376 Steyr

[358Win]

If one wanted to build a left handed bolt action for the 376 Steyr what would be the best readily available (in the USA) action to start with for this project?  Why would that action be your choice?

[gunnut69]

Savage or Remington..Price and availability.

[358Win]

Will either of these actions have a problem with opening up the blot face to the required 0.496 diameter of the 376 Steyr.  This case is basically a longer bersion of the 284 Winchester.  A regular length action would be needed.

Does any of that  info change your recommendation?

[gunnut69]

Both are avaiable in magnum chamberings and open the bolt face to that dimension will pose no problem.

[358Win]

Hi Gunnut69:

   Thamks for the info.  The 376 Steyr has what I consider perfect ballistics.  The 270 grain at 2550 and the 300 grain at 2400.  It does this with a a charge weight of about a 30-06.  The Steyr casee is baacially a lengthend 284 Winchester with a mid sized riim.  Based on what you've told me so far I'm leaning toward a Savage action.  As you can probably tell I'm a big fan of  midsize everything.  Midsize bore 0.338 to 0.416.  Midsiize Velocities 2,300 to 2,700 fps.  Midsize bullet wieghts 200 to 350 grains.  Short to Midsize barrel lengths, 16 to 20 inches.  Midsize rifle lengths 36 to 40 inches.  Light to midsize rifle weights 6 to 7.5 pounds with scope and everything.  If I were to pick tow rifles to handle everything it would be the 260 Rem on the light engand the 376 Steyr on the other end.

[gunnut69]

Sounds like you may really like the newly announced 338 Federal. It's basically a 338-308 and should be as friendly and usefull as the 35 Whelan is on the 30-06 case.. It's even in a more middle aof the road bore size, the 338 than the 376. I haven't seen any ballistics yet but would guess they will handle nearly anything on this continent with a tad less recoil than the 376.. Keep us up on your project. By the way the mauser would likely be my choice for the 338 Federal, I just love the engineering.,.

[358Win]

Hi Gunnut69:

   I've just been looking at a very interesting website www.montanarifleman.com.  They claim that they can make a barrelled action in left-handed stainless for 338-300WSM for $900.  It looks like a very nice action with most of the good features of the pre-1964 Model 70 along with a feature or two from the Mauser action.  Questions:
1) What do you think of this action?
2) If they can make a 338-300WSM shouldn't it just be a change of bore diameter and a different chamber reamer to make a 375-325WSM?
3) Do you know of anyone that makes a synthetic stock suitable for this barrelled action that has the basic look and feel of the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight stock?

   I do think that the 338 Federal is a great concept.  But  every thing the 338 Federal can do, the 358 Winchester BLR I already have can do just a little bit better.  If they have kept the original 308/358 headspace, it would be a great way to make Federal brass for my 358.  While I do have about 500 Winchester cases in 358, I do also have about 400 cases made from Lake City National Match 308 brass.  I do have to cut the powder charge almost 2 grains from the Winchester brass to the National Match brass.  The Winchester brass is pretty thin. and I've always been a big fan of Federal brass.

[gunnut69]

The Montana rifleman actions are really nice. They usually require polishing but are normally(from a very small sample) quite straight. Well made products. I would assume nearly any caliber would be roundgky the same, excepting of course the proce of a reamer and possible headspace guages..  I don't know of s featherweight style in a synthetic but certainly would hope someone makes one. Check the Brownells cataloq, they handle a huge number of stocks..

[oldfart0007]

i dont think a  remington will work the 376 is smaler than standerd mag diamiter mine is a cz 550  controld round feed