Help me waste my money/ build a new rifle

[yorketransport]

So I had a Savage 12 BVSS (stainless, fluted, varmint rifle in a nutmeg laminate stock) in 223 which I traded to a guy a couple months ago. He decided that he didn't want a 223, so I bought the barrel back from him so that we could build a 6.5x284 on the action. He never got the funds together to build that gun, so I ended up just trading him my 10FP 308 for the stocked action and some cash.

Now I have this stocked action sitting around and I can't decide what to do with it. When I had it originally, I had a 6mm BR barrel on there. I've since sold that barrel, got rid of the factory 223 barrel, and I just don't have any other barrels sitting around which would match this stock. I've decided that if I can't come up with a good use for it by the end of the week I'll just sell it. It's not like I need another project.

All I need is a barrel. I have a Bushnell 4200 6-24x, Leupold Mk 2 6-18x, and a Weaver T-36 scope sitting around without homes, so any of those could go on there.  I imagine this would make a good mid weight varmint/bench gun, so some thing between 22 and 6.5mm would seem like a good match. Here are ideas which I've had so far:

22-250 AI
220 swift
224 MiniCoop (this is a wildcat designed by a friend of mine. It's running at around 3900fps from a 16" handgun with a 40gr bullet.)
6ppc (I still have a 6BR pistol, so there's no reason for another 6BR)
243 AI
6mm AI
6.5 Creedmoore
260 Rem
6.5x47 Lapua
260 AI
6.5x284 Norma

So far nothing is just calling out to me, so I'll throw it out there to all of you. Tell me what you would build and why. I don't want to repeat any of the chamberings I've already tried, so that bumps the 204, 223, 22-250, 243, 250 Savage, 257 Roberts, 25-06, and 6.5 TCU. So lets hear your suggestions.

Andrew

[Biggerhammer]

I have a reamer and go gauge you can use.

It's based off .243 Lapua brass necked up to .25 cal with min body taper. A slightly shorter neck and a 32 degree shoulder. A cross between a 25 Souper and a .257 DGR. Both of which I have had and enjoyed. I just crossed them both up after a talk with Dave at PTG. Waited something close to 25-06 performance on a short action with quality brass.

[carpsniperg2]

My next semi auto will be a 6.5 creedmoor even though it would be great as a bolt gun as well.

My next bolt gun will probably be a 6.5x284.

Both would be fine pick's

[Jim the Plumber]

It looks like you have all the small stuff covered. Of your choices, I'd go with the 6.5X284.
 As much as this next statement will make he11 freeze over, and pigs fly, if you are wanting bullet commonality, you have a few 25's, take landon up on his reamer offer.

[Huntbear]

7x57 or 7mm-08 depending on which case you prefer.... love the 7 mm in the short cases..  just performs real well.

[yorketransport]

I have a reamer and go gauge you can use.

It's based off .243 Lapua brass necked up to .25 cal with min body taper. A slightly shorter neck and a 32 degree shoulder. A cross between a 25 Souper and a .257 DGR. Both of which I have had and enjoyed. I just crossed them both up after a talk with Dave at PTG. Waited something close to 25-06 performance on a short action with quality brass.

What sort of performance are you getting and what are you using for dies? It sounds similar to the 250 Humdinger.

7x57 or 7mm-08 depending on which case you prefer.... love the 7 mm in the short cases..  just performs real well.

I've played with  a few 7mm rounds (7TCU, WSM, Rem Mag, and the 7-08) The TCU is the only one that really stuck with me. I did consider a straight 284 Win though.

It looks like you have all the small stuff covered. Of your choices, I'd go with the 6.5X284.
 As much as this next statement will make he11 freeze over, and pigs fly, if you are wanting bullet commonality, you have a few 25's, take landon up on his reamer offer.

This is a pretty strong recommendation.   I have played with quite a few of the smaller calibers, but I am partial to the medium bores. I've had 7 different 338s alone. 

Andrew

[carpsniperg2]

Oh quote everyone but me, now I feel left out

[yorketransport]

Oh quote everyone but me, now I feel left out

Feel better now?

I did play with a 6.5x284 for a few weeks before I traded tha barrel. If. Did another one, the guy I got the stocked action back from would be so mad his head would explode!

Andrew

[jess]

6xc.. Its a 22-250 necked up to 6 mm.. Great load and norma makes brass for it..

[Miles]

No love for the Swede?

[coachcw]

you may concider the length of the action , assuming it's a short action you may have a problem with the 6.4x284 feeding from the mag. in wich case the .260 would be a better bet 

[carpsniperg2]

Oh quote everyone but me, now I feel left out

Feel better now?

I did play with a 6.5x284 for a few weeks before I traded tha barrel. If. Did another one, the guy I got the stocked action back from would be so mad his head would explode!

Andrew

Yes now I can sleep tonight!!!

I keep kicking myself. I have a 340wby sitting up stairs waiting to be turn into a long range machine but I have been thinking of selling it. Since my main LR rifle is already a 340wby. Don't know if I need 2 but I am a 340wby slu*  Having a hard time not buying the mark v in the classifieds

[Biggerhammer]

I also have two other reamer with Go gauges. With the exact case demensions described above. One necked up to 6.5, the other 6mm and of course the prior mentioned 25 cal. If its a long action you can give my 6.5- .338 Ultra Magnum Improved a try.

[coachcw]

I also have two other reamer with Go gauges. With the exact case demensions described above. One necked up to 6.5, the other 6mm and of course the prior mentioned 25 cal. If its a long action you can give my 6.5- .338 Ultra Magnum Improved a try.

wow that would be a barrell burner !

[lhrbull]

how about a 257 weatherby

[yorketransport]

Yes now I can sleep tonight!!!

I keep kicking myself. I have a 340wby sitting up stairs waiting to be turn into a long range machine but I have been thinking of selling it. Since my main LR rifle is already a 340wby. Don't know if I need 2 but I am a 340wby slu*  Having a hard time not buying the mark v in the classifieds

Just buy it. That way I don't have to. I don't need another 338, but I will if I have to.

I also have two other reamer with Go gauges. With the exact case demensions described above. One necked up to 6.5, the other 6mm and of course the prior mentioned 25 cal. If its a long action you can give my 6.5- .338 Ultra Magnum Improved a try.

What kind of performance were you getting from this? I ran the numbers on a 6.5/375 Ruger and it was impressive to say the least. The Ruger case should be able to run a 130 at almost 3800fps. With 9 more grains of capacity, the 338 RUM case may be able to hit 4000.

Unfortunately I'm working with a short action. That doesn't stop me from running it as a single shot though. I do that with a few of my guns.

I'm beginning to think that I may have finally hit the wall. The only bore diameter between 17 and 50 caliber I haven't played with yet is the 9.3mm. This is a terrible thing to say, but it may be time to stop building guns, and just start shooting them! It would help if there were more opportunities to varmint hunt around here. If there were some good groundhog or prairie dog spots near by I would have a safe full of 22-25 caliber guns.

Andrew

[carpsniperg2]

I just killed my gun budget tonight and bought a new toy with a motor in it

The gun fund is tanked right now. Good thing or I would be buying that 340 It's all yours and can't go wrong with a 340wby

[Biggerhammer]

Then have SSK chamber up a 9.3 B&M! I have a 9.3 Lilja barrel, but I just haven't got to it yet. I will have time in the spring to have it chambered up.

http://m.b-mriflesandcartridges.com/#/9-3-B-M.html

http://www.b-mriflesandcartridges.com/

Michael458 on the 24Hourcampfire is the GURU of big bores and designed the B&M cartridge line up. SSK chambers for him. He has the dies and piles of load data. The guy is a ballistics machine. He worked wonders with my 450 Ultra Magnum when it came to load data.

A 9.3 B&M would be way cool CHIT!!! on your short action.

[Curly]

You should go with a 6.5 WSM.......

[yorketransport]

You should go with a 6.5 WSM.......

I'm going to build one of these when I burn out the barrel on my 300 WSM. I'm at 550 rounds now, so only a couple hundred more to go.

I still haven't found the right caliber. Maybe I need to trade my way into another long action so I can build something more interesting.

Andrew

[carpsniperg2]

That would not be to bad of a idea

[follow maggie]

Doesn't sound like wasting money to me

[yorketransport]

Doesn't sound like wasting money to me

The wasting money part comes in when I build another rifle, then don't shoot it.  Then I just end up parting it out and starting over. The action I currently have started out as a 223 which shot 5 shot groups in the .3" range. That was boring, so I sold that barrel and put a 6BR barrel on there. That shot in the .2-.3" range, but never go used once I finished the 6BR pistol. Then I sold this action and built a 308 which I traded for my action and some cash. So now I'm right back where I started. And I'll end up doing all over again.

That would not be to bad of a idea

I'm actually thinking of going for a long action Remington now. There are a few places that make prefit Remington barrels which use a nut like the Savage. PacNor does them, and Jim Briggs at NSS does them as well.

If anybody is looking for a stainless Savage short action, I have a feeling mine is going to be in the classified section by the end of the day.

Andrew

[Biggerhammer]

Doesn't sound like wasting money to me

The wasting money part comes in when I build another rifle, then don't shoot it.  Then I just end up parting it out and starting over. The action I currently have started out as a 223 which shot 5 shot groups in the .3" range. That was boring, so I sold that barrel and put a 6BR barrel on there. That shot in the .2-.3" range, but never go used once I finished the 6BR pistol. Then I sold this action and built a 308 which I traded for my action and some cash. So now I'm right back where I started. And I'll end up doing all over again.

That would not be to bad of a idea

I'm actually thinking of going for a long action Remington now. There are a few places that make prefit Remington barrels which use a nut like the Savage. PacNor does them, and Jim Briggs at NSS does them as well.

If anybody is looking for a stainless Savage short action, I have a feeling mine is going to be in the classified section by the end of the day.

Andrew

Your as bad as I am!