I thought I'd share my new build along with some pictures I took of her.
The vitals:
Barnard repeater action
Bartlein 26" -5R 1:7.5 twist F-class (story here) chambered in 6XC for 115s
CG Jackson Mod 22 trigger
AICS 2.0 custom machined
Atlas bipod
BO Rings
Mac Tilton custom base
SWFA SS 5x20HD
I had this gun built by Mac Tilton to be a tactical competition rig. It has an F-class barrel because that's what Mac had on hand and it allowed him to build the gun in about 45 days. If I had waited on a medium Palma, I was looking at a 6+month wait. It is not light but then again I'm not planning on carrying this on 20 mile hikes either.
Mac Tilton is just a great guy to deal with. Very knowledgable and very efficient with a heck of a reputation for plumbing accurate rifles. Mac had to do a bit of milling in the AICS stock to have the Barnard fit. I have another AICS 1.5 for Rem -5R and would say that the Tilton/Barnard combo fits MUCH more precisely than a stand rem drop-in. Pics of his work included below.
This gun is going to be a shooter. I just started my load development this weekend. The tightest group (0.45") was produced with 38.5g of RL17 with a median MV of 2968fps. I was able to get up to 3104fps without any pressure with 40.1g of RL17 so more speed is there if I feel like chasing it. My next step is to run another test between 38.5g and 39.5g in .2g increments and then start playing with seating depths to get the tightest groups. I also have 4350 that I'll start working up after I have my RL17 load. I like the way RL17 "feels" in recoil impulse. It just feels smoother than H4350 but a lot of folks have said that 4350 is the accuracy king in 6XC so I'll work that into the test next. I'm also testing Winchester 22-250 bras vs Norma 6XC brass. So far, I don't see a difference after two firings each. The Norma does measure more uniformly and the primer flash holes are about 10 times better than the Win brass but I'm still testing.
This was my first custom build and my introduction into reloading so the first time I pulled the trigger my heart rate was up there. I was very relieved when it went bang! The CG Jackson trigger is just about the best trigger I've ever felt... Two stages, crisp, and light. I'm finding the two stage trigger helps me in pre-shot routine.
Here's some pictures after I put about 120 rounds through it in the last two weeks. I didn't wipe it down before the pics so please excuse some of the grime on it.
This Barnard action looks like a bank vault from behind. There's some beef surrounding that bolt. The 60 deg lift is fast and sewing machine smooth so far. I only use 5 round AICS Mags.
Folding stock makes cleaning and bore sighting a breeze. You see another angle of the Barnard beef. The SS 5X20HD optic is clearer than anything I've looked at in the same price range. I was originally thinking S&B but if I'm running around with this thing I know it is going to get abused. I'd rather fix a bent $1500 scope than a bent $3500 scope
Not a great shot of the bore but I wanted an up close shot to talk about bore sighting with a folding stock... it is a better way period. I was surprised how close you could get with your naked eye and how easy it was to dial in that first shot. I was not only on the paper with my first shot at 100, I was in the 7 ring. Now if I only had remembered my new scope was in mils instead of my trusty MOA, I probably could have zeroed it in 2 shots. Evidently 3 mils is a much larger adjustment than 3 MOA.
Crown showing a bit of carbon after 120 rounds
The machined channel built to capture the Mac Tilton custom recoil lug. This is a nice close tolerance fit.
Custom recoil lug and more beef evident around the Barnard ejection port
Barnard bolt with substantial 3 lug 60 deg design. This channel on the back of the bolt acts as a scavenge and a repository on the inside of the action. You can see what grime collected over the first 120 shots.
The dog told me she would remain unimpressed until I brought a trophy home with it
The vitals:
Barnard repeater action
Bartlein 26" -5R 1:7.5 twist F-class (story here) chambered in 6XC for 115s
CG Jackson Mod 22 trigger
AICS 2.0 custom machined
Atlas bipod
BO Rings
Mac Tilton custom base
SWFA SS 5x20HD
I had this gun built by Mac Tilton to be a tactical competition rig. It has an F-class barrel because that's what Mac had on hand and it allowed him to build the gun in about 45 days. If I had waited on a medium Palma, I was looking at a 6+month wait. It is not light but then again I'm not planning on carrying this on 20 mile hikes either.
Mac Tilton is just a great guy to deal with. Very knowledgable and very efficient with a heck of a reputation for plumbing accurate rifles. Mac had to do a bit of milling in the AICS stock to have the Barnard fit. I have another AICS 1.5 for Rem -5R and would say that the Tilton/Barnard combo fits MUCH more precisely than a stand rem drop-in. Pics of his work included below.
This gun is going to be a shooter. I just started my load development this weekend. The tightest group (0.45") was produced with 38.5g of RL17 with a median MV of 2968fps. I was able to get up to 3104fps without any pressure with 40.1g of RL17 so more speed is there if I feel like chasing it. My next step is to run another test between 38.5g and 39.5g in .2g increments and then start playing with seating depths to get the tightest groups. I also have 4350 that I'll start working up after I have my RL17 load. I like the way RL17 "feels" in recoil impulse. It just feels smoother than H4350 but a lot of folks have said that 4350 is the accuracy king in 6XC so I'll work that into the test next. I'm also testing Winchester 22-250 bras vs Norma 6XC brass. So far, I don't see a difference after two firings each. The Norma does measure more uniformly and the primer flash holes are about 10 times better than the Win brass but I'm still testing.
This was my first custom build and my introduction into reloading so the first time I pulled the trigger my heart rate was up there. I was very relieved when it went bang! The CG Jackson trigger is just about the best trigger I've ever felt... Two stages, crisp, and light. I'm finding the two stage trigger helps me in pre-shot routine.
Here's some pictures after I put about 120 rounds through it in the last two weeks. I didn't wipe it down before the pics so please excuse some of the grime on it.
This Barnard action looks like a bank vault from behind. There's some beef surrounding that bolt. The 60 deg lift is fast and sewing machine smooth so far. I only use 5 round AICS Mags.
Folding stock makes cleaning and bore sighting a breeze. You see another angle of the Barnard beef. The SS 5X20HD optic is clearer than anything I've looked at in the same price range. I was originally thinking S&B but if I'm running around with this thing I know it is going to get abused. I'd rather fix a bent $1500 scope than a bent $3500 scope
Not a great shot of the bore but I wanted an up close shot to talk about bore sighting with a folding stock... it is a better way period. I was surprised how close you could get with your naked eye and how easy it was to dial in that first shot. I was not only on the paper with my first shot at 100, I was in the 7 ring. Now if I only had remembered my new scope was in mils instead of my trusty MOA, I probably could have zeroed it in 2 shots. Evidently 3 mils is a much larger adjustment than 3 MOA.
Crown showing a bit of carbon after 120 rounds
The machined channel built to capture the Mac Tilton custom recoil lug. This is a nice close tolerance fit.
Custom recoil lug and more beef evident around the Barnard ejection port
Barnard bolt with substantial 3 lug 60 deg design. This channel on the back of the bolt acts as a scavenge and a repository on the inside of the action. You can see what grime collected over the first 120 shots.
The dog told me she would remain unimpressed until I brought a trophy home with it
