I must be crazy!

taylorce1 · July 10, 2009, 03:21 PM

I’ve decided to go off and order a new barrel for a rifle I haven’t even shot yet. I won a NIB Stevens 200 chambered in .223 at auction on Tuesday night for $243 delivered and just ordered a 6x47 barrel for it. The 6x47 I’m going with is based off of the .222 Remington Mag case not the Lapua or Swiss Match cartridge. I guess it was quite the popular bench rest round before the advent of the PPC and then BR rounds in 6mm.

I went with a 20” #3 Douglas contour, 1:12 twist, 11 degree recessed crown, Chrome Moly pre-fit barrel. Thought about using a longer and heavier barrel, but my main purpose for this rifle is going to be coyotes and prairie dogs on the hoof. I wanted to lighten it up a bit if this is going to be a walking rifle. Thought I’d push 55 to 70 grain bullets down the tube and see how they do.

I’m sure I’ll wind up replacing the stock as well as the trigger in the near future. I’m thinking the B&C Duramax and either a Rifle Basic or SSS trigger. For glass right now I’m just going to top it with a Nikon Monarch 2-7 power I have laying around later on I might go with more magnification but I’m sure that will get me to 300 yards on a coyote anyway.

I'm gone the next three weeks for Annual Training with the Reserves and my new barrel will not be in until two weeks after that. I'm hopin to have this rifle shooting by the end of August! Sure a fast way to turn a cheap rifle into an expensive one fast and I haven't even bought brass and dies yet either!

Scorch · July 10, 2009, 05:43 PM

Oh, yeah! That's how us men keep our free rifles from being cheap!

BTW, have you thought about a 6mm TCU? That is very similar to what you are looking at, but is based on the 223 Rem instead of 222 Rem Mag. The 6X47 is a good wildcat round, but brass for 223 is more available. Just a thought.

Quote:

my main purpose for this rifle is going to be coyotes and prairie dogs on the hoof.

Coyotes and prairie dogs have hooves?

taylorce1 · July 10, 2009, 09:29 PM

Couldn't resist the hoof comment now could you!

My hooves will be humpin this rifle around for several miles chasin yotes not so much on the pasture poodles.

I have a couple hundred pieces of .222 Mag brass laying around that I was going to use for my .204 Ruger but then I wound up with enough properly headstamped Ruger brass that I don't need to use it. Had to do something with the brass right? So I figured I needed a new rifle, logical I know.

I probably should have went 6mm TCU or 6x45 however 6x47 works as well. Still it will fun to use anyway. Besides Midway had the dies in stock and that was what made the difference to go with the 6x47 anyway. I can always add another barrel latter if I want, but since I can put a .223 barrel back on this one I figured I'd save the brass for it and my two other .223's.

Scorch · July 11, 2009, 12:35 AM

Quote:

I have a couple hundred pieces of .222 Mag brass laying around

OK, that makes sense. Remember to take pictures so we can ooooh and aaaaah!

taylorce1 · August 24, 2009, 09:34 PM

Well Scorch it is near picture taking time! I got my barrel in last Friday, looks pretty sweet. I've got the remainder of the parts due in this week. Some of the other parts going into my Stevens build are:

Sharp Shooter Supply Competition trigger and recoil lug as well as one of their tactical bolt handles. Leupold PRW rings and Weaver bases as well as a used Nikon Monarch 2-7 power scope. Wanted to use QRW rings but got a great deal on the PRW rings. I picked up a set of Hornady New Dimension dies at Midway on clearence.

Going to prime the stock sometime this week before Friday. On Friday I'm going over to use my friends shop to install the new barrel, bolt handle, and trigger. Then after I bed the action I'll go ahead and finish painting the stock. Don't know if I'll get to shoot it this weekend as I'm just trying to get my rifles put back together.

Scorch · August 25, 2009, 01:44 AM

I just love it when a project comes together!! And you remembered I want pictures!!

taylorce1 · August 28, 2009, 09:16 PM

Just for you Scorch some pictures. I had to paint the stock once I got started with the sanding and the priming! Still need to finish the metal with some sort of GunKote or the like.

taylorce1 · August 28, 2009, 09:18 PM

BTW I think it looks much better than this!

Scorch · August 29, 2009, 01:46 AM

Cool! That looks very nice so far! What finish did you use for the stock?

If I can make a request, next we need some test target pictures. It's just not fair to make us wait! Maybe by Monday??

taylorce1 · August 29, 2009, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Cool! That looks very nice so far! What finish did you use for the stock?

If I can make a request, next we need some test target pictures. It's just not fair to make us wait! Maybe by Monday??

The stock I just sanded down the mold lines with 200 grit sand paper. I then cleaned the stock with some Acetone, and primed it with an automotive plastic primer. The paint is a textured Rustoleum in Forrest Green, couldn't find any plastic paint I liked the color of, so that is why I had to prime the stock first.

I'm doing my best to get it shot this weekend, however I have a .25-06 I'm hoping to have going by Oct 3rd for pronghorn. I'll be working on that today have to finish inletting the new stock, and I hope to have both rifles bedded by the end of the day. Not enough days in the weekend sometimes!

ranger dave · August 29, 2009, 01:24 PM

thats a great rifle i just ordered an ar upper in 6x45 the bolt action will be next if looks as nice as your 6x47 i will be happy

Moloch · August 29, 2009, 04:31 PM

Maybe ist jsut me but that rifle just screams for a scout-like scope mount.

ranger dave · August 29, 2009, 06:19 PM

its just you why would you put a scout scope on a 6mm bench gun. and by the way that scout bs was thought up by a guy who fought in ww 2.

Moloch · August 29, 2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

and by the way that scout bs was thought up by a guy who fought in ww 2..

Could you be any more disrespectful to a war veteran?

taylorce1 · August 29, 2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Maybe ist jsut me but that rifle just screams for a scout-like scope mount.

A scout rifle would be nice but I haven't decided if I want to keep this rifle functional as a switch barrel. I did keep the .223 barrel so I could put it back on if I want. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out but mounting forward optics really was never in the plan. Having that mount would just be a PITA trying to get it lined back up if I ever took the barrel off.

Thanks for the comments!

ranger dave · August 29, 2009, 09:12 PM

i have 22 years in the army i served in the first gulf war and 4 years in afghastan. im disrespectful because i thing mounting a pistol scope on a bolt action fifle is a dumb idea

taylorce1 · August 30, 2009, 09:40 PM

Feeling a little rushed since I just didn't have the time I wanted today to mess with the rifle. Since I spent all day yesterday bedding my .25-06 in a new stock. Anyway I got about three hours today to load up some rounds and take my rifle out to shoot. Loaded everything with 55 gr Nosler BT, H335, CCI 400, and RP Brass, loaded to Mag length. I did all my shooting off of a portable bench at 50 yards, and was fighting a 15mph wind at about 75 degrees. I think when I get to spend more time with the rifle I'll be able to improve these groups especially when I can get to a good bench with sandbags.

Scorch · August 31, 2009, 01:23 AM

That looks pretty nice for first loads fired! She's a keeper!

Moloch · August 31, 2009, 02:44 AM

Quote:

im disrespectful because i thing mounting a pistol scope on a bolt action fifle is a dumb idea

Care to explain why? No?
A foward mounted scope gives you faster targeting and is as accurate as a rear mounted scope.

GLK · September 23, 2009, 09:29 PM

Great looking "free"

rifle you got there Taylorce1. Maybe I missed it so forgive me if so, what scope did or are you going to mount on it?

Ranger Dave wrote;

Quote:

i have 22 years in the army i served in the first gulf war and 4 years in afghastan. im disrespectful because i thing mounting a pistol scope on a bolt action fifle is a dumb idea

BTW I would not put a pistol scope on a bolt action fifle either, then again I don't know what a fifle is. However depending on the rifle I would put a scout scope on it in a heart beat.

Perhaps it is just me, but I would tend to think that a man who supposedly spent 22 years in the ARMY and four years in Afghanistan would at least know how to spell Afghanistan.

Here is something you may or may not want to think about Ranger Dave, it is because of WW-II veterans such as Col. Cooper that you have to right to act like such a pin-head. You have lost any credibility you may have had.

P.S. I am far from a expert when it comes to spelling grammar punctuation and what not, but spellcheck and the edit button are your friends.

taylorce1 · September 23, 2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Great looking "free"

rifle you got there Taylorce1. Maybe I missed it so forgive me if so, what scope did or are you going to mount on it?

Right now I have a Nikon Monarch in 2-7X32 mounted on it. Don't know if I'm going to stick with that scope or put a different one on it. I just picked up a 4-16X40AO Bushnell Elite 4500 and 4-12X40AO VXII Leupold. I'm just thinking both of these scopes are too big for this rifle and what I want to do with it. Either one of these scopes would add a little bulk to the whole package.

BTW never said it was a "free" rifle just a "cheap" one!

GLK · September 23, 2009, 11:12 PM

Depending on the intended use these(scopes)all would be good choices. Unless I am wanting to shoot extreme long range I personally prefer the 2-7 or even the 1. something to 5 or 6 range of magnification. That's right you said you won the rifle at auction, not that it was free

. Also could you educate me some on the 6x47 cartridge? Be sure and let us know how it does on the coyotes.

taylorce1 · September 24, 2009, 06:48 AM

There are actually a few different 6X47 cartridges the other two main ones are the Swiss Match and Lapua. My 6X47 happens to be based of off the .222 Rem Mag case. I was cruising through my Sierra reloading manuals and found it decided to play with it. The 6X47 was an old bench rest round used before the PPC came on the circuit from all the information I've gathered. Here is a nice little read on some cartridges and mine is right below the .308 cartridges, it was actually produced commercially as the 6X47 Federal. http://www.6mmbr.com/compcartridges.html

The data I’ve got shows 55 grain bullets approaching 3500 fps and 80 grains slightly over 2900 fps. Of course that is all with the 24” barrel and I shortened mine down by 4” to make a handier rifle. Still all my data shows about an extra 200 fps over the .223 Rem with equal weight bullets. That is what really enticed me to go with it over the standard .223 Rem.

Blue Grass · September 24, 2009, 09:19 PM

So how much $$$ and how many hours total do you have invested in your "free" rifle? BTW, looks like a nice rig.

taylorce1 · September 24, 2009, 09:47 PM

Took about 4 hours to do the rifle. Sanding every thing down took about 30 min. Priming took about 10-15 min, painting took the longest time, about 2 hours, had to sand down a couple of mistakes. Tear down and reassembly took about an hour since I waited till everything got here. Still got some time to go on it as I need to shoot the stock one more time, and then clear it. Metal still needs a finish of some sort, and I'm going to replace the plastic trigger guard.

As far as price goes it isn't cheap to do all this:

Rifle $280
Barrel $260
SSS Trigger $97
SSS Recoil Lug $28
Tac Bolt handle $42
Leupold PRW $35
Weaver bases $6
Hornady Dies $60
Paint & Clear $10
Plastic Primer $7
Acraglas kit $23
___________________
Total $810

That didn't include any shipping that I had to pay on these items as well. Nor any reloading componets, primers, bullets and powder. Plus I had a scope on hand from an old rifle I had traded or else I'd have been looking at another $200-300 in this rifle. While not cheap I did get the satisfaction of doing it myself, that is as far as assembly goes.

July 10, 2009, 03:21 PM	#1
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,498	I must be crazy! I’ve decided to go off and order a new barrel for a rifle I haven’t even shot yet. I won a NIB Stevens 200 chambered in .223 at auction on Tuesday night for $243 delivered and just ordered a 6x47 barrel for it. The 6x47 I’m going with is based off of the .222 Remington Mag case not the Lapua or Swiss Match cartridge. I guess it was quite the popular bench rest round before the advent of the PPC and then BR rounds in 6mm. I went with a 20” #3 Douglas contour, 1:12 twist, 11 degree recessed crown, Chrome Moly pre-fit barrel. Thought about using a longer and heavier barrel, but my main purpose for this rifle is going to be coyotes and prairie dogs on the hoof. I wanted to lighten it up a bit if this is going to be a walking rifle. Thought I’d push 55 to 70 grain bullets down the tube and see how they do. I’m sure I’ll wind up replacing the stock as well as the trigger in the near future. I’m thinking the B&C Duramax and either a Rifle Basic or SSS trigger. For glass right now I’m just going to top it with a Nikon Monarch 2-7 power I have laying around later on I might go with more magnification but I’m sure that will get me to 300 yards on a coyote anyway. I'm gone the next three weeks for Annual Training with the Reserves and my new barrel will not be in until two weeks after that. I'm hopin to have this rifle shooting by the end of August! Sure a fast way to turn a cheap rifle into an expensive one fast and I haven't even bought brass and dies yet either! Last edited by taylorce1; July 10, 2009 at 04:09 PM.

August 25, 2009, 01:44 AM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,249	I just love it when a project comes together!! And you remembered I want pictures!! __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

August 29, 2009, 01:46 AM	#9
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,249	Cool! That looks very nice so far! What finish did you use for the stock? If I can make a request, next we need some test target pictures. It's just not fair to make us wait! Maybe by Monday?? __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

August 29, 2009, 01:24 PM	#11
ranger dave Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2005 Posts: 485	wow thats a great rifle i just ordered an ar upper in 6x45 the bolt action will be next if looks as nice as your 6x47 i will be happy

August 29, 2009, 06:19 PM	#13
ranger dave Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2005 Posts: 485	what its just you why would you put a scout scope on a 6mm bench gun. and by the way that scout bs was thought up by a guy who fought in ww 2.

July 10, 2009, 09:29 PM	#3
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,498	Couldn't resist the hoof comment now could you! My hooves will be humpin this rifle around for several miles chasin yotes not so much on the pasture poodles. I have a couple hundred pieces of .222 Mag brass laying around that I was going to use for my .204 Ruger but then I wound up with enough properly headstamped Ruger brass that I don't need to use it. Had to do something with the brass right? So I figured I needed a new rifle, logical I know. I probably should have went 6mm TCU or 6x45 however 6x47 works as well. Still it will fun to use anyway. Besides Midway had the dies in stock and that was what made the difference to go with the 6x47 anyway. I can always add another barrel latter if I want, but since I can put a .223 barrel back on this one I figured I'd save the brass for it and my two other .223's.

August 24, 2009, 09:34 PM	#5
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,498	Well Scorch it is near picture taking time! I got my barrel in last Friday, looks pretty sweet. I've got the remainder of the parts due in this week. Some of the other parts going into my Stevens build are: Sharp Shooter Supply Competition trigger and recoil lug as well as one of their tactical bolt handles. Leupold PRW rings and Weaver bases as well as a used Nikon Monarch 2-7 power scope. Wanted to use QRW rings but got a great deal on the PRW rings. I picked up a set of Hornady New Dimension dies at Midway on clearence. Going to prime the stock sometime this week before Friday. On Friday I'm going over to use my friends shop to install the new barrel, bolt handle, and trigger. Then after I bed the action I'll go ahead and finish painting the stock. Don't know if I'll get to shoot it this weekend as I'm just trying to get my rifles put back together.

August 28, 2009, 09:16 PM	#7
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,498	Just for you Scorch some pictures. I had to paint the stock once I got started with the sanding and the priming! Still need to finish the metal with some sort of GunKote or the like.

August 28, 2009, 09:18 PM	#8
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,498	BTW I think it looks much better than this!

August 29, 2009, 04:31 PM	#12
Moloch Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2005 Posts: 1,419	Maybe ist jsut me but that rifle just screams for a scout-like scope mount.

August 29, 2009, 09:12 PM	#16
ranger dave Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2005 Posts: 485	molunch i have 22 years in the army i served in the first gulf war and 4 years in afghastan. im disrespectful because i thing mounting a pistol scope on a bolt action fifle is a dumb idea

August 30, 2009, 09:40 PM	#17
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,498	Feeling a little rushed since I just didn't have the time I wanted today to mess with the rifle. Since I spent all day yesterday bedding my .25-06 in a new stock. Anyway I got about three hours today to load up some rounds and take my rifle out to shoot. Loaded everything with 55 gr Nosler BT, H335, CCI 400, and RP Brass, loaded to Mag length. I did all my shooting off of a portable bench at 50 yards, and was fighting a 15mph wind at about 75 degrees. I think when I get to spend more time with the rifle I'll be able to improve these groups especially when I can get to a good bench with sandbags.

August 31, 2009, 01:23 AM	#18
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,249	That looks pretty nice for first loads fired! She's a keeper! __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

September 23, 2009, 11:12 PM	#22
GLK Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2000 Location: Brandon FL USA Posts: 527	Depending on the intended use these(scopes)all would be good choices. Unless I am wanting to shoot extreme long range I personally prefer the 2-7 or even the 1. something to 5 or 6 range of magnification. That's right you said you won the rifle at auction, not that it was free. Also could you educate me some on the 6x47 cartridge? Be sure and let us know how it does on the coyotes. __________________ Just face shoot the criminal was the advice I was given. Old tech new tech, face shooting will nearly always take the wrong doing out of a bad guy.

September 24, 2009, 06:48 AM	#23
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,498	There are actually a few different 6X47 cartridges the other two main ones are the Swiss Match and Lapua. My 6X47 happens to be based of off the .222 Rem Mag case. I was cruising through my Sierra reloading manuals and found it decided to play with it. The 6X47 was an old bench rest round used before the PPC came on the circuit from all the information I've gathered. Here is a nice little read on some cartridges and mine is right below the .308 cartridges, it was actually produced commercially as the 6X47 Federal. http://www.6mmbr.com/compcartridges.html The data I’ve got shows 55 grain bullets approaching 3500 fps and 80 grains slightly over 2900 fps. Of course that is all with the 24” barrel and I shortened mine down by 4” to make a handier rifle. Still all my data shows about an extra 200 fps over the .223 Rem with equal weight bullets. That is what really enticed me to go with it over the standard .223 Rem.

September 24, 2009, 09:19 PM	#24
Blue Grass Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2009 Posts: 398	So how much $$$ and how many hours total do you have invested in your "free" rifle? BTW, looks like a nice rig.

September 24, 2009, 09:47 PM	#25
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,498	Took about 4 hours to do the rifle. Sanding every thing down took about 30 min. Priming took about 10-15 min, painting took the longest time, about 2 hours, had to sand down a couple of mistakes. Tear down and reassembly took about an hour since I waited till everything got here. Still got some time to go on it as I need to shoot the stock one more time, and then clear it. Metal still needs a finish of some sort, and I'm going to replace the plastic trigger guard. As far as price goes it isn't cheap to do all this: Rifle $280 Barrel $260 SSS Trigger $97 SSS Recoil Lug $28 Tac Bolt handle $42 Leupold PRW $35 Weaver bases $6 Hornady Dies $60 Paint & Clear $10 Plastic Primer $7 Acraglas kit $23 ___________________ Total $810 That didn't include any shipping that I had to pay on these items as well. Nor any reloading componets, primers, bullets and powder. Plus I had a scope on hand from an old rifle I had traded or else I'd have been looking at another $200-300 in this rifle. While not cheap I did get the satisfaction of doing it myself, that is as far as assembly goes.