My first Custom Rifle in 6 x 47

Earlier this year I enlisted Sott at RSE Custom Guns out of TwentyNine Palms, CA, to build me a custom rifle. We had previously talked extensively about the 6x47 and how effective it was on coyotes and other predators. Our discussions and a little research made me decide to have this custom rifle chambered in this wildcat cartidge. I provided him with a left handed mini Mauser action which is now being made by Charles Daly and he went to work on the rifle.

Scott started the build with out my knowing what glass I was going to top it with. Eventually I decided on a 4.5 -14 x 40 Leupold with the Boone and Crocket reticle and the 30mm tube. It was to be my first B&C reticle and would serve me well for day time stands. Plus, the 30mm tube would be great at helping to gather light for night time work.

Saturday I made the trip down to 29 Palms, CA, to pick up my first custom rifle that I had built by Scott Edwards at RSE Custom Guns. This project was built in the wildcat round of the 6x47 on a left hand mini Mauser action. It was to include a custom laminated thumbhole stock and a 23 inch match grade 1 in 10 twist #4 contour Shilen barrel with a custom made RSE muzzle brake. I choose the 1 in 10 twist at Scott’s urging to allow me to shoot heavier bullets. Although it is going to used primarily on coyotes, this twist rate will let me shoot heavier bullets which can be used for antelope or one of the whitetail deer from back home in Missouri.

The 6x47 is a wildcat round that is made by necking a 222 Remington Magnum up to a 6mm neck. It’s becoming a popular round with bench rest shooters and is ballisticly very similar to the 6 BR. It delivery a LOT more energy that my favorite 22-250 and actually requires a lot less powder. I also later discovered the recoil was nearly non-existent! Anyway, I arrived at Scott’s at 6:45 AM to make the trip out to a nearby range to shoot my beautiful new rifle. Scott greeted me at the door and invited me in for a cup of coffee and to see my completed rifle. I admired it for awhile before we loaded up to head out to a private range where Scott took me as his guest. We set up some targets at 50 and 100 yards and several neat little life size silhouettes of coyotes and a bobcat he had made before heading back to the firing line. Scott got me setup on his favorite bench and helped bust out and set up the stuff that I had brought with me.

I fired my first shot to see if the rifle was going to be on paper and quickly noticed two things that had me surprised and very happy. First, I noticed that there was nearly no recoil out of this 6x47. Considering it was shooting a 6mm bullet, I expected that it would have a fair amount of recoil. Not true. I was also happy to see that not only was it on paper, it was within 2 inches of where I had aimed! Scott had taken my new rifle to the range before I arrived to make sure it was on paper for me! I was thrilled and quickly went back to shooting this great new rifle.

I spent the morning shooting a few different rounds that I had loaded up in order to find a bullet and powder that my new rifle liked. Unfortunately, the wind picked up shortly after my arrival and made trying to shoot accurately near impossible. So I elected to shoot the different ammo I had brought with me and obtain some chrono data.

This rifle is an absolute joy to shoot and I can not be happier. Scott did a fantastic job on this rifle; it looks and shoots GREAT. He’s keep me up to date on the progress of this rifle and frequently sent me pictures so that I could see the progress. I could not be happier with my new rifle or the work that Scott has done for me. Thanks Scott for having me out to your range to shoot, the fantastic rifle and all the good BS’ing we did that morning and afternoon.

If you'd like to reach Scott at RSE Custom Guns you can speak to him at (760) 367-9691 or by e-mail at rsecustom@verizon.net