"NEW" Build - need your input

[FishnHunt]

If you want to shoot out to 1,000 yards and are worried about cost of ammo and do NOT reload, you are in for a disappointment.

Right there with you

[jimmykan]

So you want something in between the sizes of 223 Remington and 6.5 Creedmoor, that has factory ammunition available, and shoots well out to 1000 yards?

That narrows it down to 224 Valkyrie, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Grendel. I can't think of any more.

If the Defiance action has a 308 bolt face, then that further narrows it down to 6mm Creedmoor.

The cost of this ammo is about the same as 6.5 Creedmoor though.

[MongooseV8]

A 6.5 Creedmoor is the cheapest out of the box for 1k yards. There are lots of other cartridges that do well at that distance with the 223 being cheapest. But for factory ammo you wont beat the 6.5 Creedmoor. Lots of match grade rounds for about $1 each.

[BlackOpsArms]

So you already have some Krieger and Bartlein barrel blanks?

What caliber/contour/length/twist are they?

No, I don't, these were the barrels I was thinking of using. I cant really figure out length, twist, contour until I know what caliber I'm going to use

[BlackOpsArms]

If you want to shoot out to 1,000 yards and are worried about cost of ammo and do NOT reload, you are in for a disappointment.

I was kinda afraid of that. BUT I'm NOT an expert, so thats why I wanted to reach out to get opinions from more experienced shooters.

[Howie44]

If you want to shoot out to 1,000 yards and are worried about cost of ammo and do NOT reload, you are in for a disappointment.

This is the most relevant comment yet.

[ar15barrels]

Hello,

I'm interested in building a bolt action rifle. Used for bench shooting only from 100 out to 1,000 yards. I do NOT reload or care to at this point. I already have all the "components" in mind for the build, what I need is your help on choosing a CALIBER based on this info. I hope I gave you enough info to help me decide.

I sold my last rifle that was 6.5 Creedmoor which was a really nice rifle, but got expensive to shoot, since I'm just shooting paper and some metal targets. I already have a really nice .223 bolt action, but want something with a little more power to shoot at 500+ yards, more than the .223. But I also want to keep the cost of ammo down also.

So what are my choices and why? Thanks for the input gentleman

6.5 creedmoor match ammo should be cheaper than 308 match ammo because the 6.5mm bullets are less expensive than similar quality 30 caliber mullets but so much of pricing is related to volume instead of component costs.
Skipping 223/5.56, no other chamberings are going to have match ammo cheaper than 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor.

Match ammo automatically means smaller groups but more expensive ammo.
Cheap ammo normally means larger groups so you gotta pick what's more important, group size or ammo price.

[ar15barrels]

THANKS for input so far, here's some updated info. I was looking for a flat shooting small caliber for the new rifle. (smaller than 6.5 creed or .308) The components aren't cheap, not afraid to spend $$ on them, but just wondering if I can get a smaller caliber round than 6.5 creed and .308 to do what I'm looking to do - if it's possible.

I know the rifle is not a "cheap" build and your wondering why am I concerned about ammo. I get it but just looking at smaller caliber options. Am I wrong to think that 6.5 Creedmoor is just overkill for paper targets?

Preston-CLB - here's the main components, KRG Whiskey 3 comp chassis, Defiance action, Creiger or Bartlein barrel, ARC rings, Leupold Mk5 5-25

Wants to drive a Ferrari.
Complains about the cost of premium fuel and tires...

[ar15barrels]

If you want to shoot out to 1,000 yards and are worried about cost of ammo and do NOT reload, you are in for a disappointment.

This.
Reloading is SO important to get the best accuracy possible out of a rifle.
The reduced cost is just a side benefit.

The saying goes that you won't save any money reloading because you will just shoot twice as much.
The thing is that with reloading, you won't spend any more money to shoot twice as much.
The lower cost to shoot is WHY you shoot so much more.

[BlackOpsArms]

Wants to drive a Ferrari.
Complains about the cost of premium fuel and tires...

ok, take it easy Randall!, I'M A CUSTOMER OF YOURS!!!! I'm just feeling out to see if what I'm looking to do IS possible. Shooting a 6.5 creed at just paper seems overkill, especially when many ranges I get shoot at are < 300 yards. I want to be able to shoot longer than 500+, but I don't get alot of chances to shoot longer range like BLM land.

Reloading may save money - IF I shoot enough to cover the probably $1,000 cost of reloading equipment (whatever it costs) but I don't shoot that much, I definitely do not have the room to re load and I have other rifles that I shoot. So I dont think reloading is "my" answer. I also said I'm not trying to squeeze out every bit of accuracy.

[ar15barrels]

ok, take it easy Randall!, I'M A CUSTOMER OF YOURS!!!! I'm just feeling out to see if what I'm looking to do IS possible. Shooting a 6.5 creed at just paper seems overkill, especially when many ranges I get shoot at are < 300 yards. I want to be able to shoot longer than 500+, but I don't get alot of chances to shoot longer range like BLM land.

Reloading may save money - IF I shoot enough to cover the probably $1,000 cost of reloading equipment (whatever it costs) but I don't shoot that much, I definitely do not have the room to re load and I have other rifles that I shoot. So I dont think reloading is "my" answer. I also said I'm not trying to squeeze out every bit of accuracy.

The answer is that what you are looking to do is not realistically possible.
Hence my comment about a Ferarri.

6mm creedmoor is probably the answer for you then if you are looking for something less powerful than 6.5 creedmoor without stepping all the way down to 223.
The costs will likely be higher than 6.5 creedmoor though since there are fewer companies selling the ammo and fewer guns in the market that shoot that ammo.

Reloading absolutely opens you up to be able to shoot any manner of wildcats like a 6x223 which would give you similar exterior ballistics to 308 with just slightly more recoil than 223 and at a lower cost to shoot than factory 223 match ammo.
Without reloading, you are completely blocked of all the small capacity mid-bore cartridges other than maybe 6.5 Grenade but even 6.5 grenade match ammo is going to be priced similar to 6.5 creedmoor or 308 and it won't work in your build without customizing AICS type magazines and a non-standard boltface.

[ar15barrels]

As a price comparison on Midwayusa:

Federal gold medal 308 (168 or 175SMK) $26.99
Federal gold medal 6 creedmoor 107SMK $27.99
Federal gold medal 6.5 creedmoor 140SMK $28.99
Federal gold medal 6.5 grenade 130Berger $28.99

[mmlook]

ok, take it easy Randall!, I'M A CUSTOMER OF YOURS!!!! I'm just feeling out to see if what I'm looking to do IS possible. Shooting a 6.5 creed at just paper seems overkill, especially when many ranges I get shoot at are < 300 yards. I want to be able to shoot longer than 500+, but I don't get alot of chances to shoot longer range like BLM land.

Reloading may save money - IF I shoot enough to cover the probably $1,000 cost of reloading equipment (whatever it costs) but I don't shoot that much, I definitely do not have the room to re load and I have other rifles that I shoot. So I dont think reloading is "my" answer. I also said I'm not trying to squeeze out every bit of accuracy.

you're not looking for another gun.

what you want is a new barrel

do a .223ai, throat it long for 80-90gr bullets

shoot your factory 75gr stuff from 100-500
shoot custom loads from 500-1k
- you can get these made for you
- buy them 1k at a time

[9mmrevolver]

I completely agree with Randall. I have a 338 lapua and 50 beo. I load both at under a buck a round. I save 50-75 percent. Lapua Ammo get up around the 100 buck mark real quick. That means more shooting. With my 224 valkrie, if I didn’t reload I’d be ****ed. It hates the American Eagle 77gr tmj. Right now I have 8 different loads ready to be tested. Reloading gives u a new hobbie that ties into shooting.

[LynnJr]

If your looking for accuracy out to 1000 yards and don't reload the 6BR will be the most accurate gun/ammo combination you can piece together.
Ammo is $2 a shot but you can sell the once fired Lapua brass for 75 cents each to help with the cost.
A short action with a standard 0.473 boltface a Bartlein 8 twist barrel 0.236 bore 28 inches finished length will last you at your level 5000 rounds.
If you insist on a chassis you can buy an accuracy asset for the handguard so you have a flat section for riding on a bag. This keeps the gun level and makes sure you keep it in the right position shot after shot.
At 500 yards on a calm day it will outshoot most rifles on this forum at 100 yards on a typical day.
Very little recoil guilt edge accuracy long barrel life makes it a hard combination to beat.