400-600 yrds

[SPM]

hey all, shot my first 400 and 500 yard target today, and im not gonna lie to ya, they sucked. i shoot a 6br 65gr vmax and my best group at a 100 is .151". it could just be me, im kinda new at this but is there a better choice for 400 to 600 yards. it will be for prairie dogs only and would like to stick with a 6br because i already have brass but i still would consider another cartridge. thanks, SPM

 

[PepeLp]

Hi,

You might also try a heavier bullet like the 87gr. VMax if your barrel will stabilize them.

What kind of groups were you getting? Vertical? Horizontal? The wind is a witch.

 

[expiper]

Hi SPM...dont fret ...you got the ultimate cal for 400-600yds.......just need to use heavier bullets.,,more BC!!))......and practice.....if u are shooting slow and casual ...your groups will be huge if there is ANY breeze a blowin ..and if a Zephyr is goin on, you wont belive what can happen at 600....as suggested try 80 and up,most competitors use 95 to 107, the lil bullets give more splat,,but if all your hittin is dirt,then there is NO splat,,,Roger

 

[StephenPerry]

SPM
You could consider another caliber. If you want, a 6x47 Lapua should be that other. I feel though your 6 BR is plenty enough with the same or heavier bullets. Berger 105 VLD's will knock down any target at 400-500yds. We use this bullet in 200-600m rifle silhouette. I thought you wanted to stay with the bullets you had. My fault.
Like I said the other caliber choice for you might be the 6x47 Lapua. As I speak my barrel for this caliber is being head-spaced for my action, well maybe sometime today.
Either cartridge won't be hitting dirt in front of the target with light or heavy bullets unless you are sighted in for dirt. Your 6 BR with 65 grn bullets will hit it's mark if you read conditions properly, WR at 300 yds is .149 with 65 grn bullets.
Ray ought to know of anybody here.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

 

[Cheechako]

OK SPM, I shoot a 6PPC at 400 yards with the Berger 60 grain MEF in a 14 twist and at 600 yards with a Berger 71 grain BT in a 12 twist so I can certify that the 6mms will shoot that distance with ease. Your BR should do almost as well as a PPC in good conditions and even better in the snotty conditions.

You didn't mention 3 important things. 1) Twist of your barrel, 2) Exactly what size are these groups that "suck"?, and 3) What velocity are you shooting.

If you are shooting from a good rest and using wind flags, your answer could be as simple as a different bullet or more or less velocity. Or maybe the groups aren't as bad as you think they are. In these days of accuracy hype it's easy to get caught up in the popular myth of one-hole groups. It just doesn't happen in the real world.

Ray

 

[SPM]

dont get me wrong cheech, i wanna stick with a 6br. i had never said it was a poor choice for 400 to 600 yards. i would just like an opinion on bullet weight, type of bullet etc., for prairie dogs only, no paper, no competitions, just shooting prairie dogs at 400 to 600 yards. my twist is a 14 and freebore is only .060" so i know im limited on bullet size and that i may need to build a new rifle. in fact i want to build a new rifle one for short range and one for long range. thanks SPM

 

[patchhound]

Hey SPM, have you tried the 75 V-max or Nos 70-80 bt`s? Past 300 yrds youll be fightin the wind but I think they`re your best bet for p.d`s at mod ranges in a 1:14t 6br. Maybee the 80gr Berger match varmint bullets would work too, I never tied them but who knows.

You would be better off if you build a 1:8 6br if you really want to reach out further than 300yrds. 3100+fps and 87gr V-max works good for me to 500+yrds with a good breeze and I just got started playin with the 105 A-max for ruffer stuff than that with my new Krieger 1:8. It`s really hard to beat the 6br for long range p.d shootin. Have fun...

patchhound.

 

[Linefinder]

My "long dog" rifle is a Rem 700 VLS in 6mm Rem that's had all,or most) of the tweaks done to it. It sports a 26" Krieger barrel. I'm currently loading 75 grain VMaxes with 49 grains of H4350 for a MV of 3,670 fps. It holds 5 shots into a touch less than .25" at 100.

400-500 yard "first shot" hits on pdogs is pretty much a no-brainer with this rig and load, and 600+ occurs often enough that I don't really think much about it anymore. It's about reached the point that I don't even reach for this rifle anymore unless the shot's going to be in excess of 500 yards, or the wind is causing issues.

Mike

 

[SPM]

thanks for the replys, and please keep them comming, SPM

 

[mikeinct]

I use the standard 6MMBR with Berger 80 gr. MEF varmint bullet..best shot ever was 540 laser measured yards...out to 400 ..this one in ten twist Hart barreled M-700 is very easy to connect on groundhog sized targets...this spring I shot some real small ones at extended distances..only wounded one at 420 yds..The cartridge has plenty of smack down power with that bullet..If you hit low it is going to only wound..But if you hit them right it is more than enough bullet at LONG range...mike in ct who hunts in Pa..

 

[ZDH]

spm, if you are going to build another rifle or put another barrel on it i would go with a 8 twist broughton 5c barrel,28in. finished; unless you like the weight; mine is a 32in.) and go with a 6BRX .272 no-turn neck; just a 6BR with the shoulder blown out a 100 thou. havent tried the 105 bergers but the 107 sierras work great. this would be an excellent long range prarie dog gun. i built mine to shoot 1000 yard.

Zach