Wanting a 18” 6.5 Creedmoor bolt action and considering 3 different ways to get there. Interesting in advice and input on which is the best way to get there.
Use: Positional shooting on steel for fun out to 1,000 yards and 1 or 2 deer hunting trips per year. Will be suppressed every time I use it which is part of the motivation for an 18” rifle. I want it to have a decent stock and use AICS mags. I already have a 24” Bergara B14 BMP that I really like and use for some PRS style matches but wanting a shorter lighter rifle for fun.
1. Bergara B14 Ridge SP which already has an 18” barrel. Swap out the stock for either an HMR stock or a KRG bravo.
2. Bergara B14 HMR, cut down to 18”
3. Ruger American Predator, cut down to 18” then swap the stock to a Boyd’s pro varmint with their AICS bottom metal.
I’m leaning towards option 1 so I don’t have to deal with finding a gun smith to cut down and re-thread the barrel. I don’t already have one I know of to use and not sure how selective I need to be to get one that will do a good job(as good or better than the factory crown and threads). I’m assuming it will cost about $100 to get a barrel cut and threaded and that I could pick up a used HMR stock for about $300 so options 1 and 2 are about the same price in the end. Option 3 would be the cheapest but not by that much and I don’t think the rifle and stock quality will be quite as good.
Thoughts.
Pick of my current 6.5 Creedmoor at the range for attention
Use: Positional shooting on steel for fun out to 1,000 yards and 1 or 2 deer hunting trips per year. Will be suppressed every time I use it which is part of the motivation for an 18” rifle. I want it to have a decent stock and use AICS mags. I already have a 24” Bergara B14 BMP that I really like and use for some PRS style matches but wanting a shorter lighter rifle for fun.
1. Bergara B14 Ridge SP which already has an 18” barrel. Swap out the stock for either an HMR stock or a KRG bravo.
2. Bergara B14 HMR, cut down to 18”
3. Ruger American Predator, cut down to 18” then swap the stock to a Boyd’s pro varmint with their AICS bottom metal.
I’m leaning towards option 1 so I don’t have to deal with finding a gun smith to cut down and re-thread the barrel. I don’t already have one I know of to use and not sure how selective I need to be to get one that will do a good job(as good or better than the factory crown and threads). I’m assuming it will cost about $100 to get a barrel cut and threaded and that I could pick up a used HMR stock for about $300 so options 1 and 2 are about the same price in the end. Option 3 would be the cheapest but not by that much and I don’t think the rifle and stock quality will be quite as good.
Thoughts.
Pick of my current 6.5 Creedmoor at the range for attention