6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

[EventHorizon]

Occasionally through luck we meet with people that we can become true friends with. Bohem as he's known on this site had become one of those for me. We have, in the final analysis of our lives, only our time and knowledge to truly share and Bohem did both for me when he advised me on getting a 6.5 and how to go about it.

He even offered to do the machining of the barrel (Bartlein 5r) on his dad's lathe. It took most of the day and it was the best learning curve for me I could imagine.

Here're the results and needless to say, I'm tickled pink over them. Next stop is to Mark Gordon for his bedding work on a Manners T2A.

The Big Horn Arms actions, with the floating bolt face is a wonderful design perfectly executed. The Robar finish and AJ's machining combine to create a bolt that slides easily with nothing more than gravity when tilting it. The bolt release on the slide is very nicely conceived and the whole action just looks more 'organic' than made.

I went with the extra thick tang and the rail is also AJ's own work.

This is a beautiful crown that Bohem did for me. The pic doesn't do it justice and it's as good as any I've seen.

 

[Lofty]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

Those Bighorn Arms actions are vedy vedy nice.

Looks like its gonna be an awesome rifle.

 

[Bruiser_Joe]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

looks like its goin to be a awesome stick, i really want to build on one of those bighorns too, the more i hear the more i like em.

 

[lw8]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

What are you looking to do in terms of Bottom Metal?

 

[EventHorizon]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: lw8</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What are you looking to do in terms of Bottom Metal? </div></div>

APA Bottom
American Rifle Company rings
Manners T2A stock
LRAccuracy Bipod
Premier 3-15 G2XR
TIS Sling

Thanks for the positive comments, really looking forward to getting behind this rifle and seeing what all the 6.5 talk is about...!

 

[bohem]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

Glad you like it, but let's see it shoot first and make sure that the chamber-cutter didn't screw it up

Next time 'round you will cut more of the chips!

 

[Trevor300wsm]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

That is a very nice looking piece. I'm sure it will be excellent when you get it all put together.

 

[tigerfan_9]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

what contour is that barrel?

nice looking setup so far, should be sweet shooter when done. +1 on the manners T2A, this is what i have on order for my .260 build.

 

[EventHorizon]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

Palma Medium if memory serves correct.

 

[KYS]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

Id step up to the 5-25 scope if it was me. That 3.5-15 just was never enough mag for me at distance. But my eyes are bad so it might be different for you! I feel the 5-25 is so much more clear, the colors and image intensity were noticeably different on the 5-25 models.

 

[pyplynr]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

Looks great! Hopefully, I'll be getting a call from AJ to say my action is done soon.

 

[FALex]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

I'm jelly (yet again...this is not really hard to do on this damn site). Beautiful work.

 

[Mgordon]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

What are you guys waiting for, get that dang thing over to me and lets get going!!!!

Mark

 

[kraigWY]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

Hope you come back soon with photos of the finish product plus range reports.

 

[EventHorizon]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: M.Gordon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What are you guys waiting for, get that dang thing over to me and lets get going!!!!

Mark
</div></div>

Yes sir!

Kraig - will do, there will be a lot of reports with this rifle. Stay tuned!

 

[throwback]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

Leaning toward this same setup in 260 for my next build, can't go wrong with Big Horn.

 

[EventHorizon]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

Mark,

You have a package inbound. emailed you the tracking number as well. Should be there Wednesday.

Cheers

 

[lw8]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

How did it come out.

 

[Pusher591]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

Curious as well, I really wants to see this gun. Sounded like a great little comp gun.

 

[Whit]

Re: 6.5Creedmoor build with Big Horn Arms action

Me too, Mark has my rifle right now.

 

[MdrnBR]

Do you have any finished pics?

 

[Onoko]

I really want a Big Horn TL2 action. In time I will get one also.

 

[EventHorizon]

I'll post pics in a day or two. It's a tack driver and looks sweet to boot!

 

[EventHorizon]

OK, so some updates are over-due. First, how does she shoot? Pretty damn well as it turns out! This was a sighting in test for my Steiner. The top hole is two shots and after a minor elevation change, the nice clover leaf is what you see.



How does she look now? Well, dangerous if you're afraid of the colour black... It's a Manner's T2A stock (great stock, finally a stock that I can feel totally comfy on and have a good NPA on) with a LRA quick detach bi-pod. The optic is the Steiner 5-25 MSR.



Now here's what's so special about Mark Gordon of SAC. The receiver is the old style tactical short action from Big Horn. That action has a raised, thick tang that will sit above the stock of a typical Remington footprint. Looking at the stock work and bedding that Mark performed for me, you would never be able to tell. A lot is made of fit/finish on rifles and I can say with no doubt that I've not seen anything better than Mark's work. Here's a close up.



On the subject of fit and finish. I guess we all grow up, and in so doing on my part I went for functionality over vanity. As much as I loved that crown that Bohem put on for me, I knew I was going to get this rifle a can and knew that a smooth seamless thread protector was not going to be a good option when wearing gloves. Behold the knurling...



I love shooting this rifle. It's as accurate as any I've had or shot. It's more comfortable and easier to shoot well than any of my rifles and is as cherished as my first K-31. Having played an active part in making this rifle I can tell you that this will never leave my possession. Bohem and Mark Gordon are two gifted guys who I am lucky to know

 

[VKC]

That's s nice rig in my favorite caliber. How much does it weigh with everything?

 

[EventHorizon]

Hmm.. 14lbs? It's hefty but not so bad. I'll have to weight it now to be sure.

If I had to do it again perhaps I'd look for a lighter stock that's still adjustable as the 6.5 doesn't need a heavy stock for recoil dampening.

 

[masonjp]

You'll love the big horn. I really enjoy mine!

 

[EventHorizon]

It's a first class action. I wish I had left the receiver naked. Although the coating I have is very good nothing will be as smooth as it was out of the box. I've left the bolt with the original Robar finish however.

I'm going to build my wife a .223 on a Big Horn as well. Just have to choose an appropriate stock.

 

[EventHorizon]

So I had a chance to quickly pop over to a new range I've joined and so I thought I'd do a Practical Tactical drill to give an idea of the quality of the rifle. My disclaimer here is that this is the first time I've shot off of a concrete floor. It sounds perfect but the bounce off the concrete is significant compared to dirt and the god thing is it forced me to focus on recoil control much more than normal. The more I shoot this rifle, the more I like it. The bipod, scope, and rifle are just perfect. I just need to find a good rear bag. I hate the one I have (sock) and it requires rebuilding the position almost every time.

You can tell towards the end I was losing focus. This drill is pretty demanding on the concentration and it was hot in the shooting 'barracks... 90+

I will add one other thing - the MSR reticle is great but at 100yds it was covering the dots. I found myself 'breathing' the crosshairs onto the dots and then letting off the shot as that was the best way for me to keep focused on the reticle but confident of knowing where the target was. This became harder with mirage as the barrel heated up however.