Build a budget 6br

[mattri]

Brand new to the 6br.

Would like to build a 600 yard target/varmint rifle. Have been looking at the Savage actions or even a Stevens action. Put a decent trigger on it, a SSS stock or simmilar, a 26" 1:8 barrel and good glass. I have Lee reloading equipment that has served me well with my .243 and .270.

What components/equipment/knowledge do I need to build a 6br?

How much different is it than reloading for a .243 or .270?

Obviously the br guys are taking every step to the next level, can I build a 6br with basic equipment and if so how?

 

[okbob51]

You could just buy a Savage LRPV, F-Class, or Benchrest. They are plenty accurate enough to learn long range shooting. Then spend your money of bullets, brass and powder and learn how to dope the wind. The 6br is easy to load....same as the others.

 

[Obtunded]

Sound advice.

Stevens would give you only an action. The cost of upgrading everything else will esceed the LRPV or 12 F-Class. As has already been stated, these rifles work very well, and many are even on par with customs for accuracy.

Other than the fact your dies should be better quality than the cheap FL hunting dies for 243 and 270, reloading is very similar. The BR uses a small rifle primer, the universal BR powder is Varget, and there are many sources of bullets that work very well.

I -for one - would suggest you buy a Redding Type S Match bushing die set and a .268 bushing (These are labaelled as being for the 6mmBR Remington, although you will be shooting the BR Norma) . You're away to the races. Stick with Lapua brass.

 

[mattri]

Thanks for the replies. The reason I was looking at the Stevens action is that I could get a long action rifle, keep the action and sell the barrel and stock to recoup some of the intial cost. I know the Stevens aren't on the same level as the Target actions but a lot of people seem to be having really good success with them.

Will a standard bolt face work with the 6br? For example if I got a 30-06 could I use the action for 6br? I know the 6br is a short action but plan to use a LA for feeding of the longer bullets.

Thanks for the tips on the reloading equipment, deffinetly need to up the ante in that area, going to keep researching it.

 

[camac]

Mattri, a 6mmBr will fit in short action at full length with any bullet. It is SHORT.
By the time you do the work on a stevens and get a new trigger I doubt there would be much change from the price of the target action. You can by the LRPV repeater with HS precision stock and no barrel for around 750+. Whack any custom barrel you like on it (though there is nothing wrong with the savage 6mm barrels as the guys above said - everyone I have seen has shot well under 0.5moa and much better at times).

 

[MDM]

I just did the exact Savage Stevens build. Here were my costs:

Stevens short action - $260 from NSS
Competition trigger - $97 from SSS
B&C medalist stock - $221
28" McGowen and CNC recoil lug from NSS - $350

Total $928

Now you will have to add bases/rings/glass of your choosing. So you can build a custom yourself, with a better than stock barrel for less than a stock Savage and still have some cash left over for glass. Not to mention the satisfaction of building your own.

 

[Cummins_man]

MDM that looks like my Savage M12 I just built I bought a 26" shilen from midway for $274 and my B&C medalist stock was on sale for $204 at midway and bought a wrench for $35 I thought I did pretty good for my first custom.

 

[mattri]

Great replies, glad to see others doing this as well.

 

[Rustystud]

Re: Building a budget 6br

The savage Target action is about $450.
A higher end barrel is about $350.
A good gunsmith is going to charge $250-$350 to chamber, fit, finish, and test fire your new barrel.
A higher end stock is about $550 $750.
Good scope bases and rings from Bench Source Ken Farrell are going to $200-$300.
A Sightron III 8 X 32 is going to run you another $700.

This does not include a bipod, brass, primers, powder, bullets, dies, press, etc.

Yes you can go cheaper but at what expense to your hunt or match.
Nat Lambeth

 

[MDM]

Difference being, not everyone can spend $3500 on a rifle. I'd be afraid I would spend that much, then the guy next to me with a stock Savage would beat me.

 

[Cummins_man]

Why spend all that money on high end stuff sure it would be cool to say I have a bat action but I don't have that kind of money and would rather spend the money I do have on bullets, powder and primers then I could work more on my shooting skills.

 

[tiny68]

I have several different Savage and Remington builds. I like the feel of my blueprinted Remington M700s, but I love the flexibility of my Savages with the ability to swap barrels and bolts myself.

Here are two Savages I put together:

I recently decided to try the world of Savages after being a life long Remmie fan. I brought a Stevens 200 for $259. It was 270. Sold the barrel and stock on Ebay for $130 (back in the good old days). Actions was trued and timed by the SSS. It wears a Boyd's stock with pillars installed and was bedded to the action. Scope is a Burris 6-18x Fullfield with Signature rings. The trigger is a SSS. The barrel installed is a 27" Shilen chamber in a 6mm Rem (SAMMI Minimum), 1:12" for the 75 grainers. I have less than $800 in it with the gunsmith work. I did the finish work on the stock myself and installed barrels and triggers. I have more barrels for this than my wife needs to know about. All of them shoot well. Some better than others. I have a 6BR barrel for it as well, but as others said: A long action is not needed with a 6BR.

First group with Factory 75gr Remmy ammo.

This is a different Savage put together based on a Target action. Action was trued and timed by SSS. Wears a SSS stock. This is a Krieger 6BR barrel but I have seveal others in 6BR and 30BR. It has Fred's new Evolution trigger (2 oz). Using it as a bench gun and will try FClass with it this summer. I under a $1000 in this one with the first barrel I got. Again... we want discuss total number of barrrels just in case my wife is easedropping. ;D

Absolutely love this rifle.

Here are some 6BR groups I shot at 200 yds doing load development with 107SMK.

They aren't BATs or any other custom. But they shoot better than my ability to read the wind at this stage in my Shooting. Plus for $300 I can try out any new caliber I want with a new pre-fit custom barrel (I am a Shilen guy). I have 223, PPC, and 308 boltfaces and can swap with all of them.

Luck in your choice, Tim

 

[Dgd6mm]

It makes you want to shout. [SAVAGE] :-*

 

[jo191145]

mattri

One of the best deals going right now is Benchmark Barrels. I just got my first 30BR from them for a Savage small shank action. Fully finished ready to screw on no gunsmith required (30BR Robinette reamer). $400.00 to my door in 6 weeks. Prices and time can flucuate as the word gets out
I'd give my barrel an A+. This tube has the nicest bore of any barrel I've yet had and that includes Kreigers, Shilen and Pac-Nor. All very good barrelmakers I should add. I intentionally left out McGowen, nuff said.

You don't need to spend a fortune to get an accurate rifle.
Some of my Savs still use the original VLP laminated stocks fully bedded with 3" forend stabilizers added. They work just fine for short range slow twist stuff.
Long range fast twist I like the SSS Dog Tracker offset stock. Really helps tame the bag torque associated with the fast twist barrels.

 

[Josh11]

I love my Savage F-Class factory. I just shot today, my best group to date. 2.3 inches at 600 yards. Its all factory. Not even bedded. Only thing I dont like, is that I can not get the 107s to shoot real tight at 100. I get around .35 or so. And like all others have said, I think Ill get another barrel.(6x47).

 

[mattri]

Great replies, thanks to all who've posted.

 

[snommittj]

The rifle that turned me into a "Savage shooter" was a stock Savage 110 in .308. I bought it as an interim rifle between custom Remington builds. It had the factory 10 twist tube. I put a Choate varmint stock on it(which also turned me into a V-block man). It was a very ugly rifle, BUT, boy would it shoot. It loved the 190MK's. Out to 900 yds, it would hang with anything on the range. Since then, I've gotten into the custom Savages that cost more, but they just keep shooting better. You will be pleased with your Savage no matter what level you choose to customize it to. They are ahead of their time.

 

[boogershooter]

I have to jump on the "Band Wagon" DGD6mm hit it on the head! I also have a target Savage action/ Broughton barrel/Manners stock .308...Call me Nutso ,but I think I enjoy it as much as my Bat/ Mcmillian /Kreiger 6.5-284. The only thing I would like to change is the accutrigger to a upgraded variety.