Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Barrett Fieldcraft in 30-06

I have certainly heard a lot about the FC in 6.5 CM and, in fact, own one. I have become a fan.

Does anyone have some experience with the FC in 30-06?

If I ever give up my rifle looney status, I thought maybe the Fieldcrafts in 6.5CM and 30-06 might be a good pair to finish with.

donsm70

I have that pair. Haven't spent much time with the 30-06, only enough to set a 100 yard zero, get drops at 200 and 300, and plink a little. I like the contour/weight/balance. I've not started reloading for it yet but do wish it had a longer mag box....but will probably do fine as is.

I have the FC in 6.5 CM and have had similar thoughts on the same in 30-06 - that pair would make the rest of my bolt actions unnecessary. What a terrible thought!

I have it in ‘06 and really love the contour and weight. Shoots sub moa with reduced recoil hornady loads I got to break it in. Tried two Barnes loads and got moa ish groups. It will work for me.

Anyone else?

donsm70

Not me. Based on a few shots from my son's Kimber Hunter 6.5, I'm turning into a recoil p*ssy in my old age. A 6-pound '06 sounds like more fun than I want to have these days. You go ahead though.

I've got a nice light deer load for you if you get one.

Oddly enough, the only rifle/round combo that I've shot in the last several years that made me say "I wasn't expecting that!" was 20 rounds of Winchester factory 140 gr 6.5 CM ammo in a Fieldcraft rifle...only factory loads I've put through that one. Maybe I was just extra hung over that day but I've put hundreds of 143 gr reloads (right at book max) through the same rifle and nothing has seemed as harsh as those first 20 factory rounds. Thinking on it, the 150 gr factory ammo I've put through an -06 Fieldcraft have seemed very mild. Same stock design with the 06 being a little heavier, with more powder pushing a slightly heavier bullet but recoil seemed softer than the CM.....there was something about that factory CM ammo that got my attention.

I have a NULA in 30-06,and a really accurate Kimber in 6.5 Creedmoor,so I have achieved the same thing with two rifles of similar size,weight,and accuracy.

And you are correct that those two will handle nearly everything,nearly everywhere. A guy could add a 375 to the mix and you don't have to say "nearly".

But for everything in North America,the two you mention would work very nicely indeed.

Are your long action NULA and short action Kimber really that close in size? I have a Forbes 24B in 270 and a Kimber Montana in 7-08. When I lay them side by side there is a huge difference in size. The Montana looks like a kids gun compared to the Forbes. I'm not sure of the weight. Both are very light. The size difference is however huge. I'm 6'4 and large frame and I like the fit of the Forbes a lot more. I can shoot the Montana just fine but it feels more like a toy even though it's only about 1/2 to 3/4 pound lighter than the Forbes.

The NULA stock feels beefier,but overall size and weight seems pretty close to me.

I don't get how Barrett nailed the mag box on the short actions but screwed the pooch on the LA version.....

I don’t get how Barrett nailed the barrel contour on the long actions but screwed the pooch on the SA version...

Just following Mr. Forbes layout. If they would have lengthened the long action to a 700's length it would be perfection (at a couple oz's cost).

Does the Barrett have a "closed" grip area like the obsolete Forbes?

It is a more closed grip. I don’t have a Forbes so I can’t compare. It is more closed than a Kimber 84M, probably close to a Bansner. I really like it.

Didn't Melvin help design the Montana stock for Kimber? Urban legend?

Don't know about that, but I do know if you mention Kimber Montana to Melvin you will quickly realize it was a mistake.

What are the two rifles in your photo, please?

Top
and
Bottom.

donsm70

Looks like a BFC on top and a Kimber 84M on the bottom.