Building a new rifle...

[r_j_t1982]

So, I have decided I want to build a 20 Prac. Its not because I need to, but because I want to. I will use this for spotlighting foxes and splattering the odd rabbit.

I have a 7 year old Rem SPS Varmint in 204 that I will likely use as the donor action. The barrel still shoots (average groups are around/normally just under the 1 moa range with rather mild handloads).

My initial plans are to have the action trued, maybe some bolt flutes for looks, a new bolt knob, and a new barrel finished off around 22" in a medium-ish profile (maybe no.6 or a med palma).

Or should I stick with a standard 204 chambering in a new barrel? I have the dies and brass already (2-300 twice/three time fired hornady stuff)... but i really want it to mag fed.

Who would be the best `smith/s to talk to for such a job?

[pisco]

mate and I done a 20 prac each I put a remington 204 barrel in a sako and my mate bought a complete Remington 204 and we set it back to 20 prac if you build a 20 prac you want be dissapointed

[trevort]

Why does your 204 not mag feed? Why load it mild. Every 204 I've ever heard of shoots best stoked up going flat out. Moa is not accurate for a 204

[Camel]

Moa is not accurate for a 204

Its probably had more bullets down its throat than you have had diddley dee tatters down yours Trev, could be one of the reasons.

So, I have decided I want to build a 20 Prac. Its not because I need to, but because I want to. I will use this for spotlighting foxes and splattering the odd rabbit.

I have a 7 year old Rem SPS Varmint in 204 that I will likely use as the donor action. The barrel still shoots (average groups are around/normally just under the 1 moa range with rather mild handloads).

My initial plans are to have the action trued, maybe some bolt flutes for looks, a new bolt knob, and a new barrel finished off around 22" in a medium-ish profile (maybe no.6 or a med palma).

Or should I stick with a standard 204 chambering in a new barrel? I have the dies and brass already (2-300 twice/three time fired hornady stuff)... but i really want it to mag fed.

Who would be the best `smith/s to talk to for such a job?

I'd be tempted to just to another 204R chambering, but the wild cat lover in my says, what the hell, go for the 20Prac. Plenty of gunsmiths would have a reamer for the job, could give you a number for a bloke up here who would do the job for you if you cant find anything closer.

Reckon a number 4 profile barrel is pretty good sompromise. Just make sure its a quality barrel from one of the better makers.

[trevort]

i would recommend Luke Easter if you feel like a drive to traralgon.

If you go Prac make sure you find some re10X

[r_j_t1982]

I have weighed my current setup and the rifle w/ scope & bipod, unloaded, is approx 6.2-6.3 kg. This is 13.5-14 lb in the old style. I would ideally like to shave a Kilo or so off in weight.

Using the Border barrels calculator and profiles from both Borders and Benchmark I estimate my current barrel is between 2.1 and 2.2kg. If I were to have this same profile, cut to 24" and fluted I could drop barrel weight to around 1.55 kg. A Benchmark number 5 finished at 24" with no flutes would come in at 1.67 kg.

As for Chambering, Monday I managed to get to speak to a bloke running the MDT polymer mags with a .204, and there is no issue there, heaps of room, where as I was worried about the 204 not being compatible with some 223 mags. So yeah I'll stick with .204r easy to get hold of everything from reamers through to dies

Stock: I really want a vertical grip type stock, its just what I'm comfortable with. At the moment I use a Choate Tactical which is about 1.7 kg. I was really interested in the Manners EH1, t2 or t6 stocks (with MCS DBM), but the costs for those are $1700 -1800 AUD. They are light though, the EH1 is only 0.8 kg. I could spend maybe $1000 on a good stock with metal bedding but not THAT much.

Any suggestions for Stock options? I do want to use a detachable mag. but I dont really want the weight of a chassis system.



BTW.
Its not that the rifle isn't accurate, Its just that I always count the pulled shots, the fliers etc too when I talk about being an average around under moa probably around 3/4" all told.

My loads are 27.9gr of 8208 driving a 32gr zmax with rem 7.5 primers. It would have almost 1000 rounds through it by this stage I think, I have had it for 7.5 years since new.

Here's 2 groups I knocked out last weekend whilst fiddling around at Eagle Park on Monday. The wind was a real PIA, and I was having problems with the scope (windage adjustments affecting the vertical). If for instance I dialled in the needed 6 clicks (3/4" @ 1/8 click value) of left windage it would drop POI by 3/4" and the horizontal might move by 1-1.5". Hopefully I have some good weather (and time) this weekend and can try a box test to check the scope is alright.




These were the only three shot groups I fired (I normally don't count any groups less than 5 shots), as I was in a hurry to get the scope dialled in and only shooting 2 then adjusting... In the end I just used hold off, my only intention for the day was to shoot holes in a few coins for my son's interest.

Groups measured centre to centre.

[trevort]

So why do you want to fiddle with this thing again? Looks like it's working better than moa

[Camel]

Yeah, Im with you Trev, that thing shoots well enough, especially as you say the wind was a bitch. Maybe thing of just a re-chamber to freshen up the throat a bit, a re-crown while its out would hurt either.