Gday everyone,
I've been lurking around the forums for some time now while deciding whether to join or not. My conclusion is that this is the best forum for discussing reloading and precision rifles. So many forums are just full of bad advice. AccurateShooter ticks all the boxes I was looking for!
I have been running a Rem700 SA in 6xc for about 1200 rounds. It has been used for the NRA style High Power matches out to 600 yards, some tactical rifle competition out to 800 yards and a bit of what we call spotlighting here in Australia - shooting feral pest animals such as pigs, goats, cats, dogs etc off the back of a truck at night. I've enjoyed the rifle and had a ton of fun with it but as the barrel heads towards it's last bulk pack of projectiles I have to acknowledge the difficulties I have experienced with the 6xc. My initial brass was fireformed Lapua 22/250 and it all developed a significant donut on the first firing. The reamer was allegedly the specs as designed by David Tubb however it turns out that wasn't the case - the freebore whilst sufficient to seat a 107gr SMK above the donut would not permit me to load the 87gr Hornady V-max without hitting the donut. These were my preferred (and available) hunting bullets. To get around that I fireformed some Winchester 22/250 brass and it did not form a donut but it had significant neck variation and I didn't want to get into turning necks. The reamer I have also had a .272" neck which is really a bit tighter than I'd prefer and that has resulted in some of its own problems. I tried Norma brass but it was a tight fit in the chamber as it seems to be based of a .308 case and not a .22/250. Anyway - it has been a hassle.
I am now at a place where I am considering if the 6xc is just a little too difficult for a bloke living in a country where gunsmiths and gunsmithing tools are few and far between. If I rebarrel with another 6xc I'll have to obtain another reamer with more neck clearance and freebore and that will be at significant cost.
I'm wondering if I would be better of just going with a 6.5 Creedmoor. I can borrow a reamer that has a .295 NK and 0.188 freebore. I just can't work out if that will allow me to magazine feed a 140 to 147 grain bullet (from an AI magazine) and get close to the lands in a Remington 700SA.
I really just want to spend more time shooting and less time messing around trying to resolve problems. Sorry my post was so long - just wanted to provide the relevant background. What does everyone think is my best option?
I've been lurking around the forums for some time now while deciding whether to join or not. My conclusion is that this is the best forum for discussing reloading and precision rifles. So many forums are just full of bad advice. AccurateShooter ticks all the boxes I was looking for!
I have been running a Rem700 SA in 6xc for about 1200 rounds. It has been used for the NRA style High Power matches out to 600 yards, some tactical rifle competition out to 800 yards and a bit of what we call spotlighting here in Australia - shooting feral pest animals such as pigs, goats, cats, dogs etc off the back of a truck at night. I've enjoyed the rifle and had a ton of fun with it but as the barrel heads towards it's last bulk pack of projectiles I have to acknowledge the difficulties I have experienced with the 6xc. My initial brass was fireformed Lapua 22/250 and it all developed a significant donut on the first firing. The reamer was allegedly the specs as designed by David Tubb however it turns out that wasn't the case - the freebore whilst sufficient to seat a 107gr SMK above the donut would not permit me to load the 87gr Hornady V-max without hitting the donut. These were my preferred (and available) hunting bullets. To get around that I fireformed some Winchester 22/250 brass and it did not form a donut but it had significant neck variation and I didn't want to get into turning necks. The reamer I have also had a .272" neck which is really a bit tighter than I'd prefer and that has resulted in some of its own problems. I tried Norma brass but it was a tight fit in the chamber as it seems to be based of a .308 case and not a .22/250. Anyway - it has been a hassle.
I am now at a place where I am considering if the 6xc is just a little too difficult for a bloke living in a country where gunsmiths and gunsmithing tools are few and far between. If I rebarrel with another 6xc I'll have to obtain another reamer with more neck clearance and freebore and that will be at significant cost.
I'm wondering if I would be better of just going with a 6.5 Creedmoor. I can borrow a reamer that has a .295 NK and 0.188 freebore. I just can't work out if that will allow me to magazine feed a 140 to 147 grain bullet (from an AI magazine) and get close to the lands in a Remington 700SA.
I really just want to spend more time shooting and less time messing around trying to resolve problems. Sorry my post was so long - just wanted to provide the relevant background. What does everyone think is my best option?
