Custom 338LM vs TRG-42

[Bama Fan]

I am new to the forum and have a question. I have a Remington Police Special in 338LM. We have been trying to get it sighted in and have been having a difficult time to get it to group. Scope is a Leupold Mark 4 LR/T 6.5-20x50mm M1 Turrets in Badger rings on a 40moa Nightforce base. The only modifications to the rife have been to remove the factory brake and replace it with a Badger FTE. I know the gunsmith had issues getting the old brake off and he ended up grinding the old one off. I also noted that the with the FTE, the barrel was not recrowned. I have spoken to Dave Tooley about checking the barrel, replacing it if needed, crowning the barrel and truing the action. I also plan on installing a new AI Chassis. My question is does it make sense to do this or would it make more sense to get rid of the rifle assuming there is nothing wrong with barrel and getting a TRG-42 instead. All advice is welcome. Thank you!

 

[IW21]

I played the same game with my Rem 700 5r. It actually would group really well. But I got to playing with the same idea, send it to GAP or APA or SAC, etc. Until I handled and cycled a TRG and an AI....all history now, TRG's, (for me anyway) are unbelievably comfortable to get behind when properly adjusted, and that's gotta be the slickest bolt i've ever cycled. And for roughly 3500$....a TRG 42 is really a good deal. Customs are cool, but I kinda like badass factory stuff.....

To each his own

 

[HodgdonExtreme]

Been in same position.

I bailed out on the Remington and bought the TRG. Zero regret whatsoever, and I probably even saved money doing it that way.

Then a friend had his Remington 338 all built up by a top name here. Good rifle and all, but I still prefer my TRG.

Were I to build a custom 338, it would not be based around a Rem700 long action.

 

[Bama Fan]

Been in same position.

I bailed out on the Remington and bought the TRG. Zero regret whatsoever, and I probably even saved money doing it that way.

Then a friend had his Remington 338 all built up by a top name here. Good rifle and all, but I still prefer my TRG.

Were I to build a custom 338, it would not be based around a Rem700 long action.

I had the same thoughts about the Remington action. It seems to me that the action would be the weak link in that situation.

 

[HodgdonExtreme]

I had the same thoughts about the Remington action. It seems to me that the action would be the weak link in that situation.

This point has been debated ad infinitum on this forum. Not looking to rekindle it, but...

I'm sure Remington blew up a bunch to see what it'd take, in doing their due diligence before production releasing that model. Obviously, they considered it plenty safe despite lofty liability concerns.

Still, most everyone is in agreement that its a tough choice between spending ~$800+ on a worked over Remington or ~$1100 on a custom action for their "308/6.5creedmoor" build...

I contend that becomes an even tougher choice when the chambering in question is 338. Especially with super duty actions such as the Badger M2013 available.

 

[mrbig]

I have not shot any custom 338 LM but have around 800 rounds on a TRG 42 338 LM with the Sako brake,bipod and three ring scope mount and the 5.5-22x56 NF scope,,,,it is insane accurate and the trigger I dont think can be beat,,it has so far not had any failure of any kind even working up loads that were clearly over the top pushing close to 2875 fps with 300 Scenars and Retumbo it never failed to extract,,after honing in on a load at 2775 fps it is as accurate as any rifle I have shot,

after shooting that rifle I fell in love with the caliber and got a steal on a Savage 110 FCPHS 338LM and after much headache and money loss I sold off the stock and bottom metal and removed the brake and chunked the rest in the trash,,

what I learned from that ordeal was that in fact I fell in love with the Sako TRG 42 rifle that just happened to be a 338LM,,