Walking Varmint Rifle - what base platform for a 6mmbr

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Jerry D

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So... why don't we use these competition rounds for varmint hunting? I also mean why don't factories offer guns in say 6mmbr and load for it? I look up the ballistics of it and its SUPERIOR to say a .223. The 55 grain ballistic tip in 6mm has a higher bc compared to a 55 grain .223 ballistic tip - it doesn't make sense, but its true. The 6mmbr burns 30 grains of powder, the .223 burns about 25 so a little more expensive there, also I guess 6mm bullets would cost a tad more than .223 but the 6mmbr is clearly superior ballistic wise and barrel life is excellent. They say the case design is so efficient, excellent speeds for small powder charges.

I guess the answer is because lack of factory offerings and the popularity of the .243.

Anyhow I'm not going to let that stop me. I'm almost sold on a 6mmbr because of the efficiency of the design and the accuracy potential. I just need to decide on a platform to put it in. I'm thinking a walking varmint rig, 26" barrel of medium contour. Weight hopefully 8-9lbs. I want some lighter and more portable than the bench rest guns. Give me any of your ideas. I'm open to everything.
 
I'd find a Savage short action, order up a good quality barrel, stock it and off you go.

I use a .243 by the way but mine is not set up for walking.
 
I've thought about building one on a Remington 788 for a couple of years. You could also pick up a Remington SPS short action pretty dang cheap, then screw a new barrel on to it and voila! With a few mods to the follower etc. of course. :)
 
So... why don't we use these competition rounds for varmint hunting?
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The .222 held bench rest records for years. Also an extremely popular varmint caliber in the 50's-70's.

The WSSM's tried to play off the BR's. You're trying to put a new caliber into an already overcrowded field. It may look good on paper, but in the real world there's little it can do that my 22-250 won't, and there's already a 22-250 in my safe.

I'd have to see the thing about the .244 BC being better than a .224 in the same weight. Hard to buy at this point without a little back up info.
 
If you want a custom rifle, go with a savage action for starters, and then barrel and stock of choice. I would love a 6mmBRX, a IMP version of the 6mmBR, almost .243 ballistics, in he same (6mmBR/.223) sized platform!
About BCs, i would have to see that too, being that the .243 bullet is BIGGER, with more area, it would stand to reason taht it would be shorter for the same weight. And so have less BC. But if the designs are very different, in favor of the 6mm version, then it could be possible....
 
Walking varmint rifle: First criterion, IMO, is light weight. If you're planning on long-range coyotes, you're talking a range-finder as well as binoculars. Little bits of weight have a way of adding up to Yuck! during any sort of lengthy trek that's being made for fun. BTDT dozens of times.

Uber-accuracy is not necessary except for prairie dogs. And those, from the hunting I've done, don't demand walking. Easier to just drive around the pasture, park and shoot.

Bullet cost? Why sweat it? There won't be all that many shots during any given hunt, outside of prairie-poodling.
 
If I was (and will be soon) wanting to build a custom gun in a 6 mm variant I'd go with a 6mm Remigton ackley improved and shoot 70 grainr bullets at the speed of light. But that's just me, till then I'm sticking with my .243.
 
if not new, then look for a used remmy 788, or 600 , mohawk, or 660. although the 600 stuff will all be short bbl'd, the cool factor with them is there; bent butterknife bolts, vent ribs down the top, etc.
 
if a walking gun means small and light then i say rem mohawk 600 man i just love them so. they aint cheap no more. and i had to give up my quest for one in 243. what does walking gun mean?
 
i am not sure, but I think savage now offers just what you are looking for, in their f-v varmint series...
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the guns they offer in 6mm Norma BR are the 12 LRPV, 12 F-Class, and 12 Benchrest which at 12-13.5 lbs empty and unscoped are not walking around rifles.
 
Get a Savage or Stevens. Then order a lightweight barrel for it. Keep the cheap factory stock since you won't find one much lighter.
 
The CZ 527 "carbine" would be my choice of a place to start. Then the Krieger barrel, contoured to the same outside dimensions as the factory 7.62x39 barrel. A couple of extra detachable magazines, and I'd be good to go.
 
After all the input, if you're still part of the "short and fat is where it's at" crowd, my local dealer has a NIB Browning .223 WSSM for $425 OTD. Pop on a scope and you can forget the other trials of building one.
 
I'm a dumb a$$. I misread the original posting. I read it as 6PPC. My bad.

My posting above is withdrawn as to imbicilic to be worth reading.:eek:
 
Walking gun==> 22" bbl, of light-medium to medium contour. Definitely not longer than 23 or 24. What Art said - lightness is the key criterion.

Platform? Any really - Remington, Winchester, Savage, CZ, Mauser 98, younameit. Savages are easy to re-barrel yourself, if you want to go the no-gunsmith route.

6mm BR as the cartridge? Absolutely yes, I would go for it, since you handload. Like you say, efficient, accurate, moderate recoil & blast, better range / wind-bucking ability than .223, etc. And did I mention accurate? :p

Here's a starting point (or the ending point if you're happy with the caliber):

http://www.savagearms.com/10Predator.htm

http://www.savagearms.com/10predator_snow.htm

http://www.savagearms.com/25model_classicsporter.htm

6mm BR fits easily into a short action, no?
 
The 6mm Benchrest should make one nice walking varmint, the above noted statement of 22" or even 20" bbl in a lighter contour and a nice composite stock from McMillan or HS pillar bedded instead of a full length bed, light weight full length scope mount and aluminum rings, and a Luepold, Burris, Nikon, or one of your favorites should come in around 8 lbs.

The Savages in Varmint countours start at 8lbs and one I put together in .223 came in around 13, needed gun bearers for that one .

Decided a nice little MDL40 Varmint hunter would be just right ,I love the little Hornet single shot and It shoots with the best but even that little sucker comes in around 9 lbs fully dressed. I don't think the big brother Mdl25 is any lighter.

The 6mm bench gives you a whole bunch of different weights and design bullets and with the correct twists work well with 20 - 22 "tubes.

The pluses in the 6 are well worth trying to develope! GREAT CHOICE
 
Hey guys I might have missed it in the posts , but savage does make a rifle chambered in 6 BR .
 
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