Exactly my story for my .338 M77 Hawkeye, except I got mine off of Guns International. I watched it and when it hadn't moved I counter-offered (Cabela's) and they took it, got a basically brand new one for $825 (the owner had shot a few and hated the recoil). Been a long slog to accumulate components like you say, but enough to get me through next year. Good luck.You can find Ruger Alaskans in .338WM on GB for decent prices. Finding ammo is the hard part. I do see .375 Ruger around, .338 I have had to search long and hard for and have chosen primarily to invest in bullets, brass, primers and powder.
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Preferences would be Alaska and stainless