MY 1 AK Big Game Rifle to End Them All

[Alaskanopolis]

My custom 338 Ruger Compact Magnum build by Derrick Moffit at Last Frontier Custom Guns is almost complete. It’s built on a left-handed Tuebor Ti short action with a 20” carbon wrapped Helix 6 barrel, McMillen Hunter Edge stock, and Timney trigger. I’m planning on loading 230gr ELD-X bullets to around 2700fps for my mountain hunting; 250gr (or larger) Accubonds, Partitions, Weldcores, or A-frames for moose, bear, and larger/tougher beasts. It was tough to pull the trigger on chambering a rifle on what is essentially a dead round; but I handload and no other round fit quite so nicely into the performance and rifle characteristics package I was looking for.
I’m sure there will be no shortage of opinions on the matter and I like the discussions because I put a lot of thought (Luke Moffat was my therapist as I struggled with so many important decisions.) into slapping this thing together.
On another note: Derrick at LFCG has been awesome to work with. He is an excellent communicator with great input and customer service. He’s been an absolute pleasure to work with and I can’t recommend him enough.

 

[daddie63]

Sounds like a perfect rifle for you... thats whats important. I look forward to hearing more about it and how it shoots when you get it.
Congrats on your new perfect rifle

 

[JWP58]

Very cool custom build. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

I kind of have rifle ADD, so we'll see. I all ready kind of feel like I'm having an affair behind the back of my 338-378. I finally go tired of packing that behemoth in the mountains with the +12lb all-up weight and the 28" of alder tangling barrel.

 

[wind gypsy]

338 rcm is a cool round, nice choices. I always thought building a 338 wsm on a medium/tikka action would be a cool setup.

 

[.270]

28" barrel going through alders sounds like a nightmare! I think your new build sounds like more fun to tote around.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

28" barrel going through alders sounds like a nightmare! I think your new build sounds like more fun to tote around.

Definitely. Don't get me wrong, I still love my big cannon. I had a 20" guide gun in 375rug that I really liked, but got rid of for some other reasons besides how nice and compact it was.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

28" barrel going through alders sounds like a nightmare! I think your new build sounds like more fun to tote around.

Definitely. Don't get me wrong, I still love my big cannon. I had a 20" guide gun in 375rug that I really liked, but got rid of for some other reasons besides how nice and compact it was.

 

[deerkiller]

sounds like an awesome rifle you'll have - VERY interested in this "story" ….

 

[Alaskanopolis]

I'll keep the updates coming as it unfolds.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

Looks like I'm going to have the stock hydrodipped in Kryptek Mandrake. It'll be the first ever dipped/camo stock I've ever owned. Camo stuff like guns and binoculars have never been very appealing to me but I think it'll look cool.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

I was wondering when Luke would swing on by.

 

[gbflyer]

Be interested in seeing how the Edge holds up to the recoil. I split and Edge filled Game Scout with a 7-08 right behind the recoil lug to the mag box inlet. And no it wasn’t loose or over torqued either one. I’m a little disappointed. McMillan is fixing it under warranty.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

Be interested in seeing how the Edge holds up to the recoil. I split and Edge filled Game Scout with a 7-08 right behind the recoil lug to the mag box inlet. And no it wasn’t loose or over torqued either one. I’m a little disappointed. McMillan is fixing it under warranty.

Yeah, I suppose time will tell. The brake should take a lot of the stank out of it, but I’m not planning on using it unless the recoil/blast affects my accuracy without it.

 

[gbflyer]

Yeah, I suppose time will tell. The brake should take a lot of the stank out of it, but I’m not planning on using it unless the recoil/blast affects my accuracy without it.

This GS is about 2-3 years old. I ordered a Hunters Edge about a year ago (before the GS split) and they asked me what caliber I’d be using it for. Sort of set of an alarm in my head as they never asked that about the first one. Incidentally the Hunters Edge is on a switch barrel, 7-08 and 6.5CM. No issues to date.

I own a lot of McMillan stocks. I think their customer service is awesome. That said, I think I’d go with standard fill on any “kicker”. But maybe mine was just a fluke.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

Too late in the game now. We’ll just have to see. I’ll update with how it goes.

 

[SkunkCabbage]

Sounds like a killer rifle.
I’m loving the 20” level personally.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

It’s completed.

 

[Alaskanopolis]

 

[Alaskanopolis]

View attachment 96819

Nightforce 2.5-10 on nightforce lightweight ti rings.