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Lighter bullets for 300 to 500 yards in a 6BR

SteveOak

Gold $$ Contributor
I was reading the article on the main site: "Accurate Reloading Tips for the 6mmBR Cartridge"

The article initially recommends 100 to 108gr bullets then says, "For shooting from 300-500 yards, you should consider the lighter-weight bullets : Sierra 95gr MK, Lapua 90gr Scenar, Berger 95gr and 87gr VLD."

Why would lighter bullets be desirable from 300 to 500 yards? This is of particular interest to me as I shoot at 200, 300, and 385 meters.
 
I was reading the article on the main site: "Accurate Reloading Tips for the 6mmBR Cartridge"

The article initially recommends 100 to 108gr bullets then says, "For shooting from 300-500 yards, you should consider the lighter-weight bullets : Sierra 95gr MK, Lapua 90gr Scenar, Berger 95gr and 87gr VLD."

Why would lighter bullets be desirable from 300 to 500 yards? This is of particular interest to me as I shoot at 200, 300, and 385 meters.
You would have to assume it would be for the extra velocity.
 
I was reading the article on the main site: "Accurate Reloading Tips for the 6mmBR Cartridge"

The article initially recommends 100 to 108gr bullets then says, "For shooting from 300-500 yards, you should consider the lighter-weight bullets : Sierra 95gr MK, Lapua 90gr Scenar, Berger 95gr and 87gr VLD."

Why would lighter bullets be desirable from 300 to 500 yards? This is of particular interest to me as I shoot at 200, 300, and 385 meters.
From experience, and the ranges you're shooting the article is legit. In fact one of the best shooters in your quadrant of Ohio has given many a shooting lesson at matches with a 10tw 6br using 90gr Bergers. He's one of the fellows that when he shows up at a match, a lot of shooters say "Oh no".

And the 80gr Barts are a great choice too. JME. WD
 
I appreciate the response @WyleWD , thank you.

What I am really looking for is the 'why'. The article start with 100 to 105 class bullets, not specifying distance, but then recommmend specific (and lighter) bullets at a specific range of yardages? I find that curious.

Switching from the 107 SMK's I use now at 200 to 385 is easy. Changing to a 10tw barrel from the 8 tw I shoot now would be a problem. I shoot at an additional distance, 500 meters and have a custom made 125gr bullet that I need to use to get the job done. It is blunt enough that it is adequately stabilized in an 8 tw.

If using a 10tw is part of the equation to achieve whatever benefit there is to using the lighter bullets it won't work for me.

This shooter you speak of. 90gr bullets, I'm guessing Benchrest? Are there matches in the SW Ohio area?
 
I appreciate the response @WyleWD , thank you.

What I am really looking for is the 'why'. The article start with 100 to 105 class bullets, not specifying distance, but then recommmend specific (and lighter) bullets at a specific range of yardages? I find that curious.

Switching from the 107 SMK's I use now at 200 to 385 is easy. Changing to a 10tw barrel from the 8 tw I shoot now would be a problem. I shoot at an additional distance, 500 meters and have a custom made 125gr bullet that I need to use to get the job done. It is blunt enough that it is adequately stabilized in an 8 tw.

If using a 10tw is part of the equation to achieve whatever benefit there is to using the lighter bullets it won't work for me.

This shooter you speak of. 90gr bullets, I'm guessing Benchrest? Are there matches in the SW Ohio area?

I don't know if the 10tw is the key, but it works for him. And I believe the skill of the shooter and his familiarity with his set up is a whole bunch of it. Look up Miami Rifle and Pistol Club for their schedule.

Depending upon discipline you want to shoot there are several ranges within 2-3 hours of the intersection of I70 and I75.

When I shot varmint matches (100-400yds) a few years ago my favorite setup was a 9tw 6br or 6XC using 90-95gr bullets from Berger or Precision Ballistics in order to take advantage of the extra MV to get the bullets on target quicker. So the tuning and BC of the bullet was paramount for me. WD

Edit: Give that 8 twist you have a try. It just might work out for you.
 
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I'm not sure why you would use a lighter bullet from 300 to 500. We shoot a lot of groundhog matches in Central PA, the few guys that I know that used to shoot 95 bergers all switched to 105gr to 108gr bullets. The reason they switched was the heavier bullets were winning more consistently, taking into consideration, some days you have good conditions and some not so much.
 
From experience, and the ranges you're shooting the article is legit. In fact one of the best shooters in your quadrant of Ohio has given many a shooting lesson at matches with a 10tw 6br using 90gr Bergers. He's one of the fellows that when he shows up at a match, a lot of shooters say "Oh no".

And the 80gr Barts are a great choice too. JME. WD
George...LOL...he is tough! The rationale...a 10 twist builds less copper than an 8 twist.
 
I'm not sure why you would use a lighter bullet from 300 to 500. We shoot a lot of groundhog matches in Central PA, the few guys that I know that used to shoot 95 bergers all switched to 105gr to 108gr bullets. The reason they switched was the heavier bullets were winning more consistently, taking into consideration, some days you have good conditions and some not so much.
This is my thinking and why I use SMK 107's.
 
I have an 8 Twist 6 BRA that I use to shoot 95s to 105s and a 12 Twist 6 BRA that I use to shoot 80 grains and under.

Running my loads in StrelokPro tells me that an 80 Berger at 3200 has less dial up and less windage at 300 than a 105 Berger at 2940. At 500 yards the 105 still needs more dial up, but it takes a very slight advantage in windage.
 
It's a balancing act between accuracy and wind. lighter bullets are easier to stabilize, and need less spin, which is good for accuracy. They're easier to tune all else equal. Heavier bullets are more wind resistant.

You can't really get too specific without defining what your goals are. But at 500 yards, wind is starting to get pretty significant. At 300, the lighter ones will probably be fine. But it really depends on what and how you're shooting.

That's the theory. And it's true. BUT...

Pragmatically, high quality 103-105 grain bullets spun with an 8 twist won't disappoint at short range in the slightest. There's a reason so many match bullets fall in that range.

There's not much reason to go lighter unless you want more close range energy.
 

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