Chambering opinions for a new Custom Rifle line

[Baron Graham]

I will be launching a new Custom Rifle and Ammunition Manufacturing company in the near future. I thought I'd ask you guys for your opinions on which chamberings I should use for the first rifles. My plans are to offer "Spec" and made to order rifles. With the long lead times on parts and the initial investment, I can either take a shot in the dark or make an educated stab at it. Side note I will offer ammo for the proprietary chamberings. So let me here your opinions both "Spec" rifles.
The "Spec" rifle options are as follows:
My actions manufactured by Defiance Machine. Actions will be the Deviant platform with my model names and slight changes. Each rifle will come standard with a McMillan Stock and Jewell Trigger.

Long Range Hunting Model; Deviant Tactical using McMillan's Marksman stock and fluted 27" barrel + 4 Port side discharge brake. Chambered in the following:
.224 Odin (proprietary, .22 Caliber improved 6.5x47 Lapua, Berger 90 VLD)
6mm Odin (proprietary, 6mm Caliber improved 6.5x47 Lapua Berger 105 VLD)
6.5x47 Lapua (proprietary, minimum spec chamber set up for Lapua brass and Berger 140 VLD)
6.5x284 Norma (proprietary, minimum spec chamber set up for Lapua brass and Berger 140 VLD)
.300 WSM (proprietary, minimum spec chamber set up for Norma brass and Berger 190 VLD-210 VLD)
.30x68 Thor (proprietary, .30 Caliber wildcat based off of the RWS 8x68s Berger 210 VLD)

Sporter Hunting Model; Deviant Hunter using McMillan's Remington Sporter stock and fluted 25" barrel, no brake. Chambered in the following:
6mm Odin (proprietary, 6mm Caliber improved 6.5x47 Lapua Berger 90 VLD)
6.5x47 Lapua (proprietary, minimum spec chamber set up for Lapua brass and Berger 140 VLD)
6.5x284 Norma (proprietary, minimum spec chamber set up for Lapua brass and Berger 140 VLD)
.300 WSM (proprietary, minimum spec chamber set up for Norma brass and Berger 190 VLD-210 VLD)
.30x68 Thor (proprietary, .30 Caliber wildcat based off of the RWS 8x68s Berger 210 VLD)

These "Spec" rifles will be Cerakoted using BDL bottom metal.

I will probably put together two of the LRH models and one Sporter to begin with. I'd like to know which 3 and which chamberings.
Baron Graham

 

[Barrelnut]

Would be nice if the 300 WSM was specked for the Berger 215 hybrid.

 

[Baron Graham]

That is an easy fix. Throater! All though I would imagine the FB for the 215H would probably be close to the FB of this reamer.

 

[FearNoWind]

6.5x284 Norma (proprietary, minimum spec chamber set up for Lapua brass and Berger 140 VLD)

.300 WSM (proprietary, minimum spec chamber set up for Norma brass and Berger 190 VLD-210 VLD)

I don't see any need for a third choice

 

[Baron Graham]

FearNoWind,
Which chambering for which model?

 

[Mikecr]

IMO you're jumping into a market already saturated with dice rolling & hype.
Ask yourself; why would shooters buy what I'm offering -vs- what many many others offer?

You'll need a hook.
A suggestion; Build a gun with any of your notion cartridges, and perfect the performance in it. Do it over & over until risk seems eliminated and further guns should represent viability in business.
At this point you've reached a single shooting system similar to an off the shelf Cooper.
Now with load fully developed, market the performance of each gun(by ser#, load, with targets at distance) through web auctions.
This removes dice rolling on the part of customers, who will know up front what they're paying for.

As far as the ammo? Frankly, we can make what you're considering here easy enough, and if we thought it was better we'd just do that. Otherwise, those not willing to depart from standards on their own, probably won't be comfortable locking themselves into non-standard ammo hype/expense.
So if your perfected system relies on proprietary ammo(like Lazzeroni), you'll be reduced to near nothing for customer base. Hard to believe this would be viable today, given all the choices we have.

If I were doing it, I'd order a good tight chamber reamer for 6.5x47L, perfect a shooting system, Demonstrate results, and poll potential customers here as to it's value. I think you'll find that this will be received with great enthusiasm.

 

[MudRunner2005]

If you're looking for potential caliber options, I would suggest to also look into the .25-06 AI 40-degree shoulder, .260 AI, .300 Ackley Improved Magnum (long range caliber, works awesome with the 210 VLD's...I have one, and can send you some brass if you're interested in getting a reamer made. ), 7mm STW, 7-30 Waters Improved 40-degree Shoulder (nice short-range sub-500 yard caliber), 7mm Rem Mag, .257 Wby Mag, .30-06 AI, 7mm-08 AI, .280 AI (SAAMI specs), .300 WinMag, 7mm-300 WinMag, .264 Wby Mag (based off the 7mm Wby case).

Are you going to offer Redding die sets for each of the obscure calibers, for people to buy?

I think it's cool that you want to start a custom rifle business offering mainly wildcat/cult/obscure calibers. I think that's pretty awesome.

Keep us updated on how things are going.

 

[Baron Graham]

Mikecr,
Thanks for the reply. I have developed the platform for the LRH model, see the attachment. That proto type uses a BAT Machine action and 26" barrel length. The load development, targets would be part of the package. Similar to Quarter Minute Magnums.
So your choice for the LRH would be 6.5x47 Lapua?
Thanks for the reply.

 

[Baron Graham]

Mudrunner2005,
All of those chamberings could be done (special order). Right now I am trying to figure out what chamberings you guys would be interested in buying already completed.
I have a version of the .300 Ackley. I call it the .300 Atlas. My Heavy Gun is chambered in it now. My current LG barrel is chambered in the .30x68 Thor. Match Report: IBS 1000-Yard Nationals in Harris, Minnesota « Daily Bulletin
Redding dies, NO! Custom Neil Jones Bushing Sizer and Newlon Precision Micrometer topped seater, chambered w/ the chamber reamer.

Where at in Alabama are you located? I am about 50 miles south of Meridian, MS.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Mudrunner2005,
All of those chamberings could be done (special order). Right now I am trying to figure out what chamberings you guys would be interested in buying already completed.
I have a version of the .300 Ackley. I call it the .300 Atlas. My Heavy Gun is chambered in it now. My current LG barrel is chambered in the .30x68 Thor. Match Report: IBS 1000-Yard Nationals in Harris, Minnesota « Daily Bulletin
Redding dies, NO! Custom Neil Jones Bushing Sizer and Newlon Precision Micrometer topped seater, chambered w/ the chamber reamer.

Where at in Alabama are you located? I am about 50 miles south of Meridian, MS.

I'm around the Montgomery/Elmore county area.

 

[shortgrass]

Mudrunner2005,
All of those chamberings could be done (special order). Right now I am trying to figure out what chamberings you guys would be interested in buying already completed.

Good luck with that! There's a reason why I currently have 68 chambering reamers in my 'tool' box. Everyone wants something different! As for using the chambering reamer to make sizing dies,,,, good luck with that one, too!

 

[MudRunner2005]

Good luck with that! There's a reason why I currently have 68 chambering reamers in my 'tool' box. Everyone wants something different! As for using the chambering reamer to make sizing dies,,,, good luck with that one, too!

If you order carbide reamers, they'll cut hardened dies. But a regular chamber reamer should be able to cut a die that hasn't been hardened.

I mean, you would be better off to order them all carbide, anyway, since they'll last longer and stay sharper longer. But you're gonna have to order 3-4 reamers per chambering depending on if you want to cut your own dies. You'll need a sizing die reamer, a seating die reamer, a neck-sizer die reamer, and a chamber reamer (which can also be use to cut the seating die, if you wanted to).

 

[Baron Graham]

shortgrass,
Re-read my post! I did not say anything about using the chamber reamer to make sizing dies. I use Neil Jones F/L Bushing dies (reamed for my fired case) and a Newlon Seater w/ Mitutoyo micrometer topped blank, chambered with the finish reamer.
As for as having 68 chamber reamers, you can either charge the customer for the $180.00 for the reamer and go-gauge or rent them. Thanks for the reply.

Baron Graham

 

[Mikecr]

Quarter Minute Magnums presents a great business model.
Of the cartridges listed my vote goes to the 6.5x47L, for mid-range walking varmint potential.
For long range in 26cal I would consider 260AI. It's simple and now there is Lapua brass for it. Just a thought.