All,

I'm kicking off a build with Hill Country Rifles and wanted to run it by the fire for opinions.

Details are below, would be great to get thoughts on the build in general and specifically, the bottom metal options, chamber, and barrel contour.

Purpose is all around rifle - will be a range gun and a hunting rife. Will primarily shoot the Barnes 120 or 127 for hunting.

6.5 creed Build
M70 Action - modern controlled feed
Chamber - Should I do anything special here?
Bottom Metal - factory - is there something better? Don’t want DBM.
Trigger - Factory

Stock - McMillan Sako
Stock Color - Desert transition
Cerakote - Magpul Flat Dark Earth
LOP - 13.5”
Recoil Pad - Black Declerator
Flush Cups with an intermediate for Ching Sling
Pic Rail for Harris bi-pod or light

Barrel - Bartlein
Barrel Twist - 1:8
Barrel Contour - 2 or 2b??
Barrel Length - 22”
Muzzle Break - APA micro bastard - gen 2 or 3?

Target weight w/o scope 7lbs - with scope 8lbs

Sounds Like a good plan, you could go with PT&G BM to save a little weight. I built one last year on a Pre 64 M70 action, used a pac-nor Fwt barrel @23" and a MCM compact edge stock, Williams BM with a Kahles AH 3-9x42 scope it comes in at just a hair under 8 lbs. and shoots those Barnes LRX 127 great.

If it was me there is no way I'd put a muzzle break on, otherwise I think you've got a great build.

You did ask, so,

No muzzle break...Hate um.

2B barrel, stainless, 24"

The rest is solid.

I have no build info to add, only load info, in researching for a 6.5 build I just had completed, did run across some data on the 6.5 Creedmoor, passed that info to a buddy that has one, he's getting ragged hole accuracy and over 2800 fps with 143gr ELD's and Winchester 6.5 Sta-Ball powder, the powder is said to be extremely temp stable, and from my lack of knowledge on the cartridge, 2800 with a 143 in the Creedmoor sounds like a very good place to be.

Good luck and have fun with your build.

Seems like a solid plan to me.

2B @ 22" seems about right too.
Edge fill for the McMillan?

I second Handwerk's suggestion; aluminum triggerguard & flooplate will eliminate 4 or 5 ounces plus if you go with the Oberndorf type will be an upgrade in looks - we Americans like our cars to run fast and look good and our rifles are no different

If you are a Bartlein fan (I have three barrels in use), you might want to consider the #2 which would save you 6-ounces. Bear with all the nerdy details but to hold down on all those who want proof that the sy is blue, I'll furnish supporting data up front

Reference the following specs comparing Bartlein taper diameters.

#2 0.800 0.600 a 25-in blank weighs 2lbs-13oz - when adjusted for 22-in finish length: 2lbs-7oz
#2B 0.850 0.630 a 25-in blank weighs 2lbs-13oz - when adjusted for 22-in finish length: 2lbs-13oz

Bartlein’s barrel profiles are all much larger than the nominal contour numbers would indicate. For instance, the #2B is “beefier” than the Broughton #4 magnum, both Rem magnum contours, Krieger's medium #3, Brux #3, Lilja's #3 & #4, Benchmark's #3 & #4, Pac-Nor's #3, Shilen's #3, Rock Creek's medium sporter (#3) just to name a few. While Bartlein's #2 is lighter, it's still "beefier" than all other #2's including all four Rem sporter weights, and Douglas's, Broughton's, and Rock Creek's #2 & #3 contours.

I’m just finishing up my own 6.5CM build as follows with a Bartlein #2B:
Rem SS SA 700 26-in finished barrel length
Modified/slimmed down HS Precision sporter stock w/o cheekpiece
Sightron Big Sky 4.5-14x42 sitting in DNZ 1-piece low mounts

Total weight: 9lbs-1oz - if the barrel was 22”, I calculate it would weigh approximately 8lbs-13oz with scope and without scope and mount, it should be 7lbs-10oz.

I don't know the weight difference between the Rem 700 and the CRF Mod 70 short actions, but the Big Sky weighs 16.5oz, the DNZ 2.5oz, and the modified HSP stock as bedded weighs 28oz.

I’ll send you a PM with more detailed barrel info if you want it.

If you really want a brake, I'd stay at the 2b 24 inch barrel. Not the same action, but I have a tikka, 24 2b, bedded in an edge sako classic with talleys and zeiss v4. I'm right at 8.4. I've carried many toys, but that is about the perfect setup if I would stop messing with rifles. Mine loves 127lrx, slow but accurate.

Hawk Hill #2 with an 8 twist. Muzzle brakes are miserable to me, so I'll tough out the recoil of the Creedmoor without one.

Daughter's is a lefty 700 built with McMillan Edge Classic, adl, and Hawk Hill. Its a great little rig. Shoots 140 vld and 147 eld very well. May try some 130 and 135 Bergers in it.

Looks like a solid plan.

I like brakes and hearing protection isn’t a big deal to wear for me. Get it removable with a thread protector for resale or in case you decide not to use it.

The classic m70 SA with ptg bm and screws should be about 42 ounces iirc. You can plug that in with your other component weights and you should be able to get close.
Don’t forget about shank length; that will have an impact on your finished weight as well.
Sounds like a nice build. 👍

Thanks guys, always love what I can learn on the fire.

On the muzzle brake - it would be removable so I could just use if I was playing around at the range. My primary rifle is a 30-06, not worried about the recoil, but have never had any experience with a brake and wanted to try it.

Offshoreman, that is great info on the barrel contours - would be great to get a PM with any other thoughts.

Thanks again.

Thinking I might take a practical rifle course from Randy Cain with this rifle. What do you all think in terms of a scope?

I like good glass, have thought about a z6i 1.7-10x42, the z5 3.5-18x42 (but I really don't need that kind of mag), a NXS 2.5-10, and the stratos 1.7-8x42.

Wondering if I went with a #2 barrel and that bottom metal would that offset a bigger piece of glass on top to keep overall weight at 8lbs?

You can get pretty close to 6 pounds with a smaller tube.

FYI, you can't go below a 2b contour in a stainless Bartlein......

#2 Shilen is pretty light.

DF

After a point, not that much difference, premium barrels in a hunting weight rifle. This one does pretty good. Have posted this target before.

DF

I like it. I've had Hill Country build on NH M70's and they've come out great, the first time! If you don't want to handload, they are THE go-to builder IMO, given their proofing with factory ammo. I've got one M70 custom with PTG bottom metal and 2 with factory. The factory fits cleaner, and the release button works better, without binding. But there is some weight savings to the PTG. Maybe I just got a bum piece, but I sometimes have to bang on my release button little and keep it well oiled for it to work properly. I do like heavier barrels too, but that 2b is a beast. I think you'd be over you 6.5# goal. Hill Country likes Benchmarks, and they've worked well for me too. I'd do a Benchmark #3. Or stick with your #2 Bartlein. Flute it if you need to shave a few ounces. No reason to go over 22" on a 6.5cm, and no reason for a brake either, IMO. Go Edge fill on your McM stock too.

Gunner, I have two cans of StaBALL and want to try it with 140 ELD-M. I've read reports that the ELD-M bullets do as well if not better on WT's and such than the ELD-X 143's. I'm sure the harder X version would be better on bigger critters.

DF

You could consider their # 0 contour. I went with that on my .257 Roberts build.

Action - Blueprinted Model 70 XTR short action
Barrel - Bartlein #0 contour 21.5”
Stock – McMillan Sako Classic Edge brown w/black specks & red decelerator
Trigger – factory adjusted and polished
Optics - Leupold VX-6 3-18 x 44 with firedot illuminated reticle in Talley Lightweights
Cerakote all metal – Satin Mag

Pics: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...cs/14420489/custom-257-rbts#Post14420489

Nice.

DF

Great looking rifle C-Roy. I'm going with a cro-moly barrel.

Well, Bartlein must have just changed policy - I have a two-year old #2 stainless 257 blank and bought #2 264 blank two years before that. But if that is the case now, I would get #2 Rock Creek

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...up-my-first-custom-bolt-gun#Post14693365

Mine is waiting on Covid to go away to get finished. But an idea on weight anyways. I believe a Bart 2b will be close to a rock 3.

If you don't want to wait you can purchase this one now for immediate shipment.

Shameless plug I know but couldn't resist: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/14779644/1

Would any of you reccomend a non-standard chamber for any reason?

I'd probably go SAAMI.

I had my smith chamber and throad mine for the 140 VLD with COAL to fit the box.

Well, it's sorta short for factory ammo, I have to set those bullets back a bit, which is OK with me.

Down the road, whoever ends up with this gun is gonna be confused by factory ammo won't chamber.

Hmmm...

DF

#2 and edge technology on the stock. Let Mcmillan paint it as that is a great finish. Leave the muzzle end alone. Ask about the neck dimension and don't allow over .002-.003 over you brass dimension. Use lapua brass. To save money get a Bartlett and buy 1000 MAGA hats to hand out.