Cult of the 6BR? -- If it's really so good, then why so few?

[LawDog]

The new message board,nice upgrade BTW) has got me to finally venture a question to y'all. First, let me say I can't claim to be a bughole shootin' BR master, but I do have a lot of experience with ARs, 308s, 22-250s, and a variety of lever guns. As my eyesight is eroding with age, I'm stepping away from the iron-sighted guns, and thinking about doing this F-class thing.

Anyway, here's my question:

If the 6mm BR is really so great, then why are there so few factory rifles chambered in this caliber?

And while I can see it is a good choice for 600 yards, aren't you handicapped by the light bullets at longer distances?

Is this 6BR a bit of a cult thing? I mean there are many other good calibers, from 6PPC,100 yards) to 300 winmag for 1000.

In building an F-classer should I "drink the Kool-Aid" and chamber for 6 Dasher maybe, or is it really more intelligent to go with bigger case and heavier bullets?

I hope to hear from the High Priests like Al Nyhus, DANTEC and Lynn perhaps...

 

[jb1000br]

It's a niche case, and is tough to make feed. Same reason sako is the only factory PPC,anymore)

Besides--most of the guys shooting the 6BR wouldn't WANT it in a factory gun--it was made for precision, and factory rifles arent the answer when it comes to precision. -- just my opinions of course

JB

 

[ReedG]

Happy Thanksgiving LawDog:

This past summer was my first experience with a 6 BR and mine was in a modified Savage with a used 6 PPC benchrest barrel cut off and rechambered. There is enough info in the articles on this board to answer your questions, I'm sure. But the 6 BR cases from Lapua are as good as cases get and that is helping the favorability rating of the cartridge. I shoot 100/200 score benchrest and use a 1:14 twist and 65/68-gr. bullets. The F-Class and 1,000-yd. guys like the Dasher or BRX, etc. because the shoulder is pushed ahead a little allowing enough powder to push the heavier bullets at the speeds they need to keep them supersonic at range. If you click around in the article archive, you'll get some excellent info.

 

[shcal]

ReedG: Just read your post about cutting down a 6PPC pipe and reaming to a 6BR chamber. What was the PPC barrel length and what is the BR barrel length? How does it shoot and what is your advice concerning this operation.

Reason for asking is that I am receiving a PPC and was thinking about re-barreling to a 6BR so I would have a switch barrel gun,the bolt face can accommodate both in this action I am told). However you bring up an interesting idea about re-using the PPC barrel with a new chamber.

Thanks, shcal

 

[ReedG]

Sorry this reply is so late. I think the used BR barrel is a great deal. Mind you, I'm NOT the gunsmith. I had mine done by Mickey Coleman at Coleman Rifles in Greenville, Ala., who I met on benchrest.com. He has used PPC barrels that benchrest shooters have fired 100-800 rounds through and find that they are not capable of shooting sub-.100" groups,It takes an average of 6 new barrels to get a "good" one). These are some of the best barrels money can buy and make excellent target/varmint barrels for the "rest of us". Lengths vary, but after cutting off the threads and recutting for my action and chambering for 6 BR, then taking a bit off the muzzle and putting on a new crown, mine measured 21.75". Also, most of them are 1:14" twist which is what I wanted for lighter bullets.

Last year he chambered and threaded one of these to my Savage 12 BVSS-S action without the barrel nut for $200, which included return postage,he gets $175 for threading/chambering/headspacing). Mine was a Shilen and the best shooting barrel I've ever personally witnessed. I put over 2,300 rounds through it during the summer and it was still capable of .250" groups in my aging hands.

Right now the rifle is back at his shop, having a new Douglas barrel installed,6 BR, of course!) and being bedded into a McMillan BR stock. I've been bitten by the BR bug and want to see what the Savage action is capable of and I prefer the 6 BR to the 6 PPC ... besides EVERYBODY shoots the PPC.

I don't think you'd be disappointed if you go that route.

 

[shcal]

ReedG, thanks for the input. When I get my rifle I'll check out the length, but I am sure its standard PPC length,+/-24"). I am a varmint shooter and really like hitting the little critters out to 500-600 yds. The rifle is currently barreled with a Broughton in a 14" twist, standard PPC stuff. The other option I am thinking about, depending on the condition of the barrel, is re-barreling with a 6 Dasher chamber and re-chambering the PPC pipe as a Dasher for fire forming. Several options I need to think about.

Thanks again.

 

[ReedG]

Gotta tell ya, shcal, if was putting together a long-range varmint rifle the only caliber I'd consider is a 22 BR or Dasher with a 1:7 barrel and those l-o-o-o-ng bullets. That looks like some kind of shooter.

 

[6Dasher]

Hi,

Actually, here in europe the 6BR Norma is the default for the "Standard Rifle" disciplines,100m/300m prone/kneeling/standing). The good-ol' 308 is almost gone from this scene and replaced by the lower recoil 6BR Norma. Most of these rifles are single-shot, so no magazines etc.


Jim

 

[6BR4U2]

HI,

I can only reply to this original question of why I like the 6br.
why the factory's don't has already been answered.

A while back a friend let me shoot one of his built up 221 fireballs....it was a pleasure to shoot no recoil!!....400 yds shots made with it... 300 yds easy... I shot and shot and shot this gun....Krieger..xp 100 action...Jewell trigger...hand made stock so my point is low recoil,accurate,low powder use,easy to load....enter the 6br....low recoil, my 9yr old son shoots my 6br!!! he will not flinch...my main concern....its very accurate not lets go shoot the cactus in Arizona this year against the big boys but still very impressive...low powder use and thats it....its fun to shoot after all isn't that the whole reason we all do this...its fun...fun to shoot,reload,shoot some more so i hope this helps.

 

[JMayo]

Blast from the past !

 

[bsekf]

I have always though for F class the 6X47L would be just about right. However, I have two 6BR's and think they are just great. Just a little more horse with the 6x47L.

 

[MGYSGT]

Your buying a 6ppc. Used??? If it is the barrel has probably got some wear on it. Scope it and see if there is enough shoulder to set it back and rechamber before you put money in it. I had a 6BR Rem repeater. Needed to fuss with it when shooting, because the cartridge is too short and when extracted, it would move to the right for ejection and fall off the face of the bolt. Just wasn't a good choice for a repeater in the Rem 700. Guess that's why most of them are single shot.

 

[hogpatrol]

 

[JMayo]

Amazing how in 04 BR's were just making their mark in LR.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I just started shooting one and wish I had started back in '04.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

6X47 or 6 Creedmoor. 1-7 twist 105-110's at 600 110-115's at 1000 yds. little more Horse Power for heavier bullets not much more recoil.

 

[LarryDScott]

Here is a NEW one for anyone wanting a beautiful rifle.
www.benchrest.com click centerfire rifles or Great Scott
LDS

This is current 09-01-19

 

[GSPV]

Gosh. 15 year old thread.

 

[Dgd6mm]

If I want more horsepower I'll shoot my Competition Match with a 115 DTAC.

 

[bobinpa]

The Op hasn't been here since '05. Doubt he'll see any of these responses, but it is interesting to see how things have evolved.