Intro

[Woodymyers]

Hello everyone. I am fairly new to distance target shooting and was hoping to ask a few questions. This site seems to be “ the place” to do so. I am competing in my first 300 yard benchrest match at my local club in 3 weeks. I’m shooting a 6.5 creedmoor. I know, I know, I should be shooting some sort of 6 mm. The creedmoor is what I have and what I’ve been shooting and loading for these last 2 years or so. Jim Borden is building me a rifle that I probably will convert to a 6 mm in time. For now I would like to see if I can be competitive with what I have. My question is this. All the loads I’ve worked up for this rifle have been with 130 grain or heavier bullets. Should I try lighter bullets at such close range? Can I typically expect a little more precision out of lighter bullets traveling faster at closer ranges or should I just stick with what I’ve been doing with the heavier bullets. I’m probably asking a dumb question. Thank you all in advance for replying.

 

[Nowhere Man]

The weight of your bullet is determined by the twist rate of your barrel.

 

[Mulligan]

The Tack-Driver match is a 300 national level match that was won the first year by a PPC and the second year (last Nov) it was won by a 6 BRA shooting 105 gr bullets.
Go shoot your 6.5 and have fun. At 300 yards I suspect the heavies will have as many wins as the light and fast. The wind is a rascal for us all at 300.
CW

Tack driver live results

Who is interested in live results from the match? Tell us what state you are watching this from! I will do all I can to post results as they are posted at the range. Let me know your thoughts.

forum.accurateshooter.com

Sunday GunDay: Bart Sauter’s Tack Driver Match-Winning 6 BRA « Daily Bulletin

The Tack Driver II Showdown The Tack Driver Showdown is a 300 meter, one-of-a-kind match designed to determine the most accurate rifles in the world regardless of discipline or class.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

 

[OMW57]

HI WOODY, I SHOT FACTORY CLASS AT OUR CLUB, 100 & 200 YARDS ONLY, WITH A 6.5 CREEDMORE BACK ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO & WAS QUITE SUCCESSFUL WITH 139 GRAIN LAPUA SCENARS WITH AN 8 TWIST IN MY SAVAGE LRP, HOPE THIS HELPS ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

 

[KMart]

If you have 130 grain bullets that shoot well, I would tweak that load for the match. But, if you have a 140 grain bullet and load that seems to shoot better, then shoot that. Shoot what shoots best regardless of bullet weight. then you only have to worry about reading the wind and mirage.

 

[Fuj]

The weight of your bullet is determined by the twist rate of your barrel.

Length.

 

[ragsflh]

shoot what your gun like

 

[Fuj]

Hello everyone. I am fairly new to distance target shooting and was hoping to ask a few questions. This site seems to be “ the place” to do so. I am competing in my first 300 yard benchrest match at my local club in 3 weeks. I’m shooting a 6.5 creedmoor. I know, I know, I should be shooting some sort of 6 mm. The creedmoor is what I have and what I’ve been shooting and loading for these last 2 years or so. Jim Borden is building me a rifle that I probably will convert to a 6 mm in time. For now I would like to see if I can be competitive with what I have. My question is this. All the loads I’ve worked up for this rifle have been with 130 grain or heavier bullets. Should I try lighter bullets at such close range? Can I typically expect a little more precision out of lighter bullets traveling faster at closer ranges or should I just stick with what I’ve been doing with the heavier bullets. I’m probably asking a dumb question. Thank you all in advance for replying.

When I shot the Creedmoor, my best with an 8 twist barrel
was with a 140 class bullet, BR2 primer and 42 grains of R-16.

 

[joshb]

I shoot a lot of Sierra 120s and 123s to keep costs down. When I get serious, I shoot Berger 130 VLD in my 6.5x47.
I would shoot what I’m used to and good with. Might be too late to work up a new load with a different bullet.

 

[Woodymyers]

Thanks everyone. The barrel is a 7.5 twist Krieger and is 28 inches long. I never thought about it that way, that is that the heavier Bullet’s require a faster twist barrel.

 

[Woodymyers]

Thanks everyone!!! I’m shooting a 7.5 twist 28 inch bartlien barrel. I shot 140 grain VLD Berger’s today and the results were very good. Best yet out of this gun. Seating depth test today and .013 off hard jam was the winner. Used quick load to get close on powder. This barrel likes 2800-2815 fps and quick load came up with 43.4 grains of n555. As the bullet seated deeper into the case it sped up to an average of 2817 fps when seated .013 off. Shot a practice 20 shot match at 300 and ended up with a 199 with 17 x,s. I have the session saved on my shot marker system and when I can figure out how I will post the results. I think I’ve answered my original question about what weight to shoot. That has to be competitive, right? Conditions were ideal so I’m sure I’ll struggle in the wind. At least now I know the gun is capable. I’m very excited and can’t wait to see how I stack up. Some very accomplished shooters at our club from what I hear. Anyway, hope I don’t sound like a bragger. Thank you all for replying.

 

[Dave M.]

Thanks everyone!!! I’m shooting a 7.5 twist 28 inch bartlien barrel. I shot 140 grain VLD Berger’s today and the results were very good. Best yet out of this gun. Seating depth test today and .013 off hard jam was the winner. Used quick load to get close on powder. This barrel likes 2800-2815 fps and quick load came up with 43.4 grains of n555. As the bullet seated deeper into the case it sped up to an average of 2817 fps when seated .013 off. Shot a practice 20 shot match at 300 and ended up with a 199 with 17 x,s. I have the session saved on my shot marker system and when I can figure out how I will post the results. I think I’ve answered my original question about what weight to shoot. That has to be competitive, right? Conditions were ideal so I’m sure I’ll struggle in the wind. At least now I know the gun is capable. I’m very excited and can’t wait to see how I stack up. Some very accomplished shooters at our club from what I hear. Anyway, hope I don’t sound like a bragger. Thank you all for replying.

199-17X is excellent for a factory rifle. I shot a factory 6.5CM at 600 yards very successfully and on windy days it would outshoot the 6mm’s. On a still day, the 6 Dasher is really hard to beat. 2817fps from a 6.5CM isn’t a very hot load at all and from a 7.5 twist barrel gives you an muzzle exit spin rate of just over 270,000 rpm
My target for the 130-140g pellets from the 6.5CM is between 265-280K rpm
Good luck
Dave

 

[Forum Boss]

You’ve done very well with that load. If you want to try something different for 300, try the Lapua Scenar 123gr, initially in the lands. These were the best shooting bullets in my .260 Rem. You’ll find they go a LOT faster that any 140s. And that may take you to a very good upper node. Those 123s were also extremely consistent base to ogive. 96-98 of 100 within .0015.

 

[Woodymyers]

Wow. Thanks Dave M and forum Boss. Very interesting comment Dave. I think your touching on something I’ve yet to learn. Twist rate and muzzle velocity creat Bullet rpm? Am I understanding correctly? So certain weight bullets perform best at a certain rpm? anything else I need to take into account when designing or searching for a successful load at a given distance with my current components. By the way, i built the gun myself, or at least partially. Ordered a barreled action from Altus shooting. Defiance Deviant action, Bartlien 7.5-1 28 inch Barel, Masterpiece Arms ”Matrix” chassis style stock, and Night Force NX8 scope. i guess it’s really more of a PRS style gun, and Im actually going to compete with it this Sunday in my first ever PRS match, but so far I’ve really just enjoyed trying to figure out how to develop loads and shoot as small a groups as possible. Its my first custom gun and I bought it because I guess I cought the precision distance shooting bug. Started with a RPR chambered in 6.5 creedmoor and as I’ve learned and advanced more and more as a reloader and shooter I wanted something better. I’m really just a beginner. I’ve been at this for a little over 2 years. I’ve hunted all my life but reloading and target shooting are new to me so I appreciate any help or advice your willing to share. Lot’s of stuff on the net but so far , in my experience at least, not all accurate. Seems like a lot of this stuff is almost secretive, like competitors or other more experienced distance shooters keep much of the information to themselves. I guess that makes sense, they are competing against others and knowledge can give them an edge. It does make it a little confusing for us new guys but I’ll continue wading through all the information and experimenting as I go. The best advice so far came from Jim Borden. He recommended a book to me written by Harold Vaughn. “Rifle Accuracy Facts” and I’m on my second reading. Also, Jim is building me a rifle more suitable for ”benchrest“ style shooting. I can hardly wait till it’s done. I guess I’m rambling. Sorry about that. I really am hooked. Never had a hobby before that has so totally captured my attention. Back to the question. Does barrel twist rate truly determine the best Bullet weight in whatever chamber I’m shooting? First time I’ve ever heard mentioned about Bullet RPM. What should I know about these things? Any feedback would be appreciated.Thanks in advance. By the way, I will try some lighter bullets and look for some stability at faster speeds. I’ve kept my loads very ”tame” so far. Afraid to damage something or prematurely burn out my barrel. Kinda funny really. I’m so worried about hot loads and what not so my barrel lasts and my action isn’t stressed and I’ve already got over a thousand rounds through it just trying to figure this stuff out and I feel like I’m just scratching the surface. Oh well, I guess the journey is half the fun. Thanks to anyone who actually reads this. God bless