[Ziptie]

I have a great shooting .223 and in WA I cannot hunt deer with it. The minimum cal to take deer in WA is .243/ 6mm. I looked at re-barreling but for that price I could get a new rifle. So, I started looking a re-boring it…. The price to re-bore is about $220. The rifle is an older Kimber 84 varmint, bolt, single shot, 2 position safety (not on bolt). I really like the gun (will never sell), I wish it could come out for deer not just varmints. I am looking at 6mm- 223 (6x45mm). I have the brass and powder, just need dies and bullets. I also have 2 boys that will be starting to shoot and think this would be a nice gun/ caliber to teach them. I also think shooting the heavier bullets will buck wind a bit better.
What do you guys now about re-boring a barrel? Any recommendations on smiths?
Thanks
-Zip

 

[quickdtoo]

Wayne York of Oregunsmithing did my 6x45 rebore on a 223 Rem H&R, but a rebore will cost more than $220.

Tim

http://www.oregunsmithingllc.com/About-Us---Services.html

 

[marlin4me]

Something else to keep in mind would be cartridge overall length. With the added length of most 6mm bullets used for deer ( 90-105 grains ), unless they are seated very deep, maybe the COL would be too long to fit in the magazine????
Mark

 

[preacher]

I would try to find the right reborer, and then plan on firelapping it before you work up any loads. As far as COL, I suggest you use the Barnes 85XBT. I shot a couple of Exotics( Axis/Oryx) in Texas with a 6x47 and that bullet.
Make some calls, you just might end up paying the same amount as a good barrel would cost anyhow. If not, well, I say go for it. Your boys are growing up fast...make some memories with them and a "Special rifle"!

 

[Ziptie]

Thanks for the info! The rifle has room, it is a single shot bolt so the heavier / longer bullets can be seated way out. I will make some calls today on pricing and report back. If the price to have the rifle modified exceeds a new gun, the project will have to wait.

As far as the caliber I have read it is been used as a target round for years. I have also read that guys with AR’s are using it for hunting coyote with success.

 

[Ziptie]

Well the Kimber will stay as a 223. I can get a new rifle for the price of the work to have it converted (including the new reloading dies). I can get a new Weatherby Vangard for $405 in any caliber. It was worth the time to investigate at least.

Thanks for the time

 

[zerbe]

I'm actually glad to hear this. It seemed a shame to risk destroying a good shooting Kimber .223.

I'd also like to see you use something with a little more horsepower than a 6mm-223 on deer.
Many people view .243 as a bare minimum.

 

[luvalever]

I'm actually glad to hear this. It seemed a shame to risk destroying a good shooting Kimber .223.

I'd also like to see you use something with a little more horsepower than a 6mm-223 on deer.
Many people view .243 as a bare minimum.

i fully understand your concern about caliber selection and its a validated opinion you have, but i must say before you push the issue too far, this issue is sensitive to the individual. me personally, i could hunt deer with a 22lr, although not legal anyway. so, i COULD...but i use 25-06 or 30-30 only. 243 would be considered bare minimum for a regular deer hunter who needs to take the shots presented whene there presented and know the job will be done. anything less than that would be considered too small for that application. now if you love nature and like to get close, wait for head and neck shots and have lots of shooting time under your belt, have trustworthy equipment and knowledge of shot placement and never take what you can get for a shot but take what will work with what caliber your using, that should be fine, but it takes a special individual to rationalize in that way.

 

[Ziptie]

I would agree that the 6mmx223 is very light but it would be used at appropriate range. But now I am back to looking at larger calibers anyway

 

[zerbe]

I do agree with your comments about having the skill and equipment to be able to take only shots on the head/neck not requiring a cannon to get the job done.

Please don't take my comments personally, I guess I've seen too many wounded deer in the woods over the last few years. Some with arrow holes through them and a couple with what I suspect were poorly placed .223 holes. In PA, any center fire round is legal.

If you were willing to limit yourself to brain shots, you could legally use a 17 Remington Fireball!

 

[Ziptie]

I did not take your comments personally for a minute. I appreciated them and think they add to threads like this. You make valid points, with real world experience. That is about as good as info can be.

Thanks for the info Zerbe!