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Recommendations: Rechambering a Savage Elite Precision 338 Lapua Mag--> 338 LM AI

savageboy

Hello,

First post in a while, I am picking up a 110 Elite Precision in 338 Lapua Mag and prior to shooting it, I'd like to get it rechambered to 338 LM AI...(yes Im a glutton for punishment- for where I shoot- out to 3000 yd it's worth it for me).

Anyways, I can pull and reheadspace the barrel. Can ya'll recommend anyone you'd trust with your baby if it was you?

Best Regards,

Bob
 
Do you know which "improved" version you want or do you already have a set of dies?

There's a few different 338 Lap Improved versions out there. The two most popular versions will be the 35° and 40° which is often referred to as the 338 Lap AI but only because it has a 40° shoulder angle like Ackley used not because Ackley himself ever worked with a 338 Lapua.

Alex Wheeler is a extremely good smith and posts here on a regular basis and he's done some 338 Lap. Improved rifles before so he'd be one I'd reach out to. Alex will probably see this and correct me if I'm wrong but I think he does the 40° improved version.

Defensive Edge Rifles has what they call their 338 Terminator which is their version of a 35° Lapua Improved. They also sell dies for their 338 Terminator as well as formed brass.

I will add be prepared for some smiths to tell you they aren't interested in your project. Since you're wanting to rechamber a factory barrel that may make some tell you thanks for considering them but they'll pass.

As an option, maybe consider pulling that new factory barrel and selling it then have a good custom barrel chambered and spun on. Also, I'd go with at least a 28 or 30 inch tube in a decent size contour something like a Sendero/Varmint size.
 
B23 said:
Do you know which "improved" version you want or do you already have a set of dies?

There's a few different 338 Lap Improved versions out there. The two most popular versions will be the 35° and 40° which is often referred to as the 338 Lap AI but only because it has a 40° shoulder angle like Ackley used not because Ackley himself ever worked with a 338 Lapua.

Alex Wheeler is a extremely good smith and posts here on a regular basis and he's done some 338 Lap. Improved rifles before so he'd be one I'd reach out to. Alex will probably see this and correct me if I'm wrong but I think he does the 40° improved version.

Defensive Edge Rifles has what they call their 338 Terminator which is their version of a 35° Lapua Improved. They also sell dies for their 338 Terminator as well as formed brass.

I will add be prepared for some smiths to tell you they aren't interested in your project. Since you're wanting to rechamber a factory barrel that may make some tell you thanks for considering them but they'll pass.

As an option, maybe consider pulling that new factory barrel and selling it then have a good custom barrel chambered and spun on. Also, I'd go with at least a 28 or 30 inch tube in a decent size contour something like a Sendero/Varmint size.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the input. No I don't have dies yet, I have had 260 AI and 223ai both 40 deg shoulders. Just want to get the little bit extra out of it as all my shooting buddies are using 408 cheytac's/ 33 XC's for ELR.

This is my first "big boy ELR Rig" Its a Savage 110 Elite Precision .338 Lapua 30" barrel 1:9 twist. I've heard some guys don't want to chamber factory barrels, I was just kicking the tires here and if I can find someone reasonable to do it, I'll send the bbl and rechamber it. Im not shooting benchrest here. Steel out to 3000yd.

I'll look up your recommended guy. Thanks again for the input!

Best Regards,

Bob
 
Here comes the rabbit hole that we'd have all faced in one form of another. I think you will find rechambering will cost more than the barrel is worth, so then you will look into just getting a new barrel. Probably best option is to shoot as is until going new. Good luck!
 
CharlieNC said:
Here comes the rabbit hole that we'd have all faced in one form of another. I think you will find rechambering will cost more than the barrel is worth, so then you will look into just getting a new barrel. Probably best option is to shoot as is until going new. Good luck!
Click to expand...
Lol... Charlie, after getting this feedback, then talking to my barrel guy... we're at $1K with shipping to get 110-110 more FPS with a new bbl.... ugh... I'm going to shoot the hell out of the factory bbl with 285gr elds and if I do anything else, it ll be a 33 XC, no nut, screwed in like on a rem/ etc. and deal with all that.

This ll get me regular hits at our 1680 range.... prob not so much at the 2783- 3000 depending on the platform I shoot off of but I'll be able to hang, dip my toe in for under $2K for the Sav 110 Elite 338 lap and see what thats all about.
I about said "eff it .... and just built the 33 XC I was considering but its over double , proprietary brass, dies, etc. and this ll do for now.

I REALLY appreciate everyone's input here. It helped w/this question I needed answered. My barrel guy in Montana spelled it out for me w/ the factory barrel thing and its way more than just a "normal white boy from NC knew " prior to all this...

No 338 LM on a factory Savage .. even if its 30" long and 9 twist ;)

Thanks ya ll ...!

I truly appreciate you keeping me btwn the guard rails on this.....
 
These Elites are laser beams! You are gonna love it. Just make sure to thoroughly clean it when you get it. They come dirty and copper rich.
 
savageboy said:
Thank you for the input. No I don't have dies yet, I have had 260 AI and 223ai both 40 deg shoulders. Just want to get the little bit extra out of it as all my shooting buddies are using 408 cheytac's/ 33 XC's for ELR.

This is my first "big boy ELR Rig" Its a Savage 110 Elite Precision .338 Lapua 30" barrel 1:9 twist. I've heard some guys don't want to chamber factory barrels, I was just kicking the tires here and if I can find someone reasonable to do it, I'll send the bbl and rechamber it. Im not shooting benchrest here. Steel out to 3000yd.

I'll look up your recommended guy. Thanks again for the input!

Best Regards,

Bob
Click to expand...
I certainly wouldn’t start with the factory barrel.
At least start with a quality blank.
338 Lapua AI is a nice boost compared to regular 338 lapua.
Just know you’re savage action won’t support sporty pressures.
 
SKWERLZ said:
I certainly wouldn’t start with the factory barrel.
At least start with a quality blank.
338 Lapua AI is a nice boost compared to regular 338 lapua.
Just know you’re savage action won’t support sporty pressures.
Click to expand...
So would a savage 112 single shot support those sporty pressures?
 
stevenpoplin said:
So would a savage 112 single shot support those sporty pressures?
Click to expand...
Factory barrels are a luck of the draw proposition, but there is a pretty good chance it'll work fine for how you intend to use it. As you've figured out, with a fresh barrel, the rest of the gun will provide a decent beater ELR rig. If you have regular access to an ELR range, it's not uncommon to eventually bring a second rifle to shoot while the first one cools down. Because results are so dependent on conditions, having a known baseline to test against helps gauge the effectiveness of new setups. If you have a group of experienced ELR shooters to start with, it'll speed up the learning process and you'll be able to see just what you're buying with the more expensive gear.

Spoiler alert! It's not nearly as large as the internet would have you believe and it's really all about the ammo. Specifically, the choice of bullet and velocity spread.

Filling the magazine cut out doesn't help the strength of the action. The weak link is the front mounting screw hole. It's located between the lower lug and the tenon threads. Firing forces the lugs back and the barrel forward. The good news is a Savage action works fine with Lapua boltheads. I have 2 of them. One is on its 4th barrel, the other its second. Neither has had any measured lug setback and both have seen sporty pressures.
 
savageboy said:
This ll get me regular hits at our 1680 range.... prob not so much at the 2783- 3000 depending on the platform I shoot off of but I'll be able to hang, dip my toe in for under $2K for the Sav 110 Elite 338 lap and see what thats all about.
I about said "eff it .... and just built the 33 XC I was considering but its over double , proprietary brass, dies, etc. and this ll do for now.
Click to expand...

The 33XC brass and dies don't cost any more than decent 338 Lapua equivalents.

I think if you price out the 338 Lapua reloading components and dies that you'll likely walk away from after the barrel is done, using that factory barrel won't seem like as much of a bargain.

It was pointed out before, but it's probably worth repeating. If you go with improved cartridges, buy the dies from whoever does the chambering or the exact dies they tell you to buy. There are endless variations and your chance of success on your own isn't that high.

The internet is cavalier about fire forming cases, but the reality is it's an advanced reloading skill. To realize any long range benefit, you'll need to learn to not just fire form them successfully, you'll need to figure out how to do it without introducing case volume variations that'll show up in your velocity spreads and completely wipe out the benefits of the extra velocity.
 
Check out the videos Mark and Sam after work have with both the .338LM and .33xxx and see if the benefits of the upgrade warrant the costs. He has a lot of videos with them past 3000 yards...
 
Alex Wheeler said:
The 338 Lapua imp is one of my favorites. I will always have one. Putting a good reamer in a used barrel is not gonna happen with me. A good reamer can not be replaced. Buy a new blank.
Click to expand...
Any recommendations? I have a Kreiger on my 6brx that Im VERY happy with, have had Shilen and others.

In a blank that ll finish at 30", MTU or heavier contour, whats the best bang for the buck? I will be shooting from 1000 yd, 1680yd, then based on the bench/ platform Im at: 2700-2800yd then from the new Platform 3000 yd.

My 260 Rem sometimes does OK at 1680 but it is bad out of steam by then and hard to see the "splash" so stepping up. My buddies all shoot: 408 Cheytac, 33 XC, etc.
 
savageboy said:
Lol... Charlie, after getting this feedback, then talking to my barrel guy... we're at $1K with shipping to get 110-110 more FPS with a new bbl.... ugh... I'm going to shoot the hell out of the factory bbl with 285gr elds and if I do anything else, it ll be a 33 XC, no nut, screwed in like on a rem/ etc. and deal with all that.

This ll get me regular hits at our 1680 range.... prob not so much at the 2783- 3000 depending on the platform I shoot off of but I'll be able to hang, dip my toe in for under $2K for the Sav 110 Elite 338 lap and see what thats all about.
I about said "eff it .... and just built the 33 XC I was considering but its over double , proprietary brass, dies, etc. and this ll do for now.

I REALLY appreciate everyone's input here. It helped w/this question I needed answered. My barrel guy in Montana spelled it out for me w/ the factory barrel thing and its way more than just a "normal white boy from NC knew " prior to all this...

No 338 LM on a factory Savage .. even if its 30" long and 9 twist ;)

Thanks ya ll ...!

I truly appreciate you keeping me btwn the guard rails on this.....
Click to expand...
I'll throw in my 2 cents. My shooting partner Rodeo did just what you were asking about.He took a Savage 110 Elite in 338 LM and put a new barrel on it in 33XC.We shoot ELR. I just got into it and been to 3 matches. The last 2 matches Rodeo Won 1st and 3rd. The match he won he not only won the Light Gun match but also beat the Heavy Gun too. So Its doable with a Savage.The 112 does have abigger/heavier action.But it has a wooden stock. Id considered buy a 112 myself and building a 33XC.I wasgoing to builda 37XC in a Stiller action.Not decided yet.GooD luck in your choices.
 
bubbalo7 said:
I'll throw in my 2 cents. My shooting partner Rodeo did just what you were asking about.He took a Savage 110 Elite in 338 LM and put a new barrel on it in 33XC.We shoot ELR. I just got into it and been to 3 matches. The last 2 matches Rodeo Won 1st and 3rd. The match he won he not only won the Light Gun match but also beat the Heavy Gun too. So Its doable with a Savage.The 112 does have abigger/heavier action.But it has a wooden stock. Id considered buy a 112 myself and building a 33XC.I wasgoing to builda 37XC in a Stiller action.Not decided yet.GooD luck in your choices.
Click to expand...
Did he use the barrel nut or did he headspace/ fit the barrel "nutless" like a Rem or any other rifle? lol
 
Shoot out the factory 338 LM barrel. Get use to the round and it's performance, drop data etc. IF you build the improved version, you'll have a great start on it's performance. The improved will offer a bit better performance but not night and day relating to drop. The XC may be another story. I do not know about that cartridge. Sure looks good but I'd never shoot further than my improved 338 needs to shoot.
 
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