Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Twins

Well, perhaps more like kissin' cousins. Thought you guys might like to see a couple pictures of the rifles I just finished working on. I wanted the rifles to be nearly identical, but for the caliber. The first is a 223ai, with the second a 6x45. I'll be heading back to Wyoming this year, so I wanted to make sure I was taking enough gun for the antelope...grin

The 223ai started life as a Varmint-contoured gun sitting in an A5 stock. Here's a pic of it before it's transformation


After shooting it for a while, I determined that I really dislike A5s for bench work due to the hand hook. Also, I really wanted the rifle to be more functional as a hunting rifle. So, I sold the stock and sent the action away to have the barrel turned down. I had the barrel recontoured to a Lilja #2 contour.

Meanwhile I stumbled upon another 223 rifle for sale at a price I couldn't pass up. After selling the factory stock, barrel and trigger I had less than $200 into the action. I also found a new #2 Benchmark 6mm 1:9 SS blank on Gunbroker for $200, as well as a reamer and go gauge for a 6x45. Within a couple weeks, I had a 6x45 barreled action as well, nearly identical to the 223ai.

I considered buying Edge stocks for them, but being the tightwad that I am, I instead opted to go for a pair of Bansner Sheep Hunter stocks. I was able to get both stocks and the recoil pads for less than what 1 Edge would have cost me.

The 223ai had a Badger bolt knob installed already, so I had a PTG knob attached to the 6x45 handle. I much prefer the overall size of the PTG knob.

I bedded the stocks, installed the recoil pads, prepped and painted them both in matte Colt Grey with a black splatter. The actions, bottom metals and bolts were blasted and coated with matte black Moly Resin.

Finally, both rifles were topped off with Leupold 3.5-10x40 scopes that I had sitting here, nestled in Talley Lightweight Lows.

Well, I'm sure you would like to see a couple pics instead of all this jabbering on, so here you are.

223ai with 21" Pacnor 1:8 twist barrel throated for 75 AMAXs


Here is what it did it's first time out (while still a chunk, but I shot it a few weeks back post recontour ant it is still shooting great


6x45 with 21" Benchmark 1:9


And here's a close-up of the stock. I really like the color

Wow! might need to label them.... I would be afraid to take one out and have the wrong caliber ammo.

What is the diff between the sheephunter stock and the regular bansner stock? The cheek piece?

Nice rigs. Really like that paint color!

The sheephunter does not have the cheekpiece. It also has a bit more slender, and shorter forearm that seems to look a little better on these shorter tubes. Additionaly, the sheephunter is more slender through the wrist. After having a couple of other Bansners, I prefer the Sheep Hunter

Forgot to mention that the 223ai bolt was fluted by Chad Dixon at Longrifles, while the 6x45 was fluted by Twistedbarrel. I must say, I prefer the Twistedbarrel flutes by a fair margin.

What's the weight on them without the bi-pod?

7lbs on my not-so-precise bathroom scale

Very nice rifles and an incredible group...what OAL are you running with the 75's?

Darren any close up pics of the fluting to see the difference?

Are they TI style flutes?

I'll snap some pics tomorrow of the bolts. The one fluted by Chad was his "High Helix" from the Sniper Hide group buy. The Twistedbarrel fluting is very similar to a Ti fluting.

I'm running the AMAX load at 2.484" COAL

Darren,
Those look great - that paint/splatter looks good also:) Hopefully that 6x45 gets a workout in Wyoming on some antelopes!!

Great looking rifles! Nice job. Sent you a PM with a few questions.

Nice rifles. Now you need to look for another one so you can have triplets....

Did Pacnor put the tube on for you? I'm thinking about a rebarrel job in a few months and their prices seem pretty reasonable.
My smith does a great job, but it would be nice to have it sent off and done all in one place. I'll be bedding the stock and installing a mag system.
Cartridge is to be determined, but probably a fast twist.224 cal that will fit a 308 bolt face.

IT&D did the barreling on the 223ai. I sent them my action and barrel. Look at their prices - if you are looking for an inexpensive rebarrel, they are likely your best bet.

My wife just gave birth to son #3. Just before she had him, I had these rifles laid out in the house, and I told her that they were going to be fore the boys. She said, "but there are only two. Looks like you are going to need to get another one."

So, you're right. I'm now on the lookout for another action and barrel. After all, my newborn son is gonna need to use it really soon...grin. Not sure on the caliber just yet though

Very nice!

can you tell me more about the paint? from a can? hvlp?
thanks!

i'm going to trip my 243 and buy some bansners

Duracoat out of a HVLP gun

Here are a couple quick pics of the bolt fluting as requested:

Chad Dixon's "High Helix"


Twistedbarrel "Ti"

Thanks Darren I too much prefer the TI flutes!