She's finally done

[jmg8550]

I just finished my 6.5 Creedmoor build after almost 2 years from start to finish. Most of the time was spent saving money, and gathering parts, albeit a few setbacks.

Specs are as follows:
Remington 700 LH short action (not trued)
PT&G Stealth M5 bottom metal
Criterion Remage prefit in Varmint contour
NSS recoil lug and barrel nut
Grayboe Renegade fiberglass stock converted to LH
Steiner rings, EGW 20moa base
Vortex Razor genII 3-18x50 scope
Stock Remington X-mark pro trigger
Bradley adjustable cheek rest

I had the barreled action Cerakoted, and the muzzle threaded by an aquaintance up here in Cheyenne. He also set the headspace and installed the barrel for me (no money for tooling). I converted the stock to LH with some help, bedded the action, and painted the stock myself. A SilencerCo Harvester 30 is in jail right now, maybe I'll see it next summer.

Anyway, here she is

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x191/jmg8550/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/IMAG0087_zpsg3odzfzw.jpg (http://s184.photobucket.com/user/jmg8550/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/IMAG0087_zpsg3odzfzw.jpg.html)

[Spdu4ia]

Just out of curiosity why didn't you have the action trued? Looks nice , hows she shoot?

[jmg8550]

This was a budget build, and the place I would have it done at said it probably doesnt ​NEED it. Spent quite a bit of the budget on the optics, I figured that I should go for a top tier scope. It'll probably be the last high end one I buy unless something groundbreaking comes along.

Haven't shot it yet, I literally finished it today. The clear coat is dry to the touch, but still needs 48hrs to be completely cured.

I'll post updates when I get to the range. I have several loads to test and some factory stuff to break it in and zero on.

[Madusa]

very cool

[Great-Kazoo]

I like that paint job. Thanks for not doing it in FDE ;)

[Grant H.]

Looks good.

If my Criterion barrel is any sort of predictor, your rifle will shoot really nice.

[Lars]

That turned out great, nicely done. The 6.5 is an excelent round, I have one in a bolt and one in a gas gun and struggle to decide which one to shoot first.

[Hummer]

That's a very nice rifle, and a fine scope. Paint the scope too, you know you want to.

[jmg8550]

Can't bring myself to painting the scope. I like the color of it, and I'm not big into painting them after working at Burris in the repair dept. and occasionally having to remove the paint to fix them.

[Chief_of_Scouts]

Very impressed. As a lefty, that is a gun I would like to add to my toolkit.

[jmg8550]

Here is a close up of the right side where I filled in the bolt handle cutout.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x191/jmg8550/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/IMAG0091_zpsxnrxrh7y.jpg (http://s184.photobucket.com/user/jmg8550/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/IMAG0091_zpsxnrxrh7y.jpg.html)

Closer picture of the right side where I filled in the bolt cutout

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x191/jmg8550/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/IMAG0065_zpsnlihztdu.jpg (http://s184.photobucket.com/user/jmg8550/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/IMAG0065_zpsnlihztdu.jpg.html)

Picture of the milling work

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x191/jmg8550/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/IMAG0067_zpsnipt2eyo.jpg (http://s184.photobucket.com/user/jmg8550/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-08/IMAG0067_zpsnipt2eyo.jpg.html)

[jmg8550]

All of the white areas are where the stock had to be milled out to make room for the left hand parts such as trigger, ejection port, etc. The old bolt cutout was filled in with JBWeld fuel tank repair putty. Chad Dixon at LRI suggested using that. It turned out to be a very strong product to fill in large gaps in the stock with

[jmg8550]

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x191/jmg8550/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMAG0097_zps3lmq8ole.jpg (http://s184.photobucket.com/user/jmg8550/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-09/IMAG0097_zps3lmq8ole.jpg.html)

Shot at 100 yards using a Hornady 140gr BTHP, Hornady brass, CCI200 primer, and 42gr AA4350. It's a bit on the slow side when I trued the velocity in the Shooter app, right around 2650fps out of a 23" barrel. I tried 42.5gr and my groups opened up quite a bit. I have some h4350 I'm going to load up and see if I can get it just a bit faster while maintaining accuracy. I'd be happy at 2700-2750. I may also try the new IMR4451 at some point. I think the barrel is going to be a shooter once I nail down a load.

[Delfuego]

Looks great!
H4350 has really been a go-to powder for 6.5 calibers, I think you will like the results.
Try some 142smk or some 140 Berger hybrids too. They are the best bullet your can get now for a 6.5.

Also toss out that trigger, that will help your groups for sure :)

PM If you want a good deal on a Timney trigger...

[jmg8550]

I also have some A-Max and some Barnes bullets I'm going to try. I adjusted the trigger down to 3.5 lbs, that did help a bit. I really want a 2-stage trigger for it, but I'll have to loom for who has a nice one for a decent price. TriggerTech is supposedly coming out with one, I hope it comes sooner than later. I'll PM you about the timney here in a bit.