Building a 6.5CM...help

[KEbravo4]

Brand spankin new to the Hide. Ive been listening to Frank's podcast lately...giving me the itch to get back into the LR game. I have a decent Rem 700 .308 in an XLR chassis. But now I am interested in building a PRS/Tactical 6.5CM rifle. I am set on the caliber...so now picking the action and barrel. This rifle might be set in another XLR or maybe KRG. I've been looking at the Defiance actions and Proof or Bartlein barrels...any suggestions on folding chassis, actions, and barrel lengths? Thanks in advance

 

[cdeiglmeier]

Is there a budget in mind? Or is it all out "best" options money can buy?

 

[KEbravo4]

Is there a budget in mind? Or is it all out "best" options money can buy?

How about both? best budget and all out best? I don't skimp but I also am saving up for the glass

 

[cdeiglmeier]

There's options upon options upon more options nowadays so a lot of the responses you get are going to be subjective to what that person has used/experienced. For me it would be:

All out/no budget:
Action: Defiance Ruckus or Deviant SA or Terminus Zeus SA
Barrel: Benchmark or Hawkhill 1:8 twist MTU contour, finished 24 or 26" barrel
Stock/Chassis: This is very much personal preference some people are chassis guys and some are traditional stock guys. For me I haven't played around with many traditional stocks (manners/mcmillan/Foundation) so I'm going to recommend chassis - MPA BA or KRG whiskey 3 gen 6 competition chassis. (I currently have 2 MPA's and like them a lot for their adjustability)
Trigger: Triggertech Diamond - no competition here
Muzzlebrake or Suppressor: Your choice.......... I run Area419 Hellfire on my 6mm but I've heard great things about the new APA gen 3 brakes

Budget minded:
Action: Bighorn Origin or Defiance Tenacity
Barrel: Same
Stock/chassis: could go with a KRG Bravo to save decent amount
Trigger: still would go with Triggertech diamond
Muzzlebrake/suppressor: still your choice depending on if you already have a suppressor or want to wait for a stamp

 

[6cmShooter]

I'd say a bighorn origin in a krg bravo or xray chassis maybe even on of the new oryx chassis from mdt with either a shouldered prefit from a reputable smith or a savage prefit barrel would be a really good starting point.

 

[Steel head]

Any of the top barrels, get the one in stock and if your on a budget a button prefit.
24 or 26 Inch is common.

Action,,,make a list of features you want and let that guide you.
I Personally Like ARC actions but there’s a few others I’d like to get some day like a badger 2013 or black bear.

I have two XLR’s, both elements, one is a folder.
If I was going to change it would probably be a ARC Xylo.
The MDT and KRG’s are nice as Well.

 

[6cmShooter]

I'm running a gen 1 nucleus and love that action has the savage barrel threads so I can run small shank prefits or shouldered prefits. If I was to change anything on my match rig I would say I'd would have gone with a bighorn tl3 only because there bolt head changes and a little bit easier that the nucleus is.

 

[littlepod]

I just went through the same process - best bang for the buck and ease of use.

I decided on

Terminus Zeus - really wanted a quick change and not have to go through a smith to get a barrel cut, and also researched the quick change around POI shift and talked with Joel and he hasn't heard any reports of any issues with the Vector or Zeus. So I ordered a .308, 6GT barrel. For you, take your pick 6.5.

Barrel - Went through StraightJacket armory - They have a sale going on right now, and I've heard great things from the barrels they cut. Barrel length, I've heard people who like to go shorter, and people who go longer. Most people go 24-26" for 6.5cm it looks like.

Trigger - I've been really digging 2-stage triggers these past few months, went with the Huber 2-stage @ 1.5lbs. You can find them on the PX for $200, and Huber will take care of you if you have any issues/adjustments you need done.

All my chassis are MDT ACC. It's heavy though. A balanced rifle, at the lightest configuration will be around 17lbs. With the normal steel butt-end and a 40oz scope, my balanced rifle will be about 20lbs.

 

[Sogan]

I just went through the same process - best bang for the buck and ease of use.

I decided on

Terminus Zeus - really wanted a quick change and not have to go through a smith to get a barrel cut, and also researched the quick change around POI shift and talked with Joel and he hasn't heard any reports of any issues with the Vector or Zeus. So I ordered a .308, 6GT barrel. For you, take your pick 6.5.

Barrel - Went through StraightJacket armory - They have a sale going on right now, and I've heard great things from the barrels they cut. Barrel length, I've heard people who like to go shorter, and people who go longer. Most people go 24-26" for 6.5cm it looks like.

Trigger - I've been really digging 2-stage triggers these past few months, went with the Huber 2-stage @ 1.5lbs. You can find them on the PX for $200, and Huber will take care of you if you have any issues/adjustments you need done.

All my chassis are MDT ACC. It's heavy though. A balanced rifle, at the lightest configuration will be around 17lbs. With the normal steel butt-end and a 40oz scope, my balanced rifle will be about 20lbs.

Have you got your gun up and running? I’m waiting on a Zeus with the quick change barrel and I’m hoping the set screw quick change is worth it and holds zero, headspace etc

 

[littlepod]

Have you got your gun up and running? I’m waiting on a Zeus with the quick change barrel and I’m hoping the set screw quick change is worth it and holds zero, headspace etc

Barrels are getting shipped this week so I'll be able to take it out next week. Though I need to order some 6GT ammo from copper creek as well so I'll be testing with 308 but I'll do some unmount / remount tests.