Build your ideal rifle (or maybe my ideal rifle)

[michael_aos]

chambered in 6BR, 243 or 6XC

Which would you pick, and why?

The 6BR is appealing. Small rifle primers, and no danger of mixing it up with .260 Remington brass / ammo. Less powder. Might be more efficient than .243 in a short-barrel. Also appears a little less potent than .243 (107gr SMK 200-250fps slower). Nice velocities with 85gr-100gr in a 20" bbl -- might work better in a lightweight rifle, and maybe wear a lightweight barrel less...?

Any problems feeding the shorter 6BR in .308 magazines?

The 6XC looks like a lot of work forming brass.

.243 isn't quite so "interesting", but it could do double-duty for antelope. Lots of options for brass.

Mike

[Hoser]

The 6XC looks like a lot of work forming brass.

Push a 22-250 case in a 6XC die and out pops a strange looking 6XC round. Shoot it and a completely happy case pops out. Not hard at all. Barrel life with 107s is 1500-2000 rounds.

Lizard has a ton of 22BRs and he just finished a 6BR. Give his ear a bend about it. I think he has a Lapua brass reamer. I think a 6BR would feed from a 308 mag. Might want to look around at http://www.6mmbr.com/index.html Barrel life should be close to 2500-3000 with mid range bullets.

Any of three are good choices. For a short barrel plinker, the 6BR would be the best, but with really expensive brass...

[michael_aos]

For a short barrel plinker, the 6BR would be the best, but with really expensive brass...

The Remington 6mm BR brass ($.34) brass is exactly twice as expensive as .308 Winchester ($.17).

It's not "insanely" expensive though.

The 6mmbr.com site highly recommends the Lapua brass. At $.45/pc.

6mm BR....hmm....

:twisted:

[michael_aos]

The 6.75lb Remington 700 LV SF in .22-250 caught my eye at first. Thought it would make a great starting-point.

But it's a blind-magazine.

:-(

[Gman]

The AR platform is light and so flexible, why not go with something like a 16" 6.8 SPC upper on a lower with a collapsible stock?

[michael_aos]

The AR platform is light and so flexible, why not go with something like a 16" 6.8 SPC upper on a lower with a collapsible stock?

I was thinking the 6.5 Grendel for that very reason.

But I'm concerned I couldn't really get the overall weight down where I want it.

$750-$850 for a new upper suddenly sounds pretty good compared to the cost of a custom-built lightweight varmint bolt-action.

Mike

[Gman]

The 6.5 Grendel is a good long-range benchrest round. I just figured since you stated you wanted to shoot out to 300, the 6.5 would be overkill. I also know where to find a 6.8 upper, but not the 6.5.

$489
http://www.eaglefirearms.net/ef_upper_assy.htm

[michael_aos]

I'm leaning toward a 7.25lb Remington 700 SPS stainless in .243.

That way I can build it up over time (1 major purchase per month) and maybe even start shooting it before it's complete.

I think I want that S&W 357PD in January. So the rifle will have to wait until February. Scope in March. Rings & base & reloading stuff in April. Then I can start thinking about a different barrel or stock in May.

[michael_aos]

OK, I put the Leupold 4.5-14x40mm PR scope on my wish-list.

Also added the Badger Ordnance 20MOA short-action 1pc base.

Leupold 30mm Mark 4 medium aluminum rings.

Redding Competition bushing 3-die set in .243 Winchester.

Winchester .243 brass (1000).

I think I'll start with the Sierra 85gr HPBT.

Mike

[michael_aos]

Remington 700 short action ... chambered in 6BR, 243 or 6XC ...

Laying awake last night, I was wondering which cartridge is a .223 Remington, necked-up to 6mm.

It's 6x45mm.

More of a "hassle factor" than .243 though.

Mike