This little project didn't start the way it ended.
I have fought and fought the urge to build a 6.5 Creedmoor, but couldn't resist...it was something that had to be!
In my attempt to avoid the little 6.5 I ran the gambit of 6.5's. This all started with the building a Mauser chambered in 6.5x55. Then came the 6.5-06, also in a Mauser for the wife. Got lucky and ran into a Colombian Mauser for my Colombian wife. They were originally chambered in 30-06, so I knew there would be no pressure or feeding issues. It was during the research of that caliber my interest really went wild with the 6.5's.
I of course had to have one of my own. With deer season coming pretty quick I had to make a few moves pretty quick. I found a LA Savage at a pawn shop for cheap so I grabbed it. I had waited 6 months for a 300wm barrel and wanted to utilize the LA with a 6.5 chambering.
After a little searching I found EA Brown had a "barrel kit" that came with a head space gauge and wrench...for under $200.00...what a steal! Now the problem, I wanted to do a 6.5-06, but they don't have kits in that caliber. But they do have 264wm which had been a favorite of mine for a long time even though I never had one. So 264wm it was.
By now the 6.5 fever was really running wild, but I just could bring my self to do the Creedmoor. As fate would have it I ran into a deal on a slightly used barrel with a mix of new and once fired brass, plus the die set to go with it. After a couple pawn shop stops I was the proud owner of a Savage Axis...**** was I in shock to find out they are a odd little beast, but it was usable. So I secured a Axis Boyds stock and poof...my 6.5x284 was born!
Now the 6.5x284 was another one I didn't care too much for because the start up costs were high. Brass and dies were a bit more than I wanted to invest at this time, but the "deal" I ran into made it a no brainier.
So I wanted a long range steel gun for the wife. She has not made her first re-birth day as a shooter yet. She only started going with me to the range last May, but she has really kicked it into high gear. She hunted for her first time last fall and had a banner season. Four shots four animals down! With her very first shot at a living creature being a 300+ yard bang flop shot on a great Buck.
So with her limited time at the trigger (I started her with AR-15's and AK-47's). I wanted something that had light recoil, cheap brass, small case capacity to save on powder...260 Remington was in the hunt with...you guessed it. The 6.5 Creedmoor!
I have been giving away, throwing away 6.5 Creedmoor brass for months that I was finding at the range. So brass cost was right in my wheel house. I always work a tight budget when playing with my guns so the quest was on to find a barrel. Just like every time before I ran into a deal I couldn't pass up. Nearly brand new 26" heavy 6.5 Creedmoor Savage pull off! Within days I came across a short Savage action...pawn shops were a little proud of their SA Savages so they still have them!
I told the wife I was building her another gun and to my surprise she was excited about the whole idea. As the parts were coming in she kept asking when was I going to put it together. I even got on Boyds web site and ask her to pick out a stock and the color she wanted. She ask to feel some of the guns I have and found one she felt comfortable with and she picked her color.
Her 6.5 Creedmoor is in the fore ground. My 6.5x284 has the thumb hole stock.
They have matching Millet scopes and Vortex rings on top of EGW bases.
Her rifle has yet to see its first trip to the range. I hope tomorrow!
She actually picked the color on both. I wanted her involved in the 6.5x284 but the recoil was more than I expected so I started her project before she had a chance to shoot the 6.5x284. I Don t want her to have any issues with recoil. I even have a break on her 6.5-06.
I have fought and fought the urge to build a 6.5 Creedmoor, but couldn't resist...it was something that had to be!
In my attempt to avoid the little 6.5 I ran the gambit of 6.5's. This all started with the building a Mauser chambered in 6.5x55. Then came the 6.5-06, also in a Mauser for the wife. Got lucky and ran into a Colombian Mauser for my Colombian wife. They were originally chambered in 30-06, so I knew there would be no pressure or feeding issues. It was during the research of that caliber my interest really went wild with the 6.5's.
I of course had to have one of my own. With deer season coming pretty quick I had to make a few moves pretty quick. I found a LA Savage at a pawn shop for cheap so I grabbed it. I had waited 6 months for a 300wm barrel and wanted to utilize the LA with a 6.5 chambering.
After a little searching I found EA Brown had a "barrel kit" that came with a head space gauge and wrench...for under $200.00...what a steal! Now the problem, I wanted to do a 6.5-06, but they don't have kits in that caliber. But they do have 264wm which had been a favorite of mine for a long time even though I never had one. So 264wm it was.
By now the 6.5 fever was really running wild, but I just could bring my self to do the Creedmoor. As fate would have it I ran into a deal on a slightly used barrel with a mix of new and once fired brass, plus the die set to go with it. After a couple pawn shop stops I was the proud owner of a Savage Axis...**** was I in shock to find out they are a odd little beast, but it was usable. So I secured a Axis Boyds stock and poof...my 6.5x284 was born!
Now the 6.5x284 was another one I didn't care too much for because the start up costs were high. Brass and dies were a bit more than I wanted to invest at this time, but the "deal" I ran into made it a no brainier.
So I wanted a long range steel gun for the wife. She has not made her first re-birth day as a shooter yet. She only started going with me to the range last May, but she has really kicked it into high gear. She hunted for her first time last fall and had a banner season. Four shots four animals down! With her very first shot at a living creature being a 300+ yard bang flop shot on a great Buck.
So with her limited time at the trigger (I started her with AR-15's and AK-47's). I wanted something that had light recoil, cheap brass, small case capacity to save on powder...260 Remington was in the hunt with...you guessed it. The 6.5 Creedmoor!
I have been giving away, throwing away 6.5 Creedmoor brass for months that I was finding at the range. So brass cost was right in my wheel house. I always work a tight budget when playing with my guns so the quest was on to find a barrel. Just like every time before I ran into a deal I couldn't pass up. Nearly brand new 26" heavy 6.5 Creedmoor Savage pull off! Within days I came across a short Savage action...pawn shops were a little proud of their SA Savages so they still have them!
I told the wife I was building her another gun and to my surprise she was excited about the whole idea. As the parts were coming in she kept asking when was I going to put it together. I even got on Boyds web site and ask her to pick out a stock and the color she wanted. She ask to feel some of the guns I have and found one she felt comfortable with and she picked her color.
Her 6.5 Creedmoor is in the fore ground. My 6.5x284 has the thumb hole stock.
They have matching Millet scopes and Vortex rings on top of EGW bases.
Her rifle has yet to see its first trip to the range. I hope tomorrow!
She actually picked the color on both. I wanted her involved in the 6.5x284 but the recoil was more than I expected so I started her project before she had a chance to shoot the 6.5x284. I Don t want her to have any issues with recoil. I even have a break on her 6.5-06.
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