What is needed?

[alsatian]

I have a rifle interest or desire that I think falls into the "custom rifle" category, but I'm not sure.  I thought I would post a query here.

I'm interested in getting a .338 winchester magnum rifle with some specific, non-standard specifications.  The use for this rifle would be elk hunting.  Standard length of pull in mass manufactured rifles are about 13.5" -- I want a 15.5" length of pull.  I'm 6' 2" tall, and the standard length of pull feels awkward to me.  I've got a couple of rifles made by my deceased father that each have 15.5" length of pull, and I like those considerably better than my rifles with 13.5" length of pull.  Standard rifles are getting lighter and lighter all the time.  I would like a pretty heavy rifle for .338 winchester magnum -- like about 11 LBS with scope installed -- to help moderate the recoil.  I have a .30-06 that my dad made that weighs about 9.5 LBS (and with the 15.5" length of pull).  I have no sense that this rifle is unduely heavy.  I'm accustomed to backpacking and carrying heavy loads over long distances and climbing high hills (for example, climbing 12200' passes in the Pecos Wilderness in New Mexico and other places).  I think rifle weight can be altered by selecting different barrel profiles -- so maybe adjusting weight is as simple as installing an appropriate barrel that brings the weight up where I want it.

Is this a custom rifle job, or is there another way to get a stock with a longer length of pull?

This is a "like to have" project.  I've got a couple of .30-06 rifles now that I use for elk hunting -- one as my go-to rifle, the other is a backup.  I don't NEED this rifle, but I would like to have it.  And if I get it, I would like it to satisfy these non-standard specifications . . . or I would be just as happy sticking with my .30-06 rifles I have now.

I welcome any responses.

[mcwoodduck]

I think all you need is a new stock rather than a custom rifle.
Getting a new longer stock where you can custom order the LOP and add a good recoil pad to it.
Getting a rifle that fits is going to take a lot of the recoil slap out of the rifle. 
Getting my Model 70 in 338 that fits has less recoil than a 30-06 I had that did not fit so well.
But if you want a heavier rifle weight can be added to the stock by either the materials you pick for the stock or simply adding weight.  Also larger optics too can add weight to the rifle.
On the other side of the coin,
If you find a beat up rifle in any of the belted mag (257 Wby,264, 7mm, 300 Win, 338 or 458) (the 8mm Rem, 300H&H, 300 WBY, and 375H&H all use mag actions.)
Replacing the stock and barrel to what you want in length and contour may be cheaper than starting with a new rifle.

The third option is call or E-mail some of the rifle makers like Kimber and ask if they have LOP options to the guns.

[alsatian]

That's good.  I was afraid this would be more expensive than I can handle.  Sounds like it won't entirely break the bank.  I'm not ready to do this yet, but I'll store this in my memory for the future.  Thanks.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  I think Mc, pretty well covered it..For me rather than trying to add weight to a rifle, I like to pick up a used rifle and rebarrel it with a barrel of the lenght and weight I want..I would say most of my hunting rifles have about a 11 -12 pound wt. when loaded..with a longer heavier barrel one gains speed and stability when shooting..I much prefer a heavier rifle to a mt. gun..of 6 pounds..Barrels for the .338 win are easy to come by..one can get a prechambered barrel or a blank..blanks are more expensive to fit due to more fitting by the gun smith..I would say one could get a used 700, fit a barrel of desired length and weight, and add a spacer and thick recoil pad and have the gun you desire...the final price would depend on the cost of the used rifle and the price of the barrel you purchase..shaw barrels offers some pretty good barrels at reasonable prices..there are others, but that is one of the moderate priced barrels I have used...

[charles p]

If you rebarrel and change the recoil pad you might have what you want.  I'd start with the new pad.  You may be happy with that alone.  You will probably be wearing additional clothing during elk season, and a slightly shorter barrel length could just fit your bill.

[Catfish]

As Charles said, start with a recoil pad. If that is not enough you can always add a spacer between it and the pad. For more weight you can put some lead in the stcok. The simplest way to put in the lead is to use lead shot.

[IOWA DON]

Like Catfish was saying "...put some lead in the stock." and I would put in the forearm under the barrel for a more forward balance for steadier holding. If added in the buttstock it will not help for a steadier hold.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  To my tastes, adding lead to a stock throws the balance off on a rifle..the few I handled felt very awakard..To me the wt. should be foward in the barrel..a heavier than normal barrel say number 5, even cut to 24 inches makes a fine handling rifle..a friend once cut a bull barrel .22-250 off to 20" while it looked different it handled very, very well..he was handicapped and had a permit to hunt from a vehicle..he was deadly with this combination...When one considers he will hunt with a rifle for maybe 30 to 50 years, I want the weapon fitted to my tastes and likes...over the long haul, it is rather in expensive to have rifle done to suit your needs and tastes...

[roper]

You can all length to an existing stock by adding spacer or what they call a adustable butt plate like this
http://www.brownells.com/1/3/adjustable-butt-plate

McMillian makes certain style stock that you can add fill weight and the stock balance pretty nice like the HTG
http://www.mcmfamily.com/mcmillan-stocks-hunting-stock-list.php?subnav=branch2d  You can add spacer or  adjustable butt plate as an a option.

One advantage to building is the part used and getting the weight you like beside LOP.
When you looking at 11/12lb rifles you looking at a rifle that weight 9.5 to 10lbs plus scope/mounts and you could go to some nice steel mounts also to add weight also stell bottom metal.  Like I said lots of options.  You can have the barrel fluted that let you add barrel length or go move up in barrel contour without adding weight say going from a #5 to Fluted #6.

H&S builds alot of stocks with bedding blocks and you could give them a call about building you a stock
http://www.hsprecision.com/shop/stocks  I had them do one for a 30-378Wby.

Here another outfit you might find interesting I got one of these for a 270Wby project on a Rem action
http://www.accurateinnovations.com/

Well good luck

[diggler1833]

I am a much larger fan of the McMillan LOP spacer system over H-S Precision's adjustable stocks.  The spacer system is a set once and forget system, where you utilize an allen wrench, whereas the H-S stock that I owned (M24 style) kept adjusting itself on me out in the field.

The options are almost endless on a custom .338WM rig.