6BRA build opinions

[dgeesaman]

Hello everyone, this coming year I'm building my first custom rifle. Purpose is informal shooting for accuracy 400+ yards. It will be a non-walking varmint rifle for larger critters (not p-dogs). I've never competed behind a trigger but I might attend some groundhog shoots so I can get my butt kicked by better wind readers. Based on all that I was thinking of a 6BR but after seeing how 6BRA boosts performance using only another grain or two of powder and light fireforming, I went that way.

I have a JGS reamer in Wheeler #1 with .271 neck now on order. Other build features will be:
Krieger barrel, 1:8, probably 5R
Bix'n Andy two stage trigger
GRS Hybrid stock
"custom" action. Haven't decided exactly yet.

I want to decide on some of the long-lead items soon.

Q1: What barrel profile would you consider here? Remington Varmint seems straightforward. If my barrel weighs 5 lb or less the total rig should be around 10lb which is reasonable. I also don't want a very front-heavy rifle so I'm thinking 26" should generate solid ballistics.

Q2: How to select an action? Single vs. repeater, Defiance Tenacity vs Kelbly Atlas vs Stiller Predator Short vs Bighorn Origin vs something else. So far it seems I don't want to go above $1000. If it's repeater, can I feed rounds up to 107gr that touch the lands?

Q3: Should I order and have two barrels made right away? I plan on using a noted benchrest gunsmith in my area and of course he stays busy.

 

[R.Morehouse]

I would only get 1 barrel. You may decide at the end of that one you want to go another direction that would be best with a heavier contour in a single shot. Are you going to be shooting off a bi-pod?.......Have fun with your build....

Regards
Rick

 

[HTSmith]

I think a 26" RemVarmint would do well. I have that in a straight 6BR that shoots just as well and just as fast as a 30" HV contour on another rifle. Overall cartridge length won't be a problem with any short action, but you'd better check with your 'smith on feeding from a magazine. A 6BR can be problematic and I'd think the improved version could be even worse. As for the action, I have no experience with those but would advise listening to your 'smith.

 

[dgeesaman]

I think a 26" RemVarmint would do well. I have that in a straight 6BR that shoots just as well and just as fast as a 30" HV contour on another rifle. Overall cartridge length won't be a problem with any short action, but you'd better check with your 'smith on feeding from a magazine. A 6BR can be problematic and I'd think the improved version could be even worse. As for the action, I have no experience with those but would advise listening to your 'smith.

I did a bit of internet reading (FWIW of course) and it seems some folks are feeding 6BRA.

I doubt my smith will spend time on this because he's mostly a benchrest guy and he didn't have any 6BRA reamers. (His comment on 6BRA: "it seems to be catching on in the last year")

I wasn't originally planning on a repeater, but some of the lower cost actions are repeater only and the standard GRS inletting is made for it too. So if it works well enough, I'll do it.

 

[dgeesaman]

I would only get 1 barrel. You may decide at the end of that one you want to go another direction that would be best with a heavier contour in a single shot. Are you going to be shooting off a bi-pod?.......Have fun with your build....

Regards
Rick

I expect 90% of the rounds will be on my Shadetree rest and rear bag, but for varmint hunting the bipod might be the ticket.

 

[mikeeg02]

You should give Kelbly's a call. The people there are happy to talk about anything you want to talk about, answer questions, give suggestions. I have three of their actions now, and if you want parts, custom machining, nitriding, or any extras, they are very affordable, and dont gouge like some others. They also have incredible turn around time on things you send in to get worked on.

I dont have any experience with their chamber work, but I cant imagine it's anything but first class work.

If the person you want to speak to isnt available, they will call back, and basically as soon as they get off the phone with whoever they are on it with at present time.

I cant imagine after talking to them, you wont want to buy an action from them...... if you can get off the phone without doing it. And not because they are crafty salesmen. But just good honest people.

I have four barrels chambered in a br-improved. All of them over 1200 rounds through them now. (One was a dasher that got set back, but the rest started as br-improved) and they are all competitive shooters still.

 

[dgeesaman]

One more question: One way to get the best fit with my dies, the dies should be cut based on fired brass.

So will I get good enough brass samples firing factory loaded ammo? (I already bought a 50 count box of Lapua 105gr 6BR)

If it takes another firing or two to fully form the brass, what's an easy way to get the brass reloaded? I'd rather not buy a neck sizing die that never gets used again.

 

[mikeeg02]

Do you have your reamer print ? If so, why not send it to Whidden and have them build a perfect die for it ?

 

[swd]

One more question: One way to get the best fit with my dies, the dies should be cut based on fired brass.

So will I get good enough brass samples firing factory loaded ammo? (I already bought a 50 count box of Lapua 105gr 6BR)

If it takes another firing or two to fully form the brass, what's an easy way to get the brass reloaded? I'd rather not buy a neck sizing die that never gets used again.

Send 3 pieces of fired brass to Harrels and they’ll fit it to their best die. $80 for a FL bushing die. Get the Dasher seating die if your choice.

 

[Sheldon N]

Since you are based on the Wheeler print dimensions, it's not hard to find a die that's a good fit. The Whidden BRA die is based off the wheeler print, and the Forster and Harrells dies are also very close matches. Any of those three should work fine.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

My only suggestion is don’t try to save money on your budget with Question #2. An extra 3-4 hundred dollars spent here is not a bad place to get something beefy like a Defiance Tactical, but that’s only my opinion and others may know better.

 

[dgeesaman]

Do you have your reamer print ? If so, why not send it to Whidden and have them build a perfect die for it ?

I’m told that working from the reamer print is not perfect. Most people who get a reamer slightly out of spec don’t learn about that until the rifles been built and chambered and then you’re stuck with it.

David

 

[mikeeg02]

Its going to be as close as you can get, without getting your own die reamer made at the same time as when your original reamer was made.

Getting them cut from your fired brass will have a similar chance of being "off" as based on a reamer print(think tolerances, and measurement accuracy). They will get measured off of fired brass, which may have different amounts of springback based on how consistently annealed they were before firing, and the amount of pressure when fired. And as Jim O'hara has explained, the factory (yes even lapua) doesnt anneal very consistently. As he found annealing before fire forming dasher brass got rid of most, if not all his split case issues.

Whidden has a good reputation for making excellent dies, both from fired brass and reamer prints. And they have made a few for me off of my prints, and they have all been spot on. But your mileage may vary.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

The only real issues with dies have been some cut too long or the shell holder height too high. The nice thing with Harrell's is you can fine tune the amount of squeeze you get. The D3 and D3.5 BRA dies from Harrell's work well with my reamer with the 3.5 being a little tighter die. You will probably see more variation in the chamber from different gunsmith's setups than you will in JGS reamers.

 

[expiper]

well,,,since you asked,,,I would sell (or keep for later) the BRA reamer and get a standard 6BR (from Kiff//PT&G) a Kelbly Kodiak action and a LV bbl ~28" with the appropriate twist for the bullets you plan on using,,,,just call Kelblys (330.683.4674)and listen to them ,,it will be faster, simpler ,and cheaper in the long run,,,and you will have First class rifle that can be rebarreld in any popular cal at a later time,,,,Roger

 

[Falfan2017]

I went with the 3.5 Harrels and the Wilson dasher microseater and it’s worked out fine. Have to experiment with your bushing sizes because the differences in neck tension seem to matter.

 

[linebaugh]

I like your whole build list. Go with a repeater action to match the stock. Feeding may be an issue but not one you can't adjust yourself. As stated if you are spending this much get the action you want. I have an Origin and zero complaints but there may be a wish to upgrade for stiffness, features or looks so just get what you want the first time. Your action will never wear out so it's a lifetime investment.

Good luck and enjoy the anticipation... it's like christmas for grown ups.

 

[Falfan2017]

Also for actions have you looked at Bat? I like their hr/vr feeders.

 

[slickshot223]

Just my thoughts but I think your $1000 budget is going to be a bit light!! :>)

 

[dgeesaman]

Also for actions have you looked at Bat? I like their hr/vr feeders.

I have. The prices start over $1k so they're at the high end of my current budget.

Just my thoughts but I think your $1000 budget is going to be a bit light!! :>)

Lol that’s just for the action of course.

It seems there are two tiers of custom action: about $900 and over $1200. Since I don’t believe I need an integral recoil lug or one piece bolt, I’m still leaning toward the sub 1000 custom action.

Other than those features, I don't see what the extra money invested pays for.

Expiper, you bring up a good point but it seems I could revert back to 6BR for no more or less trouble. In any case the reamer is already on order, I might as well lick the stamp and send it, in a manner of speaking.

David