Western Mountain All Purpose Rifle Build; Looking for Guidance

[denverangler725]

Hey everyone,

I live and hunt in Colorado and I am planning a rifle build that I can use for elk, antelope, and mule deer. Build is heavily inspired by the Exo Mtn Gear podcasts with @Formidilosus . My goal is to keep it versatile and effective out to about 500 yards. I am fairly new to hunting and firearms but I am very handy with cars and bikes and hoping to do as much of the work myself as possible.

For now I will be shooting factory ammunition, most likely Hornady ELD X or ELD M, since I do not have a reloading setup yet. If there are better bullet or cartridge options for an all around western rifle I would love to hear recommendations.

Here is the plan so far
MDT HNT26 chassis
16 to 18 inch barrel
Airlock Industries Zero Gravity suppressor
Nightforce NXS 2.5 to 10x42

Here are my main questions

1. Barrel source and twist: Where would you recommend getting a barrel. I can get a good deal on Proof but they do not make short 6CM prefits. My option would be to buy a blank and have it cut and threaded by a smith which adds about 400 dollars. Is there a better way to approach this and what twist rate would you recommend.
2. Action choice: I already own a Tikka in 270 Winchester. I can also get a good deal on a Defiance AnTi X action. Would I see meaningful benefits by going with the custom action or should I use my Tikka as the base. If Tikka is the way to go what modifications are worth considering. I noticed Unknown Munitions offers a Tikka lightening and nitride service for about 350 dollars.

I really appreciate any thoughts and advice. I work in the outdoor industry and can access some discounts so I am trying to build smart without wasting money.

Thanks in advance

 

[MagnumHntr]

Send your action to Unknown and have them chamber up an Ace 6cm barrel, nitride the action and the bolt. Dont have and cuts done. If you want it lighter, choose a smaller barrel profile.

 

[denverangler725]

Send your action to Unknown and have them chamber up an Ace 6cm barrel, nitride the action and the bolt. Dont have and cuts done. If you want it lighter, choose a smaller barrel profile.

Any opinion on barrel twist?

 

[MagnumHntr]

Any opinion on barrel twist?

If you're in colorado you could get by with a 7.5 but I would do a 7. Unknown will help you out with that.

 

[Quandary]

Before going that short on the barrel check this out;

6 Creedmoor barrel length versus muzzle velocity (31 to 17 inches)

6 Creedmoor barrel length and velocity 6 Creedmoor is rapidly rising in popularity among long range shooters. Combining an efficient case design with the wide range of excellent 6mm bullets, the 6…

rifleshooter.com

 

[Fever Buck]

I went the route you did. Should be picking up my custom 6CM from my gunsmith in a month. (in CO as well) I went with a defiance AnTi-X and 18” 243 proof Sendero blank from evolved ballistics. Throwing my TBAC ultra 7 (will look at snagging the 6CM airlock when it comes out). Putting it in a HNT 26 and throwing a trigger tech special. Topping it with an NXS 2.5-10.

Rokslide is very fond of tikka but I wanted to go light as possibly and have never had issues with my LA Defiance anti I’ve had for a few years. Really like my trigger tech trigger as well.

Should be a good 600 yard and in gun. Hoping it’ll be sub 8lbs all put together.

 

[denverangler725]

I went the route you did. Should be picking up my custom 6CM from my gunsmith in a month. (in CO as well) I went with a defiance AnTi-X and 18” 243 proof Sendero blank from evolved ballistics. Throwing my TBAC ultra 7 (will look at snagging the 6CM airlock when it comes out). Putting it in a HNT 26 and throwing a trigger tech special. Topping it with an NXS 2.5-10.

Rokslide is very fond of tikka but I wanted to go light as possibly and have never had issues with my LA Defiance anti I’ve had for a few years. Really like my trigger tech trigger as well.

Should be a good 600 yard and in gun. Hoping it’ll be sub 8lbs all put together.

Nice build! How much did it cost you here in Colorado to have the barrel machined for 6CM? I want to factor that into the costs if I end up buying a blank. Any parts/options you considered other than those you listed?

 

[wind gypsy]

With a sub 5” can I’d go at least 18” personally. 7 or 7.5 twist are good. I’d lean towards 7.5 twist.

Lots of barrel options. I’m partial to benchmark #4 contours for hunting rifles. .750 taperless, Pbb lite hybrid, rem magnum, or ACE tikka lite contours are good options too.

I like using tikkas as economical/reliable options that save $ and weight on triggers and magazines as well. M700 pattern customs are nice too though.

 

[denverangler725]

With a sub 5” can I’d go at least 18” personally. 7 or 7.5 twist are good. I’d lean towards 7.5 twist.

Lots of barrel options. I’m partial to benchmark #4 contours for hunting rifles. .750 taperless, Pbb lite hybrid, rem magnum, or ACE tikka lite contours are good options too.

I like using tikkas as economical/reliable options that save $ and weight on triggers and magazines as well. M700 pattern customs are nice too though.

Thanks, this is helpful. Ive found a number of threads on here that make me feel like I wouldn't get much real world benefit from one of these very expensive actions. Trying to talk myself into using the action I have and saving a ton but there's still room to trick myself into the custom.

 

[Fever Buck]

Nice build! How much did it cost you here in Colorado to have the barrel machined for 6CM? I want to factor that into the costs if I end up buying a blank. Any parts/options you considered other than those you listed?

I haven’t gotten the bill for this build but last time it was $500ish for everything. I considered XLR and peak 44 but took a small weight penalty for the ability to fold the stock and full length Arca and prefer the HNT carbon and weight to the magnesium of the XLR. Also better mags for MDT.

Didn’t really consider any other parts as the ones I have work great. I built a 7prc with the same components and it’s crazy accurate.

 

[Ajsomp]

Eurooptic has some 20” 243 1:8 twist tikkas. Could snag that, get unknown to load up some ammo, and get your other components. Save on the build for now or find a smith to chamber 6 creed out of that barrel.

If you are going with the airlock industries, it’s already pretty short. Same with the OG. I get the want for a 18” but that could be the fastest route for you.

 

[Quandary]

I used a Tikka action in my 35 Whelen build with a Bartlein barrel. It uses big not particularly aerodynamic bullets. It giving my .7 MOA 10 shot groups. A tikka action will work just fine.,

 

[Hnthrdr]

Fellow Coloradan, put together a 6cm off of a tikka action. Went with a 20” barrel wish I would have gone shorter, sounds like you have a good plan, the 6cm suppressed is such a fun to shoot rifle. Even at 16” you will be fine out to 500 with MV

 

[hereinaz]

I can sell you a Tikka barreled action with a 6 cm Preferred Barrel prefit. There’s lots of guys who have used Preferred Barrel prefits and I’ve sold a few dozen since we started offering them earlier this year.

16” will get you to 500 yards. 7 or 7.5 twist. I wouldn’t go longer than 18.

 

[Lawnboi]

You will get a lot more out of buying a few cases of lot matched ammo than you would a custom action or carbon barrel.

Idk what UM lead times are but I’d they are decent I’d send it to them. If not I would find a blank and another smith to put it together.

7 or 7.5 twist. With that short of a suppressor and factory Hornady I’d go 20”.

You’re not going to gain anything with a custom action. If you were going barrel to barrel I could be talked into prefit availability, but that’s not the case here.

IMO you would be foolish not to utilize your action you have and spend the rest on same lot ammo, maybe a nice tripod.

 

[TaperPin]

Before going that short on the barrel check this out;

6 Creedmoor barrel length versus muzzle velocity (31 to 17 inches)

6 Creedmoor barrel length and velocity 6 Creedmoor is rapidly rising in popularity among long range shooters. Combining an efficient case design with the wide range of excellent 6mm bullets, the 6…

rifleshooter.com

I love that chart. It explains why my favorite rifle this year is a 6mm-06 with 28” barrel! *chuckle*

I doubt I’ll ever have a 6mm creedmoor, but if someone doesn’t reload it makes sense, sort of. I don’t see it as an elk rifle, but someone should shoot a few and judge for themselves.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I love that chart. It explains why my favorite rifle this year is a 6mm-06 with 28” barrel! *chuckle*

I doubt I’ll ever have a 6mm creedmoor, but if someone doesn’t reload it makes sense, sort of. I don’t see it as an elk rifle, but someone should shoot a few and judge for themselves.

There is a thread where guys have killed a few dozen with the 6cm with heavies with 0 drama

 

[denverangler725]

There is a thread where guys have killed a few dozen with the 6cm with heavies with 0 drama

Not to mention the even bigger thread where people killed with 556/223

 

[Schmo]

Go with a Tikka action. You could check with @hereinaz on a new action with a PBB prefit already installed. Go 16” or 18” on barrel length.

 

[TaperPin]

There is a thread where guys have killed a few dozen with the 6cm with heavies with 0 drama

That’s the same logic used when I first showed up here and all anyone talked about was the 223. With hundreds of .223 posts to prove it’s so good why shoot a 6mm if .22 is all you need? Good luck to anyone shooting whatever they want. I see a fast 6.5 as a sensible minimum for elk, very similar to the 270 which has a proven track record for the past 100 years.