Beginner benchrest cartridge

[P1ZombieKiller]

A 30 BR is attractive, but just a little more trouble. WH

Trouble?

i would take the ease of a 30br over a 6ppc all day long.

with a 30br, load develop it... and never move/change a thing.
Try that with a 6ppc.

 

[Will Henry]

By trouble, I only mean that cases need forming (I think firing blank loads to neck up is best), and necks turned. The others all have brass available. I especially like the BR for this. As I mentioned, the 223 is wonderful but I've always favored 6mm's. For a beginning Benchrester, the closer to plug and play you can get, the better. From an easy beginning, he can go as far down the rabbit hole as he wants. WH

 

[JMayo]

5k for the rifle? Just curious were you get that number from? if he got a kauger BR, kelbly panda, even a single shot blueprinted rem, pierce, and so on, with a Krieger, bartlien, lilja barrel and a decent stock and trigger, plus the gunsmithing, he'd be well under 5k.

Also, if I end up only getting upwards of 3,000 rounds out of my 30br before accuracy noticably declines I'm going to become wildly upset, haha.

Since instead of just posting your ideas you choose to kick dirt at me.
Come shoot with us and show us your great shooting rig.

 

[Kevin1990]

Since instead of just posting your ideas you choose to kick dirt at me.
Come shoot with us and show us your great shooting rig.

Huh? Kick dirt at you, what are you talking about? I merely asked why you'd need to spend 5k, especially when he's not competing, and why accuracy in a 30br would decline "approaching" 3000 rounds. Both of my statements/ questions are fairly reasonable.

You have given me solid advice on this forum when I've asked questions, and I have much respect for you, and your opinions. I wasn't trying to kick dirt, I just found that statement odd. Albeit, I do agree that the words budget and benchrest usually don't go together.

If I'm ever in NC, I'll meet you at a range and you can shoot circles around me at whatever distance you'd perfer, haha. Again, no offense meant with my comments, my apologies.

 

[jackieschmidt]

With the advent of ALPHA 6PPC brass, I would say go with the 6PPC. In the world of Benchrest, there is an entire industry built around it.

As good as the 6BR is, it will not hang with a 6PPC in 100/200/300 yard Benchrest.

I love my 30BR for Score Shooting, but a 10.5 pound Rifle in 30BR is a handful if you decide to shoot a Group Match.

 

[wildcat3d]

100 yards.

Been reloading for 3 decades.

I've already been tweaking on factory rifles for 2 decades. Just like to try a custom action and a low recoil cartridge designed around accuracy.

I don't compete against anyone but myself.

As mentioned above, the idea of a used benchrest rifle that's no longer in favor due to evolving competition changes makes sense to me.

6 ppc, new Alpha brass, no turn neck to start and go from there...

 

[divingin]

Short range - 30BR
Long range - 6BR

Personally, I'd say 6BR for both. No forming cases, easy off the shelf components, pretty wide range of choices in just about everything, and a ton of info available for help.

 

[KMW 1954]

I have a rifle I put together and have posted pictures of here along with a number of targets that were shot with it. All from 100 to 300yds.

Rifle is a Savage 110 action, $300.00. Shilen 4 groove 28" Bull barrel in 6ARC, $400.00, and a Boyd's At-One stock which is now on it's 3dr barreled action. So not going to include that price because it was purchased before this build.

I have shot this in a local league that has about everything shooting in it, from 223 to 308 and just about any rendition of the 6BR including a 6GT.

Over the course of a 10 week season I and this rifle have out shot at least once each of our top 5 shooters and believe me they are no slouches and their equipment is Match grade. So in this instance it all comes down to the shooter.

So here I have a very basic and simple rifle, put together with run of the mill parts and am able to compete. Difference being shooter ability. Also can say I don't know if I'd be any happier or more satisfied if I'd have spent twice as much building it.

 

[Tim Singleton]

5k for the rifle? Just curious were you get that number from? if he got a kauger BR, kelbly panda, even a single shot blueprinted rem, pierce, and so on, with a Krieger, bartlien, lilja barrel and a decent stock and trigger, plus the gunsmithing, he'd be well under 5k.

Also, if I end up only getting upwards of 3,000 rounds out of my 30br before accuracy noticably declines I'm going to become wildly upset, haha.

I think he is pretty on at $5000
1500 to 1800 for the action
400 for a trigger
1500 to 2000 for a new stock (custom made)
460 for barrel
1500 scope
250 Scope rings and trigger guard

No dollars in the above for a gunsmith to put it together and it’s at $5150

Can you find the above rifle used for $3500 without a scope? Sure.
Then buy a 1500 scope and your back in at 5k

 

[Kevin1990]

His assessment was without a scope and yours seems pretty high. Kauger br's, pandas, blueprinted rem 700, pierce, and a couple others are well under 1500. Also 2k for a stock? He's just getting into bench shooting, there's no need for it. Get a revolution or something else and be done with it. A $5000 set up for someone who's new to bench shooting, and may not even end up liking it, but more importantly isn't competing and doesn't need to make weight would be erroneous.

If I were new to shooting and saw this thread, I'd think, "well that's a sport I'm not getting into, because I don't have $5,000."

He could get a tack driver of a rifle for less than half of what you stated.

 

[divingin]

Almost 10 years ago, my rifle ran: Bat B - $1400; McMillan stock - $1000; long and short range barrels - $350/ea; Golden Eagle $1400; metal and stock work - $1200. That was with all new stuff bought at retail. I'd say if you want new, you could get something cheaper, but likely not by a lot. Especially with prices up from where they were then.

No real suggestion for used, but found this: [Never dealt with this place, but I do have it bookmarked for if I ever end up with heavier-than-normal pockets]:

Benchrest Rifles | The Shooters Corner

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