Building a custom varmint rifle. What to build?

[AR Shooter]

As you have an AR why not get a varmint upper for it in .223? Almost no recoil and get the 7.7" twist and you can shoot 80gr bullets out to 1000yd.

 

[Gary Wiant]

AR shooter one toy at a time. pa just passed a law last Monday to allow us to us Semi auto rifles, but the game commission hasn't said what we can hunt with them yet or what restrictions. I'm hoping only groundhog, coyote & Fox and not deer or bear we have to many idiots in the woods

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I shoot a Rem 700 Dasher with a stock extractor. I have zero trouble with the cartridge case extracting and ejecting properly. The only alteration with regards to extraction and ejecting the cartridge case I have done is to lighten the ejector spring a bit. Perhaps I am just lucky. Rather be lucky than good.

I had a 6br that worked as well. The problem is the ejection angle is low enough that the case goes into the lug raceway which unloads the ejector and drops the case in the action before it ejects. I bet if you dont pull your bolt back quickly the case will drop in the action. If you play with the ejector so it extends a little further you can get it running pretty good. A sako just makes it work 100%.

 

[timeout]

I work the bolt just like I've worked any other bolt in SA and LA 700'S. Never had a Dasher case

I had a 6br that worked as well. The problem is the ejection angle is low enough that the case goes into the lug raceway which unloads the ejector and drops the case in the action before it ejects. I bet if you dont pull your bolt back quickly the case will drop in the action. If you play with the ejector so it extends a little further you can get it running pretty good. A sako just makes it work 100%.

I work the bolt same as I work any bolt on SA and LA 700'S. Never had a case drop in the action.

 

[Fast14riot]

AR shooter one toy at a time. pa just passed a law last Monday to allow us to us Semi auto rifles, but the game commission hasn't said what we can hunt with them yet or what restrictions. I'm hoping only groundhog, coyote & Fox and not deer or bear we have to many idiots in the woods

Its a shame that everyone thinks only of 5.56 when it comes to the AR, not the 6mm, 6.5, 6.8, 7mm offerings that make excellent and fully capable hunting guns.

But I agree 6 Dasher would be ideal for your purpose.

 

[furmaster]

I can't imagine a more shoulder friendly and accurate varmint gun than a .204 ruger. I will always own one.

 

[Webster]

This is my first post, I hope this is in the right spot, I put it here because I plan to use it for groundhog, coyote & Fox.

Here's a little background, I had jaw cancer in 2001 - 2003 and had to have the majority of my lower jaw bone removed so now I'm limited to low recoil sub .243 so I gave my son all my big caliber rifles and I had to start over current rifles are:
CZ 527 VARMINT .17 REM.
CZ 527 VARMINT .204 RUGER
AR 5.56 / .223
RUGER RANCH 5.56
SAVAGE TROPHY PREDATOR 22-250
RUGER 77 MK II IN .220 SWIFT
RUGER PRECISION 6.5 CREEDMORE

My son has a Remington 700 LS in .243 that I'm trading him my Savage 22-250 because it needs re-barreled and I'd rather have it than him trading it in.

I was talking to my local gunsmith and he said if I'm going to re-barrel it he will just square it up do the trigger and do his custom stuff to make it a custom rifle, and he said it can be made into pretty much whatever I want. I'm not sure if I should replace my 22-250, do it in .243 or get a caliber that is harder to find like a 250-3000 or like he recommended a 6 Dasher. I've never heard of a 6 dasher so I have no idea how it compares to the other calibers.

Thanks in advance

The Dasher is a great caliber but not needed if your not shooting under 500 yards or so. I have a 6BR and I love it. The barrel twist will determine whether you can shoot light or heavy bullets. The Dasher and 6BRX hold about 1.5 gr more powder than the std 6BR. If I wanted long range I would get a 6BRX because you just load and shoot to form the cases. The 6 Dasher is a little more work. The 243 and 22-250 have much shorter barrel life than a 6BR and more recoil. The Dasher, 6BR and 6BRX are known to be very accurate. I have confidence my 6BR with 58-70 gr bullets out to 500-600 yrds. I shoot 58 Hornady VMaxes at 3550 fps with zero case or pressure problems. Have pushed it to 3610 fps no pressure. I settled on 3550 fps because it's very accurate and I don't believe in near max loads. They don't accomplish anything that's needed. The 6BR is very efficient it only uses about 33.5 grains of powder to shoot a 58 gr bullet at 3550 fps. You can shoot a 50 gr bullet much faster but I like the better BC of the 58-70 gr bullets.

 

[swd]

A Dasher with the new Norma brass is less work than a BRX. Load and shoot. I have both and both are great but will probably rebarring my 2 BRX's as Norma Dashers when the barrels give up. My new Norma Dasher shoots fantastic and the new brass is excellent. Primer pockets hold up very well unlike the old Norma 6BR brass.

 

[Gary Wiant]

Yeah I love my .204 as long as the wind isn't blowing. I'm looking for a caliber that will perform better in the wind.

I think I've narrowed it down to either .243, 6BR, or 6 Dasher. here are my thought (and probably some misconceptions) I normally don't load hot loads and while I'll shoot some paper this will be primarily a hunting gun out to 600-800 yards.

.243
Pros, I have about 400 rounds of brass and more is easily available. I have the dies. I don't have a similar caliber .

Cons, supposed short barely life.

6BR I'm not real familiar with this caliber
Pros. arguably better long distance then the 243, supposed longer barrel life. 6mm br brass is available but expensive $85 / 100
Dies are available redding 2 piece $66

Cons. Brass is expensive. I have a 6.5 creedmoor so this is an overlap cartridge.

6 Dasher I'm not real familiar with this caliber
Pros.probably one of the best long distance calibers
Brass available but expensive $109 /100
Dies available but exoensive $89

Cons. brass is expensive. Shortening barrel life by fire forming. I have a 6.5 creedmoor so this is an overlap cartridge.
When I referred my 6.5 RPR I'm making it into a Dasher.

As you can see it looks like the 243 makes the most sense but talk me into one of the others (or maybe the 6mm creedmore )

 

[savagedasher]

Yeah I love my .204 as long as the wind isn't blowing. I'm looking for a caliber that will perform better in the wind.

I think I've narrowed it down to either .243, 6BR, or 6 Dasher. here are my thought (and probably some misconceptions) I normally don't load hot loads and while I'll shoot some paper this will be primarily a hunting gun out to 600-800 yards.

.243
Pros, I have about 400 rounds of brass and more is easily available. I have the dies. I don't have a similar caliber .

Cons, supposed short barely life.

6BR I'm not real familiar with this caliber
Pros. arguably better long distance then the 243, supposed longer barrel life. 6mm br brass is available but expensive $85 / 100
Dies are available redding 2 piece $66

Cons. Brass is expensive. I have a 6.5 creedmoor so this is an overlap cartridge.

6 Dasher I'm not real familiar with this caliber
Pros.probably one of the best long distance calibers
Brass available but expensive $109 /100
Dies available but exoensive $89

Cons. brass is expensive. Shortening barrel life by fire forming. I have a 6.5 creedmoor so this is an overlap cartridge.
When I referred my 6.5 RPR I'm making it into a Dasher.

As you can see it looks like the 243 makes the most sense but talk me into one of the others (or maybe the 6mm creedmore )

With the dies and the brass a 243 would my choice .
I would have a RAS tuner brake put on.
You can expect 50% reduction in group size .
Larry

 

[Nomad47]

Since you have 400 pieces of 243 brass, you could go with a 6SLR. Just run the brass through a sizing die, load, seat bullets (you can use a 243 seater), go shoot.
Definitely longer barrel life than a 243.

 

[Gary Wiant]

I've never heard of a 6 SLR but I'm not familiar at all with wildcats. how does it compare ballistics wise to .243 & 6BR?
What sizing die do I need to use? after shooting do I need to get a neck sizer or FL sizer & which one?

Do you think with me not running max loads I'll still have issues with .243 barrel length

 

[Phil]

Read up on the 6 SLR here....6mmar.com

He has the dies and info, plenty more can be had here from users of the chambering.

 

[Phil]

This is in the classifieds........6 SLR.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/fs-6mm-slr-starter-kit.3914232/#post-36874295

 

[expiper]

Gary,,,if you dont run max loads you will never have good accuracy,,,,a 6BR/Dasher is wayyyy more accurate running max than a .243 running with the choke pulled,,,,Roger

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have a 6br built on a 700 action I'll let go cheap. Pm me if your interested.

 

[Gary Wiant]

Expiper I don't run any of my rifles at max and I've never had any accuracy issues, is this more apparent at larger calibers? I'm backed off pretty good with my 22-250 and I'm getting 3/8" groups. not saying your wrong just trying to learn.

 

[redrockranger]

Expiper I don't run any of my rifles at max and I've never had any accuracy issues, is this more apparent at larger calibers? I'm backed off pretty good with my 22-250 and I'm getting 3/8" groups. not saying your wrong just trying to learn.

I have a 6 BR. Unfired, Stolle Atlas RBRP ss, single shot,Kelby o* rail,Jewell trigger with safety,Krieger HV 10 twist , Mcmillan MBR green/white stock. I will let go for $2200 FtF.

 

[AckleymanII]

I like him
The 6mm dasher is a great round. You will need to have him install a sako or mini16 extractor for the cases to eject properly. A zero free bore dasher will push a 55 grain bullet 4000 fps. Actually faster than the 243 can. A 6br wont cost you that much speed and is nice because there is no case prep. Nothing wrong with a 22-250 or 22 br. I would probably do a 22br since recoil sounds like a main concern.

6mm Nosler 55g has a better bc than the 22 caliber counter part

 

[snert]

Expiper I don't run any of my rifles at max and I've never had any accuracy issues, is this more apparent at larger calibers? I'm backed off pretty good with my 22-250 and I'm getting 3/8" groups. not saying your wrong just trying to learn.

Gonna pipe in here...
What Expiper says (in my experience) is sometimes true. here is my progression: when I started out, I sought best accuracy and found with my cartridges (308, 222) max loads did not produce best accuracy. as time went by I thought that applied to all cartridges. I "proved" it to myself with several 22-250 and a Swift, all running under max. No issues, long case and barrel life, etc etc. Then I met a 7mm Rem mag that tossed that all on its head. I found it to be a "fact checker" so to speak. That dumb thing shoots best with cases FL sized, non-mag primers and a hefty dose of 7828 behind a 150NBT. I have head shot deer at 340 yards, calling the eyeball. It has taken deer at 650, 549, and chucks at 750. It is a quarter inch gun tossed together on an opened standard LA Rem action, an old McMillan sillouette stock I got for free, and a take off Sendero barrel. Ask me how...I dunno. But it shoots great and is a high confidence rifle.

My 6BR 8TW is funkier. With light bullets it shoots best fast...8208 or varget and hot, again best with standard primers (against common wisdom) and it shoots at a lower node, not max with the heavies (105 amax and r15). Why? Dunno, don't care. What I am saying is there are times that running hard does improve accuracy. I see it in a 22PPC I shoot. Push it and it tightens up groups fast. But my 222 still likes a sedate load and it shoots well.

So, considering that you are getting into this, and you have the brass, dies and experience witht he 243 (and I assume a standard twist barrel) i suggest you stay with it, shoot it at moderate levels to prolong barrel life. this does 2 things...it gets more time behind the sights to learn the gun/cartridge, and saves money doing it. Then after a bit start trying some different recipies. Run some light or heavier bullets (within the twist allowance). See how they hold up over distance. When your barrel is about toast, go to a 6BR or Dasher, or soemthing else on that bolt face, and you will have a better idea what you want. It may be you stick with 243. But by then you may just jump on a Dasher as it becomes more mainstream with the new brass.