New to 6br, Berger?

[kenacp]

New to the 6mmBR. No competition, just fun, shooting steel, and a few critters and just trying to shoot tiny groups. 100 to 600yds 8T barrel. What Berger bullet purchase?
Thanks
Also have some SMK and Amax.

 

[mikehotel]

I'm new to the 6BR , (8 twist) also, and I'm liking the 95g Berger VLD Targets'.

 

[swadiver]

108 but 500 at a time

+1

 

[kenacp]

The 108 BT Target #24431?

 

[HTSmith]

I like the 105 VLD Hunting. The 80 Gr flat base also shoots well.

 

[swadiver]

The 108 BT Target #24431?

yep. Varget is the ticket

 

[50bmg1979]

I run the 105 hybrids in mine and they shoot great. What twist is your barrel? That might limit you on what you can shoot

 

[kenacp]

8T 28"Bartlein. Seems the VLD's may be a little more sensitive to seating depth?

 

[Eric Leonard]

call Randy Robinett and ask for the 6mm 104 BT`s ,,from the looks of the prices of the Bergers these days I would recommend trying Randys 104 BIB`s

 

[Texas10]

If you have 105 A-Max's, those will probably shoot very well out of your 8 twist. 30.0 grains of Varget and .020 off works excellent for me.
105 Hornaday BTHP set .010 into the lands, 30.0 Varget is also killer for those who don't want to spend upwards of half a buck on just a bullet to shoot for fun.

If price is no object, Bergers are sweet music to the ears.

 

[kenacp]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[HTSmith]

8T 28"Bartlein. Seems the VLD's may be a little more sensitive to seating depth?

Yes that has been my experience. But Berger is recommending faster than 8 twist for hybrids.

 

[beemanjohn]

I would not listen to the guys who tell you to just load 30 grains of Varget and shoot. 30 Grains is a very stout load in some guns. (like mine) You may be over pressure. Second, it may or may not be in tune with your barrel. In my gun, 30 grains with a 107 SMK is about as far out of tune as it gets. Start low and work up a load for YOUR gun, and forget about what someone else runs.

 

[swadiver]

I would not listen to the guys who tell you to just load 30 grains of Varget and shoot. 30 Grains is a very stout load in some guns. (like mine) You may be over pressure. Second, it may or may not be in tune with your barrel. In my gun, 30 grains with a 107 SMK is about as far out of tune as it gets. Start low and work up a load for YOUR gun, and forget about what someone else runs.

i agree. start at 29.0 grs of Varget

 

[OmegaRed]

New(er) reloader here, but having recently gone through this I'll offer my experience. You're going to a lot of differing opinions. Break it down like this: does cost matter (within reason)? If so, try your AMAX and SMK's. Most that are trying to do what you are have had great luck with them. Alot of people on this forum shoot competitively and often forget what different levels of accuracy mean to different people. The cartridge is readily able to shoot 1/4 moa at 100 in A LOT of guns, figure an inch at 300, sub 2" at 600 with an avg load and you doing your part. That being said, AMAX and SMK seem to have a little more variance than Berger VLD's do in my experience. I haven't had a problem with seating depth being finicky either. Use good reloading practices and if you are having troubles staying in tune, its probably not a tune that you want to try and maintain for what you are trying to accomplish.

Again, a lot of people find that 30gr of Varget is the sweet spot. This doesn't stop you from having to do a typical workup for safety. On my previous gun, I ended up 30.8 RL15 powder...a very unsafe load in a lot of guns. In my new 6BR, what do you know, I ended up at 29.9 of Varget. 29.0gr of Varget is a good and safe starting point. Go out and shoot to check for pressure signs. I like to do this while shooting a ladder test, and kill two birds with one stone.

I think you'd be fine with 95VLD on up to 108's, with exception of the 105 hybrids.

 

[Texas10]

With no disrespect intended to anyone, I would avoid telling you to START at 29.0 of Varget. That's overpressure in some books and max or near max in others. Sierra Manual Edition V lists 25.5 to 29.4 grains of Varget with the 107 SMK with a maximum velocity of 2700 fps. That's why I stated in my post "works excellent for me". You will experience something unique to you, and in all probability will have to discover your barrels sweet spot.

Of course, everything you read about the 6mmBR says 30.0 grains of Varget and 105 bullet is the sweet spot.
Ref: http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/6mmbr/

But me being a cautious type, I started at 26.0 grains of Varget with a 105 A-Max when beginning development and progressed above 29.0 in .3 increments, watching for pressure signs. I have 7 loading manuals and like to get a consensus of what is a good starting point and what to look for in a maximum load when starting a new caliber/chambering. One of my manuals (Ideal #36, price 50 cents) dates back to 1949. Still very current in many aspects but obviously lacks any data on 6mmBR, and most current popular chamberings for that matter. For instance it lists a .22 Varminter, .250-3000 cases necked down, which later became the 22-250, IIRC.

Lapua 6mmBR brass is purposely built for higher than normal pressures to take advantage of the higher accuracy node that most shooters find desirable. Approach with caution, as you normally would. I think you'll find it quite capable of handling a stout load repeatedly, and keep primer pocket as tight as new.

 

[mmcu]

In addition to the above replies, the 90 grain Berger and H-4895 are tough to beat.

 

[steve123]

I've found the 95gr SMK's a lot of fun for steel and the BC is decent. I like them slowed down because of the light recoil, including a brake, for self spotting. Darn near like shooting 223.