Down to the final stages of finishing out my 6.5-06AI. Bought all the parts, stock, etc here on 24hr.

I’d like suggestions on fluting, cerekote or leave it the way it is?

I'd cerakote it in something matte black to match the ebony foreend.

That stock gives me a woody.

I'm not into Fluff,if only obviously,so would simply shoot the fhuqking thing and weigh those findings. Hint.

What barrel? Twist? Freebore? Neck? Boolit(s) of intent? Rings? Glass? Application(s)?

You might be there and might not,but actually shooting,tends to reveal such things.(grin)

Hint................

As far as looks go, I would leave her be,

Yep

Who did the stock for ya?

Not a clue who built the stock, but it’s a very superb custom blank and checkering is out of this world! Fits the barreled action perfectly.

Me too!!

Leave it or high polish blue the barrel to match the action.


Nice stick of wood on there for sure.

She looks great as-is! Super cool stock.

Do I understand this right.

You bought this finely done stock here on the Fire that just fit your barreled action?

Wow

DF

Good looking rifle, not a lot left to do IMO........maybe send the action to Birdsong!

That is correct. I just plain lucked out. Had a little fitting work that needed to be done, it was already beautifully bedded. It’s a superb stock, wouldn’t even begin to tell you how much it would cost to have one built from scratch.

Looks pretty darn nice to me! I would leave it as is......

The search for perfection often sacrifices VERY GOOD. Know when to stop.

Another vote for leave it as is. Looks superb. Personally I like the looks of a factory blued action rebarrelled with a stainless bead blasted barrel just as you’ve done. Great job.

Have you shot it yet? Keep us posted when you do.

Also what is the make and profile of barrel?

It’s beautiful. I’d verify it shoots, then coat it all black. Maybe Birdsong.

The barrel is a 1-8” Twist Shilen Select Match Sako Contour, which is very close to a #3.
I’ll post some targets up, but no doubt it’s a naildriver.

That's pretty sweet.

Not sure if I'd coat it or not. If it's going to see 800-1000 rounds in a reasonably short period of time, I'd probably leave it as-is.

That would be my call, as well.

DF

I couldn't live with that barrel!

Leave it be and flog it. Grats on a special rig.

What seems to be the problem?

She is a beauty! I’d say leave it as is or if you must coat it, graphite the whole barreled action.

I’ve been lucky a few times.

Nothing even close to that.

Yeah, you’re looking at $3-4K for that level of work by a master.

And that’s just the stock. That one was done by someone who knows his stuff.

DF

Appreciate all the good vibes. I’m really thinking hard about having the rifle coated in Mid-night blue semi gloss cerekote. Likely as close to bluing as one can accomplish. Your thoughts?

If you want a more classic look, that would be a good option.

DF

I like your blue cerekote idea. BTW, some years ago I shot a 6.5x06 a lot. In my opinion, it's a fine long-range round. Your AI version should be just more of the same, especially with the newer powders and bullets that were not available to me way back then.

Yes, I’ve already got a custom 6.5-06 build on a Rem700 action. It’s a fine long range rifle. Looking forward to using it this fall.

If you want the classic look get it coated. I just think it looks awesome as is. Again, grats dude on a really cool rig. Super jealous of that one.

Pillar bed the action, freefloat the barrel, tune the trigger, work up loads.

I like the satin finish on the stainless, cerekoat can get scratched, then the whole project goes to crap.

Hunting rifle or safe queen?

Leave it as is. or get it melonited and the action bead blasted and treated to match. Cerakoat will look cheap after a few scratches and dings.

If you go with melonite there are advantages to doing it early. One compromise I like is to use Moly Coat on the stainless and then wax it with renaissance wax. This gives it a sort of titanium look I like, it is fairly subtle and if you don't like it it is easy to remove with solvents.

Forgot the other finish I like is industrial black chrome with a matte finish. It is almost Bomb proof and no chance something will change with the barrel which occasionally happens with Melonite if done too hot.

The stock looks like one made by Dale Goens

Stock has already been beautifully pillar bedded and the trigger is 2-3/4lbs. Last step is coating. I’ll take a look at melonite.

I like cerocoat but most of my hunting is done in the rain,,or so it seems! A great caliber,,my best sheep hunting years I had to provide for my family and guided almost every day of the season.

I like it as is, looks fantastic! Enjoy!

That is a beaut just as it sits and what a gorgeous stock !

Get to shooting it as is.

I recently completed a rebarrel on an FN 98 I had to .264 WM. I went with a 25.5 "8 Twist SS Barrel. I went back and forth with whether to coat the barre/barreled action and decided to fug it and go shooting! Looks similar to yours only without such nice checkering! One thing about coating, it won't make it shoot any better, its purely and aesthetics thing!