Finally got the 6.5x55 AI build wrapped up, well......save for mount and glass.

Specs.....

XP 100 action, gone thru
Nosler/Lawton bolt stop
PTG spiral flute bolt
In house built knob
Lilja 8 twist fluted bbl
Muscle brake
McMillan center grip stock
Bedded and custom finish

Anxious to get her rigged and start to fireform the Lapua 6.5x55 brass.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Da-Law-Dawg,

Nice looking XP! Well done

Hey dawg, appropriate name for your new weapon. Copperheads!!!!! Nasty critters!!!! It packs a potent "bite" the new 6.5 should keep the biten cotinueing. Little copperhead nailed me several years ago while out for a deer scouting trip, can still see the fang marks on my calf. I hab chills up my spine when I saw your post.
Excellent looking build
How has your KY deer season going?
Nmhunter

Jeremy you really knock out some nice stuff.

Looks nice.

Aaron

Beautiful work Jeremy!

Thanks for the kind words fellas!!

Nm......season was good during modern gun. Didn't shoot a deer as I didn't see a good buck. But, had am awesome season, batted 1000 seeing deer. Passed on 7 different bucks waiting for one of the shooters I had in my neck of the woods. Still have late muzzleloader to go.

Nice work Jeremy!

-Mike

Good looking stick DLD!

The only thing that would make it look better is my hand on the pistol grip!!LOL
Nice job!



Sonny

That is awesome.

Jeremy it looks great!! Bet it's going to be a sweet shooter to boot.

Glenn

I found the bipod.

That's a really good looking rig. Let us know how it shoots.

Nice looking piece

quote:

Originally posted by Hoggin:
I found the bipod.

Tried to convince Hoggin that she's lighter than the .243 build. He keeps making fun of me.......lol

quote:

Tried to convince Hoggin that she's lighter than the .243 build. He keeps making fun of me.......lol

Everybody makes fun of you but it's not because of your gun! ha

Glenn

Looks great. Show us 6.5x55 and 6.5x55AI when you get a few formed.
Nosler/Lawton bolt stop? Not familiar with that....

Looking great...sure it will shoot as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Shaggy357:
Looks great. Show us 6.5x55 and 6.5x55AI when you get a few formed.
Nosler/Lawton bolt stop? Not familiar with that.....

Shaggy,

Here's some pics of the 6.5x55 AI and a standard 6.5x55 cartridge for comparison.......



Here's another pic to give you a better idea. Left to right, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55 AI, 6.5x55 and .243 Winchester.........



Lastly, here's the Nosler/Lawton bolt stop.........

A gratuitous pic of her rigged and ready to bite.......

20 MOA base with a Leupold VXR 4x12x40

Looks sharp.

Aaron

That is VERY nice!

This from someone who is very inexperienced with long range shooting, but is there an advantage to using 30mm tubed optics vs 1"? Also, what distance do you shoot with that 20moa base?

I'm curious because I'm putting together a 308 Win pistol on a virgin 700 SA and I have a 1" Leupold that I plan to use on a 0moa base. I don't envision shooting past 500 yards.

quote:

Originally posted by Arokcrwlr:
That is VERY nice!

This from someone who is very inexperienced with long range shooting, but is there an advantage to using 30mm tubed optics vs 1"? Also, what distance do you shoot with that 20moa base?

The benefit of a 30mm tube is two-fold, the larger tube will yield more internal adjustment vs a 1" tube. The second benefit, 30mm tubes work a bit better in low light.

The 20 MOA base with the Leupold should net enough adjustment to get her to 1000 yards. The same scope with a 20 MOA base netted 42 MOA of use able elevation on my .243 build with a 100 yard zero. Granted, the 6.5x55 AI isn't going to be running as fast, but should have enough elevation to put me on at 1k.

The .308 you mentioned should do fine out to 500 with a standard base. However, I opt for the 20 MOA bases on my rigs. Mind you, I won't be lobbing shots at 1K on big game, just the occasional prairie dog and some steel at wy-shot.

Thank you for the explanation - makes sense. It took me a while to half way understand the purpose of the tilted bases...

Again, great build with an awesome scope. I looked at one of those the other day at my LGS and will have one at some point.

Dawg, really cool lookin rig!!!!!*****

Nmhunter

Update folks!!

We took advantage of the beautiful weather and got to the range with the XP build today. Got some brass fireformed and saw that this little gem has got some REAL potential! For our 6.5x55 AI fireform loads, we used a generic OAL and mid range charge of IMR 4350 behind the 120 Amax. All loads were on virgin Lapua brass. We took our first three shots off boresight and it raised an eyebrow! Despite calling a flyer on our first round, the next two went in a ragged hole!! The 4x12x40 Leupold VXR was mounted on a 20 MOA base and with downward adjustment limited out, she was shooting 2" high on the money. That leaves us with 100% of our useable elevation! That's 75 MOA guys!!!!

We took her a click left and shot a fresh target for a 5 round group. Still settling it with the trigger, I called one flyer of the 5 shots and she netted four more Amax's in a neat little cluster. I was impressed with how well the Lilja 8 twist shot with the 120's! Looking forward to seeing how she's gonna do with a good, tuned load!

Here's the first three off boresight.......



An earnest 5 shots, off of generic fireform loads. Overlook the little fella on the left, got my booger-hooker on the bang switch too quick!

That has turned out to be some head turner!! What velocities are you hoping to run?

quote:

Originally posted by bowstryder:
That has turned out to be some head turner!! What velocities are you hoping to run?

Thanks for the kind words.

As far as velocity, may be wishful thinking, but with the 14" bbl I'm pushing for 2600.

Very nice XP! Just curios were you picked up dies for this round?

quote:

Originally posted by greenhornet-1:
Very nice XP! Just curios were you picked up dies for this round?

They carry the 6.5x55 AI dies here,

http://www.ch4d.com/

Great service and the dies were here in about a week.