. I sight in for 100 yds, the scope is for normal work,the BUS for broken scops.
PPS.
Keep me updated on the 338 Fed, I like it!!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by fanofthefortyone on Jul 10, 2016 16:59:27 GMT -5
Ordered this when Ruger started making them in 358, handy little package considering it has the ability to use a regular mounted scope or a scout style or mount the rail and use a red dot.  Ronnie |
|
|
|
Post by mbaneacp on Jul 17, 2016 3:18:21 GMT -5
Thanks! Just got back from filming the Scout Rifle Forum at GUNSITE and will pick up my Frontier this week. Got the Leupold scope in as well and a bunch of .338 ammo and components. Excited!
Next year's safari is coming together as well...it's going to be great! Richard also talked me into bringing my BLR Scout .223 lever gun we can use for smaller game.
Of course Richard hauled out his Scout, a Melvin Forbes Ultra-Lite in .308 with custom forward scope mounts...6 pounds WITH scope!
Michael B
|
|
|
|
Post by Markbo on Jul 17, 2016 14:15:39 GMT -5
Following
|
|
|
|
Post by rjm52 on Jul 17, 2016 21:27:27 GMT -5
Best thing I did for my "using Scouts" was switching out the fixed power Leupold 2.5X and Burris 2.75X scopes for the Burris 2-7 with the Ballistic Drop reticle. I keep it set at 2X which gives a wider FOV than the fixed powers and if I need a long range shot just dial it up to 7X. The drop lines really help making hits past 200 yards...right out to 600 with the .308s. I zero the guns at 200 yards and just memorize the drops for the scope set at 7X to keep things real simple.
Kept the old 60s vintage M8-2X scopes on the Model 600s to be period correct and also have them on two LeverScouts in .41 Magnum...but for serious hunting/defense the 2-7 Burris has it all over the others...
Bob
|
|
