Best Approach for 6mmBR and 6.5x47 Rifle

[Phil3]

I intend to acquire a good performing 6mmBR and 6.5x47 Lapua rifle, but as a non-competing fun shooter, I feel that a factory based product will be sufficient (no custom action). I am less certain on what path to take to get to those guns. Complicating things is uncertainty on the kind of shooting discipline I will engage in, other than to say it will be off a bench only. I do intend to use a coaxial rest and rear bag for load development, but also have an interest in developing my shooting skills shooting off a bipod and rear squeeze bag.

6mmBR:
Option A: Buy Savage Long Range Precision Varminter (right bolt left port only). Single shot. $1,315 - $1,395 (depending on twist). Stock not ideal for bags or front rest, but do have a 3” wide flat bag rider adapter (Sinclair) for the front. Can use with bipod and squeeze bag. Still not seeing the plus of the left port action, but would willingly go with it if I could see how it helps.
Option B: Buy Savage Model 12 F Class: $1,525. Good for F Class, but not for bipod use.
Option C: Buy Savage Model 12 Benchrest: $1,550. Good for BR, but not for bipod use.
Option D: Buy Savage single shot action ($600), aftermarket barrel, and stock. Send to gunsmith for bedding. I can do barrel nut.
Option E: Buy Howa barreled action ($450). Buy aftermarket barrel and stock. Send all to gunsmith for fitting. I have learned from two sources that the Howa action is friendly to feeding 6mmBR rounds without modification, which I like. But undecided on single shot vs mag.

6.5 x47 Lapua:
Option A: Buy Howa barreled action($450). Buy aftermarket barrel and Manners stock. Buy Howa detachable mag kit. Send all to gunsmith for fitting. Cooper offers a rifle in this caliber, but looking for a synthetic stock, mag fed style.

Opinions?

Phil

 

[M-61]

Is time a factor? Meaning are you able to wait (age, health, patience) for Savage Option D & E or Lapua Option A, to be completed.

 

[Phil3]

Time is not a factor, other than acquiring actions (or complete rifle) prior to January 1, 2014. On that date and after, California will keep a record of what long guns I take possession of, just like they have already been doing with handguns. I don't think it is any of the state's business to know what guns I own, and intend to avoid that by buying in 2013. Final assembly can go into 2014 if necessary, but I won't accept broken promises on delivery times, or delivery times of many months.

Phil

 

[Hoier]

You can do the same with a Remington. You can get barrel nut barrel from Northland shooters. Jim can hook you up. I was a die hard Savage guy and still think there is nothing wrong with them, just the Remington has so much more in the aftermarket world. Here in Colorado at Sportsmans they sell 700s for 399.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

You can find a good used custom-action 6BR in the classifieds for $1200-$2000 if you're patient. Buy one, and then get a 6.5x47 barrel chambered for the action to make a switch barrel rig. That way you only need one stock, one Jewell or Kelbly trigger, and one scope. And if you shoot the 6BR for awhile you may not feel the need for the 6.5x47 anyway.

I'd skip the magazine altogether.

 

[flatlander]

The choice between single shot or repeater action should hinge on what you may envision yourself doing with the rifle down the road. There are many shooting games that require a repeater, and in truth, I've seen very little practical accuracy advantage when comparing my custom SS action-based target rifles to repeaters built around Rem, Howa, Win, and Pierce repeaters.

Note I said 'practical' accuracy - not talking about pure BR shooting here. If you go with a solid bottom single shot action, you may get slightly more potential accuracy in certain situations, but you're limiting what you can do with the rifle. I've built myself repeaters that have proved capable of shooting 1/2 MOA 5-shot groups out to 1000yds, and one of my tactical 260 Imp rifles recently shot a .161" c-t-c group at 100yds with fireform loads. A repeater built on a good action with good bbl, correctly bedded in a good stock in either 6BR or 6.5x47 should easily meet your expectations for accuracy.

Whatever route you choose, you're going to have to get cracking if you expect a completed rifle by the end of the year....

 

[broncman]

This is easy....buy a savage PTA action fro Jim at Northland for $525, prefit barrels from shilen (or a a criterion from Jim as well) about $375-400, and a stock from your choice of makers and you have basically a switchbarrel rig!

I have remmy, sakos and savages. Savage is the most user friendly of them all. Easy to change barrels and even bolt heads to switch calibers. The new accutrigger is very nice....the xmark pro remmy sucks..

IMO Savage is the best choice for a DIY'er. Try changing calibers on a Remmy or anything on a remmy.... Savage truly offers the DIY'er more options than the Remmy or Howa.

 

[timeout]

I agree the Savage would make a good switch barrel rifle for phil3. I am not that excited about the accutrigger. The center blade appears to me as some sort of a marketing gimmick. After shooting one my brother-in-law owns, I don't see any advantage to it. The promark Remmy with a simple replacement spring sold by Ernie the gunsmith, is not a terrible hunting trigger. IMHO if you are looking for a great trigger, buy a Jewell.

 

[Hoier]

This is easy....buy a savage PTA action fro Jim at Northland for $525, prefit barrels from shilen (or a a criterion from Jim as well) about $375-400, and a stock from your choice of makers and you have basically a switchbarrel rig!

I have remmy, sakos and savages. Savage is the most user friendly of them all. Easy to change barrels and even bolt heads to switch calibers. The new accutrigger is very nice....the xmark pro remmy sucks..

IMO Savage is the best choice for a DIY'er. Try changing calibers on a Remmy or anything on a remmy.... Savage truly offers the DIY'er more options than the Remmy or Howa.

The only difference is you can change boltheads. And Savage Accutriggers suck. The trigger options are the worst part of Savage. The best part of Savage is you can get a left port or a dual port.

 

[Phil3]

The choice between single shot or repeater action should hinge on what you may envision yourself doing with the rifle down the road. There are many shooting games that require a repeater, and in truth, I've seen very little practical accuracy advantage when comparing my custom SS action-based target rifles to repeaters built around Rem, Howa, Win, and Pierce repeaters.

If there is no real difference, I just as soon go with the repeater. I am also interested in having a 6mmBR repeater, just because I know it is often difficult to make that round feed well from a mag, and consider it a bit of a project (challenge) for me to work on. Savage offered a 6mmBR LRPV repeater for a short period, but now discontinued (perhaps because it was not reliable?). I also like the 6.5x47 as I have read it is not so magazine constrained on desirable OAL as other 6.5s. This would allow me to play with bullet seating depth and still use the mag. Why do I like the mag? I am not sure. Less activity loading, less disturbance to me the shooter, like the look...

Note I said 'practical' accuracy - not talking about pure BR shooting here. If you go with a solid bottom single shot action, you may get slightly more potential accuracy in certain situations, but you're limiting what you can do with the rifle. I've built myself repeaters that have proved capable of shooting 1/2 MOA 5-shot groups out to 1000yds, and one of my tactical 260 Imp rifles recently shot a .161" c-t-c group at 100yds with fireform loads. A repeater built on a good action with good bbl, correctly bedded in a good stock in either 6BR or 6.5x47 should easily meet your expectations for accuracy.

After load development on a mechanical front rest and rear bag, I will likely try shooting off a bipod and squeeze bag. I prefer the closer physical interaction between shooter and rifle vs BR. While a repeater rifle may shoot slightly less accurately than a single shot in any circumstance, from what you say, it probably won't be a material difference if shooting off a bipod or sandbag. If I and the rifle can shoot 1/4 - 1/2" groups off a bipod at 100 yards, I would be thrilled. My current AR-15 can almost do that now. A good bolt action should be able to duplicate it.

Whatever route you choose, you're going to have to get cracking if you expect a completed rifle by the end of the year....

I just need to purchase an action by the end of the year to avoid the California registration.

Thank you.

Phil

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3827206.msg0#new

 

[jonbearman]

Toby,you are right on and there are a couple on benchrest central I believe.

 

[ttfreestyle]

There are also a couple good adapter plates that attach to the sling stud holes for using with a mechanical rest. They are easy to remove and put a bipod on. The Savage 6br will shoot well but a setup from Jim at Northland Shooters is the ticket. He has short action varmint actions for 495 , Get ya a Criterion barrel and stock and you will have a shooter.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

Best of both worlds, and will hold its value better than a new build on a factory action:

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3826871

 

[sundance]

Another option is Bob White's Shooters Corner also on Benchrest.com. He has many many rifles to choose from. Check out the list.

 

[Tim Singleton]

This is easy....buy a savage PTA action fro Jim at Northland for $525, prefit barrels from shilen (or a a criterion from Jim as well) about $375-400, and a stock from your choice of makers and you have basically a switchbarrel rig!

I have remmy, sakos and savages. Savage is the most user friendly of them all. Easy to change barrels and even bolt heads to switch calibers. The new accutrigger is very nice....the xmark pro remmy sucks..

IMO Savage is the best choice for a DIY'er. Try changing calibers on a Remmy or anything on a remmy.... Savage truly offers the DIY'er more options than the Remmy or Howa.

Another vote for Savage. The only thing I would change from the above post. Is buy a donor rifle from a pawn shop or local gun shop.
I have built 5 Savages. 2-6brs a 6Dasher a 6.5x47L and a 20P.
You can usually find a centerfeed model 10 or even a Stevens 200, for $350-$375. After adding a Shilen,McGowen or CBI barrel maybe even a rifle basix2 trigger then a stock to suit your preferred shooting style.
your up and going with a rifle you built to your needs for less than a grand. It will shoot better than the factory barrels for less cost when finished
Good shooting
Tim

 

[idahoorion]

While I have no idea about the CA gunlaws. My guess would be that they track the action. so by getting your action(s) prior to Jan. you could bypass the tracking. then barrels/stocks/triggers etc are just accessories.

just a thought.

Idahoorion

 

[Phil3]

This is exactly the plan. As with AR15s, they only care about the serial numbered part, the firearm.

Phil