NEW RIFLE BUILD

[Nick Caprinolo]

I am embarking on a new rifle build, which will be use for benchrest shooting, at 100 yards. This is not for competition but just for fun.

I have a Remington 700 action from the custom shop and a Bartlein 1/8mm twist barrel along with a medium priced benchrest stock. I have considered several of the 6mm rounds Already have a 6PPC. I have been considering 243 Winchester and several others. My shoulders are a wreck so recoil is a major consideration with the .243 but I thought a muzzle break and heavy barrel would eliminate that problem. Any ideas on the effects of a muzzle brake on accuracy?

Next problem will be which bullet brand and weight, if that is the rout I take.

 

[Dub]

Muzzle brakes are common on long range bench rest rifles so I doubt it affects accuracy

 

[jackieschmidt]

Not to be contrary, but if 100 yards is what you will be shooting, the 1-8 twist barrel is counterproductive.

since you already have a 6PPC, why not go with a 6BR and a 1-12 twist shooting the Barts 80 grn BT. If you want to shoot lighter bullets than that, the 1-12 will be more user friendly than the 1-8.

I have a 13.5 pound Heavy Varmint 6BR that I use 1-12 twist barrels with the Barts 80. Recoil is very light And accuracy is outstanding.

 

[rjtfroggy]

Nick I did a 243 with a heavy barrel and shot it out in 1250 rounds. Now I have a 6BR on it but haven't shot it much because it doesn't make weight ( yet). Just my opinion but I would go with the BR.
I also would not use a pre-fit go with a shouldered barrel, mine are a bit more accurate now that I did away with the nut system.
As for bullets I have had the best results so far with Berger's, but I am going to try some customs before next season.

 

[Ranger188]

Nick, you said this is not for comp. just a fun and accurate 100yds rifle.
You could pick a 22 cal. or 6mm that you might shoot longer in the future.
This way you would all the components if you decided to do a longer range version.
A brake won't hurt the accuracy of a fun rifle and will help with your shoulder issue.
6br is the easy button or a variant of that. 22br or even go to a 22 Dasher.

 

[garandman]

Some thoughts:

1. Brakes....fun for the shooter, not so fun for the shooters left and right of the shooter. A suppressor can add weight, and be fun for everyone,.

2. A heavy gun with beefy stock and 1.25" straight profile barrel would have enuf weight to minimize recoil.

3. Light bullets can be loaded light and reduce recoil.

4. A new project is always fun

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

I wanted to do something different than the benchrest crowd. Remember, I already have the barrel so other than 6mm 8 twist it's not possible at this time. Choosing another caliber sometime down the road is an easy change. A 6mm BR is not that much different than a 6PPC and the PPC is more accurate in my opinion.

I have no intentions of using a prefit barrel. While I know many do this, it is not for me. Changing barrels is easy to do and I have done it before, right here at home.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Not to be contrary, but if 100 yards is what you will be shooting, the 1-8 twist barrel is counterproductive.

since you already have a 6PPC, why not go with a 6BR and a 1-12 twist shooting the Barts 80 grn BT. If you want to shoot lighter bullets than that, the 1-12 will be more user friendly than the 1-8.

I have a 13.5 pound Heavy Varmint 6BR that I use 1-12 twist barrels with the Barts 80. Recoil is very light And accuracy is outstanding.

Jackie. what freebore measurement do you suggest with this setup? Thanks!

 

[357Mag]

Nick -

Howdy !

I think Jackie told you square.

With recoil being a factor, I'd imagine you'd want to use a 6mm case w/ capacity notably less than a .243Win.

I shoot my wildcat " DEEP 6 " ( case capacity 51.4gr H2O ) from a 29" Broughton SS 5-groove 1-8.
All-up gun wt is 17lb. Shooting 95 T-MKs with a pretty full case of RL-22, -23, -25; or -26 does produce
notable recoil, as my rifle has neither a recoil pad nor muzzle brake.


With regards,
357mag

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Some thoughts:

1. Brakes....fun for the shooter, not so fun for the shooters left and right of the shooter. A suppressor can add weight, and be fun for everyone,.

2. A heavy gun with beefy stock and 1.25" straight profile barrel would have enuf weight to minimize recoil.

3. Light bullets can be loaded light and reduce recoil.

4. A new project is always fun

What you say about brakes is very true. I have a Ruger 6.5CM and the brake is awesome as long as you are not in the next bench. I use a portable battery operated fan to cool the barrel and had it sitting close to the muzzle. after a few rounds, I noticed that it had blown one of the fan blades off. I shoot with the same guys ever week. When I shoot the CM, they sit back and after shooting two targets I sit and they shoot. Been working for a few years. I really like the CM and this is the second barrel on it.

Nick -

Howdy !

I think Jackie told you square.

With recoil being a factor, I'd imagine you'd want to use a 6mm case w/ capacity notably less than a .243Win.

I shoot my wildcat " DEEP 6 " ( case capacity 51.4gr H2O ) from a 29" Broughton SS 5-groove 1-8.
All-up gun wt is 17lb. Shooting 95 T-MKs with a pretty full case of RL-22, -23, -25; or -26 does produce
notable recoil, as my rifle has neither a recoil pad nor muzzle brake.


With regards,
357mag

As I said, I shoot the Ruger 6.5CM PRP. It is kind of heavy with that break the recoil is hardly felt. I have witnessed others with lighter barrels and no break banged pretty hard. I bought a heavy barrel and can add weight to the stock if necessary. I can always rechamber to something else if I have to but I don't anticipate a heavy recoil from it. At 100 yards, I do not need a heavy powder load. Add to that a Zeb front rest and a good recoil pad and it should be OK. Last week I shot a friends .243 and although recoil was too much for me, his was a hunting rifle with a pensile sized barrel and made for carrying in the woods on long walks.

 

[kvd]

A shooter in my club does pretty well with a 6mm Grinch. Perhaps that would be a cartridge to consider.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

A shooter in my club does pretty well with a 6mm Grinch. Perhaps that would be a cartridge to consider.

Is that the Grendel necked down?

 

[Forum Boss]

First, I suggest a 6BR or 6BRA or a 6 GT. Not a fan of the .243 Win -- it's not particularly efficient and I prefer a sharper shoulder.

Keep the 1:8" twist Bartlein barrel, unless you are planning to use this for registered competition. (But you said this is "just for fun").

My 1:8" 6BR shoots high ones at 100 with 80grainers but can also shoot 105s at 600 (and holds a range record on our 600 yards steel course). For a club match type rifle that you might want to shoot multiple distances with, I would NOT go with the 1:12. Not at ALL. You might be surprised how well 80s shoot in a 1:8" even jumping a long way. The 1:8" gives you so much more versatility. Oh, and if you do use this rifle for varminting, the extra spin makes impacts more dramatic.

For fun shooting, build the thing fairly heavy, with weight in the stock. Again, consider what you will use the gun for and build it for your comfort, as long as it can qualify for a club match a few times a year.

NOT a fan of brakes. They do reduce recoil, but they are noisy and need to be cleaned.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

@ Nick,..
IF, you want .243 Win Power / Velocity, TRY the 6 XC as, it uses 3-4 grains less Powder and has, WAY BETTER,. Barrel Life and with, LESS, case Trimming ! My 10 Pound, Braked, 6 XC, drives the 80 grain F. Base Berger Varmints, 3,200 FPS and the 95 grain, Classic Hunters @ 3,100 FPS with very, VERY, little, Recoil & muzzle "Jump" !
YES, I'd KEEP, the 1-8 twist, bbl ! The 1-8 should shoot, the 68's and 70 grain bullets, VERY "well" !
Groups in, the .2's and .3's ARE,.. NO Problem with my, 1-7.5 tw. bbl. !
The 6 XC will FEED most ANY, 6mm Bullet, you want, to use WELL, in the Rem, short action !
A Fun & VERY pleasant, Gun, to shoot !

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

To AVOID Muzzle Blast,.. find a Brake with, Ports 90* ( Perpendicular ) to the Bore ( NOT slanted rearward ) and use a Limb Saver, Recoil Pad for, your,.. shoulder "Issues" !
Hey Buddy,.. I HATE, Recoil, too ! Good luck with your,.. "Choices" !
Most GOOD Brakes, WON'T hurt Accuracy ! I have 3 Brakes in, .223 Rem. , .22-250 Rem and 6 XC and ALL 3 of my Rifles have been Tested, BOTH ways, with NO accuracy "issues" on /off and very slight,.. POI change !
I'd buy, a Tubb Brake, in a New York Minute, IF, starting over on, a New Rifle !
The 6 XC case has, approx. the .22-250's Powder "Volume" and could be, EASILY "down loaded" with something like, Varget or 4895 and using, the lighter, Bullets ! You'll be Happy with, the Bartlein 1-8 TW Barrel for, Varmints and Informal, Target shooting ! Good, Norma Brass, HAS BEEN,.. "available" in 6 XC !
Again,.. Good luck !

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

First, I suggest a 6BR or 6BRA or a 6 GT. Not a fan of the .243 Win -- it's not particularly efficient and I prefer a sharper shoulder.

Keep the 1:8" twist Bartlein barrel, unless you are planning to use this for registered competition. (But you said this is "just for fun").

My 1:8" 6BR shoots high ones at 100 with 80grainers but can also shoot 105s at 600 (and holds a range record on our 600 yards steel course). For a club match type rifle that you might want to shoot multiple distances with, I would NOT go with the 1:12. Not at ALL. You might be surprised how well 80s shoot in a 1:8" even jumping a long way. The 1:8" gives you so much more versatility. Oh, and if you do use this rifle for varminting, the extra spin makes impacts more dramatic.

For fun shooting, build the thing fairly heavy, with weight in the stock. Again, consider what you will use the gun for and build it for your comfort, as long as it can qualify for a club match a few times a year.

NOT a fan of brakes. They do reduce recoil, but they are noisy and need to be cleaned.

Boss, as far as I am concerned, you and a few others on this site are the last word when it comes to advice. So with that in mind, 6BR is going to be my choice. Already have a couple of 45 Leopold scopes and a Jewel trigger so this now depends on my smith to finish up. Hope to have a target posted in about a month. Thank you one and all for your input. I am particularly thankful to the Boos, that he would take his valuable time to give advice to a mere mortal.

 

[dthomas]

For a good recoil pad look at the ones from trapdude.com. I have one on my f class rifle and don't feel anything from it.

 

[Mark W]

Jackie. what freebore measurement do you suggest with this setup? Thanks!

I’m not Jackie, but I’m a big fan of my 12 twist 6BRA with Barts 80s and I run zero freebore. It allows me shoot bullets from 55 grain up to 80 grain with Barts 80 being the best.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I’m not Jackie, but I’m a big fan of my 12 twist 6BRA with Barts 80s and I run zero freebore. It allows me shoot bullets from 55 grain up to 80 grain with Barts 80 being the best.

I understand that wait times on custom barrels like the 12 twist is long right now, that’s good for me right now with current cost of components for the ones I already have. Maybe Santa will get the ball rolling on that deal.

 

[Tucker65]

I don't think the 8 twist will be a problem for some of the lighter bullets. I have a 6x47 Lapua with a 1-7.83 twist made for long range varmints shooting 105 Berger's @ 3100 fps. I loaded up some 70gr Sierra Blitzking's to see if they would stay together and they shoot tiny groups @ 3700 fps. 28" heavy contour barrel and recoil is hardly anything.