short range 6BR build

[urbanrifleman]

it seems the only short barrel, 14 twist available in stock at the moment. i have never had a bad Bartlein, so i am sure it will be GTG. i got it off E Bay, Grizzly's page.

Bartlein 5rs are badass. I am going to use them a lot in the future.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

i did buy the barrel already. it is a 14 twist 4 groove Bartlein. leaning towards a .035" to .045" free bore at this point

You've received some good advice and your number of .035-.045 freebore will work well.

If it were me, I'd go .040-.060 freebore. There's no specific number that is an end all, be all here. You just want to keep the bullet above the neck/shoulder junction, have plenty of grip and maybe a few thou to chase the lands. I'm just saying that I wouldn't get real hung up on the exact fb amount, as anywhere from zero to .100 will work with the long neck of a BR case. You're in the right range for the light bullets. I'd go with a .272 nk.

I have found powers a bit faster than Varget to work best with light bullets in a 6BR. N135 has been a staple for years and don't overlook H322. Some of the best 6BR's I've ever seen preferred it over all the rest. Stay between H322 on the fast side and 135 on the slow end. The 6BR is easy to load for. Several powders in that range can give very good results.

Generally speaking, it likes pressure and the bullets seated anywhere between .010 off and .010 into the lands.

I began my benchrest shooting career with a setup similar to what you're building. It was 14 twist Shilen Ratchet and would give PPC's fits with now discontinued 74gr Bergers. I used that bullet in a few different 14 twist barrels and it shot well in all of them. It's a shame that Berger discontinued it.

Much info you'll find is related to shooting heavy bullets. I've bought a few 6BR's that just wouldn't shoot for the sellers. They were all using Varget! I'd buy the gun, load n135 and/or h322, and their guns instantly became shooters! Varget is great with the heavy bullets in a 6BR but I've not seen the first one that liked it better than the afore mentioned powders, with the light bullets. That being 60-74 grains. YMMV --Mike

 

[swadiver]

Bartlein 5rs are badass. I am going to use them a lot in the future.

the 5R's are all i have had with Bartlein. i was advised to not go with a 5R in this application. seems they could be problematic with the 68 gr class of bullets

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

the 5R's are all i have had with Bartlein. i was advised to not go with a 5R in this application. seems they could be problematic with the 68 gr class of bullets

There is some truth to that. It comes from 6PPC's and n133. It has to do with how the pressure builds. IME, it doesn't really apply to the 6BR, particularly with different powders.

 

[swadiver]

You've received some good advice and your number of .035-.045 freebore will work well.

If it were me, I'd go .040-.060 freebore. There's no specific number that is an end all, be all here. You just want to keep the bullet above the neck/shoulder junction, have plenty of grip and maybe a few thou to chase the lands. I'm just saying that I wouldn't get real hung up on the exact fb amount, as anywhere from zero to .100 will work with the long neck of a BR case. You're in the right range for the light bullets. I'd go with a .272 nk.

I have found powers a bit faster than Varget to work best with light bullets in a 6BR. N135 has been a staple for years and don't overlook H322. Some of the best 6BR's I've ever seen preferred it over all the rest. Stay between H322 on the fast side and 135 on the slow end. The 6BR is easy to load for. Several powders in that range can give very good results.

Generally speaking, it likes pressure and the bullets seated anywhere between .010 off and .010 into the lands.

I began my benchrest shooting career with a setup similar to what you're building. It was 14 twist Shilen Ratchet and would give PPC's fits with now discontinued 74gr Bergers. I used that bullet in a few different 14 twist barrels and it shot well in all of them. It's a shame that Berger discontinued it.

Much info you'll find is related to shooting heavy bullets. I've bought a few 6BR's that just wouldn't shoot for the sellers. They were all using Varget! I'd buy the gun, load n135 and/or h322, and their guns instantly became shooters! Varget is great with the heavy bullets in a 6BR but I've not seen the first one that liked it better than the afore mentioned powders, with the light bullets. That being 60-74 grains. YMMV --Mike

thanks for the input.

i do have a couple of 8 twist 6BR's. with these i shoot either the 80 Bergers for short range or the 108 Bergers for mid range F Open. for the 80's i use either N135 or IMR 8208 XBR. although recently, in one of my 8 twists, i am working with IMR 4320 with the 80's. looks promising. have to get an eye on the OAT, though.

for the 108's, Varget rocks out to 600 yds. i just won my first F Open match at 600 with that combo.

gotta love the 6BR. it's a hoot

 

[swadiver]

There is some truth to that. It comes from 6PPC's and n133. It has to do with how the pressure builds. IME, it doesn't really apply to the 6BR, particularly with different powders.

interesting. certainly no reason a good 4 groove won't work in this 6BR application, i'm sure