So I am thinking about my first custom, several questions!

[264WM70]

1. I am thinking 6.5 X 47 Lapua or .284 win. Others will be considered but these two seem really good.
2. Which custom action is better for each? Long action or short action?
3. Which is easier on the barrel?
4. How should the barrel be ordered? Length, Twist Rate, Free bore, neck dimensions, etc.
5. Trigger, Stock, etc.

I am fairly close to the Williamsport, PA club and would like to try my hand at F-class competition there (600 or 1000 yards). I have a Savage 12 F-class in 6 BR that is stock. I am just thinking about spending more money for the same reasons all of you lose your minds and get further into this madness than you initially intended.

 

[dkhunt14]

Williamsport is Benchrest. For benchrest I would do the 6.5x47. I would do both on a long action. That way you can throat out to where needed and get a loaded round out the gun. Matt

 

[264WM70]

Thanks Matt! Which custom action would you suggest? I am leaning towards a Panda but that would be an uneducated guess on my part because I have just seen several guns of the week with the panda action.

 

[savagedasher]

Thanks Matt! Which custom action would you suggest? I am leaning towards a Panda but that would be an uneducated guess on my part because I have just seen several guns of the week with the panda action.

If anyone here should know about Pennsylvania Matt should. And totally agree on the 6.5 x 47. Larry

 

[dkhunt14]

Panda is ok. If you do, get an F-class panda. Borden is a good one. Bat is probably the most popular. Can't go wrong with any of them. 30 inch barrel, twist I am not sure about, I don't shoot a 6.5x47. Krieger is probably the most popular. Matt

 

[bsumoba]

If you plan on not doing BR light gun, then I would go with a BAT M or MB action. Panda and Borden are good as well. The Barnard P actions are also good.

6.5x47 lapua is a good choice with 140gr hybrids and is easier on the barrel, but let's be honest, you are getting into F-Class...a shooting discipline that essentially treats barrels like tires in a drag race . Expect around 1,500-2,000 of competition accuracy, maybe even less, depending on how fast you shoot it. 1:8 twist is almost everyone is using with the 140s. 30" barrel is what I would go with. I would go with Brux or Bartlein and a straight contour or 1.25" taper to 1.00". Ask your smith about the reamer specs. Not familiar with the 6.5x47 lapua.

However, if you decided to go with the 284 or a variant like the 284 Shehane/Walker, then I would do a 29-32" straight contour or 1.25" taper to 1.00", in a Brux or Bartlein, 1:9 twist. Same action...Bat M or MB. Expect less than 1,500 rounds of competition accuracy, although you can go more, but it is up to you what your expectations of accuracy are. 180gr hybrids or VLDs. 0.004"-0.008"K of neck clearance, freebore of .220-.251" (for the hybrids).

Trigger: Jewell BR set to 1oz or Bix N Andy
Stock: PR&T Lowboy, Shurley Lowrider or ARK stock, Masterclass F-Class, and others...it is your preference.
Scope: NF Competition, March, or the new Vortex equivalent.

 

[264WM70]

Thanks to all for valuable input. I am now leaning towards benchrest over F-class since Williamsport is the closest competition club. One day I will venture in the F-class direction but for now I am focused on BR. I haven't identified a gunsmith to put this build together. I will look to the 6BR site for gunsmiths in my area of Southwestern PA. Any suggestions there?

 

[4xforfun]

If you are thinking 1K BR using a 30" straight taper 1.25 tube with a BAT "M" action you may run into a weight problem. Use a HV taper tube. With this setup you can even make weight with a NF BR or NXS scope.

 

[JRS]

I have a new, unfired light gun I will not be using. Polished Panda F-Class action with 2 degree draft and custom WTC pica tinny rail - RT/RT, Shehane ST-1000 thumbhole stock with polished WTC butt plate and PPG Ceramic Clear Coat finish - pillar and glass bedded, Jewell trigger, Bartelin 8 twist barrel with removable custom WTC brake and thread protector - chambered in 6.5X55 BJAI (Al Warner build). I also have a new Krieger barrel threaded for this action chambered in 25X47 Lapua - chambered by cigarcop (Keith Weil). If interested, PM me.

 

[Judd]

Do yourself a favor and go to at least one match and ask what caliber guys are shooting and more importantly what caliber is doing the winning. Most guys are very willing to help and answer questions to someone looking to get into the sport.

F-class it's likely to be a 7mm but for BR more than likely be some 6mm.

 

[rkittine]

I got my first custom build recently. Wanted a 1,000 yard Bench Rest rifle for Williamsport and other 600 yard plus clubs. Fortunately I met a guy on this site who became my mentor as I had no clue what I was doing. Ended up with the following:

Borden BR Action with RB/LP/RE with the ejection port long enough to remove an unfired 6.5x47L with a 139/140 projectile or a 6.5x284 if I wanted to convert later on to that caliber.

Jewel Trigger timed and adjusted by Jim Borden to 2 Oz.

Borden Scope Bases and Kelby Rings

Krieger HV Contour Barrel 1.25" for the first 8 inches and then tapered to .9 at 28.5" 1:8 Twist

Doyle Anglin chambered it as a No Turn Neck 6.5x47 Lapua with free board to shoot the 123 grainers and with a little throat wear, the 139 grain Bergers.

He then installed everything in an African Obeche, Tracker Laminated Stock, mounted the 12x42 BR NF and with the sun shade and caps it was about 3 ounces below the maximum for light bench rest. Saved me to not have to spend the extra for the 15x55 Competition NF to shave weight.

Unfortunately it came at the end of the season so I have yet to shoot it and it looks too pretty to scratch up, but SOON!

Good luck with what ever you decide.

Bob

 

[264WM70]

I got my first custom build recently. Wanted a 1,000 yard Bench Rest rifle for Williamsport and other 600 yard plus clubs. Fortunately I met a guy on this site who became my mentor as I had no clue what I was doing. Ended up with the following:

Borden BR Action with RB/LP/RE with the ejection port long enough to remove an unfired 6.5x47L with a 139/140 projectile or a 6.5x284 if I wanted to convert later on to that caliber.

Jewel Trigger timed and adjusted by Jim Borden to 2 Oz.

Borden Scope Bases and Kelby Rings

Krieger HV Contour Barrel 1.25" for the first 8 inches and then tapered to .9 at 28.5" 1:8 Twist

Doyle Anglin chambered it as a No Turn Neck 6.5x47 Lapua with free board to shoot the 123 grainers and with a little throat wear, the 139 grain Bergers.

He then installed everything in an African Obeche, Tracker Laminated Stock, mounted the 12x42 BR NF and with the sun shade and caps it was about 3 ounces below the maximum for light bench rest. Saved me to not have to spend the extra for the 15x55 Competition NF to shave weight.

Unfortunately it came at the end of the season so I have yet to shoot it and it looks too pretty to scratch up, but SOON!

Good luck with what ever you decide.

Bob

Bob,

I am interested in hearing how this setup shoots.

Joe

 

[4xforfun]

T

Do yourself a favor and go to at least one match and ask what caliber guys are shooting and more importantly what caliber is doing the winning. Most guys are very willing to help and answer questions to someone looking to get into the sport.

F-class it's likely to be a 7mm but for BR more than likely be some 6mm.

This!! I lost count of the number of times where there was a new guy lurking around...trying NOT to bother anyone. I simply drag them to my table, show them around. Answer any and all questions, and, MOST inportatly....offer to let them shoot one of my guns/backup guns in a match. Many have accepted, and, from time to time they kicked ass!!!

Can't think of a better way to recrute new shooters. This is one of the main things I miss!!

 

[rkittine]

I am hoping to tie up with my mentor soon Joe and shoot this rifle for the first time. I will let you know how that turns out. I purchased some Lapua factory rounds so I can send the fired cases and the reamer print to Whidden for some custom dies. Then it will be handloads as it should.

Bob

 

[savagedasher]

First you should look at is what types of shooting is done where you shoot. Many would let you shoot their gun you can get the feel of the different stocks rest and scopes along with caliber . The barrel and action is the cheapest part . Larry

 

[264WM70]

I am finally going to get to go to Williamsport in two weeks. I was able to compete in a factory class in Memphis on July 3rd. This could get very addictive. I look forward to seeing the way things are done and meeting many of the fine gentlemen who commented on my post.

Joe Dickson

 

[wvuredneck09]

If butler PA isn't to far for you, get in touch with x-ring custom gunsmithing, great guy to deal with and does good work.

 

[rkittine]

I ended up making this year's 1,000 Yard School at Williamsport and the hook is now set. I also finally shot my Borden finally. Three, three shot groups at 100 yards all measuring under 1/4 MOA. Used 41 Grains of H4350, CCI450 and Berger 130 VLDs. Now need to get on paper at 1,000 and see what it will do.

Bob

 

[GSPV]

For the new folks, its important to note that F-Open and Benchrest are very different games. They may look similar to the uninitiated, but the devil is in the details.

It's like the difference between NASCAR and Indy Cars. Both on an oval track. Both go fast. Etc. but, the difference in the rules results in a very different car.

 

[squint-n-squeeze]

For a bench gun the 6mm dasher is king. I would do a Borden BRM glued/screw in. If you will not do a glue in then go Panda f-class, with micro port eject and tg ejector. 28" Krieger. st-1000 or MBR style stocks are popular, if you build a 17 lb. dasher with 3" stcok and no brake it will be legal for F-open as well. The down side to the larger calibers in a LG is recoil, makes it harder to shoot fast in a condition.

Does a glued in action to a BR stock mean new barrels get chambered separate from the action?