Price of a RARP in 6.5 Creedmoor is $360.99 at: www.whittakerguns.com

The recent sale price is still effective, and they have 15 of them on the warehouse shelf and one on the display rack in the store.

I had to have a second one at that price, parts is parts!



I have also reverted to three rings per rifle on these, just because I could, among other reasons.
If the Predator had a longer rail I would use four Burris Xtreme Tacticool rings on the Tasco.

The extended sunshade removed from the Tasco "Custom Shop" 10-50x50mm (30 mm tube with mildot reticle and side parallax adjustment):



Low power range on the Tasco:



Top end zoom on the Tasco:



And the Sightron to be verified:



A 6.5 Creedmoor RARP is a nice rifle for scope testing, for scopes that are hard to find a use for otherwise.

Here is the "muzzle device" or flash suppressor that works on either the RARP or the RPR, adds only an inch to barrel length, makes a nice crown protector:





Another new OEM part shipped from BACO in MO, USA:



Riflecrank Internationale Permanente aka Squirrel Killer
Pet Wildcat Certifying Authority and Tree Rat Control Agent
NRA Life Benefactor and Beneficiary
https://home.nra.org/

Hornady factory ammo has been very good to me.



Hornady did receive a package via UPS from me yesterday, acknowledged by email today, a box of their factory ammo for pressure testing.
It was a newer batch of ELD Match ammo,
not the A-max ammo used for the target above.
Hornady is supposed to pressure test the box I sent back to them and let me know.

Riflecrank Internationale Permanente aka Squirrel Killer
Pet Wildcat Certifying Authority and Tree Rat Control Agent
NRA Life Benefactor and Beneficiary
https://home.nra.org/

I always thought that RIP stood for Rifles In Progress.

quote:

Originally posted by .366torque:
I always thought that RIP stood for Rifles In Progress.

That is pretty good, sums me up well.
Most of my finest still need a little more work.
I usually quit when they function mechanically and shoot at least one load accurately.

Latest RIP that are truly still WIP:

20 Gauge from Purgatory 3.5" (.615 Nitro Express) on a Ruger No. 1
with 24" Verney-Carron fully rifled barrel turned down to straight cylinder 1.200" diameter, 1:28" twist, 8-groove
a huge muzzle brake,
Picatinny rail extending full length of barrel,
and Bell & Carlson stock I got before they quit making them ...


26 Ripmoor (.264/.375 Ruger with caliber-length neck and 6.5 Creedmoor throat) on a CZ 550 Magnum
just so I can get five in the mag box plus one in the chamber and C.O.L. to 3.8" which is past sufficient,
Krieger 26" stainless #4 sporter contour, 5R, 1:8"
CZ Aramid stock or same from B&C,
Timney trigger
LaPour safety
Brockman forend tip swivel base ...

.408/.338 Lapua Magnum No-Improvement-Needed on a BRNO ZKK 602
McGowen stainless # 6 contour 26", 1:13", 6-groove
McMillan stock
Wisner safety
BRNO curved trigger
Brockman forend tip swivel base ...

The 20GfP has graduated from purgatory to limbo where the .408 has been waiting for buddy to get the get-out-of-purgatory card.

The 26 Ripmoor is just going to rip right by both of those on the road to the Happy Hunting Ground.

The .408/.338LM is going to be renamed the ".408 Culloden" in keeping with a Scottish Clan theme for a gathering of my wildcats,
and the brutal end to my wildcat foolishness ... maybe.
But I will not be wearing a kilt to the The Gathering, suspenders AND belt yes, but no kilts or sporans.



Rifles in Progress by
Riflecrank Internationale Permanente aka Squirrel Killer
Pet Wildcat Certifying Authority and Tree Rat Control Agent
NRA Life Benefactor and Beneficiary
https://home.nra.org/

Nice!

Hornady got back with me by telephone yesterday AM.

Preston in the Technical Department says the suspect ammo was tested and found to be showing a chamber pressure of "61,000 psi" in the Hornady pressure testing equipment.

Nothing more specific than that. That is all I have on this.

SAAMI max average pressure for the 6.5 Creedmoor is 62,000 psi.

A March 2009 article in American Rifleman by Stanton Wormley, Jr., "Shooting and Loading the Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor":
"Factory Ctg. Ave. Pressure: 58,000 - 59,000 psi"

Before I sent the ammo to Hornady, by telephone Preston said the pressure on my ammo was supposed to be about 58,000 psi, best he could tell.

Well, the ammo was hot in two of my rifles, the X-Bolt and the Hawkeye.
Those rifles must be tighter somewhere in the hole that goes from breech to muzzle.
So I will just handload new brass for the tight rifles.
I will also chronograph if it is not raining and if the banquet tables have been replaced by some solid benches!

I will continue shooting that factory ammo in other rifles as long as the brass does not extrude and the bolt lift is not difficult.

And the 26 Ripmoor has already been reassigned to Winchester Model 70 with 3.4" box that can be easily opened up to 3.6" length,
which probably won't be necessary.
A light and handy 4-shooter makes more sense for the .264/.375 Ruger,
instead of a heavier 6-shooter CZ 550 Magnum with 3.8" box. The latter is like having the 6.5 Creedmoor in the medium-bore forum.

Rifles in Progress by
Riflecrank Internationale Permanente aka Squirrel Killer
Pet Wildcat Certifying Authority and Tree Rat Control Agent
NRA Life Benefactor and Beneficiary
https://home.nra.org/

www.whittakerguns.com





Improvements at the local range are progressing well.
No more shooting off of folding banquet tables.

The gongs at 300 yards are fun:



There are two unisex portapotties now (LGBTQ/straight, no questions asked), with indoor plumbing on the way. We feel like we just moved to Beverly Hills here.
A cement pond may be next.




Hornady factory 6.5 Creedmoor 140-grain ELD Match ammo:

I pulled a bullet and found 43.6 grains of a short-cut extruded powder.
This seems to be a mildly compressed load.

There is no load in the Hornady manual for 140-grainers with that heavy a charge of any extruded powders.
The spherical/ball powder Superformance is listed with charges from 40.9 to 44.7 grains showing velocities of 2500 to 2700 fps in a 24" barrel.
43.7 grains of that powder is listed as giving 2650 fps.

The Hodgdon manual shows no loads of greater than 41.1 grains powder charge weight, with any powders they tested with 140-grainer.
Hodgdon lists a maximum charge with the 140-grain A-Max of H4350 at 40.0 grains (compressed) that yields 2660 fps at 59,200 psi in a 24" barrel.

The Hornady factory powder looks like H4350 from my pulled cartridge. But appearances can be deceiving!

Anyway, Hornady tested a box of my returned ammo (that they made), and said it showed 61,000 psi.

OK. I shot the ammo at 83 degrees F instead of 95 degrees F, and this time the Browning X-bolt showed some stickiness of brass and extrusion on the bolt face at ejector cut on only 2 out of 5 fired.
No problems noted with the five other rifles.

5-shot velocity averages in six different factory rifles at 83 degrees F:

1. Ruger American Rifle, 22" barrel, 1:8" twist, 6-groove: 2629 fps

2. Ruger American Rifle, 22" barrel, 1:8" twist, 6-groove: 2654 fps

Two "identical" Ruger factory rifles with different muzzle velocities.

3. Ruger Precision Rifle, 24" barrel, 1:8" twist, 5R rifling: 2681 fps

4. Ruger Hawkeye, 24" barrel, 1:8" twist, 6-groove: 2681 fps

Two different Ruger factory rifles of same barrel length and twist, one 5R and one 6-groove, yet identical MVs.

5. Weatherby Vanguard, 24" barrel, 1:8" twist, 6-groove: 2698 fps

6. Browning X-Bolt, 26" barrel, 1:8" twist, 6-groove: 2738 fps

So I have put all of this in my pipe to smoke.
Will handload for the X-Bolt, especially when it is hot outside.
The Hornady factory ammo powder must not be very Thermo-Ballistically-Independent (TBI).
The X-bolt may be a bit tight also.

Now onward to play with my wildcats, the "26 Ripmoor" (.264/.375 Ruger) and the "10.4 Culloden Moor" (.408/.338 Lapua Magnum, no longer called the "400 Bateleur").
I have come late to the 6.5 Creedmoor party, but it has lately been an inspiration for wildcat nomenclature.
6.5 Creedmoor: The small bore that thinks it is a medium bore.

Rifles in Progress by
Riflecrank Internationale Permanente aka Squirrel Killer
Pet Wildcat Certifying Authority and Tree Rat Control Agent
NRA Life Benefactor and Beneficiary
https://home.nra.org/

I have just started seeing Ruger #1 rifles with 26" barrels available in 6.5 Creedmoor. Apparently it is a run for Lipsey.

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
I have just started seeing Ruger #1 rifles with 26" barrels available in 6.5 Creedmoor. Apparently it is a run for Lipsey.

That is going to be mighty tempting if I ever run into one of those. I need another 26-incher to continue the MV versus barrel length comparison:

6.5 Creedmoor Hornady factory ammo, 140g ELD Match:

22" average of 2 rifles: 2642 fps
24" average of 3 rifles: 2687 fps
26" average of 1 rifle: 2738 fps

Over the 22" to 26" range so far, I got about 24 fps extra for each inch. Very close to the usual SWAG.



http://www.ruger.com/products/...pecSheets/11397.html


Googled Lipsey Ruger No.1: It is a 28-incher, even better.
Ought to do about 2783 fps with the Hornady factory 140-grain ELD Match ammo (SWAG).

The new Ruger No.1 configurations from the Lipsey's distributor are:

· 1B Sporter chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor with 28″ barrel, blued with walnut furniture.
· 1S Sporter chambered in 35 Whelen with 24″ barrel, blued with walnut furniture.
· 1S Sporter chambered in 44 Magnum with 20″ barrel, blued with walnut furniture.
· 1V Varmint chambered in .243 Win with 26″ barrel, blued with walnut furniture and 1-in-7.7″ twist.
· K1RSI International chambered in .308 Win 20″ barrel, stainless with walnut furniture.
· 1A Light Sporter chambered in .275 Rigby with 24″ barrel, blued with walnut furniture and express sights.

And I found this article, again, about another "cheap" Ruger American Rifle Predator (RARP) 6.5 Creedmoor making happy:

https://www.gunsamerica.com/bl...s-american-predator/

"Holding its own in some tough company" they say:



"100 yards, top group is one 4 shot group from bipod. Bottom group is 2 shot group after sight adjustment.":







Yep, I have read that one previously, soon after I was amazed by my first RARP ...

And now Hornady has a hunting load using the ELD-X bullet.

https://www.americanrifleman.o...ornady-eld-x-bullet/







http://www.hornady.com/store/6...-X-Precision-Hunter/


Rifles in Progress by
Riflecrank Internationale Permanente aka Squirrel Killer
Pet Wildcat Certifying Authority and Tree Rat Control Agent
NRA Life Benefactor and Beneficiary
https://home.nra.org/

It depends of your budget

but give a call to Jason Baney Eurooptic and get a SAKO TRG 22 in 6.5 Creedmoor.

best bang for the buck.

A Sauer 404 Classic XT. I know...it´s a huntingrifle...but it might will deliver better accuracy than all these Chevy heavy barreled rifles

Jens: My thoughts exactly !
Im seriously thinking of doing away with much of my collection and going Sauer 404 with 3 or 4 barrel only!

RIP; You need an M77 Stainless Mk ll V/T model as it comes with 28" barrel. . Add an IOR Valdada 30 moa picantinny rail. And a top tier scope like the 4-28 x50, 40 mm tube Recon rifle scope. And the PTG bottom metal and mag boxes . Or the bottom metal and mags from a Ruger Gunsight Scout. And an adjustable cheek rest.
There ya go, brute tough, 1400 yard capable. A rifle that will shoot with the multi thousand dollar PRS rifles without the push feed, plunger ejector , rotating extractor. Basically cheep wimpy crap that gets pawned off on Precision shooters. Either the M77 V/T or a Mausingfield.
:-) . I'm always happy to suggest good ways for guys to spend their hard earned money. :-)

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Lou, A Legendary rifle sounds good, but I have the patience of a 3 year old. Kimber offers the Adirondak in a 6.5 CM, but I don't know if I want an 18" barrel. Ruger makes quite a few models in 6.5, but I'm still not trustful of Ruger accuracy from rifles I had years ago, although some have great luck with their newer rifles now. Maybe I'll just get a Cooper and be done with it :-)

I understand your caution about Ruger but I have three 6.5 creedmoor two of which are Rutgers and one Tikka. All three were sub-MOA out of the box. One, the Ruger Precision Rifle, shot a three shot dime size group with factory ammo at 200 yds. This was done with my first box of shells and were taken with shots 7-8-9. The two Rutgers have 26" barrels and the Tikka had the typical 22" barrel. I would personally not go as low as an 18" one. The creedmoor isn't isn't A barn burner as it is. get 2720 fps in my Rutgers. Never checked the Tikka.

I've owned quite a few Rutgers over the past 10 years and not one of them was a dud.

Man that bullet is buried.

That is apparently how Hornady loads a .308/200-grain ELD-X in the short-necked 300 WinMag, for 2860 fps, in a 30-06-length magazine box.
Yup, buried bullet.

Rip ...