Donor rifle acquired - What caliber? Suggestions please.

[Bad Mojo]

Guys, I'm sort of new to the forum. I rarely post but read now and then. I haven't been too terribly fired up to read in the forum as it gives me GAS (gun acquisition syndrome.) But, suffice to say, I am ready to get in the game. I have finally found a donor rifle to make into something; a Savage 16 LH with a .473 boltface. It's a 7mm-08 at the moment.

My thoughts: Before I build a 10/10ths BR gun, I thought I'd better break into bolt-actions with something a little less serious. I thought a serious fun-gun was a better start. I like the Savage LRPV but they won't make a lefty in that for me, and I REALLY want stainless, so I decided to build a clone. I'm just teetering around on what caliber. My main considerations are 308 (considerable commonality and utter utility) and 6.5 Creedmoor. For this, buying off the shelf ammo would be a major plus, and getting started in reloading a common caliber would probably be easier as well. But it's not a requirement.

I already have an M1A so I have tons of ammo, next to none of it is BR quality. It's easy to find though. But the big mystery to me is the 6.5 Creedmoor. I live in central Illinois... people here shoot 30-06, 308, 22-250 and 223. I don't have anyone to ask about how it really shoots or what I need to know when I order a reamer to give a gunsmith. Would any of you recommend that for my first build? I'm really interested in the 6's, 6.5's and the 7's... but one thing at a time, eh? I can narrow it down to 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor for now.

I've been contacting Sharp Shooter Supply as I admire the work he did on the Badlands Savage seen on these pages. I could pattern my gun after that one a bit. I was thinking about a 27" barrel. He's not really answered back yet... but one of his people told me they are running 5-6 months right now. Sounds good to me. I have to provide a reamer for him, if I use him. Seems to be well-esteemed on this forum.

Am I going in the right direction? I value your opinions so tell me what you think. Like I said, not a 10/10ths gun... I don't compete. This is just intended to be a serious fun-gun.

 

[Rem6br]

40 grs of varget with 107 smk

 

[Rem6br]

40.5 grains of varget

 

[Rem6br]

41 grains of varget

 

[Rem6br]

I'm new to br shooting just always shot good enough to kill deer and varmints.
The above targets were 5 shot groups. My first 15 shots of load development. I'm not a very good shot
But it looks promising all loads were shot using varget cci200 primer and 107 SMK. Shot @ 100 yards off sand bags
It's a ruger mkII target factory 27" barrel in 6.5 creedmoor. as always you should start low and work up to maximum charge what's good in my gun may not be good in another

 

[m500]

I would suggest avoiding SSS. Many members of this site have had problems with them over promising and under delivering. Rule of thumb is charging up front and avoiding your calls and email while going way past the original delivery time. I would suggest calling Nat Lambeth. You'll be glad you did.

http://customgunsandammunition.com/

 

[jonbearman]

You can also call Kevin Rayhill at 1-308-432-5114.His business is called stockade stocks.He in my opinion is good to deal with.

 

[Bad Mojo]

Good stuff. Keep it coming. Am I on track with 6.5 Creedmoor? I've heard that one guy swears up and down that they are finicky. But that's the ONLY person I've heard say that. Any Creedmoor users want to chime in?

 

[Hoier]

I have felt with both Stockade and SSS. Fred at SSS does good work but your gonna wait for it. If he tells you 5-6 months then it could be 5-6 years. He told me it would be 2 weeks and ended up being 3 months. So back to a caliber, I would go 6br it's the easiest cartridge I have ever loaded for. And the beauty of a savage is you don't need a gunsmith. Jim at Northlander could get you on the right track.

 

[cliffe]

Hoier, do you KNOW anybody that has waited 5 to 6 years with Fred or are you just talking foolish?????????? cliffe PS at least you got the 6br part right.

 

[Hoier]

No I was joking but if he is claiming 5-6 months, I would just about bet you don't see your stuff in double that.

 

[Bad Mojo]

I'm definitely interested in 6BR but I didn't think I had the right boltface. I just checked and I do. I will certainly consider 6BR.

As far as lead times, everyone I've talked to seems to be nearly a year. If it's less than that I would be happily surprised. ER Shaw says 14 months. I expect a long time. I would certainly appreciate the honesty, as would anyone. Thanks guys. I feel that I'm getting good info.

BT

 

[jmatters]

I have fallen to the, "I already have everything I need for 308" logic. But what it turned into was I wound up with 4 guns, in the same caliber but all with different ammo needs anyway, so may I suggest an alternative? I've been looking long and hard at the 6.5 group, and I think MY next long arm will be a 260 Remington. Flat shooting, good punch, less recoil, good barrel life, good bullet selections... What's not to like?
I'd go with a long, light palma profile, fluted, and as much scope as I could afford. (What I did was get ALL my scopes set up in Warne QD rings with picatinney rails, so at least I can select of the 3 scopes from other guns... just mark the position it came out of.)

 

[Switchbarrel]

As has already been mentioned, once you determine a caliber, call either/both Jim Briggs at Northland Shooters Supply and Dennis at the McGowan Barrels Outlet. Chances are good that one of them will have a pre-chambered barrel ready to go or available much sooner than you're looking at otherwise. Plus, it will be cheaper than ordering up a reamer, paying a 'smith to chamber and thread it for you (on top of the price of the barrel which is likely more than a pre-chambered one from the two sources above).

If you were planning to build a competition gun, I would say "go for it" and order your own reamer to have for future chambers. For a "fun gun" I wouldn't bother with it for now. Put the extra funds towards a barrel vice, barrel nut wrench, action wrench, etc.

Honestly, the 7-08 shooting 162 Amax's wouldn't be a bad choice either.

-Rick

 

[jonbearman]

I second the nomination for a 7-08 but the 6mmbr is awesome too.

 

[Shynloco]

Bad Mojo,
Lots of good info and who to watch out for. As for the calibers suggested, might I suggest you do a little research in terms of "hard to get" components for shooting. Personally, I've found the 6mmbr does not disappoint. Also, some calibers are simply easier to find reloading components for these days, let alone the "wait time" for finishing your project. Also as you well know, some calibers tend to have longer barrel life than others which MIGHT be a consideration to some as well. Just a thought.

Alex

 

[Hoier]

Anytime I hear of somebody that wants to start "precision" shooting the 6br is the first round that comes to mind. It is by far the easiest cartridge I have ever loaded for. The only thing mine wouldn't shoot was 105 amaxes. I tried all sorts of powders from h4895 to 8208 to Varget all the way up to rl17. It shot everything equally well(minus the amaxes). And if you wanna do a br gun you can order a stock from Kevin Rayhill(Stockade) in a "budget" model for about $300 if I remember right.

 

[Tim Singleton]

Another vote for 6br.
.473" is the right bolt face. This round makes it look easy to shoot little groups

If you go the Savage route you could put it together your self.
Blair Clowdis in Randleman NC is another good smith to consider
if you don't want to put it together your self




Quote from switch barrel
As has already been mentioned, once you determine a caliber, call either/both Jim Briggs at Northland Shooters Supply and Dennis at the McGowan Barrels Outlet. Chances are good that one of them will have a pre-chambered barrel ready to go or available much sooner than you're looking at otherwise. Plus, it will be cheaper than ordering up a reamer, paying a 'smith to chamber and thread it for you (on top of the price of the barrel which is likely more than a pre-chambered one from the two sources above).

If you were planning to build a competition gun, I would say "go for it" and order your own reamer to have for future chambers. For a "fun gun" I wouldn't bother with it for now. Put the extra funds towards a barrel vice, barrel nut wrench, action wrench, etc.

 

[savagedasher]

6mm BR no doubt with a 8 twist Good Shooting Larry

 

[30378]

6.5x47 Lapua is a winner!