The good gunshops are nearly a thing of the past around here. There is a Sportmans Warehouse but since they drove out Intermountain Outdoor Sports the competition is just about nonexistent. There are a few other small shops (Shapels being one) but other than that the only other choices we have are the box stores like Gart and Big 5. I sure wish someone would open a true gunshop with a decent selection and gunsmithing service. I think it would do fairly well as we have a decent population base here.

BTW There are a few shops over in Nampa too.

Nathan

IdahoCTD: I gave up many years ago trying to buy a factory 40XB Rifle in 6mm Remington Bench Rest caliber. The demand was just overwhelming the market. After the intense two year search for a factory 6mm BR Rifle I gave it up and decided to have one built!
I went with a Remington XP-100 action added a Jewell underlever safety trigger, a Hart 26 1/2" SS and Cryoed barrel, a McMillan Winchester Marksman style stock and mounted a Leupold 8.5X25X40mm scope in Hart combination ring bases! I had the Rifle smithed by a BR Riflesmith and had the chamber cut for the Nosler 55 gr. Ballistic Tip bullets! This Rifle shoots just extremely well and consistently does so! My Rifle was built on purpose to be very heavy - it weighs 13 pounds 10 ounces. I have taken lots of Rock Chucks with it as well as Prairie Dogs and Ground Squirrels. I think the 6mm BR is one of the top 5 Varmint calibers ever made! It is capable of extreme accuracy, with low recoil and does not heat barrels quickly! I have killed Rock Chucks many times at ranges close to 600 yards and Prairie Dogs many times in excess of 500 yards. The brass has a VERY long life and its economical to load. Interested Varminters should check out the loading manuals and see just how efficient this cartridge is (FPS - speed to powder charge ratio)!
I don't think you were undergunned at all over there in Idaho! Maybe underscoped? The highest power VariX-II that I am aware of is a 6X18 model. You allude to a VariX-II scope on your 6mm BR! That cartridge (your Rifle) can use all the power you can strap on to it - scope wise!
By the way my BR Riflesmith is a specialist in XP-100 actions and he has a method for turning the bottom of the XP action into a recoil lug! Thereby allowing the direct connection of the barrel to the action. No seperate piece recoil lug needed in between the barrel and the action! Less possibility of flaws in fitting!?
Anyway my 6mm BR shoots amazingly well with Varmint bullets. This Rifle turned out so well that I am looking for another XP-100 action to build another Varminter on!
Good luck with your 6mm BR!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I got my first chuck of the season going back to work after lunch today!!
GHD.... the 7mm does a wonder on chucks as I am sure you know

I am surprized you would admit to shooting at big game that far away. The flame crew will surely find you.

Usually I dont go so undergunned but I wanted to see what my new the little 6BR 8 twist would do on them. It has a VariX-II without target knobs (friction adjust turrets)so I had to do a little Kentucky windage to hit the longest one of the day at 476yds. It took three shots but for a rifle with about 30 rounds through it before the hunt, and none over 100yds, I didn't think that was too bad. In all a friend and I shot about 15 chucks and a few pigeons (one also claimed by the little BR at 470yds). I'm going again today and taking my nephew so hopefully the little BR will claim a few more.

good job there!
Please tell us what rifle you have?

It's a Remington 700 converted to single shot with a Lilja #7 1 in 8" twist chambered in 6BR. I did all the gunsmithing myself. The load was 27gr of AA2015 and a 105 bergers @ 2800fps. I had to back it down a little when I reloaded them for today because this load was a little warm. It did shoot a 1/4" the only time I shot it for group @ 100yds.

I tried going to a different spot today and there was still too much snow but I did manage to get my nephew his first rockchuck. He hadn't even seen one before today.

Nice work!!!! We saw a few today out coyote hunting only shot 2. Man i hate spring time snow!! Just about got the old duramax stuck! Should continue to get better and better.

Nice to hear the chucks are coming out!

We are still waist deep in snow but warm temperatures have the snow melting fast and the need to bust a chuck high! I was out on the snowmobile on Saturday taking a break sunning myself and looking at some nice chuck habitat just wishing to myself that I had brought a pair of binos to look those rocks over better!! Soon I will be able to get after those chucks, myself!!

I will be in Boise in a few days for a concert. Can you guys tell me if there are any good gunshops to stop at??

Thanks!

I was shooting a new 6mmBr Ruger #1 with a bullberry barrel. Load was 32 grains of AA2015, 205M primer, RP brass and 55 grain ballistic tip. Took six chucks off of one large rockpile that ranged 382-394. Got a few chucks in the 150-250 range at a different spot. These chucks were small and spooky. They were only offering head/near shots but that was enough for the new BR.

I too like to shoot chucks with large calibers at long range. Most of my chuck shooting is done with the 243 and 308. I really like the results from my 7MMSTW shooting 120 VMAX and 120 Ballistic Tips though!

Mike.

Cool Mike! Another bullet that worked really good for me in the 7STW was the 130gr Sierra single shot pistol bullet. It's not nearly as good as some of the others at long range but at short range (<500yds) it sure would make the fur fly. I only shot it in custom barrels so I dont know if it would hold together in a factory tube at high velocity. If I remember right it was doing about 3680fps in my rifle.

Hello Mike,

Congratulations on some good shooting. Hope these are just the first of many you'll take this coming season. I like your choice of rifle caliber. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal