6CM to 358 Win Rebore

[bmicek]

Currently waiting on a call back from JES but in the meantime the topic is in my head. I am very heavily leaning towards reboring my 6 Creed Barrett Fieldcraft to 358 Win for something I can use for elk hunting under 400 yards. For those with experience with this, what does the number of grooves have an influence on? Usually there’s some kind of pros and cons to things so what situation would you want a 3 groove and not a 5 groove and vice versa? Also looking for any input at all in this kind of project. I planned to get a faster twist like 1:12 for some heavier bullets as well as 140-150gr copper bullets as well.

 

[wildwilderness]

No way. Not enough steel in the barrel to ream it out to that big of bore, then you need a rechamber.

Far and away you should sell the FC and would have plenty of funds, plus all the amount you would have spent, to purchase whatever other rifle you want for elk hunting.

If you just love the FC stock and action I have seen one rebarreled. That is far away a better option, and go with a 308 (or 284win if you reload)

 

[bmicek]

No way. Not enough steel in the barrel to ream it out to that big of bore, then you need a rechamber.

Far and away you should sell the FC and would have plenty of funds, plus all the amount you would have spent, to purchase whatever other rifle you want for elk hunting.

Why is there not enough steel? The rifle is still being shipped my way so I don’t have measurements in front of me but if it’s threaded 5/8x24 from the factory, that should be plenty big enough I would think. Or am I overlooking something?

 

[wildwilderness]

Why is there not enough steel? The rifle is still being shipped my way so I don’t have measurements in front of me but if it’s threaded 5/8x24 from the factory, that should be plenty big enough I would think. Or am I overlooking something?

look at the threaded portion- the barrel gets thin then they balloon it out again to fit the threads

 

[BRTreedogs]

243 been tipping elk over for years. Just pick a good bullet and shoot them with the 6

 

[bmicek]

look at the threaded portion- the barrel gets thin then they balloon it out again to fit the threads

I’ll have to do some measurements when I get it. From what I’m reading, the muzzle diameter ahead of that threaded portion is .550” and Jesse at JES says it’s ideal to have .200” over bore (would need .558”) so assuming this is correct (which I don’t know 100% until I get my rifle) it may be very close to sufficient.

 

[Trogon]

Why not just get a second barrel? I just ran the specs at McGowen and its around 360$. Then you got a big bore and a 6mm. Two good options for a range of game.

 

[bmicek]

Why not just get a second barrel? I just ran the specs at McGowen and its around 360$. Then you got a big bore and a 6mm. Two good options for a range of game.

I contemplated that but it’s my understanding that Fieldcrafts are bedded from action to the end of the stock so I’d need to perfectly match the contour of the factory barrel to ensure property bedding. Which I know is possible but with my current rifle situation, I have the bases covered already that a 6 Creed would be usable for so I don’t really have a NEED for a 6 Creed. I bought the rifle because it was cheap and i couldn’t even come close to the cost of buying a titanium action and lightweight stock for what I paid for it.

 

[wildwilderness]

I’ll have to do some measurements when I get it. From what I’m reading, the muzzle diameter ahead of that threaded portion is .550” and Jesse at JES says it’s ideal to have .200” over bore (would need .558”) so assuming this is correct (which I don’t know 100% until I get my rifle) it may be very close to sufficient.

If you got the rifle for a great deal I'm sure you could sell it and make $. I have had barrels rebored, and have ended up with a rebarrel down the road. More predictable accuracy, can get whatever you want, and contour.

Maybe consider 338 federal to give you the wiggle room if set on rebore

 

[bmicek]

If you got the rifle for a great deal I'm sure you could sell it and make $. I have had barrels rebored, and have ended up with a rebarrel down the road. More predictable accuracy, can get whatever you want, and contour.

Maybe consider 338 federal to give you the wiggle room if set on rebore

I for sure could make some $ on it, got it for a good price. Bad thing is, I know I’ll never get a deal on one like it again haha so I’ll probably just wait and take some measurements when I get it and go from there. Appreciate the help.

 

[Shraggs]

I’m not an expert regarding gunsmithing at all, but I’m huge fan of the 358. Many here poo poo, but it’s formidable with comfortable recoil and with near zero penalty in speed in short barrels.

My mix, for big game includes the now famous 223/77, 6 creed in the works and a 358 win in a blr. Mid bores kill remarkably even with std Bullets. Believed as short range only is the myth.

My first load was 220 hammer hunters at 2535 FPS. 1800 FPS is 400 yards at sea level. I believe but have not had time to test, that butter will open down to 1600. Pretty compressed. So,

Next load is 200 hammers, 2700 now hope end up 2730 ish.

Sent my 308 packing, my 358 has similar range with another level of “punch”. No way a 308 in short barrel is comparable, imho.

Definitely 12 twist if 225 partions or any monos in 200-225 are in the plan.

 

[Spoonbill]

I’ll have to do some measurements when I get it. From what I’m reading, the muzzle diameter ahead of that threaded portion is .550” and Jesse at JES says it’s ideal to have .200” over bore (would need .558”) so assuming this is correct (which I don’t know 100% until I get my rifle) it may be very close to sufficient.

You can always cut the barrel back. I have no experience with the fieldcraft so I don’t know if it would end up being shorter than you want.
I had a ruger 77 rebored from 30-06 to 35 whelen by JES, I think I went with 3 grooves on his reccomendation. Gun is accurate, only downside is the barrel is too thin to thread for a muzzle brake and it fouled pretty bad the first 50 rounds or so to the point groups would open up until I cleaned out the copper.
That being said, I would do it again and JES was great to deal with. I think it was about a week turn around including shipping.

 

[260madman]

Either buy a different rifle or do a contour dupe. No way in hell I’d bore out a Fieldcraft barrel now that they aren’t making them and probably won’t for a very long time.

 

[hodgeman]

Either buy a different rifle or do a contour dupe. No way in hell I’d bore out a Fieldcraft barrel now that they aren’t making them and probably won’t for a very long time.

^^^^This.

That rifle (if true to type) will shoot 1/2" groups out of the box.

If you want to molest a rifle for a lightweight .358, check out Luke's 358 Kimber Montana build. I've shot it and I really like that gun...and he's got far less than what a Fieldcraft goes for these days.

 

[bmicek]

I’m not an expert regarding gunsmithing at all, but I’m huge fan of the 358. Many here poo poo, but it’s formidable with comfortable recoil and with near zero penalty in speed in short barrels.

My mix, for big game includes the now famous 223/77, 6 creed in the works and a 358 win in a blr. Mid bores kill remarkably even with std Bullets. Believed as short range only is the myth.

My first load was 220 hammer hunters at 2535 FPS. 1800 FPS is 400 yards at sea level. I believe but have not had time to test, that butter will open down to 1600. Pretty compressed. So,

Next load is 200 hammers, 2700 now hope end up 2730 ish.

Sent my 308 packing, my 358 has similar range with another level of “punch”. No way a 308 in short barrel is comparable, imho.

Definitely 12 twist if 225 partions or any monos in 200-225 are in the plan.

I appreciate the info, I’ve been eyeing some Hammer bullets for it already. Really fond of them.

 

[bmicek]

Either buy a different rifle or do a contour dupe. No way in hell I’d bore out a Fieldcraft barrel now that they aren’t making them and probably won’t for a very long time.

I guess I don’t understand what difference it would make. But I appreciate your opinion on it.

 

[bmicek]

^^^^This.

That rifle (if true to type) will shoot 1/2" groups out of the box.

If you want to molest a rifle for a lightweight .358, check out Luke's 358 Kimber Montana build. I've shot it and I really like that gun...and he's got far less than what a Fieldcraft goes for these days.

I’ve seen his build and talked with Luke before. But I also know I have less into the Fieldcraft than what his build cost. Which is my main reason for purchasing it and building it into something I would use.

 

[CApighunter]

I’d probably do a 338 fed but it should be fine, .200 OD over bore diameter at a minimum. JES did my Montana in 338-06 and it’s a favorite. Had it out to 400 yards a couple weeks ago.