Getting started -- Where to buy new/used 6mm BR Norma for 100 yd benchrest

[Shooter13]

Hey, Brass Cases keep us away from Brass Poles

Now THAT is FUNNY!

 

[Shooter13]

I understand what You are saying and I agree with the workability of Your formula. The service You provide is extremely beneficial to the shooting sport. I congratulate You on the success of Your Barrel Program and Your business in general. Depending on the future course our sport takes, I may yet be one of Your customers . The term “extremely affordable“ is relative to the course of action most bench rest shooters take. I don’t think any aspect of bench rest shooting is extremely affordable. The cost of the rifle is a mer portion of the total cost involved in BR shooting.

My personal advice to the OP, given His stated requirements would be:
1. Shoot what You have.
2. Get a quality Rimfire.
3. Acquire a 6mmBR at a price You consider affordable (good luck)

IMO, the 6mmPPC is way too much trouble, considering Your stated requirements.

In my experience (4 years as competitive shooter) the 6PPC is no more trouble than anything else, if you are shooting dots or groups you have to test, powers, primers, bullets, seating depth, into or out of the rifling. Pretty standard for any competitive rifle. I'm still "new" but love the sport and if the weather gives me a chance after the first of the year I'll finish burning up at least one barrel, I've beaten some really good shooters (once only! LOL) but love these guys and shooting with them.

 

[Bill Norris]

In my experience (4 years as competitive shooter) the 6PPC is no more trouble than anything else, if you are shooting dots or groups you have to test, powers, primers, bullets, seating depth, into or out of the rifling. Pretty standard for any competitive rifle. I'm still "new" but love the sport and if the weather gives me a chance after the first of the year I'll finish burning up at least one barrel, I've beaten some really good shooters (once only! LOL) but love these guys and shooting with them.

I don't shoot competitively but I agree. I don't find the PPC to be any more trouble to prepare for than anything else. Turning necks is not all that troublesome if you enjoy handloading for accuracy. Just my .02.

 

[Rat Rifle]

In my experience (4 years as competitive shooter) the 6PPC is no more trouble than anything else, if you are shooting dots or groups you have to test, powers, primers, bullets, seating depth, into or out of the rifling. Pretty standard for any competitive rifle. I'm still "new" but love the sport and if the weather gives me a chance after the first of the year I'll finish burning up at least one barrel, I've beaten some really good shooters (once only! LOL) but love these guys and shooting with them.

Don’t disagree at all. But given the choices mentioned, I think the 6mmBR is the easy button.

 

[Rat Rifle]

I don't shoot competitively but I agree. I don't find the PPC to be any more trouble to prepare for than anything else. Turning necks is not all that troublesome if you enjoy handloading for accuracy. Just my .02.

Bill ! Buddy ! You don’t compete? I’m Shocked ! We need to drag You into this rabbit hole . Just kidding, now is not the best time to start. Although it’s a little better than last month.

 

[Bill Norris]

Bill ! Buddy ! You don’t compete? I’m Shocked ! We need to drag You into this rabbit hole . Just kidding, now is not the best time to start. Although it’s a little better than last month.

I'd love to shoot at matches but I simply don't like the travel aspect of it. I got burned out with travel from bands (bass guitar) for a better part of my life. Been around the sun almost 68 times so I limit my traveling as much as possible these days. LOL.

 

[Pareto]

I understand what You are saying and I agree with the workability of Your formula. The service You provide is extremely beneficial to the shooting sport. I congratulate You on the success of Your Barrel Program and Your business in general. Depending on the future course our sport takes, I may yet be one of Your customers . The term “extremely affordable“ is relative to the course of action most bench rest shooters take. I don’t think any aspect of bench rest shooting is extremely affordable. The cost of the rifle is a mer portion of the total cost involved in BR shooting.

My personal advice to the OP, given His stated requirements would be:
1. Shoot what You have.
2. Get a quality Rimfire.
3. Acquire a 6mmBR at a price You consider affordable (good luck)

IMO, the 6mmPPC is way too much trouble, considering Your stated requirements.

I do have a rimfire. This is how this all started. I have both a Vudoo and a good Suhl 150. Both shoot sub half moa at 50 yards with the right match ammo. However, I was a bit frustrated with the need to chase lots of ammo. I was told centerfire would be easier to have consistency.

I bought a used Howa 1500 that at first shot sub MOA at 100 without effort with bulk PMC 55 and better with Sig 77 gr SMK so I proceeded to work on load development. But either the seller misrepresented the original barrel and it is now shot out as it started to do poorly after around 150 rounds on my side or something changed, but no amount of futzing with the action screws, cleaning, or switching to a chassis has made it as as it was the first few weeks. With or without handloads.

I just want to shoot score on my own without having to go to an actual competition. If I can do well at 100 yards indoors, that's good enough for me even though I know competing with wind is even harder. I'm pleased that I can get 250s with the IR 50 or USBR targets indoors at 50 with rimfire, and I'd like to be able to eventually score 5's with the IBS 100 yard target indoors. Even if not as consistently as competitors, at least semi-regularly under ideal indoor conditions.

I like part of reloading but not all of it. That's why I'll never reload 9mm or similar for plinking as I'm happy just to buy bulk ammo for the price. I can justify reloading 223 for accuracy on a single stage, but even then there are aspects of it that are frustrating. I was looking for a gun where people say loading is easy and accuracy is consistent. Hence, 6 br, unless I can get a really good 223.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[Ccrider]

Sounds like a used 6ppc would be your best option, with a 6br coming in a close second. A used 30br would also work well.

Keep your eyes open and you will run across a good starter gun on this site in your price range. You may have to have the barrel set back or buy a new barrel and have it chambered. Either way, you will have a gun with the potential to meet and surpass your expectations.

I would not dump money into a 700 of savage trying to turn it into something it was not designed to be, when you can buy a used custom for the same money and have what you are looking for.

 

[Pareto]

In a way my situation is similar to yours. I just like going to the local range and try to get small 5 shot groups for fun. It would be nice to try an indoor range with no wind to worry about like you have. I'm pretty much a novice at this and just started shooting a lot around 3-4 years ago. I took up reloading at the same time. I was mostly shooting gas guns at the start but wanted more accuracy. I bought a Savage single shot target action and 14 twist .223 Shilen barrel from NSS and stuck it in a XLR chassis. It shot pretty well but I wanted a better/lighter trigger but I couldn't find any good triggers for a Savage.

I ended up giving the Savage combo to my nephew and ended up getting a Bighorn/Zermatt Remington clone and a new 14 twist barrel from NSS and a XLR chassis. Got the light Jewell trigger from Great Scott Triggers. Like the saying goes, it's better to just get the good stuff first and cry once.

I read about the 6BR accuracy (this site is horrible for anyone trying to save money. LOL) and ended up getting a second Zermatt action from NSS and a 12 twist 6BR barrel from X-Caliber since they were having a good sale and their waiting time is a lot shorter than Shilen. I've since ordered two more 6BR barrels from X-Cal since their accuracy is really good.

Anyway, from my ignorant novice experience, I think these setups work pretty well for just having fun at the range. You probably can't go wrong either way. With my setups, the accuracy of the .223 and 6BR is very similar at short range. The problem right now is finding 80 grain Bergers that work well with the 12 twist barrels. Bart's Bullets has some nice 80 grain bullets though. Also Lapua 6BR brass is hard to find but Alpha has them. The good stuff for the .223 seems easier to find.

Here's some targets I found shooting 5 shot groups at 100 yards with my .223 and 6BR. Anyone should be able to do as well or better since the wooden benches at my local range aren't very stable and I suck at reading wind.

Thanks a lot. My rifle was doing well but then it wasn't. Trying my best to clean it properly, put it in a chassis, action screw check, different scope and rings, etc. You know the drill.

At any rate, I found someone with a list of benchrest .223 and 6 br rifles he is selling used and will see if I can find one I want.

If you could please tell me how you got your .223 and got it to shoot well, I'd appreciate a PM.

 

[Shooter13]

Turning necks is not all that troublesome

I'm actually getting ready to follow the "new" trend by Mike Ezell @gunsandgunsmithing and @BartsBullets and others of no turn necks, just order a new reamer with a .273 neck, it'll be called The Crum Special LOL if it doesn't work out we'll burn it! ;-)

 

[divingin]

Never done more than looked, but this site usually has some rifles for resale: https://theshooterscorner.com/

Or if you're click-challenged, https://theshooterscorner.com/benchrest-rifles/ to get to the used benchrest rifles.

 

[Pareto]

Never done more than looked, but this site usually has some rifles for resale: https://theshooterscorner.com/

Or if you're click-challenged, https://theshooterscorner.com/benchrest-rifles/ to get to the used benchrest rifles.

Thanks. I've gotten in touch with people who have a larger number of options.

 

[Webster]

I'm getting a bit frustrated with my .223 bolt action and rather than jumping to a custom .223 I was wondering if I could find or build a good short range (100-200 yd) 6 br rifle for a reasonable price (Rifle only strictly under $2000). I'm thinking benchrest stock, 1:14 heavy barrel, 20-24 inches, no neck turn chamber. I'm hoping that 6 br will give me more consistent performance at the bench. I don't plan to compete or if so, only sporadically. My focus is on shooting the standard 100 yard centerfire targets and just doing well for my own pleasure. I mostly have access to 100 yard indoor lanes only, though I can make a long drive to very sporadically shoot 200 yards, but I don't really practice outdoors at all.

Any suggestions or sellers who specialize in used 6 br guns?

I already have good scopes.

Thanks.

I have a Rem 700 BDL factory Varmint model, glass bedded, and Rem700ADL (tupper ware stock) . Both were bought for GH hunting but I shoot mostly from a bench. I think the plastic stock is junk. Both rifles have a standard varmint weight Kreiger barrel. My 6BR weighs 13.5 pounds with a bipod and heavy scope. If your not a competitive shooter I would try to limit how much money put into it to start off. Both mine are 14 twist Krieger barrels. 0.030: freebore because that's what the gunsmith had for a reamer. If I bought another rifle I would consider Buying a custom stock and gettin a doaner action from somewhere and put a Kreiger barrel on it.for Brux, Keiger or Bartlein barrel. You should get zero freebore so the bullets are seated more than halfway down the neck. 0.030" is OK. If I had to do it again I would get a 13 or 13.5 twist so it could handle 70 &75 gr bullets better. Many serious competitors use 13 or 13.5 twist. 13.5 may be more common. 65 and 68 gr bullets are what they shoot in serious SR BR. The 60 gr Sierra Varminter bullet shoots better than any match grade bullet in my 6BR. Have not shot the BRX much yet. I have a Jewell trigger in both rifles. The triggers are not drop in, you have to remove wood or plastic to get them installed. I consider anything over 0.400"groups in either rifle bigger than it should be. I have shot a group in the 1'S with the 6BR 0.250" are often shot. No flags. Kreiger barrels are not cheap. 3 years ago i paid $730 to have one put on my 6BRX. If someone stole my 6BR I think it would cost at least $3000 to replace it with all new parts. I bought the Rem 700ADl just for the action to put a Kreiger barrel on, I didn't realize how badly the barrel would bed and how much plastic I would have to chisel and grind out to get a Jewell trigger in. Many good triggers out there besides Jewell (your looking at about $250).

If you get a bench rest stock it isn't very good for varmint hunting unless you have a removable stud on it for a bipod. GH hunters usually lay on the ground or have sitting tripod. If you get a bench rest stock the you need an expensive front rest and bag. I am happy with my groups with a bipod. I only compete against myself to improve.

If

 

[prowler]

Totally agree. Zack is top shelf. He has built 8 for me with another one on the slate waiting on a barrel. Best quality, workmanship, and price anywhere.

Zack has built two for me and rebarelled one, all
shoot excellent. He is also a great guy.

 

[Pareto]

Thanks for all your suggestions in both public posts and dms. I'm weighing my options given my circumstances and limitations. You guys have helped me a lot.