6.5 BR and Varget

[madderg]

I finally got some Varget and went to the range today. I tried Sierra 107 and 123...and Horady 100 V-max. Varget seems to work the best with the powders I have tried [ Re-14 8208XBR and 4895. I got a lot more speed with8208, but groups were not there. The Varget was as follows...all rounds loaded 10 thousands long.
107 gr. Sierra
32.5 Varget Ave. 2823 fps. groups OK
33.0 Ave. 2845 fps. groups OK
33.5 Ave. 2902 best groups
34.00 Ave. 2943 fps. groups OK
34.2 Ave. 2974 fps. groups opened up.
33.8 ave. 2964 fps. 2nd best groups

Horady 100 gr. A-max
33.8 Varget ave.2948 groups OK with lots more speed available..easy 1 more grain. Not enough brass to play anymore with.

Sierra 123 gr. and Varget.
31.5 gr. ave. 2720fps. Good groups
32.3 ave. 2761 good groups
32.8 ave. 2772 fps. good groups
33.0 ave.2786 fps. best groups The 123's grouped as well at 200 yrds. as 100, if I did my part. Nice all around cartridge that I'm gonna enjoy shooting...if I can get some more powder. I would like to try LT-32 also, some day. My next step it to make a barrel tuner.

 

[rickiesrevenge]

How long is your barrel? What twist?

Aaron

 

[Judd]

Don't take this the wrong way at all, I'm really curious....but what is the point of a 6.5BR if you're going to shoot the 6mm weight bullets?

 

[madderg]

The barrel is a Kreiger 8.5 twist at 26 inches... And I like the fact that the 6.5 will get almost twice the rounds out of a barrel and the B.C. is almost the same if not better. The 6.5 is producing really good groups without wackin the brass to get there. I think the Grendel is a great round, and the 6.5 BR is just more so without going overboard. Just my thoughts. Good shooting.

 

[FilippoMo]

What velocity did you get with 123 grs. bullet with the other powders you mentioned?
Filippo

 

[madderg]

Filippo,

I was getting close to the 3000 fps. mark. I'm not done with Varget yet on the 123's...just ran out of preped brass, and soon to run out of powder! It's a good little cartridge though..

 

[Judd]

The barrel is a Kreiger 8.5 twist at 26 inches... And I like the fact that the 6.5 will get almost twice the rounds out of a barrel and the B.C. is almost the same if not better. The 6.5 is producing really good groups without wackin the brass to get there. I think the Grendel is a great round, and the 6.5 BR is just more so without going overboard. Just my thoughts. Good shooting.

I can see that...one thing I didn't think about was the additional barrel life. Thanks and good shooting to you too!

 

[madderg]

judd, I'll keep you updated and will see where it goes...have good feeling on the barrel tuner also..