What's the deal with the 6 BRA?

[Alex Wheeler]

Alex,

Those pending records.....600 or 1000 yard?

4x 600
3x 1000

 

[Raythemanroe]

Could be a good combination of case capacity, powder and bullet combination...

Ray

 

[KenOath]

My personal experience with my first BRA barrel load testing was I found a stable accurate load in less than 80 rounds. Powder charge had a whole 1gn window, I shot 6 different powder charges at 200m for a total of .25” to .3” elevation over all charges. I chose middle of the road 2970fps. Seating test was done at 200m tested from 5jam to 30jump in 5thou increments. All shot around 1/2 except for jam that was in the high twos. The jump had a wide window as well.From my experience the BRA barrel tuned virtually identical to my past straight BR barrels but with 100+FPS more speed. Admittedly I’ve only had one Dasher Barrel but it was definitely harder for me to find a load and it’s window was much smaller.

My 2c

 

[Northridge]

I have been shooting the 6BRA for a short time and really feel based of testing that it will give me personnel bests next year but i would call BS in reference to it having a wider tune window. my finding is it responds to charges, neck hold and seating the same as the dasher and comes out of tune in the same manner identical actually but the difference being when your on its best window for grouping it simply has a affinity for the shots staying closer together resulting in smaller groups. when tune window has been missed this round will drop shots developing 1/2 to 3/4 MOA groups just like big brother the dasher.

Shawn Williams

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Could be a good combination of case capacity, powder and bullet combination...

Ray

I think that is always the case with a good shooting rifle, especially a record setting rifle.

 

[KenOath]

I have been shooting the 6BRA for a short time and really feel based of testing that it will give me personnel bests next year but i would call BS in reference to it having a wider tune window. my finding is it responds to charges, neck hold and seating the same as the dasher and comes out of tune in the same manner identical actually but the difference being when your on its best window for grouping it simply has a affinity for the shots staying closer together resulting in smaller groups. when tune window has been missed this round will drop shots developing 1/2 to 3/4 MOA groups just like big brother the dasher.

Shawn Williams

I’m very pleased with the BRAs affinity to then... it’s affinity is very similar to the straight BR but a little further/better than the Dasher IMHO..

Cheers Rushty

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

My personal experience with my first BRA barrel load testing was I found a stable accurate load in less than 80 rounds. Powder charge had a whole 1gn window, I shot 6 different powder charges at 200m for a total of .25” to .3” elevation over all charges. I chose middle of the road 2970fps. Seating test was done at 200m tested from 5jam to 30jump in 5thou increments. All shot around 1/2 except for jam that was in the high twos. The jump had a wide window as well.From my experience the BRA barrel tuned virtually identical to my past straight BR barrels but with 100+FPS more speed. Admittedly I’ve only had one Dasher Barrel but it was definitely harder for me to find a load and it’s window was much smaller.

My 2c

A full grain? Wonder what makes that possible, vs a straight BR.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I have been shooting the 6BRA for a short time and really feel based of testing that it will give me personnel bests next year but i would call BS in reference to it having a wider tune window. my finding is it responds to charges, neck hold and seating the same as the dasher and comes out of tune in the same manner identical actually but the difference being when your on its best window for grouping it simply has a affinity for the shots staying closer together resulting in smaller groups. when tune window has been missed this round will drop shots developing 1/2 to 3/4 MOA groups just like big brother the dasher.

Shawn Williams

That makes sense. IME with other cartridges, the barrel has a lot to do with how forgiving they are or aren't. Some barrels seem to shoot anything pretty well and others are finicky.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Could be a good combination of case capacity, powder and bullet combination...

Ray

Sure, but the capacity of a straight BR or a BR-DX are close in either direction and I don't hear people raving about either of those being so great and forgiving.
Just trying to reason things out a bit. I'm a big believer in everything has a rhyme and reason. Not that I can always tell you what they are, though.

 

[KenOath]

A full grain? Wonder what makes that possible, vs a straight BR.

Not sure, my current straight BR Barrel has a good powder charge also from 29.7 to 30.6gn of Varget. Maybe it’s the Krieger barrels I have are better than the Dasher. Granted my experience is very limited to just one Dasher Barrel but it’s my only comparison to the BR and BRA barrels I have tuned and in my case the straight BR and BRA were obviously more forgiving for me.

Cheers Rushty

 

[KenOath]

I can't say it's just bore size to capacity, at least not solely. I gave the BR-DX a few barrels and a couple seasons. All I know, Sam started this revival of the BR Ackley, and his notes and my notes on the DX were nearly identical. For the newer shooter, the BRA is a no brainer, as it's nearly impossible to dick up the brass forming it. Shawn mentions the small ones being smaller. I noted after studying old notes, the big ones being smaller too, and to me, that's what it's about.


Rushty, you'll probably find the window to be closer to a tenth at distance. If it's a really good one it will push close to two tenths.

Tom

Haven’t tested further than 200m in perfect conditions yet, although I shot a 400m comp two weekends ago with 8mph right to left wind and first two 5 shot groups were 1.1”, elevation for first group was 1/2” second was 1.1”. No records broken but I was very pleased none the less.

When I initially tested powder H4895-30.9,31 and 31.1 had the closest heights to one another compared to powder charges above or below those 3 mentioned so I went in the middle 31gns then found it liked a seating depth of 5jam. So I’m guessing it would be a good idea to test those 3 powder charges at distance and also look at different primers and neck tension to possibly tweak it more??

Cheers Rushty

 

[KenOath]

Speed for the Berger 105 Huntings with the 31gns is around the 2960fps mark measured 3m from the muzzle with a cheap RCBS Chrony.. about 250ft above sea level.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

It does amaze me how many are shooting 31 and 5 in. When I get the club gun built I may just load 31 of H4895 and put a vapor trail .005" in and bring it to the matches....

 

[Willow]

Haven’t tested further than 200m in perfect conditions yet, although I shot a 400m comp two weekends ago with 8mph right to left wind and first two 5 shot groups were 1.1”, elevation for first group was 1/2” second was 1.1”. No records broken but I was very pleased none the less.

When I initially tested powder H4895-30.9,31 and 31.1 had the closest heights to one another compared to powder charges above or below those 3 mentioned so I went in the middle 31gns then found it liked a seating depth of 5jam. So I’m guessing it would be a good idea to test those 3 powder charges at distance and also look at different primers and neck tension to possibly tweak it more??

Cheers Rushty

Hey Rushty, I'm living and working in Perth ATM but back in Sydney visiting my family and getting a quick shoot in. Loving the 6BRA so far. Haven't thrown too many rounds down the barrel but my 30" Krieger loves 31.4gr of RL15 with Berger 108gr BT. Got caught out at the start of my 1st stage last weekend at 300m with a sudden windshift, but the next 8 rounds went into the X ring. I'd like to try and get a load worked up for the 105gr VLD hunting rounds so I'm going to try 30.6gr of 2206H at 300m this weekend, although 25-40km southerly winds are forecast for Sydney this weekend so things won't be easy. I had an opportunity to fireform some cases at 800m earlier this year at 800m and it also loves Berger 95gr VLDs. Just a pleasure to shoot. I've attached electronic targets from 300, 500 and 800m.

 

[KenOath]

Hey Rushty, I'm living and working in Perth ATM but back in Sydney visiting my family and getting a quick shoot in. Loving the 6BRA so far. Haven't thrown too many rounds down the barrel but my 30" Krieger loves 31.4gr of RL15 with Berger 108gr BT. Got caught out at the start of my 1st stage last weekend at 300m with a sudden windshift, but the next 8 rounds went into the X ring. I'd like to try and get a load worked up for the 105gr VLD hunting rounds so I'm going to try 30.6gr of 2206H at 300m this weekend, although 25-40km southerly winds are forecast for Sydney this weekend so things won't be easy. I had an opportunity to fireform some cases at 800m earlier this year at 800m and it also loves Berger 95gr VLDs. Just a pleasure to shoot. I've attached electronic targets from 300, 500 and 800m.

G’day Willow, some impressive shooting there mate... seems it held up well all the way out to 800m have to be pleased with that.
I tested 30.6 2206H while working up a load for mine at 200m and it shot well, elevation at 30.3 and 30.9 were excellent either side as well, speed from memory was around the 2920-2930fps mark for the 30.6.
I’ve only just recently started shooting FClass with a 284, had my first shoot at 600m at the new Pinjar range, had a great day its a wide open range... might catch you down there some time?

Cheers Rushty

 

[fm1947]

I have chambered more dasher barrels than 6 BRA barrels. My personal 6 BRA reamer has 7 pending world records on it this year alone, IBS, Williamsport, NBRSA, only 2 of them came from Montana. All my dasher reamers combined dont have that many records. I would say I have chambered about 50 6 BRA barrels. I get the feed back from customers. In my mind there is no doubt its better in every way. Not a single guy has went back to a dasher from a BRA. I give my opinions on parts, components and loads to my customers. The only difference is the reamer that goes into the blank, and the difference in feedback has been huge. Remember I want my guns to win everything. So I steer people to try and help that happen. It takes the highest level of shooter to be able to see a difference with a small change. My advise is find a really good shooter who is a consistent winner that has tried a dasher and a 6BRA and ask him. Thats the only opinion that should matter. The BRA is closer to a standard br than a brdx. The dx is closer to a dasher. Sam Hall was the first that I heard of to be using this case in long range. I am sure some one did it in the late 70s. New or old makes no difference. The proof is on the paper.

Glad you had your link to website first picture I've seen of BRA

 

[dkhunt14]

They didnt shoot long range in the 70s. Anyhow the mentality was bigger is better. The dasher catches on (for good reason) and guys just dont experiment much. Why it was not setting records? It takes more than just a cartridge to set a record. So like I said, same gunsmith, same customers, same components, barrels, bullets, powder, exc. and its far exceeding my dasher reamers. One of those records came from a dasher I set back 2 turns, that was a great comparison. Theres nothing to profit from as its not proprietary. But if you call me and ask for a dasher, Im going to tell you all about the 6 BRA.

Williamsport shot since 1967. The 50th anniversary was celebrated at the World Open. Matt