Finally finished my wildcat rifle project!

[Rob]

A buddy of mine had been looking to build a wildcat rifle for a few years.  A little over 2 years ago I decided to jump in with him and work with him to build one for me.

The cartridge is called a 6.5 Knute.  You start with 7mm SAUM, or 300 WSM brass.  Using a three stage process the shoulders are pushed back, the neck extended and necked down to 6.5mm.  Without the brake, this kicks about like a 243 Win.  With the brake it kicks about like a 22.250 Remington or less.

It is designed to shoot a 140 grain VLD bullet at at around 3200 FPS.  I am getting 3100 using 56 grains of H4831SC.  I am still working on the final load.

The action is a cheap Vangaurd, and the barrel is a lilja 1:8 twist countour #5 3 groove and it is 26 inches long.  My buddy threaded the barrel and we put a vias brake on it.  The most unusual thing of course is the dimpling.  We drilled 702 holes in the barrel over a weekend.  This increased surface area over fluting and looks kinda cool.  It looked like it was rhinestone encrusted when it was silver, but my buddy and his uncle duracoated it in matte black.

It is sitting on the original cheapy stock that came with the action.  However I modified it to hold the new barrel, and coated it with bedliner and grey duracoat.

I moved an IOR scope I had on another rifle over to this one. It is a 3-18 x 40 with a 35 mm maintube and is sitting on a 20 MOA base. 

My goal with this rifle is to get something I can hit a 1,000 yard target with predictably. 

At any rate, it was a very enjoyable leanring experience. 

First photo shows a 7mm SAUM on the left, and a loaded 6.5 Knute on the right.  The photos in silver are some WIP photos, and the final photos are the completed product.

[Rob]

one more with a better view of the barrel.  the shadows on the photos make the brake look kinda funny.  looks better in person

[NW-GSP]

That looks awesome, can't wait to hear a range report

[75johndeere]

That dimple process look time consuming but great how much weight did it cut off?

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[FC]

GREAT looking rifle (ugly stock), I'm very interested to see what kind of performance you get out of it with that barrel.

[Rob]

The stock is growing on me a little.  it is darker in person whick makes it look better than the pictures.

The dimpling took off a little over 1/2 a pound.

Still working on accuracy.  with fireforming loads it was horrible.  1.5 inches at 50 yards! 

First batch of loads at 100 yards using VLD's got me about 1 to 1.5 inch groups (5 shots)

I seated the bullet a bit deeper and it jumped to 3/4 inch groups so it is getting there.My goal is 1/2 MOA groups as that is about as good as I can shoot.  A little more playing and I think it will be there.

[400out]

looks sweet  barrel is different 

[JohnVH]

cool

[dontgetcrabs]

Good looking rig.  Curious on the reason for the long neck?

[JohnVH]

6.5 is a long bullet

[doyourtime89]

Awesome looking rifle!!!   

[BULLBLASTER]

That golf ball fluting pretty sweet! Also curious as to the long neck? One diameter of neck is usually sufficient I thought.

[buckfvr]

long neck is to ideally keep the bullet out of the powder column and prevent compressed loads to a certain point.....Awsome rig !!

[Rob]

Long neck is also thought to slow down throat erosion.

[Huntboy]

Sweet looking gun, good luck with the groups.