FrankenCreed

About 2.5 years ago, I gathered parts and started sewing !!
Original idea was to build something that would fall into the
Ridgway VBR 12 lb rule. Ended up 9 0zs too heavy. Hard to
keep weight down with a Savage precision action (RBLP)
and a 24" CBI heavy varmint. Rifle has served me well with
several 300 yard plate steel matches, and countless vermin
sent to the great beyond. I did choose the 6.5 Creedmoor
for the boiler room. It's just an easy round to work with, and
easy to tune.

Well times change, and I decided to part out the rifle for a
remake. I Went back to the original idea of the 12 lb rules rifle.
First was to re-weigh barrel and action, then search for a
scope fitting of 1000 yard Steel, life size coyotes, and as light
as possible......More later.

Pic of FrankenCreed 1 on a MDT HS3 chassis with my custom
spigot.

Well with FrankenCreed II under way, and the mill in my
sons shop open, I got a little work done yesterday. First
was to cut and fit a block of aluminum for the magazine
well. The Savage action is a 3 screw, so fitting this piece
in place and transferring the center screw hole, I'm good
to go. I did the same with the first build with great results.

I also did some surgery around the trigger guard. I removed
the block of aluminum that served to hold the magazine
latch, then narrowed up the guard itself. Never did like
them one inch wide guards on chassis stocks......Night
Force 42x44 Competition scope is here, so I'll gather all
parts for a weight in, and see where I need to go.

I like you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Robinhood

I like you.

---

My favorite saying is...."Never let a bad Idea go to waste"

I got a bucket list that would scare the hell out of many. LOL

Moving along !!

Roughed in a 3" wide plate for the front rest, and milled out
the stock to lighten things up, and hopefully promote barrel
cooling. Just a few screws and I can go right back to my
bipod spigot for chuck hunting.....So far it looks like I'll hit
the 12 lb mark with the pile of pieces I'll be using to form
somewhat of a butt stock.

Did a prefit of the butt stock parts, to see where the
tweaks are needed. The closed cell neoprene will need
cut back a few inches to clear the bolt removal. Also
added a side screw to the shaved pistol grip for more
strength on the bag rider tube.....Maybe another week,
I'll be doing a final bolt up !!

Finished up the stock this morning, and scales in at 3lbs, 9.5 oz.
For the time being, I just touched up around the milling work with
flat black epoxy paint. The bag rider rod, I used a high wear finish
powder coat.....Won't be long for final assembly. With my current
numbers, I'm 1/2 ounce over the 12 lb rule. Should have left the
paint off !! LOL

Not a good pic, but it is what it is......

FrankenCreed II is done !! Fun job to work on considering
fighting weight at every part, to meet 12 lbs. Fully assembled,
I'm 1/2 ounce over.

Based on the Savage RBLP precision action, spun up is a CBI
heavy varmint barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor, and cradled in a modded
MDT HS3 chassis. Butt stock is of my own nature. Sitting on top
is a Night Force 42x44 Competition scope sitting in a DNZ 30mm,
one piece tactical mount. This mount has 4 screws per ring, and
20 moa machined in. Also mounted up is a Hollands level. I like
these for the large bubble.

As soon as weather clears, I'll get out to the range for a proper
zero, and a 300 yard work up. The barrel itself has already proved
itself with the 140 RDf's pushed by Reloder 16. I was able to pull
off a .229 moa group at 500 yards with it, but never got back out
to repeat.

And FrankenCreed III is slightly in the works. This one will be the
17lb rifle. A 30", 4 groove, 7.5 twist Brux is in the locker, and slated
for a nut job. Waiting on MDT to see what's hitting at Shot Show
for new furniture......

Had a mild day yesterday, and set up on the 100 yard range.

Hornady brass
BR2 primers
Reloder-16 (42.5 gr)
Nosler 140 RDF

3 test groups by seating depth. From left to right and off
the lands..... .010, .015, .020 All groups showed an
average of 2800 fps. .010 gave the best group, but .015
had the best ES/SD of 15/6.1

Quote:

---

All groups showed an average of 2800 fps.

---

Shooting the 140 RDF also with the same components as you but my velocity is way below 2800...average is 2650-2700. So far H4831 has done a bit better than RL-16. Played with seating depths a bit and decided 2.810" was as good as any. Today i am going to the RDF and Winchester 6.5 Staball a go.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wbm

Shooting the 140 RDF also with the same components as you but my velocity is way below 2800...average is 2650-2700. So far H4831 has done a bit better than RL-16. Played with seating depths a bit and decided 2.810" was as good as any. Today i am going to the RDF and Winchester 6.5 Staball a go.

---

I was on the band wagon when R-16 came into the states and
has proved it worth to me. I always thought H4831 was a tad
slow for the 6.5 Creed, but my .270 loves the stuff. I'm passing
on all the fuss about the WW staball powder, and waiting on
Vhitavouri 555 to be released.

What barrel length and R-16 charge weight are you using to get
them low velocity's ??

Quote:

---

What barrel length and R-16 charge weight are you using to get them low velocity's ??

---

22" Barrel. My RL-16 accuracy load with the RDF was 42gr.