Thinking of a new build

[Fast14riot]

I've been wanting to build a mid sized caliber rifle for a while now, but I've been going back and forth on what to start with.

Parameters: something no smaller than 6mm, no bigger than 7mm. Barrel will likely be a varmint type taper, probably around 28". Factory action for a working man's budget. Ease of finding an accurate load a plus, and decent barrel life (3k or so) This will be built paycheck by paycheck.

Intended purpose: general range toy, possibly predator hunting from a blind (not spot and stalk type hunting), 1000 yard maybe, but most likely 600 and under. Not built for any specific class type shooting or competition, but may be used for various club level steel matches from a bipod. Hope to keep weight under 14 pounds.

So far, I'm thinking either Savage or R700, but with the Savage I'm not sure if single shot or repeater is what I want. I guess I'd be fine with single shot, but my uncle has the tools for truing 700 actions. Barrel would likely be McGowan or BHW as I have owned both and had good results for the budget I can afford.

I've been intrigued by the 6.5x47L cartridge recently and it seems to fit in this particular set of parameters. I have also been considering .260 or plain-jane 6mmRem, but my dad has two 6's and my mom has one 6 that will be mine eventually. I DO NOT want a .308, as I'm a .30-'06 guy who doesn't want another 30 to feed as well as it being over 7mm like I stated earlier.

No highly involved wildcats, I'd like to be able to buy some factory ammo or brass and do not want to neck turn. I'm fine with having a chamber for a specific weight class of bullets, as well as sending fired brass off for custom dies, but beyond basic neck up/down with a bushing die, I don't want to deal with that much brass prep for this rifle.

My area of match rifle experience has been with AR'S and I have everything I need and want covered there, with all the accuracy I could want, but for bolt guns I've always been more of the "hunter" mindset. Light, honest 1.5 MOA with cheap factory ammo, etc.

So, what do the collective great minds of these board have to say, am I on a snipe hunt? Or, am I headed down a reasonably simple path?


-Alexander

 

[Milo 2.0]

I'd look into Tikka T3, in 260, for factory ammo(Prime). I've had my share of Rem 700's turned into custom-semi custom rifles and they did what I asked, but this year did a Tikka in 6x47. It has printed groups at 500 yards that anyone would be proud of.
Buy, shoot while stockpiling parts, barrel, stock, etc..

 

[Fast14riot]

Now I'm not real familiar with the Tikka rifles, I know they're fine shooters, but aftermarket parts like stocks, trigger and such, how's the availability?

 

[fourpower]

I've been wanting to build a mid sized caliber rifle for a while now, but I've been going back and forth on what to start with.

Parameters: something no smaller than 6mm, no bigger than 7mm. Barrel will likely be a varmint type taper, probably around 28". Factory action for a working man's budget. Ease of finding an accurate load a plus, and decent barrel life (3k or so) This will be built paycheck by paycheck.

Intended purpose: general range toy, possibly predator hunting from a blind (not spot and stalk type hunting), 1000 yard maybe, but most likely 600 and under. Not built for any specific class type shooting or competition, but may be used for various club level steel matches from a bipod. Hope to keep weight under 14 pounds.

So far, I'm thinking either Savage or R700, but with the Savage I'm not sure if single shot or repeater is what I want. I guess I'd be fine with single shot, but my uncle has the tools for truing 700 actions. Barrel would likely be McGowan or BHW as I have owned both and had good results for the budget I can afford.

I've been intrigued by the 6.5x47L cartridge recently and it seems to fit in this particular set of parameters. I have also been considering .260 or plain-jane 6mmRem, but my dad has two 6's and my mom has one 6 that will be mine eventually. I DO NOT want a .308, as I'm a .30-'06 guy who doesn't want another 30 to feed as well as it being over 7mm like I stated earlier.

No highly involved wildcats, I'd like to be able to buy some factory ammo or brass and do not want to neck turn. I'm fine with having a chamber for a specific weight class of bullets, as well as sending fired brass off for custom dies, but beyond basic neck up/down with a bushing die, I don't want to deal with that much brass prep for this rifle.

My area of match rifle experience has been with AR'S and I have everything I need and want covered there, with all the accuracy I could want, but for bolt guns I've always been more of the "hunter" mindset. Light, honest 1.5 MOA with cheap factory ammo, etc.

So, what do the collective great minds of these board have to say, am I on a snipe hunt? Or, am I headed down a reasonably simple path?


-Alexander

I have a 6.5x47 laupa that is a death ray on small varmits out to 600yds and have taken it out to 1400yds with 140gr bergers and it will shoot in 1s all day. just build a 6x47 laupa and haven't shot it much yet but it a shooter and it is going to be fun I can tell. I have taken it out to 900yds with 105 bergers. both are great and easy to load for and the brass last great.

 

[Milo 2.0]

Now I'm not real familiar with the Tikka rifles, I know they're fine shooters, but aftermarket parts like stocks, trigger and such, how's the availability?

Manners makes stocks(plus others), XLR, MPA and others make a chassis. Egw and more make scope bases, any smith can mill the trigger bolt and get it down to around 14oz safely, it comes with a good trigger with a fast lock time.

 

[rudysts]

Parameters: something no smaller than 6mm, no bigger than 7mm. Barrel will likely be a varmint type taper, probably around 28". Factory action for a working man's budget. Ease of finding an accurate load a plus, and decent barrel life (3k or so) This will be built paycheck by paycheck.

Intended purpose: general range toy, possibly predator hunting from a blind (not spot and stalk type hunting), 1000 yard maybe, but most likely 600 and under. Not built for any specific class type shooting or competition, but may be used for various club level steel matches from a bipod. Hope to keep weight under 14 pounds.

I built a Savage for this purpose (280AI) with an Xcaliber barrel. I knew that Savages would shoot better then decent but this build exceeded my expectations.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

A factory Tikka action puts a factory rem or sav to shame. That said I still like the Rem design best. Northland was selling single shot 700 actions. The 6.5x47 is one of my favorites.

 

[BMW]

I'm fixing to jump on the 6XC bandwagon real soon. Tubbs sells loaded ammo and Norma makes 6XC brass.

 

[Fast14riot]

I'm not up to speed on many of these target rounds in the 243-264 size, how does the Dasher, 6.5x47L, 6xc, 6brx, 260Rem etc compare? Basically, what bolt face and general powder capacity do these have?

In my AR'S I have 6.8, and I have .30-'06 in bolt gun, so something in between is what I'm after and why I liked the 6.5x47L case.

 

[BoydAllen]

Plain old 6BR with a top level barrel in a blueprinted Remington.....fast twist. I understand that Mike Bryant has made it feed from a magazine. Don't be afraid to jump light bullets for hunting; use the heavier ones for target work and larger animals. Pleasant recoil, and an excellent record in competition.

 

[JORTZ]

I love my 6.5 grendel does everything i need out to 1000 yards also great factory ammo from AA and Hornady.

 

[JORTZ]

I love my 6.5 grendel does everything i need out to 1000 yards also great factory ammo from AA and Hornady.

Also cheap and easy to reload

 

[Tommie]

.284 Winchester

 

[X-Caveman]

6BR. I also love the 6.5x47, but you can afford to shoot more with the BR.

 

[Fast14riot]

Gendel is a no go for me, as I already shoot 6.8 and am looking for a little more case capacity. I'll look into the 6br as well and see how it compares to the 6.5x47L for what I want. For now, the 6.5x47 is sticking in my head, but I haven't read up on the others much yet.

Cost isn't a real big concern for me (cost to feed anyways) as this gun is not going to be a primary match gun, so round count will not be nearly as high as my match rifles.

 

[GSPV]

If you don't mind not being able to get factory ammo, a 7x47L is working great for me.

It is absolutely no different than loading virgin 6 BR brass for a no turn chamber. Except that you are a bit out on your own for load data. I'm using 7-08 as a place to start and backing off.

 

[Fast14riot]

For 7x47 I would check with the guys loading the new cat 7mm Valkyre (7VAR) as they have published lots of load data and testing, but it is an AR magazine length load, so x47L brass is shortened a bit.

 

[Milo 2.0]

Plain old 6BR with a top level barrel in a blueprinted Remington.....fast twist. I understand that Mike Bryant has made it feed from a magazine. Don't be afraid to jump light bullets for hunting; use the heavier ones for target work and larger animals. Pleasant recoil, and an excellent record in competition.

Watch this clip, this kid may very well be the top smith in the country some day.

 

[Phil]

This is EXTREMELY Interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Phil]

As to the initial question, how about a 7 sum with the 162 amax............