Author Topic: 338 WM Build X Piper Rifles (Read 6479 times)

jhawk13 · « **on:** January 04, 2022, 08:06:14 AM »

I wish I would have started this write up a year ago when I started the build with Ben Piper of Piper Rifles down in AZ. The rifle is now finished and I fly down on Thursday to pick it up and do some quail hunting.

I found this whole process absolutely mind blowing with the amount of work that goes into a single rifle stock. So, I wanted to share with you guys a build that showcases the amount of work and detail that went into this rifle.

I will continue to update through the day as I have time!

jhawk13 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2022, 08:12:33 AM »

It all started with a block of wood.

When I expressed that I was interested in having a custom rifle built, Ben immediately started sending me a weekly round of photos of rifle stock blanks available to him. I passed up on about 20 unique blanks before finding the one I wanted. I didn’t really know what I was looking for but when I saw this one, I had to have it.

For those curious, this is Turkish Walnut coming out of the Middle East.

ellensburgpo · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2022, 08:18:47 AM »

jhawk13 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2022, 08:24:26 AM »

There was A LOT of nervous anticipation as I checked the tracking info each day. I was still skeptical at this point that this block of wood would make it to the US.

Two weeks later, it was delivered to AZ and I got the call from Ben. He told me this was going to be one sweet piece and joked that he should have bought it! Which, when your gun smith is envious, you know you got something special.

He did end up buying every blank that came out of the same lot/tree as mine and they all turned out unique and incredible.

jhawk13 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2022, 08:26:44 AM »

It carries the figure all the way through. Absolutely loved how unique it ended up being.

h20hunter · « **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2022, 08:31:36 AM »

Yes....more please!

Magnum_Willys · « **Reply #6 on:** January 04, 2022, 08:35:07 AM »

Nice piece of wood!

phildobaggins · « **Reply #7 on:** January 04, 2022, 08:36:49 AM »

This is gonna be a sweet thread!

jhawk13 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 04, 2022, 08:56:10 AM »

Fast forward a few month. I had drawn a late season elk tag in AZ. It was Ben’s home unit, so I got to swing by and check out the shop and my blank.

I have never owned a rifle that was correctly fit to my height and arm length. So we measured my length of pull and Ben brought out a few stocks for me to shoulder and feel out. It was almost comical shouldering something closer to my length of pull. I didn’t realize how much I was compensating and changing my form to shoot my Tikka.

After getting fitted and looking over a few different designs, we settled on a slightly beefier design that Ben normally uses for his safari builds.

He started cutting and shaping the blank that day. He has an incredible process that allowed him to have the rifle stock roughed out before the end of my hunt

jhawk13 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 04, 2022, 09:00:25 AM »

First cut….

jhawk13 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2022, 09:06:25 AM »

The elk hunt was “ok”…

pianoman9701 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2022, 09:08:32 AM »

I will enjoy seeing this take shape.

Bareback · « **Reply #12 on:** January 04, 2022, 09:10:25 AM »

Tag.

Bruiser bull.

jhawk13 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 04, 2022, 09:11:22 AM »

I got to visit with Ben before leaving with my bull. He had my rifle all roughed out and it finally looked like a rifle stock. I couldn’t believe how fast he had it cut. I swear the man never sleeps.

Here is what it looked like rough. I was initially concerned about the pitting where a few of the knots popped out but he assured me that I would never be able to tell after he was done with it.

jasnt · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2022, 09:12:57 AM »

Tagging along

Magnum_Willys · « **Reply #15 on:** January 04, 2022, 09:42:44 AM »

Smart on the straight comb!

jhawk13 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 04, 2022, 10:40:43 AM »

Ben and I both started sourcing parts for the rifle once I got back to Washington.

Parts slowly started to come together and I ended up with a sweet 1909 Argentine Mauser 98 for the action. I went with a Lothar Walther barrel, which Ben put on his lathe and custom cut a contour that he modified to his specs.

Next steps included cutting the bolt handle and rough fitting the action into the stock.

jhawk13 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 04, 2022, 10:43:44 AM »

Best part of my week was getting a random build picture. It made the wait just slightly more bearable!

jhawk13 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 04, 2022, 11:05:07 AM »

I drooled all over my phone when I saw this come across. I didn’t have a clue what was possible with engraving and originally I wasn’t going to have any engraving done. Ben quickly told me that he wasn’t going to let that be an option with this build. He dug in his parts box and pulled out an engraved bottom plate and told me it would be worth every penny. I told him I would take it…. Thank the lord that I did!!!

Details on the bottom metal: Talented engraver Dereck Fernelius did the engraving on the bottom metal. I believe Ben put a “French gray” blueing on it after the fact.

jhawk13 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 04, 2022, 05:42:39 PM »

Fast forward a bit, the rifle is screwed together and fit to the stock.

jhawk13 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 04, 2022, 05:47:33 PM »

I spent quite a bit of time Facebook stalking Ben and his page to try and see what the stock was going to look like oiled down. I was curious if it would darken up or still show all the figure and flame running through the stock.

Eventually I got a picture from Ben after he rubbed in the first coat of oil and my question was answered. Still a very long way to go.

jhawk13 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 04, 2022, 05:58:50 PM »

Finally all the parts arrive and Ben is able to put it all together for a quick picture before taking it apart again. He tells me there is still a lot of finish work to do. But it was enough to get me all wound up about it again.

He sent the action off for case color hardening and he prepped the barrel for blueing.

He added Buffalo horn for the forend cap and Buffalo horn cross pins as a custom touch.

I went with a leupold VX3-HD 4.5x15 50

jhawk13 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 04, 2022, 06:04:17 PM »

This is what the case color hardening looks like on a Mauser action

jhawk13 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 04, 2022, 06:12:54 PM »

I promise I’ll quit teasing… lol

Last post before the final product!! The stock was hand checkered by David VanBoxtaele, “get a grip checkering”.

At this point the stock only needed 2 more finish coats of oil and checkering.

jhawk13 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 04, 2022, 06:17:27 PM »

Final product pics!

jhawk13 · « **Reply #25 on:** January 04, 2022, 06:18:17 PM »

More pics

jhawk13 · « **Reply #26 on:** January 04, 2022, 06:19:30 PM »

Absolute money!

jhawk13 · « **Reply #27 on:** January 04, 2022, 06:22:20 PM »

Last update!! Side profile shot.

If anyone is interested in reaching out to Ben Piper with Piper Rifles just DM me. He does great work.

I hope you guys enjoyed the build as much as I did. I can’t wait to get my hands on it this week.

jackelope · « **Reply #28 on:** January 04, 2022, 06:33:54 PM »

Wow.

That thing is a work of art.

TVHunts · « **Reply #29 on:** January 04, 2022, 07:09:02 PM »

Beautiful work! Congrats on a one of a kind rifle.

BigGoonTuna · « **Reply #30 on:** January 04, 2022, 07:31:42 PM »

Now that’s what I call a proper build! Gorgeous rifle

jasnt · « **Reply #31 on:** January 04, 2022, 08:19:35 PM »

I’ve never been in to wood stocks but that is one beautiful rifle

jhawk13 · « **Reply #32 on:** January 05, 2022, 07:48:05 AM »

Quote from: jackelope on January 04, 2022, 06:33:54 PM

Wow.

That thing is a work of art.

Absolutely! I am nervous to hunt with it!! I was told all the little dings and scratches will just add to the history of the gun. Will be cool to pass down at some point.

pianoman9701 · « **Reply #33 on:** January 05, 2022, 07:50:24 AM »

Nicest rifle I've seen. That's gorgeous.

GASoline71 · « **Reply #34 on:** January 05, 2022, 07:53:17 AM »

Quote from: jhawk13 on January 05, 2022, 07:48:05 AM

Quote from: jackelope on January 04, 2022, 06:33:54 PM
Wow.

That thing is a work of art.

Absolutely! I am nervous to hunt with it!! I was told all the little dings and scratches will just add to the history of the gun. Will be cool to pass down at some point.

Beautiful rifle. I'd be nervous too! I beat the tar out of my rifles.

Gary

jhawk13 · « **Reply #35 on:** January 05, 2022, 07:53:22 AM »

Quote from: BigGoonTuna on January 04, 2022, 07:31:42 PM

Now that’s what I call a proper build! Gorgeous rifle

Thanks! He did incredible work on it. I figured I might only ever do 1 more build like this so I went all out on this one.

Its never a for sure bet on what a blank will turn into so I feel pretty lucky with what I ended up with.

h2ofowlr · « **Reply #36 on:** January 05, 2022, 08:00:05 AM »

Nice looking build.

phildobaggins · « **Reply #37 on:** January 05, 2022, 09:38:47 AM »

What a wild looking rifle!

What prompted you to get it in .338 win vs .300 win?

jhawk13 · « **Reply #38 on:** January 05, 2022, 10:05:22 AM »

Quote from: phildobaggins on January 05, 2022, 09:38:47 AM

What a wild looking rifle!

What prompted you to get it in .338 win vs .300 win?

I already have a .300 win. It was a really hard choice though. I’ll let you know if I regret that choice when I go to shoot it

It shouldn’t even be half as bad since it fits me properly compared to my tikka t3 lite in 300 wm.

Angry Perch · « **Reply #39 on:** January 05, 2022, 10:05:57 AM »

Absolutely gorgeous, and it'll just get prettier the more it gates carried and used!

WALLEYEGUY · « **Reply #40 on:** January 05, 2022, 10:24:26 AM »

Thank you for sharing can't wait to hear how it shots.

phildobaggins · « **Reply #41 on:** January 05, 2022, 10:34:51 AM »

Quote from: jhawk13 on January 05, 2022, 10:05:22 AM

Quote from: phildobaggins on January 05, 2022, 09:38:47 AM
What a wild looking rifle!

What prompted you to get it in .338 win vs .300 win?

I already have a .300 win. It was a really hard choice though. I’ll let you know if I regret that choice when I go to shoot it

It shouldn’t even be half as bad since it fits me properly compared to my tikka t3 lite in 300 wm.

I see, that makes sense! Let's hear some feedback on it after you shoot her. What's the gun weigh in at?

Mtnwalker · « **Reply #42 on:** January 05, 2022, 10:36:58 AM »

Quote from: jhawk13 on January 05, 2022, 10:05:22 AM

Quote from: phildobaggins on January 05, 2022, 09:38:47 AM
What a wild looking rifle!

What prompted you to get it in .338 win vs .300 win?

I already have a .300 win. It was a really hard choice though. I’ll let you know if I regret that choice when I go to shoot it

It shouldn’t even be half as bad since it fits me properly compared to my tikka t3 lite in 300 wm.

Don't own a 300 but my Tikka 270wsm is much more unpleasant to shoot than my wood stocked 338

jhawk13 · « **Reply #43 on:** January 05, 2022, 11:09:37 AM »

Quote from: Mtnwalker on January 05, 2022, 10:36:58 AM

Quote from: jhawk13 on January 05, 2022, 10:05:22 AM
Quote from: phildobaggins on January 05, 2022, 09:38:47 AM
What a wild looking rifle!

What prompted you to get it in .338 win vs .300 win?

I already have a .300 win. It was a really hard choice though. I’ll let you know if I regret that choice when I go to shoot it

It shouldn’t even be half as bad since it fits me properly compared to my tikka t3 lite in 300 wm.

Don't own a 300 but my Tikka 270wsm is much more unpleasant to shoot than my wood stocked 338

That sounds promising. I was looking at shooting a Barnes 210 through it but a 225-250 was recommended.

Specifically the 250 Sierra Game King came highly recommended.

Mtnwalker · « **Reply #44 on:** January 05, 2022, 11:34:43 AM »

I tried 225 accubond, 225 TTSX and now have landed on the 210 TTSX and the gun likes them. I'm sure if I got up into the 250+ range the recoil would be a different story but the 225 weight bullets are no problem

paguy · « **Reply #45 on:** January 05, 2022, 02:44:54 PM »

Been shooting the same 338 win mag for 35 years and have shot almost everything trough it. The old factory barrel and the new Kreiger barrel both love the Nosler partition in 225 grain, And it just works good on everything I have shot with them.

jhawk13 · « **Reply #46 on:** January 05, 2022, 03:59:38 PM »

Quote from: paguy on January 05, 2022, 02:44:54 PM

Been shooting the same 338 win mag for 35 years and have shot almost everything trough it. The old factory barrel and the new Kreiger barrel both love the Nosler partition in 225 grain, And it just works good on everything I have shot with them.

I’ll ask if he has any at his shop I can snag for testing! Thanks for the info!

jhawk13 · « **Reply #47 on:** January 11, 2022, 08:56:33 AM »

Well, I was absolutely blown away with the rifle. It is truly a work of art.

It was so impressive I ended up buying another blank (right piece) that he showed me while I was down there. I might have a problem

400 H&H comes to mind for this blank. We will see though!

elkrack · « **Reply #48 on:** January 11, 2022, 09:29:54 AM »

Beautiful build! What does the rifle weigh?

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Author Topic: 338 WM Build X Piper Rifles (Read 6479 times)

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