Rechamber/Rebarrel help

[mdmorrow]

So I've been trying to sell my custom 6x47 Lapua but haven't had much luck. I have since decided that I'm going to keep it and redo the caliber. Here's what I've got:

- Blueprinted stainless 700 short action
- Bartlein match grade stainless barrel in heavy varmint contour, 1:14 twist, 26”
- HS Precision stock. Fully pillar bedded
- Rifle Basix trigger
- Rifle was was built by S&S Precision in Argyle
- Barrel is like new, 42 rounds through it

According to S&S, here's my options:

1. Rechamber to 6mm Rem or .243 Rem using the existing barrel. This is the cheapest option by far but I would be limited to bullets in the 65 to 80 grain variety due to the slow twist rate.

2. Rebarrel to whatever. I would probably do it in .260 rem or 6.5 creedmore. Of course I can sell my old barrel to offset the cost some but either way it's going to be several hundred bucks to make it like this one in another caliber.

I wish to stick to commercially available ammo, that's the reason for the change.

A lot of you fellows are way more knowledgeable about this stuff than me. What do y'all think?

 

[FALex]

If you want the ability to shoot factory ammo, it's an easy call. The Creedmoor is your friend. That being said, it isn't cheap nor is it easy to come by these days. I thought about a 6/6.5 lapua but couldn't stand the thought of a single source if brass. Lose one in a match, and you nice round number of cases is off! Speaking of which, they should be adding a few extras in each box for this type of stuff. I think Remington is the only company to do that.

 

[supratt96]

Why do you want out of 6x47? If you're debating a move to 6.5, the only thing you'll lose is about 1 mil at 1000, a few more grains of powder per load, but you'll gain barrel life. I run a .260 and absolutely love it but if I had a 6x47, I wouldn't worry too much, either.

This...

Why would you want to change from 6x47 to a 6mm Rem or a 243? You wouldn't be getting anything significantly different from what you already have. You might gain a little velocity, but not enough to justify the cost of change, IMO.

Why not shoot it till you need a new barrel and then decide what you want to do?

 

[mdmorrow]

Only reason is because I want use factory ammo only from here on. I've got a kid on the way and won't have any time for reloading. Would prefer to sell off the current barrel while it's still nearly new and cut my losses.

 

[mdmorrow]

Correction: it's remington varmint/sendero contour 26"

Anyone who is familiar with barlein barrels know what all contours I could switch to without rebedding the stock?

 

[FALex]

Only reason is because I want use factory ammo only from here on. I've got a kid on the way and won't have any time for reloading. Would prefer to sell off the current barrel while it's still nearly new and cut my losses.

no sweat, brother. I got two little ones and still have time to load. Granted, it's not a whole lot of time, but the little ones still sleep... A LOT!

If you really still want out of the 6 due to reloading, get the Creedmoor.

 

[leadbullet]

bad excuse, if you got time to sleep, you got time to load then again with the little one coming you won't sleep much for a while and congrats by the way.
I would rechamber in 243 win and shoot factory ammo, plenty of choice in the bullet weight range you barrel likes and not as expensive as buying a new barrel etc.
Hope this helps, cheers.

 

[Beluebow]

If your interested in accuracy go 6br,you can shoot the lighter weight bullets not the heavies with your 14 twist.

 

[scotharr]

a 14 twist is unusual for the crowd on this site and won't allow any heavy 6mm bullets to be used. I'd sell it and cut your loses. Factory ammo only? For what purpose? 223REM or 308WIN are probably your best choices for factory ammo as you will have much to choose from. Any other cartridge and you will have slim pickings besides hunting ammo....and that is expensive!

Disclaimer: it is a lot easier to give advice if you provide a better definition for WHAT you plan on doing with this rifle. Without this info, you will endlessly wander around in the land of "ever-changing cartridges" always thinking the grass is greener with some other cartridge. What is the most common shooting activitiy? Multipurpose? Most common distance? Accuracy requirements? Hunting? Competition? Budget constraints? hetc.

Here are some general thoughts:

1. Rethink reloading. If you already do it, then no reason to stop because it's the most economical way to shoot by far.
2. Rebarrel it as a 6BR with a 1:8 twist barrel for the 105gr bullets. You won't find anything more accurate out to 500-600 yards and dependable. Only shortcoming is it does not feed (well) from a magazine. The brass lasts forever, barrel life is excellent powder consumption is modest and the accuracy is the BEST between 300-600. Nothing rivals the pure accuracy of this cartridge and THAT will put a big smile on your face time after time. Lot's of people think they have an accurate cartridge, until they shoot next to a 6BR a few times...

 

[SSC]

I can't tell you how many customers come back after building the rifle that they "almost wanted". I know that we are all on a budget and we have to live with in that budget, but from my experience, you need to to either save up to buy what you really want and or sell stuff to get it. all that being said if you switched plans and kept this rifle for a little longer and tried to shoot out the barrel you could then justify the cost of re-barreling to what you really want. You could also send your current rig to us or have Chad at Dallas Reloading build you a load and then you would be shooting pre-made ammo. probably be a wash on costs when you figure you loss on the current setup and cost to build a new.