0.080 freebore

[Scoob]

A couple of months ago I received my first 6BR rifle that has a Lilja 1:8 twist barrel with a 0.080 freebore and I have been shooting the 105 and the 107 at all distances but I would like to try some of the lighter bullets for short range but I really don't know if the shorter bullets would give me trouble on the case necklenght with this freebore. Now I was thinking of trying the Berger 80 gr but I don't know if they will work so I could use some advice on this and if I could try any other shorter match bullets with this freebore.
How would a freebore of 0.070 work with the lighter and the 107 bullets?

Thank you,
Scoob

 

[dreever]

Scoob,

With an .080 freebore I'd try the new BIB 95 grain flatbase. It is shooting absolutely great for me. Another choice would be the Berger 88 grain high BC flat base,formerly the 88 gr. low drag).

A bullet that won't work very well for you would be the Berger 95 gr. VLD to short a bearing surface to get to the lands in anything over a .060 freebore.

The 68 grain family may be too short also to reach the lands since they work better with a .050 or less.

Hope this helps.

Danny

 

[Forum Boss]

I have about an .080 Freebore,using the PT&G measurements). Thus far it has shot everything I've tried well.

With this Freebore, the Lapua Loaded 105gr ammo is about .008" away from the lands and shoots very accurate.

For my handloads, I use the Lapua 105 Scenar .010" into the lands and this puts the bottom of the bearing surface about 0.055" away from the neck-shoulder junction.

I have tried the Berger 95gr VLDs. What Danny says is right--it's kind of marginal if you want to seat in the lands. With a case OAL of 2.360" I'm about .008" into the lands, and the bullets shoot well, but I only have 0.130" of bearing surface in the necks--that's only about 1/8". To my surprise the bullets shot accurately, but it's certainly getting on the ragged edge.

You will have no problem with any of the popular bullets: 75 Vmax, 80 Berger, 87 VMax, 95 BIB, 105 Berger, 105 Lapua, 107 SMK. And even with the long bullets you should still be far enough away from the doughnut area.

The Flat-Based bullets, though shorter overall, generally have a pretty long bearing surface so they should shoot fine in your gun.

For max velocity with the 105s/107s, a freebore of 0.100-0.115" will give you a little more boiler room.

 

[Scoob]

It is real hard to find good bullets around here so I'm gonna order them in the US and being a ex black powder man I just don't know enough just yet to go ahead and order some, I guess I would not be too happy to find out that I won't be able to use a couple of orders because they fall out of the case but this is a big help to me.

Thanks guys

Scoob