First Post to Forum

[master_photog]

Hello, this is my first post to the forum. I'm pretty sure I'll be spending plenty of time in the varmint section.

I've found a lot of great information since stumbling on the 6mmBR site, so I'm sure this will be a great resource for my questions as I start my new custom rifle.

I recently sold my Nesika, Krieger, Jewell, Lone Wolf, 223 and I cannot be without a custom rifle!


Chuck

 

[Rem6br]

Welcome Chuck,
There's a bunch of good guys here always willing to help

 

[master_photog]

Thanks REM6br, my custom build will be a 6mmBR and what I've found so far that I'm leaning toward are the following:

This will be a light varminter with the intentions of shooting at smaller game (coyote, geese, turkey, pig, sheep, etc.) in the 100-300 yard range. I'm really looking for that cartridge that will lend itself to my sweet spot of shooting distances and I'm extremely intrigued with the 6mmBR. I think it will be a superb cartridge for my intentions.

BAT - SV round - single action
BRUX - 22 to 24" pipe with a 12 to 14 tw
jewell bottom safety trigger
solid wood stock from tommy

I'm trying to cut the weight, that's why the shorter barrel. I'm considering a Ti action, but the budget has its limits.

Let me know if what I've listed are good choices for my varminter, please point me in other directions that you've found to work for you all.

Thanks!

Chuck

 

[Rem6br]

Chuck that sounds like a nice setup, the 14 twist would limit you to around a 70 grain pill.
for varmints that would probably be the max grain bullet you would need anyway.
The three shot groups from my 6br are one hole @ 100 yards that's a rem 700 action with
a 22" hart heavy varmint stainless 14 twist,jewell trigger,McMillian stock. Has been bedded and has a
Ziess conquest z-varmint 6.5 x 20 x 50 on it. It just plain shoots like a house a fire.
Which ever twist you choose I'm sure you will happy with it 6BRs are sweet.
Keep us updated on your build
Scott

 

[master_photog]

Scott, I certainly will keep you posted.

Finding a good action/stock marriage seems to be my biggest hurdle at this point.

I've had a few responses indicating that I should go the 700 clone route, due to the BAT SV action that I'm looking at was really intended to be a glue-in as well as recoil lugs being a hassle to fit.

This seems to be a common theme (action/stock install issues).

Surely this can't be a consistent problem. I hope to hear from some that have experienced nice installs with their custom setup.

thank you

 

[22BRGUY]

Possible other consideration...22BR 8 twist maybe?? It will handle anything up to 80gr with nice BC's
Best Wishes what ever you do

 

[lpreddick]

another vote for 22 BR...i have three. a 12, 14,and 8 twist and they each have their favorite bullet. the latest, 14 tw is now one holing 60 bergers at 3600 fps and shows no mercy to ghogs. the 6mmBR has 220 rounds thru it and is just about to outshine the 22 BRS. getting a little over 3400 fps with 65 bergers ( kreiger 14 twist) and it really delivers downrange energy. you can't go wrong with your choice and you can kill most varmints out to 400 yds with proper shot placement. i've prety much retired my 22-250s and 6-284 and 243ai.

 

[dtucker]

Chuck,
Welcome to the site and this is a great place to be. You will meet alot of neat people here and getting on here can be very addicting. It also is know for keeping yourself broke.

 

[Webster]

I am in the process of chronographing a lot of different bullets and powders in my 6BR 14 twist GH rifle. I will post or PM to you if you want to see them. 70 gr Sierra HPBT shoot well in my 14 twist. I don't see why I cannot go a little heavier. You don't need 1/4" groups for hunting. I think I prefer the flatter trajectory light bullets. I have never had wind problems shooting 58 gr VMaxes out to 325-350 yrds. You should be able to shoot this bullet to a little over 3600 fps. Sometime in the next week or so I will try a few Sierra 75 gr and 85 gr HPBT. The range closes Monday for three weeks. After many years of shooting I still have problems with trigger control when trying to shoot small groups with a supposedly 2 pound trigger. I have many good loads for hunting. You don't need to have groups under 1/2" to shoot varmints out to 350 yrds but it's nice to know the bullet is going exactly where you aim. Sounds like your building a competition quality rifle for hunting. A problem with 6BRs is that every load you try shoots under 1/2" groups. I chose to shoot light bullets for the velocity, more suitable for small varmints and less chance of ricochet.
I need to settle on one load and quit tinkering and just concentrate on shooting technique. In any case if I see a GH at any reasonably distance it's lights out. I don't shoot in competition, I consider my self a GH hunter. Still looking for my first coyote.

 

[master_photog]

dtucker - thanks for welcoming me, I've already found the site to be addicting


Webster, I agree, I don't need super tight groups for hunting, and yes I probably am going a little overboard on quality/high end components for a hunter. I guess it's because I don't want to say to myself:
"man, I wish I would've gotten a better action" or
"man, I wonder if I had gotten a heavier barrel, then I wouldn't have missed" or
"man, if only I had gotten a jewell trigger, this one wouldn't be defective or broke".

I just try to eliminate questioning myself and give myself the best opportunity at quality shooting when building a rifle.

As far as the 22BR that a couple of you have suggested. I hadn't really looked at that cartridge, but from the looks of preparation, it appears that this may be a little more involved in terms of case prep than I really want to get into.

With the 6mmBR, it doesn't get much more straight forward on my reloading that with that round, and it's one heck of a nice round for my average distances of 150 to not much more than 300 yards.

Thanks all!!

 

[Webster]

I'm sure you will be more than happy with the rifle you are building. It's not much fun going to the range or hunting with a rifle that isn't accurate. I am not experienced at shooting beyond about 350 yds. in Ohio soybean and hay fields. Could someone out there comment on how well 65-70 gr. bullets perform out to 400-500 yrds? I need to refresh my memory by cranking out some wind drift numbers for 68 VS 85-90 grain bullets. A 12 twist would probably shot both well. You need to get the correct free bore for the bullet wt. your going to shoot. My rifle has 0.060" freebore. Zero free bore may have been better. With my 0.060" freebore with 68 gr. bullets the bullet is only about half way down the neck. If you get the freebore for 90 gr. bullets it may not be possible to seat 68 gr. bullets any where near the rifling.
Have fun. I am struggling to find good places to hunt GH. Plenty of free time this summer, I just retired.

 

[lpreddick]

freebore...yes. mine is .060 or more and i, too. have to seat pretty far out of the neck. i understand in time the lands erode and i'll have to seat further. some bullets have more bearing surface and seat deeper while still being into the lands. i'm having pt&g make me a reamer for a new 6 BR 14 twist and will have .040 th freebore. i read that benchresters get 2500-3000 rounds of accuracy, so shooting a 6 BR as a varmint rig should outlast me. on the 22 BR...with the blue box lapua you don't have to turn necks. bringing the 6 mm neck to .22 cal can be done in one step, more gently in two. also, there are more .22 cal bullets to choose from in the lighter weight range. i, also, am spending a little more than necessary on my varmint guns...you can get used to a 1.5 oz jewell trigger and it makes a difference when trying to hit a 2 or 3 in target at long range. hell, we only get one ride on this planet, so let us enjoy!

 

[Clod-NC]

Hi Chuck,hi all

Chuck,welcome here,the best place to be whatever you're after;very good first move,people here are very neat to say the least...I have the chill when I think you're considering chewing OFF 2 good inches of steel from that barrel you plan to shoot,Geez!!!They'll help you balance the rig properly,and they won't kill your shoulder will they?Come on mate,put them back on,don't be so "mean",they done you no harm...Anyway,all the best with your quest,and keep us updated,please(pics and all)...Get prepared for spending a few $....

 

[CT10ring]

Hi Chuck & welcome. your build sounds great. I have a single shot 6mmBR 1/14 twist. Stiller action. 26" bbl.
accurate, great choice for varmints and def good to 350-400 yds with varmint / lightweight bullets. my fav now is 75g Vmax, stabilizes fine. if I had to do it over I'd do a 12 twist so i could reach out more, tho. post some pix when you can.

 

[BigDMT]

Scott, I certainly will keep you posted.

Finding a good action/stock marriage seems to be my biggest hurdle at this point.

I've had a few responses indicating that I should go the 700 clone route, due to the BAT SV action that I'm looking at was really intended to be a glue-in as well as recoil lugs being a hassle to fit.

This seems to be a common theme (action/stock install issues).

Surely this can't be a consistent problem. I hope to hear from some that have experienced nice installs with their custom setup.

thank you

Welcome Chuck Great forum with limitless experience from the members here.

As for your questions about a build I may have an appealing suggestion for you. We were all just talking about the Shilen DGR and DGV actions on another thread. Still kind of going on actually. Anyhow, the DGV is a single shot and the DGR is a repeater style. Both come in long or short actions. I assume you would want a repeater for a varmint rifle.

Now the beauty of the DGR, which I just found out during that discussion, is that it is has a Rem 700 footprint, but a Savage barrel threaded tenon. It's basically a Rem 700 with a floating bolt head that can take Savage barrels. The advantages of that design are very numerous. For example;

One, you can use any Rem 700 stock available on the market.
Two, any Rem 700 trigger available.
Three, any Rem 700 bottom metal and magazine assembly, including floor plates, matches right up to the action.
Four, barrels can be threaded on in Rem 700 fashion or you can utilize any Savage drop-in barrel with a barrel nut.
Five, The bolt head can be easily changed out to accommodate various chamberings.
And Six, It's still a tight tolerance custom built action made for top level accuracy.

Cost for action is around $950 not including trigger or any bottom metal.