Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Want to see some #5 barrels in McMillan Rem Classics.

One thing to keep in mind - caliber influences weight. A 6mm 5 contour is going to be heavier than a .30 cal 5 contour. It's enough to make a difference.

Shortmag
That's a really interesting combo! What purpose were you aiming for? Short light action, edge stock and a heavy, long shank (but fluted) barrel. Seems like a study in contradictions, but I think I like it! Might need one once I know what it's for.

Would you mind sharing a few photos of the whole rifle?

JD730

It was my first custom build and has evolved ever since. It started in a really heavy Remington Hunter stock with a 4-16x50 scope on it. At 9.5lbs + it's been on a diet ever since. The diet has consisted of:
- chopping off 2" of barrel (now 23")
- trading heavy stock for edge classic that weighs a whopping 22oz at 13.25" LOP
- trading Talley steel bases and rings for LWs
- replacing scope with a still relatively heavy (but lighter than where i started) victory Diavari

The action is what I had as a donor. What it has evolved to works great for me - relatively short and light rifle for handling inside a box stand while overlooking clearcuts and lanes where shots can be longish (400) and quick

Believe it or not I weighed it last night and it is 6lb 10oz rings/no scope

It balances under the barrel shank

It's a hammer in 300 Saum that I've used for elk and some really nice white tails the last few years.

I agree with you it's a study in contradictions. Would I have done it differently if I were starting over? Absolutely. Would I trade that rifle for anything? Well maybe there is something out there I'd trade it for but its my primary rifle and works great for me.

It's unscoped right now but I'll try to post some pics

Put me down for liking the #4, I like the looks fit and feel.

Just be happy with your choice.

Here is the pig. 6 pounds 10 ounces as it sits

24" 30-06 +p performance out of a package about 2" shorter

Bolt handle has been torx screwed on and rear action screw opened up for a 700 rear action screw. And it's a 12 twist (the horror), though it still manages to bug hole 180 grain accubonds in Nosler Custom factory ammo

I like a barrel that will shoot a group, in a stock that fits in your hand. Short mag isn't crazy.... He's creative.

Here is a Benchmark #5

You don't need a #5 for that.

You had better show the rest of that rifle.

Lol. 300 Win Mag done by Hill Country Rifles. I went with a fluted #5 instead of a #4. I am very glad I did, it balances very well and handles heat decently. (I am sure it is pure coincidence, especially on the fluting, but my two most accurate rifles wear fluted Benchmark tubes.)

Very nice like the mcwoody

Great looking stick Whitebread. Thank you.

Maybe we have a different definition of group.

What's yours?

5 shots 5 minutes 3/8 or better. I'd call that a group from a bipod.

I usually shoot them in about 60 seconds. Don't have all day.

3/8 moa for five shots is pretty tight.

What kind of rifle are you using now to average 3/8 moa for a series of five shot groups?

I'll start with my very favorite, a Krieger barreled 243, 22" 1:9, shooting 105 a maxes over RL 19 with a CCI BR2 and weight sorted, neck turned and range sorted lapua brass. It gets annealed and STM cleaned every 3rd firing. It's a dandy little rifle. I wish it was a little bit lighter but I can live with it.

I've got two more that will do it, one of them only while the aftermarket barrel is on it (I kept the original 5.56 barrel for plinking). The 6x45 barrel is a Krieger 1:12. The 6mm WOA is a Krieger 1:10. 18" and 21.5" in that order. Contours are a good bit heavier than factory, and both of them have aftermarket triggers set at 1.3 lbs.

The 6x45 gets lapua brass, the WOA gets some HEAVILY sorted hornady brass. It takes a long time to find enough uniform cases to have fun with. Even then, I've already got 3 steps in them before I find out.

Both of these rifles are on BR trued CZ receivers (still a bit rough but square enough.). The 45 was barreled by GAP. The WOA was barreled by Kevin Weaver.

The little one likes a Berger. The big one prefers sierras. All in all, they will shoot some stupid groups. They both like Benchmark.

I think practice has a lot to do with it. I grew up on a range and now I live just 3 miles from another. I shoot pretty much every day.

Practice, practice, practice.

So again, what would you call a group?

I don't have any custom built and barreled rigs like yours. The rifle I do have with a barrel most relevant to my not needing a #5 comment is my Kimber LPT. It's the older model, not the one in the catalog now.

The barrel it has looks like a straight taper #6 contour in overall form. But it's lighter than it looks. The 84M receiver is small and the straight shank part of the barrel is only 1" diameter. It tapers to about .67" at the muzzle and is 24" long. This is lighter than a #5 Douglas.

With off the shelf RP 308 brass, thrown charges of crunchy IMR 3031, and aimed by a 6x scope I've been getting .5 to .6 moa for five shots as quickly as I reset and shoot. Not in a hurry mind you, but not waiting around either.

To recap, factory rifle and barrel lighter than a #5, SAAMI chamber, off the shelf common brass, thrown charges of crunchy powder, 6x scope, cartridge with more recoil than a 6mm, me and my caffeine induced twitchy finger , and it'll do .5 to .6 moa for five without waiting around.

So I'll stand by my statement that if you have a well built custom rig fed by carefully made cartridges, particularly in a smaller 6mm size, you can reliably shoot a pretty nice group with less than a #5 on it.

I'd say given the setup that's awfully good. In fact, if I bought a factory rifle I'd probably be happy with .75.