Loads for 6 BRA,... starting point for untried powders

[Lefty Trigger]

Is there kind of a "rule of thumb" for a starting point for the BRA if there is data for the standard BR. Looking at Alliant Varmint ball powder. I have a lot of it and it appears right next to H4895 on several burn charts. Sierra has a max load for the standard BR or 32.1 for 70gr bullet.

With short supplies I don't want to waste stuff on a whim.

 

[Bill Norris]

Don't know about "rule of thumb" but when starting an unknown for an improved case I normally start @ .5 of grain above the max of parent in the smaller cases and 1.0 of grain in medium cases. Seems to work well.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Don't know about "rule of thumb" but when starting an unknown for an improved case I normally start @ .5 of grain above the max of parent in the smaller cases and 1.0 of grain in medium cases. Seems to work well.

So for the above mentioned Sierra load you would start around 32.6gr? Thats kinda the feel I'm getting just looking at others results posted.

 

[Bill Norris]

So for the above mentioned Sierra load you would start around 32.6gr? Thats kinda the feel I'm getting just looking at others results posted.

Yes Sir. And as u move on up a bit getting closer to max you may even want to try a smaller increment.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Which powder? I usually run it on quickload then do a single shot ladder to find pressure because sometimes you get a fast lot or qickload is off. CFE223 is a ball powder that works really well in the 6BRA. And I have seen it in stock more than most.

 

[GT Accuracy]

Which powder? I usually run it on quickload then do a single shot ladder to find pressure because sometimes you get a fast lot or qickload is off. CFE223 is a ball powder that works really well in the 6BRA. And I have seen it in stock more than most.

I second alex here. It works really well, the CFE223 that is, from the dillon 650/750 if you're loading for varmints

 

[BOB LEE SWAGGER]

Which powder? I usually run it on quickload then do a single shot ladder to find pressure because sometimes you get a fast lot or qickload is off. CFE223 is a ball powder that works really well in the 6BRA. And I have seen it in stock more than most.

Alex, Do you think that a load using CFE223 can rival the great results with H4895?

 

[JMayo]

Burn rate chart isn't for picking unknown powder.
I use universal and tight group for pistol ... no where near each other.....

 

[Don Shelton]

I second alex here. It works really well, the CFE223 that is, from the dillon 650/750 if you're loading for varmints

Have you tried it at 1k yards with a 103 or 108 bullet? About out of RL15…found some Cfe223…

 

[GT Accuracy]

Have you tried it at 1k yards with a 103 or 108 bullet? About out of RL15…found some Cfe223…

maybe @Alex Wheeler has but I have not. I used CFE223 in a BRA last summer for woodchucks loaded through a 750. Metered well in that platform as most round powders do

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Like any powder, the barrel has to like it. Mine did and I shot some of the smallest stuff I have ever shot at 1k with cfe223 in a BRA. In mild weather it was fine, but watch for spikes in hot weather.

 

[Don Shelton]

Which powder? I usually run it on quickload then do a single shot ladder to find pressure because sometimes you get a fast lot or qickload is off. CFE223 is a ball powder that works really well in the 6BRA. And I have seen it in stock more than most.

I got a few pounds of CFE223 to try,,is 30.5 a good starting point using Peterson brass and a 108 bullet in my 6 BRA? I prefer to not waste too many primers in developing load…

 

[Ccrider]

I would follow Alex’s suggestion. Shoot a rough ladder .5 increments, find pressure and go from there. I would also use my LabRadar as I shot the ladder to see where my velocity is and work within the known nodes.