I am looking at building a long range varmint rifle. the action and mag box I have has max COL of 3.000". I want to keep it in the 6mm cal 70gr-95gr bergers. I am asking opinions on personal experiance. calibers I am looking at 243AI, 6mm rem, 6mm AI or 6-284.
What varmint rifle to build
- Thread starter Bigbear
- Start date
- Location
- Houston, TX
Never tried a 243 or any AI's but my standard 6mm does a heck of a job, and the neck is nice and long for reloading.
Mine is a repeater and it works well so long as I only put two in the magazine. For it to work properly with a full mag I would need a .223 length follower and the appropriate magazine box with the spacer at the back. I haven't bothered because to me it has only been a target rifle since getting it back from Dennis Sorensen in May. This year I'm hoping touse it on groundhogs.
All in all it has been a great rifle. It was also a very simple conversion. I had a 6mm Remington with an excellent looking bore. I got it on a trade but had not shot it. I sent it to Dennis who trued the action, set the barrel back and rechambered it. It was an inexpensive way to end up with a very accurate rifle.
While it won't shoot as flat the faster 6mm rounds, if you know your come up clicks for extended ranges that really isn't a problem.
All in all it has been a great rifle. It was also a very simple conversion. I had a 6mm Remington with an excellent looking bore. I got it on a trade but had not shot it. I sent it to Dennis who trued the action, set the barrel back and rechambered it. It was an inexpensive way to end up with a very accurate rifle.
While it won't shoot as flat the faster 6mm rounds, if you know your come up clicks for extended ranges that really isn't a problem.
I don't want to start a new thread about something super related to OP's subject so I'll ask here.
I want a light varmint rifle in .234 Win. Single shot or detachable box magazine, barrel contour could be a bit heavier, no longer than 22" (the .234 doesn't seem to need that much barrel) now the challenge is having a relatively light rifle without a pencil barrel. With scope, I'd like to aim for 6.5-7.5lbs. Can it be done? I'm pretty much trying to go for a coyote and varmint gun, and maybe some deer. A light, handy gun I can carry with me on a long, long hike that's still very accurate when I'm prone and I've sat my rifle on my backpack (damn good shooting position in the field when you can take it) so a twist that will take light-ish bullets but will also throw slightly heavier ones too, not too slow or not too fast. If I had to choose, I'd get a slower twist as it's going to be shooting lighter bullets a bit more for the extra MPBR.
I want a light varmint rifle in .234 Win. Single shot or detachable box magazine, barrel contour could be a bit heavier, no longer than 22" (the .234 doesn't seem to need that much barrel) now the challenge is having a relatively light rifle without a pencil barrel. With scope, I'd like to aim for 6.5-7.5lbs. Can it be done? I'm pretty much trying to go for a coyote and varmint gun, and maybe some deer. A light, handy gun I can carry with me on a long, long hike that's still very accurate when I'm prone and I've sat my rifle on my backpack (damn good shooting position in the field when you can take it) so a twist that will take light-ish bullets but will also throw slightly heavier ones too, not too slow or not too fast. If I had to choose, I'd get a slower twist as it's going to be shooting lighter bullets a bit more for the extra MPBR.
6mm-284 & 22-250
I want a .243 'cause it's very common in any store that sells ammo. Online too. It's also relatively inexpensive. It has attractive power, ballistics, and is low recoil. It's practically tailored to my needs XD
Meph, just buy a factory 243 and save yourself a lot of trouble. As to the OP, a 243 will work or 6mm Rem, (either one can be AI'd, not much return on the 243 version though). 6 BR will work handily as well. All depends how much you want to get into wildcats and custom rifles. - dan
. I would love to build another one.6mm's
The gun I am going to rebarrel is chambered in 243. The only problem it doesn't shoot heavier bullets great. I want a coyote gun that I can reach out and shoot the dogs that run and stop any where from 500-800 yards. I am going to get leupold to build me a turret for my scope. I have tought about the 6mm AI but I would like to use lapua brass if possible. the 243 AI would get a 95gr berger moving out at 3000 to 3100 I would think. And that combo carries a long way. With low recoil. Or the 6mm-284 really gets things moving but it has more recoil which makes seeing hits harder.
The gun I am going to rebarrel is chambered in 243. The only problem it doesn't shoot heavier bullets great. I want a coyote gun that I can reach out and shoot the dogs that run and stop any where from 500-800 yards. I am going to get leupold to build me a turret for my scope. I have tought about the 6mm AI but I would like to use lapua brass if possible. the 243 AI would get a 95gr berger moving out at 3000 to 3100 I would think. And that combo carries a long way. With low recoil. Or the 6mm-284 really gets things moving but it has more recoil which makes seeing hits harder.
It doesn't recoil that much (yes, I have one). Gets you roughly 100 fps over your AI'd 243. - dan
