First rifle, .223 or 6BR variant?

[JEFFPPC]

6 Brx easy to make cases, good barrel life. Shoot your 105 or bullet of choice at 2990 node........bring on you .223s over 300 yds and we will do some side bets. Save enough for a bus ticket home. I had a .223 that liked 80 gr bullets and shot well, but it will not stick with a 6 variant day in and day out. Your dreaming.

 

[Rocketvapor]

I'm sure any of the 6's would be fine for her and better at range than the 22 Nosgar but I have pounds and pounds of 22 bullets in 80, 88 85, 85,5 90, 95 and the 90Atips, and about 1200 Hagar cases.

the 22's BR, BRA, BRX would still require brass and dies though.

They all would be simple with a 308 type bolt in an action.

 

[WillEver]

Well, I decided on the 6BR. I found Lapua brass, so that made it an easy decision.

I might still do a .223 down the road, but for now 6BR sounds like a no-brainer.

 

[COLT45SA]

If you are frugal, as I am, and want to shoot for years to come, stick with the .223. Reloading components will be available way out into the future, and with a little bit of work can be made to shoot quite accurately~!
Don't get me wrong, I love accuracy and am fascinated with the 6MM-ARC. But I won't buy one. I's the flavor of the week and may disappear just as quickly as the .222. Look at the 6MM PPC. Hot, hot, hot right~? Popular as he** thru the 80s and 90s, but now try to find components.

 

[dgeesaman]

Well, I decided on the 6BR. I found Lapua brass, so that made it an easy decision.

I might still do a .223 down the road, but for now 6BR sounds like a no-brainer.

This is a great choice because 1) it's an awesome cartridge with accuracy over an outstanding range and 2) so many great bullets available.

 

[NorCalMikie]

I'm putting together my first non-AR centerfire rifle, and this will be my first rifle reloading experience as well (I've loaded for my pistols for about 15 years) I have an action, stock, trigger, and just need to buy the barrel.

I'm considering either a .223, or a Dasher/6BRA. Is there any reason I should lean one way or the other? Assume I have components for either, so that's not an issue. Is one any "easier" to get started with?

Go with the .223 for starters. The 6BR will come along soon enough. Probably sooner than you expect. THEN, branch out to the Dasher or 6BRA. You're already hooked and havn't even fired one shot.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Keep telling yourself that, famous last words, ;-)

And you started reloading to save money?? That's funny right there.
Got more ammo? Trust me, you'll go shooting. And don't try to figure out how much each round costs. Just go shooting and enjoy the hell out of it!!

 

[dgeesaman]

And you started reloading to save money?? That's funny right there.
Got more ammo? Trust me, you'll go shooting. And don't try to figure out how much each round costs. Just go shooting and enjoy the hell out of it!!

Reloading just breaks the cost up into unrecognizable chunks that have no clear connection to trigger pulls. It probably costs as much or more but manages to also consume your time and brain power.

Ps: I have no regrets. I think we’re all happy to have a way to obscure the raw cost of shooting.

 

[iukamedic]

I’ve shot and loaded for both. 6br is stupid easy to load for and 223 is to with certain e loads. 223 is cheaper with more available components. Both seem to be able to do about the same thing within reason. Pick and start shooting. One this to note is you can find 223 off the shelf but not so much with 6mm stuff.

 

[WillEver]

At the last minute, I changed my mind to the BRA...

So far, I've got...

Lapua 6br brass, 105 Hybrids, H4895 and Varget, and CCI 450s
I already had calipers, loading tray, lube, other things I use for loading pistol ammo
CNC toolhead for my 550, correct shellplate
Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper, hand priming tool, and trimmer
Hornady manual tricker
Wilson BRA sizing die with .266 and .267 bushings
Sinclair expanding die with .241 mandrel
Forster Dasher seating die
Lyman case prep tool and funnel set

Are there any glaring holes here, or something I forgot?

 

[Sandstorm]

I say go have some fun....your all set.

 

[JFrank]

Here’s some helpful posts.

6BRA load data

I thought this thread could be useful. Interested in hearing all the different combos you guys have found success with.

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[dgeesaman]

At the last minute, I changed my mind to the BRA...

So far, I've got...

Lapua 6br brass, 105 Hybrids, H4895 and Varget, and CCI 450s
I already had calipers, loading tray, lube, other things I use for loading pistol ammo
CNC toolhead for my 550, correct shellplate
Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper, hand priming tool, and trimmer
Hornady manual tricker
Wilson BRA sizing die with .266 and .267 bushings
Sinclair expanding die with .241 mandrel
Forster Dasher seating die
Lyman case prep tool and funnel set

Are there any glaring holes here, or something I forgot?

Looks pretty good, what chamber neck dia are you planning on? I suggest at least a .272 for no-turn brass, but maybe a little more depending on how thick your brass necks are.

Also if the hybrids don’t love your barrel, don’t obsess over making them work. I wasted a couple hundred at one point and finally decided to move on and I’m glad I did. Barts, Wheeler (Roy Hunter), Vapor Trail, Lapua, Hottenstein are probably all easier to obtain and at least as accurate as hybrids. The hybrids have a reputation in the PRS world but the fclass and benchrest competitors aren’t committed to them.