Questions on building a 6.5/284-Savage Action

[koger]

I am just getting into F class, and am building a6.5/284 on a new Savage mod. 10, 243 action. I am putting a filler aluminum plate in the mag well position, new Bencmark barrell, any info on these barrells? Stock is a Brownells BR laid up glass stok with aluminum skeloton and pillar bedded, just skim bed and finsish and paint, seems like a great deal. I put on Leupold base, reamed out for 8/40 screw,drilled and tapped action for same. I put on sharpshooter 10 oz. trigger.Main 2 questions I have are when headspacing the barrell, should I have absoulutley minimum headspace,or give a couple thousandths room for all around best results. Also I am considering replacing sporter bolt handle with larger tactical handle or other similar handle to enable easy operation, but was wodering if the heavy bolt handle would have any negative/positive affect on accuracy. My thought was that it might cut down on vibration?? Any input appreciated.

 

[Forum Boss]

I would set the headspace tight on a go gauge. Some guys prefer to set it tight on a new piece of brass, but then you could get hard chambering on the next lot. The other option is to borrow a fired 6.5-284 case and then run it through your Full-length sizing die and headspace off that.

BTW, that Brownell's Savage stock does look like a very good deal. $241 for a pillar bedded MBR Tooley Style stock. I bet it will shoot great. Click on photo to enlarge.

 

[koger]

Thanks for the reply, any input on the benchmark barrels or the newe heavier bolt handle, Pros/cons?? The people I have talked with have had nothing but good things to say about Benchmark barrells from Stockade Gun works,

 

[brunr6mmBR]

I have three benchmark barrels all in 6mmBr from 8 twist to 12 twist for my savage actions, all shoot great, also have had good luck with Kevin at stockade, he has built me a few rifles.

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

I have a SSS Tactical bolt handle on my Savage 12 action. No negatives that I've found. A big plus is that this bolt handle makes it so much easier to manipulate the bolt, especially in the prone position.

When I rebarreled this Savage I set the headspace so that the bolt closed kind of hard on a GO gauge, and by the time I torqued down the barrel nut,about 30 ft lb) it put in about .001" more clearance so the bolt is a bit easier to close. It chambers any brass that I feed it, and the fired cases do not stretch.

Best of luck with your project.