Need Help Planning A Build

[Kracken McGraw]

I don’t think anyone mentioned that the long necked 6br case should be a lot more accurate than the short necked 223 case. Anything over a 69 grain bullet is going to be seated deeper than the neck shoulder junction on the 223.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

@ Dimmer,.. For what You want to Do and, sorta, "cheaply",..
I'd go with, a , 6 GT or, 6 XC with, the New, reasonably Priced, "Tipped" Sierra, 107 gr. MK's ( or, 105 gr. Hybrid, Berg's ) Using, Varget , N-150 or, N-160 Powder.
A 1-7.5 to 1-8 Twist and .104 Freebore, will work Fine with, Either Bullet.
They are, "plenty" to, "Learn the Wind" with, without,.. "Breaking the Bank" !
I'm NOT Fond of, .22 Cal Bullets past, 500 Yds, Personally,.. in ANY kind of, Wind !
The 6.5 Creed or 6.5 X 47 are also, very GOOD, at LR, but with, MORE Recoil, more Powder and, a bit, costlier Bullets.

 

[timeout]

Would the 223 work better with Rem 7 1/2 BR Primers? I never see anyone mention these primers in their loads. I have 15k of them. So either I have to use them for this build, or figure out how to alchemy them into something else.

Those Rem 7 1/2 BR primers will never work out. PM me and I will take them off your hands!
Actually I really like them. They will be perfect. Enjoy your project.

 

[dakor]

Hi guys, I have written and re-written this thread half a dozen times over the past 2 months, but never hit submit. Let's see if I go through with it this time.

I'm trying to plan my first custom build. I'm having a very hard time coming up with a plan that I feel confident in. What I mainly want to use this for would be medium range prone. Out to 500-600 yards. My main goal will be to use this build to help learn how wind impacts my shooting and be able to tell when to take the shot to make small groups. As well as tell where to aim my shot to hit the X ring. Two different skills, but I plan to work on both. I'll initially work on the learning needed for small groups. I'll be using multiple wind flags and working towards identifying when the wind is consistent shot to shot and how to anticipate wind changes. Initial shooting at 300, then moving to 500,

I plan on shooting from a bench 20% of the time and prone the remaining 80%. Using a front bag rest or a bipod when prone. However, I'm not interested in a F-class type fancy bipod. A folding bipod is what I will end up with. I do not plan to compete in anything other than local fun shoots both prone and possibly at a bench.

I plan to base my build on a custom action with a replaceable bolthead design. Probably the Kauger VPR SST Short Action. I talked to them on the phone, they have a recommendation for what trigger to use, I forget which one, but I will go with that. I need to find the notes I took while I spoke with them.

Cartridge
I guess, my first question is, what cartridge should I be looking at? I would like something that will perform well at 500 but also has the case capacity similar to the BR or Grendel cartridge. Since I intent to learn wind and working on my prone shooting, I do not need something that will shoot at .25MOA if that means more expensive bullets and less barrel life. I simply cannot shoot 0.25MOA at this time. I do not ever expect to shoot this cartridge further than 600. 80% of the time I will be shooting at 300 yards.

My initial preferences would be a cartridge that has:

• brass that is easy/reasonable to source
• well proven no turn reamer design
• case capacity similar to the BR cartridge family. Meaning, no creedmoor cartridges
• bullets that are reasonably easy to find and not at a premium price. Bulk purchase preferred.
• must be able to use the 15k Rem 7 1/2 BR small rifle primers I have on hand.
• hopefully a cartridge that works well with a tuner

I'm okay with using mid quality brass and bullets up to the point that I hit a wall in accuracy/precision. That is, if I'm able to hit the wall. I'd rather not wear out premium brass when I cannot utilize the accuracy potential. Same with the bullets, I don't need to send 500 custom or super high priced bullets down range when I'm only able to hit MOA with wind.

With all of that, should I look at anything other than the good ol 223/556? 6mm Arc or 6mm Grendel seem like an interesting step up from 556. I can find the Grendel brass pretty easy for a reasonable price. I like the idea of 6mm BR, but I only can find the most premium brass at the highest price, that is when it is even available. I don't think I will be able to notice the difference between 6mm Grendel and 6BR for a long time.

Later I will have questions on barrel profile, stock profiles, and tuners. However, I figure starting with the cartridge is good for now.

I really appreciate the help you guys always provide.

6x45 (6-223) will do all of that. You can run 95gr bullets out of a 24 inch barrel around 2800fps pretty easy and 80 to 85gr bullets around 3000fps.

Brass is easy to make just run a 223 case through the full length die and you are done.

Those 7 1/2 remington primers are my favorite ones in that case and you will see you impacts on steel 300 yards and beyond no problem.

If you want a little more speed a 6-204 will be another 150fps faster bullet weight for bullet weight and those primers will work great in that case as well.

 

[dakor]

To put things in perspective.

308 win shooting 168 Bergers.



6x45 shooting 95 Matchkings.



You can push both of these rounds a little more but they are pretty much ballistically the same and the 6x45 does it with way less powder and recoil.

 

[Dimner]

Those Rem 7 1/2 BR primers will never work out. PM me and I will take them off your hands!
Actually I really like them. They will be perfect. Enjoy your project.

That's great news, I had been very worried about that. I got them back right at the beginning of the covid run on primers. 22 bucks per 1k! I figured either I would use them for this project, or hawk them for credit hours when my daughter goes to college

 

[Dimner]

Okay, I have decided (do not let me chamge my mind).

It's going to be 6BR. I'm excited!!! this is my first custom build and it will be alot of fun.


So now I have to figure out what barrel I should get. I want to use the ~100ish gr bullets. I want the rifle to be somewhat walkable, if that makes sense. Like I can carry it on my shoulder a 1/4 mile from the jeep to the setup area when shooting in the field.

I have never owned a rifle with a barrel profile over a 3B. What should I be looking at. My main considerations are:

• Not TOO heavy. Still can carry it a bit when walking in the field to a shooting position.
• Well balanced barrel.
• Not too light so I can shoot without cooking the barrel

Do you guys think that I should be looking for about a 6.5lb barrel or should I go lighter?

Also what bore size should I go with 0.236 or 0.237

 

[Kracken McGraw]

237 medium Palma then for one suggestion.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

https://www.bugholes.com/product-p/k-6mm-8tw-ss-rv-29.htm
Here’s a in stock option too. There’s the same Bartlein there also.

 

[Dimner]

https://www.bugholes.com/product-p/k-6mm-8tw-ss-rv-29.htm
Here’s a in stock option too. There’s the same Bartlein there also.

I appreciate that.

What's the thinking in going with the 0.237 vs 0.236?

 

[Ranger188]

The .236 vs. .237 has been debated for years, and no definite conclusion made.
.237 is a safe bet.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I appreciate that.

What's the thinking in going with the 0.237 vs 0.236?

Research some different opinions, but past threads here from the Bartlein guys favored them.

 

[Ranger188]

Frank (@ Bartlein barrels) has mentioned in a 6mm he like a 4 groove rather than the 5R
I think most here will agree.

 

[Evan]

Krieger Direct and Brunos shooter supply are 2 other sources I have personally used.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Frank (@ Bartlein barrels) has mentioned in a 6mm he like a 4 groove rather than the 5R
I think most here will agree.

The guys at BRUX Barrels say,.. the SAME and they Hold, 2 World Records for, 600 Yard, groups !
I'm guessing that, you will end up with, approx. a 12-13 Pound Rifle with, the 28" / 29", .830 dia Muzzle Barrel,.."suggested".
My 24" with a .707 Dia muzz weigh's,.. 10 Pounds, Braked / scoped. How much weight, Do YOU want to, Carry ??
Picking the RIGHT Barrel Contour/ weight / balance, is Paramount, IF, walking,.. much,.. IMO !
Good Luck with, your choice !

 

[Dimner]

The guys at BRUX Barrels say,.. the SAME and they Hold, 2 World Records for, 600 Yard, groups !
I'm guessing that, you will end up with, approx. a 12-13 Pound Rifle with, the 28" / 29", .830 dia Muzzle Barrel,.."suggested".
My 24" with a .707 Dia muzz weigh's,.. 10 Pounds, Braked / scoped. How much weight, Do YOU want to, Carry ??
Picking the RIGHT Barrel Contour/ weight / balance, is Paramount, IF, walking,.. much,.. IMO !
Good Luck with, your choice !

10-11lbs would be fine for the rare walk with it farther that 100 yards. My garand is like 9.5 lbs, and I have no problems with that. I think the medium palma would do just fine. So far, I'm torn between 28 or 26 inches.

 

[Evan]

28 inches feels unwieldy to carry, regardless of weight. If you’re seriously going to carry it around on occasion, 26 or 24 will feel much better. Easier to balance the barrel weight without needing to add excessive weight into the butt of the stock too.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

@ Evan,..
AGREE and at, .830 Muz dia and, 28 inches long that, "Truck Axle", WON'T be even, be close to, a 10 pound Rifle !
11.5 to 12 Pounds,.. maybe ??

 

[Dimner]

Okay ... so here is where I am at.

6mmBR
Kaugher short action VPR
Bartlein or Krieger barrel
26" medium palma contour
4 groove 0.237 bore

As for chamber, probably the one that has about 0.090 freebore?

Now I need to figure out the stock. I have no idea anything about stocks other than what is ideal for a pure competitive BR stock and a hunting sporter stock. So I'm going to have to start learning about walking prone stocks.

 

[lawman29]

Okay ... so here is where I am at.

6mmBR
Kaugher short action VPR
Bartlein or Krieger barrel
26" medium palma contour
4 groove 0.237 bore

As for chamber, probably the one that has about 0.090 freebore?

Now I need to figure out the stock. I have no idea anything about stocks other than what is ideal for a pure competitive BR stock and a hunting sporter stock. So I'm going to have to start learning about walking prone stocks.

You're not done yet. What bottom metal?
Bdl, dbm which one or single shot?
You need to figure that out before you order the action or stock.