Built this Varmint rig this year from a Pence hand cut 6mm barrel I built in 6mm AI about 15 years ago. I took the barrel off and put it in the safe about 10 years ago after 1200 rounds had the throat totally gone. It was a 27.5" 1-10 twist and on the 722 action it was pushing 80 Berger MEF's at 3567 fps with over 50 grains of 4831. Took it to my buddy Fred at Sharp Shooter Supply and we scoped it, he thought if we got rid of 4-5 inches of it we could get into new bore, and after cutting the chamber have a perfect barrel again. HE WAS SPOT ON!
The resurrected barrel went on an Axis action that was trued and altered to use a standard recoil lug, and it was chambered for a no turn 6mm BR Norma. But even though it shoots great, and connects reliably, it has proven to be lacking in terminal performance after about 500 to 550 yards, just poking holes in the chucks out that far. It is definitely running out of steam.
So here I go again, my fondness of the 6mm AI, and needing terminal performance as well as pinpoint accuracy, has led me to new needs, my next build is coming together. This time with better Brass, Lapua. I had my choice of 30-06, or 8x57. I chose the 8X57 simply because I feel the less manipulation should hold Lapuas tight tolerances closer after my necking down?
For this build I have an uncut Camo (green brown and charcoal) Laminated Blank, that will be turned down inletted and pillars installed by Fred Moreo at Sharp Shooter Supply, as well as all smithing and metal work, the man is a genius with Savage actions, which this will be built on with his trigger.
The next big change for this new 6mm AI is the barrel, since Ron refuses to put his talents back to work and build me a hand cut barrel, and continues to allow his precision barrel table to set idol, I am forced to turn to a machine cut rifled Krieger for my blank. It is a 1.250" for 5" tapering to 1.05" at the muzzle at 31.5". It is a .236" bore with .243" 4 groove.
I also plan on running the Elite Hunter 108 bullets from Berger after a discussion with my old friend Bob Blaine at Berger. His advice for my purpose, knowing the speed of the round might be trying on the thinner jackets the Elite Hunter is built with, but assuring it will give the terminal performance I'm looking for out past 600 yards, in which if that becomes the case we will turn to the 105 hybrid match, for it's tougher jacket, just in case the rpm's and heat bother the Elite and their becomes a issue with coming apart before it reaches my target.
My last issue will be if my fondness of 4831 starts to become an issue with these heavier pills, I have decided to acquire a 8# canister of 7828 as well as the 4831, just in case the 28" tubes decides it would prefer a slightly slower propellent. Both sitting on the bench waiting to see which one will get to wear the new tube out!
As the building starts, and I deliver the parts to Fred I will post more pictures and details as they develop, but this is all I have now.
It is unbelievable at 67 and doing this the past 50 years, I still act like a kid a in a candy store when I start a new build,,,,, always wondering,,,,, will this be the last?
The resurrected barrel went on an Axis action that was trued and altered to use a standard recoil lug, and it was chambered for a no turn 6mm BR Norma. But even though it shoots great, and connects reliably, it has proven to be lacking in terminal performance after about 500 to 550 yards, just poking holes in the chucks out that far. It is definitely running out of steam.
So here I go again, my fondness of the 6mm AI, and needing terminal performance as well as pinpoint accuracy, has led me to new needs, my next build is coming together. This time with better Brass, Lapua. I had my choice of 30-06, or 8x57. I chose the 8X57 simply because I feel the less manipulation should hold Lapuas tight tolerances closer after my necking down?
For this build I have an uncut Camo (green brown and charcoal) Laminated Blank, that will be turned down inletted and pillars installed by Fred Moreo at Sharp Shooter Supply, as well as all smithing and metal work, the man is a genius with Savage actions, which this will be built on with his trigger.
The next big change for this new 6mm AI is the barrel, since Ron refuses to put his talents back to work and build me a hand cut barrel, and continues to allow his precision barrel table to set idol, I am forced to turn to a machine cut rifled Krieger for my blank. It is a 1.250" for 5" tapering to 1.05" at the muzzle at 31.5". It is a .236" bore with .243" 4 groove.
I also plan on running the Elite Hunter 108 bullets from Berger after a discussion with my old friend Bob Blaine at Berger. His advice for my purpose, knowing the speed of the round might be trying on the thinner jackets the Elite Hunter is built with, but assuring it will give the terminal performance I'm looking for out past 600 yards, in which if that becomes the case we will turn to the 105 hybrid match, for it's tougher jacket, just in case the rpm's and heat bother the Elite and their becomes a issue with coming apart before it reaches my target.
My last issue will be if my fondness of 4831 starts to become an issue with these heavier pills, I have decided to acquire a 8# canister of 7828 as well as the 4831, just in case the 28" tubes decides it would prefer a slightly slower propellent. Both sitting on the bench waiting to see which one will get to wear the new tube out!
As the building starts, and I deliver the parts to Fred I will post more pictures and details as they develop, but this is all I have now.
It is unbelievable at 67 and doing this the past 50 years, I still act like a kid a in a candy store when I start a new build,,,,, always wondering,,,,, will this be the last?
