Fun, cheap hot rods?

[JJMoody]

I wanna build a fun range toy. Love the 28 nosler for most things walking, but man, it's spendy to send some serious roundage downrange! I have an 'ol Remington 788 in 22-250 that I've always wanted to screw with. 22 creedmoor is intriguing, 22-250 AI— a 6mm something-or-other oh my! Use is LR steel, varmints maybe competition... I don't know....
Requirements:
Relatively inexpensive to operate
Low to no recoil ( will also have MB/ can)
Standard bolt face short action
Will have fast twist for caliber bbl
Quality brass that's available
Readily available high BC Bullets that are available

I'm kinda itchy for something cool but not too cool... ya know?
Sell me on something!

 

[JJMoody]

I reload

 

[the444shooter]

what about 6mm Creedmoor? Fast twist, not too big for varmints, not too small for deer sized game if it came down to it.

 

[Litrfoot]

If it were me I would do a 6 BRA or a 22 BRA. 6 will get you out further, both have good barrel life and cheap to load. Killer accuracy and easy to find that load.

 

[JJMoody]

Thought about a 6 creed! Educate me on the BRA...?

 

[fabricator21]

The 6br will fill all your needs, for more horsepower I run a 6xc

 

[adam32]

22-243 or 22 Creed.

 

[silverhair]

Have you thought about a bolt .223? Lots 'o cheap ammo options. Fairly light recoil. Can test your technique. Good for varmints and small game.

 

[therifleman556]

Have you thought about a bolt .223? Lots 'o cheap ammo options. Fairly light recoil. Can test your technique. Good for varmints and small game.

Except that 788 bolts cost almost as much as 788s. Best to stick with the .473" bolt face in this case.

 

[Mike 338]

6x47, 6.5x47, 6BR, 6XC.

Sort'a a 6.5x47 fan for ease of loading, smooth feeding, wide selection of components and long barrel life, super long brass life, mild recoil. It hits of two of the three criteria. Fun and cheap but not a hot rod but certainly hangs with them.

 

[silverhair]

Except that 788 bolts cost almost as much as 788s. Best to stick with the .473" bolt face in this case.

Missed the OP's desire to drop the barreled action into a 788.

It's pretty cheap to get a Howa/Hogue 1500 or similar and start shooting. They drop the barrelled action into a better stock. Howa .223s can be bought for ~ $400. Just saw on on Gunbrokers for that. Some competitors can be picked up new for less. Not a 788. But it is a Howa 1500.

 

[reelhardmt]

243 AI is what I'm building this winter.

 

[ar10ar15man]

6bra is a 6br ackley..there are a couple of variations.
used for 600 plus ,a 1000 br round
cheap to shoot, easy to make

 

[Texanjohn]

788's had 3 action lengths if I recall, 44 mag was the short action, 222,22-250,were long action, and 6mm,7mm-08,and 308 were referred to as extra long, don't know if the 22-250 you have will be a good choice to "hot rod" that and the bolts with rear locking lugs made anything more powerful then a 308 a poor option, I'm no expert but I did collect 788's for a while,only one I still have is a 257 Roberts made from a 6mm , cause it was easy, same parent case, good luck in your quest for a "hot rod"