The Start of a 6.5 light elk build

[AleksanderSuave]

Looking to build myself an 18-20" barreled 6.5 creedmoor, that I would like to take on an elk hunt next year.

Im pretty set on the caliber, but looking at other items (actions, stocks, etc) and wanted some advice or a sanity check.

Stock: Manners PH or LRH.
Action: Between a Kelblys Nanook, Terminus Apollo Lite, or Possibly a Zermatt TL3, or possibly Defiance Renegade
Trigger: Undecided
Barrel: Not sure yet on contour, possibly a stainless steel with fluting, was considering a Bartlein prefit, but seeing a lot of places doing prefits for either of the above actions, including PVA, Straight Jacket, Preferred Barrel Blanks, or Bugholes.
Rings - undecided
Scope: Considering a Tract Toric UHD 2.5-15x.

Suppressor: TBD - would like to get a 308 K Size can.

Any advice or suggestions?

 

[hereinaz]

Preferred has the Kelblys Atlas Lite on sale. With a prefit you would be good to go. All my Preferred prefits have hammered. Any action is going to be good.

Just pick your features. I like Teubor because of the 70 degree bolt throw. I also like American Rifle Company, but I am weird… lol. Kelblys apparently sells a 70 degree replacement bolt. Terminus has the similar bolt throw I think.

Preferred Barrel # 2 or 3 fluted, their 12 flute is aggressive apparently.

Trigger Tech Primary or Special if you want to go down low.

Hawkins direct mount rings would look sweet on an action like the Atlas Lite.

Get a SWFA 3-9 over the Tract, or a Credo.

Go with a full size suppressor IMO. K cans are too small and the extra bit of length makes a big difference in reduction. A short barrel 6.5 will pop your ears still, and I Personally would wear ear pro hunting. I use my 308 cans on my 6.5 and 25.

Go with the shorter 18” barrel and a 6mm if you need the ballistics for long range.

 

[AleksanderSuave]

Preferred has the Kelblys Atlas Lite on sale. With a prefit you would be good to go. All my Preferred prefits have hammered. Any action is going to be good.

Just pick your features. I like Teubor because of the 70 degree bolt throw. I also like American Rifle Company, but I am weird… lol. Kelblys apparently sells a 70 degree replacement bolt. Terminus has the similar bolt throw I think.

Preferred Barrel # 2 or 3 fluted, their 12 flute is aggressive apparently.

Trigger Tech Primary or Special if you want to go down low.

Hawkins direct mount rings would look sweet on an action like the Atlas Lite.

Get a SWFA 3-9 over the Tract, or a Credo.

Go with a full size suppressor IMO. K cans are too small and the extra bit of length makes a big difference in reduction. A short barrel 6.5 will pop your ears still, and I Personally would wear ear pro hunting. I use my 308 cans on my 6.5 and 25.

Go with the shorter 18” barrel and a 6mm if you need the ballistics for long range.

Thanks for the advice. Do you have an ARC CDG? I was just looking at their new "CDG LITE" action as well, but dont see much about it yet.

The trigger hanger isnt used on a lot of these, but on a few of the options from Kelblys and thats new to me.

Ive got a pretty decent full size can (CGS Hyperion) and would prefer something shorter, its massive..but suppresses well. Would like something around 6" for this time around, and will likely double on a gas gun when not used for hunting. Ill check out the credo and the SWFA glass too.

The Teubor action is the only one that Im not familiar with as far as items you mentioned.

 

[Azhunter10]

I really like my Terminus actions, I currently have the SA Zues QC and I am waiting for my Apollo lite to come in for a lightweight build. I don’t think you can go wrong with a terminus. They are more expensive, but Joel (the owner offers discounts to military and first responders, here are also a lot of prefits for those actions

 

[kkp005]

You’re going to hear this A lot on this forum .. But the easy and bullet proof button will be the following and prob save ya some cash.
-tikka t3x : chopped and threaded
-scope: maven rs1.2, NF , trijicon credo or tenmile , SWFA fixed 6x, 10x , 3x9 or 3-15
Rings : UM tikka rings or sportsmatch tikka rings

 

[hereinaz]

Thanks for the advice. Do you have an ARC CDG? I was just looking at their new "CDG LITE" action as well, but dont see much about it yet.

The trigger hanger isnt used on a lot of these, but on a few of the options from Kelblys and thats new to me.

Ive got a pretty decent full size can (CGS Helios) and would prefer something shorter, its massive..but suppresses well. Would like something around 6" for this time around, and will likely double on a gas gun when not used for hunting. Ill check out the credo and the SWFA glass too.

The Teubor action is the only one that Im not familiar with as far as items you mentioned.

I have a single digit serial number Nucleus that I love. Friends run other Nucleus and the Archimedes after running my Nuke aid shooting with it. People like what the know. And, the bolt throw not hitting your scope is appealing.

The CDG lite will be my next action I think. The pivoting bolt is crazy effective and natural. It will run my Nuke prefits.

Teubor actions I have seen are great. I had one and a friend wanted it so I sold it to him. Another friend like it so I found him a used action.

The Aero Solus is also 70 degree and takes Origin prefits for a budget build.

You get the suppressor thing, so it’s cool. I don’t know any good K fans. There is one company that makes a screw together can that you can pick the length. Can’t remember the name, but my buddy picked up a couple on a sale and rhey are pretty cool and effective. Silencer Shop has them. J? or something with two initials.

 

[AleksanderSuave]

You’re going to hear this A lot on this forum .. But the easy and bullet proof button will be the following and prob save ya some cash.
-tikka t3x : chopped and threaded
-scope: maven rs1.2, NF , trijicon credo or tenmile , SWFA fixed 6x, 10x , 3x9 or 3-15
Rings : UM tikka rings or sportsmatch tikka rings

I considered it, however, I had a pretty horrible experience with my first Tikka in 6.5 (chamber was cracked internally), spent almost 9 months in Beretta's customer service hell, I had to chase down senior VPs working there, to get a replacement, and honestly, after that, would prefer to not spend my money with them ever again, if I have the choice to do so.

Shame too, because I still have a t1x trainer too, I built identical to my t3x, and that 22 continues to impress me every time I go out with it. Ive hit 385 yards diagonally off a hill on a reasonably small steel target with it.

I AM however very curious about Maven (similar to Tract) and wish I could see one in person at this point. Really interested in both these company's offerings, especially after reading about vortex lht's repeated failed drop tests.

 

[AleksanderSuave]

I really like my Terminus actions, I currently have the SA Zues QC and I am waiting for my Apollo lite to come in for a lightweight build. I don’t think you can go wrong with a terminus. They are more expensive, but Joel (the owner offers discounts to military and first responders, here are also a lot of prefits for those actions

I did not realize that about the discount, saw the part about military/LE, but nothing mentioned about first responders. Will have to definitely email them. The Terminus apollo lite was first choice on my list..

 

[AleksanderSuave]

Also finding a defiance renegade as similarly priced now, to add to the list

 

[Smcask100]

Looking to build myself an 18-20" barreled 6.5 creedmoor, that I would like to take on an elk hunt next year.

Im pretty set on the caliber, but looking at other items (actions, stocks, etc) and wanted some advice or a sanity check.

Stock: Manners PH or LRH.
Action: Between a Kelblys Nanook, Terminus Apollo Lite, or Possibly a Zermatt TL3, originally planned on Defiance Anti but seeing them OOS most places and the price having gone up I would like to try other brands.
Trigger: Undecided
Barrel: Not sure yet on contour, possibly a stainless steel with fluting, was considering a Bartlein prefit, but seeing a lot of places doing prefits for either of the above actions, including PVA, Straight Jacket, Preferred Barrel Blanks, or Bugholes.
Rings - undecided
Scope: Considering a Tract Toric UHD 2.5-15x.

Suppressor: TBD - would like to get a 308 K Size can.

Any advice or suggestions?

I am right in the middle of a similar build, only chambered in 7prc. Preferred barrel blanks has the kelbly nanook on sale right now, you can order custom prefits from them as well. They have expedited 5wk service over Black Friday weekend.

If you’re trying to save on weight, the PH is a little lighter. Doesn’t have the adjustable cheek piece, but otherwise checks all the boxes for me.

Triggertech special gets my vote for a trigger.

I am currently running an omega 36 m for a can. It’s great, multipurpose and I use it on several rifles up to my 338lm. That being said, you can’t only have one suppressor so now I’m looking at a lighter titanium can that will live on my new build.

Just my two cents.

 

[khuber84]

I'd suggest the manners ph, no mini chassis for weight savings unless you plan to swap other actions into the chassis. For action of your listed choices, the nanook 75° as it's 100% integral in rail and lug. Use hawkins hunter dbm with their newly released 2.98" internal 4rd mags for creedmoor. An ace #2 or Bart #3 will finish around 700 diameter at 18" for can, if going 20" you'll want #3 ace, Bart 3B, or light palma, other option is 9/16x24 threads. Carbons are always an option too. Suppressor suggestion: dead air nomad ti XC. Near k can size but very impressive metered at ear dB ratings.

From a 18-20" I'd think top end velocity would be around 2650+- or so on top end with 140-147gr bullets, I'd prob run a 7.5tw barrel to keep the rpms up for terminal affect.

Just my 2¢

 

[HandgunHTR]

I AM however very curious about Maven (similar to Tract) and wish I could see one in person at this point. Really interested in both these company's offerings, especially after reading about vortex lht's repeated failed drop tests.

I have both the Maven and the Tract UHD 2.5-15X44. Both of mine are MRAD. Each has features I like and a couple of things I don't like, but can live with. For the Tract, I know that the one that Form tested didn't pass his drop tests, but I have tested mine at the range (dropped it just like Form) and in the field (riding around in an ATV/UTV/truck, had it fall over, general raising and lowering into stands, etc.) and it is still holding strong and holding zero. Same for the Maven. I like the Tract reticle just a little bit more than the Maven. My Tract is non-illuminated, btw. The windage cover on the Tract is significantly bigger than on the Maven. So much so that on my Tikka build in 338 Sherman Mega (similar case size to a 300WSM), the empty case was hitting the cover during ejection and causing it to fall back into the action. That gun now has the Maven. I have the Tract on a Remage 260 now and don't have the issue, so as you are building on a Rem clone with a standard diameter case, it may not be an issue. The zero stops are both very similar. The main difference is that the Maven's collar is already on the elevation turret and the Tract's comes in a little bag so you can put it on once you have the rifle zeroed. The Maven feels lighter and slimmer than the Tract. According to the spec sheets, they should be within two ounces (one if you put the battery in the Maven), but it just doesn't feel that way to me. The Tract is just bulkier, if that makes sense. Lastly, the Tract is available and is a bit less expensive, especially with the MIL/FR discount. That is one of the biggest reasons why I have another Tract on order for my next build.

 

[wind gypsy]

Kelbly nanook 90 degrees actions have been on sale for good prices lately that’s probably what I’d get if not doing lone peak fuzion alpine cut for quite a bit more money. Preferred and pva both make lighter taperless prefits. Ace #2 or Bartlein #3 will both be around .725” muzzle at 20” but they aren’t exactly light. I’d rather use a benchmark #4 contour that’s a little over 0.7” @ 20” because it’s lighter.

All that said.. it’s awful hard to justify not just doing a tikka and having it chopped and threaded for less than the price of a custom action alone and no need for an expensive barrel, trigger, etc.

 

[AleksanderSuave]

I’m starting to think more and more about just grabbing that tikka roughtech 20” barreled 6.5. The difference in cost between that and my ideal custom build would cover the scope and another suppressor for it.

 

[hereinaz]

I’m starting to think more and more about just grabbing that tikka roughtech 20” barreled 6.5. The difference in cost between that and my ideal custom build would cover the scope and another suppressor for it.

Definitely can’t argue with that.

Look at the Eurooptic sale and see if customizing the Tikka with a chop/thread and stock change makes sense.

 

[180ls1]

I’m starting to think more and more about just grabbing that tikka roughtech 20” barreled 6.5. The difference in cost between that and my ideal custom build would cover the scope and another suppressor for it.

I like that idea more.

Conversely, I am building one with a Stockys VG and Howa Superlite action. Very affordable and *should* be a shooter. Obviously the action is not in the same league but its "good enough" especially for what you pay.

 

[hereinaz]

I like that idea more.

Conversely, I am building one with a Stockys VG and Howa Superlite action. Very affordable and *should* be a shooter. Obviously the action is not in the same league but it’s "good enough" especially for what you pay.

You buy the super light as a full rifle? I have been using standard actions and mini actions, so the super light has my attention.

 

[180ls1]

You buy the super light as a full rifle? I have been using standard actions and mini actions, so the super light has my attention.

Just the action.

Brownells stocks them exclusively, I believe. My 20" 6.5 with bronze cerakote was $450 (on sale). Some are more some are less. .243, 6.5, 7-08, 308

 

[AleksanderSuave]

Definitely can’t argue with that.

Look at the Eurooptic sale and see if customizing the Tikka with a chop/thread and stock change makes sense.

I think I'll leave it at 20" and just spend the money on a better stock, Stocky's VFG one is pretty nice on my Howa, wouldnt mind just going the easy route on one for this Tikka either, and the sale now is nice.

 

[wesfromky]

If you want a K length can, then get a 6.5 bore one. OCL hydrogen K, etc. With a short can, bore size makes more difference vs longer cans.