6 BR , how long throat should I get

[DanS]

Santa came early. It's a Kimber Montana wearing a #2 Shilen SS 1-8, cut to 20" and threaded.

So far it feeds everything I give it.





I am going to have to put some paint on that shiny barrel.

Oh yea, removed the windage knob and added the high dollar cap. Forgot the blue tape. LOL



Loaded up some 58VMAX with IMR8208, same load i use in another rifle, but this chamber has a little tighter headspace. I think I will be happy with it. With this light barrel and total weight, the rifle shoots under MOA out to 300, closer to 1/2 MOA, with ME yanking the trigger. I may pull the 6X scope and put a more powerful one one to see if I can tighten the groups, just for S&G's. But first I want to tag a few coyotes with it.

 

[AckleymanII]

I shoot zero freebore with 55,58,60,62,65, and 70g bullets...all work supurb with H335 and 2230 with Rem 7 1/2. Cold climates, H322 for an extreme powder. 60g Sierra is one heck of a coyote bullet, along with a 60g & 62g Bergers if you can find any.

I think that you will have trouble with 75g V maxes blowing up on shoulders in the 8T.

I like 4-16's on my coyote rifles because it is a better all round varmint rifle with the extra power...crows...

 

[DanS]

I have a brown paper bag 1/2 full of 60g Sierra HP's. I bought as seconds from Sierra. I may load some up. I think I used them and H322 in my old 6x45 years ago.

 

[Murray Brook]

Start at ZERO!! Load with the lighter bullets and go heavier as the throat wears. (and it will, sooner than you might expect) WTF??
Go with a long freebore and it won't be too long to before you can't even get close to the lands.
I load all my "6 BR" rounds with the bullets .010 INTO the land. 45s and 50s shoot bug holes for me. Up to 60s now and still all going into one hole.
Go long freebore and you'll be sorry. Nothing worse that reaching for your favorite bullet and you can't get anywhere close to the lands. PLAN AHEAD!!

What twist are you using.TKS

 

[JEFFPPC]

main advantage after twenty loadings I just throw the brass away when I get my first split neck. I don't anneal I've never seen the need.

Your statement is why you might consider annealing.

 

[jamesh]

My 6BR reamer has a .060" lead. I have shot from 68gr Bart's Ultras to 105 Berger VLDs with it. They all shoot very well.

 

[Phil3]

Split the range in half and get two barrels a low twist chambered ideally to shoot light boolets and a fast twist chambered to get the most out of heavy bullets.

Covering a very wide range of bullets just means compromise, so I decided to use short freebore for my 65 - 68 grain flat based bullets at 100 - 300 yards, and will put on another barrel for long range heavy stuff if I need. Mine is a Savage, so already have all the tools I need. As others have noted, barrel wear can change what works in the barrel later vs what it is when new. This means over the life of the barrel, you may be changing bullet more often than you wish, if you continue to play with the extremes in workable bullet weights.

Phil

 

[Texas10]

If Shilen chambered it as a 6BR Norma, I'd assume it was chambered for the 105's. Unless I'm mistaken, that was the Norma modification to the 6BR Rem. Do you have an OAL gage you can measure CBTO at touch?

 

[DanS]

Shilen was the barrel blank, SkeetLee did the gunsmith work and chambered it for me. I am very happy with it.

 

[TAJ45]

Being able to reach the lands if needed for accuracy for a range of weights?
We
My smith and I solved that problem by making our 6XC brass from Palma 308. We left the neck long, nearly .400". This allowed shorter throating. Seat the shorties or the heavies wherever you want.
How does it shoot? A LOT of zeroes in his hand. Brass life? 800 rds w/19 cases before bbl stopped shooting zeroes. It's a solid two shooter now with mid ones often enough. That may give a clue to throat wear keeping the flame front inside the case. He found nodes between 3100+ to over 3250+ w 107 Sierra's...he was stepping on it. No boutique bullets were harmed or used in his Long Neck experiment.

All in all he has found long bbl life w that X Caliber bbl, .0004" throat wear at 800 rds and can shoot shorties as well as the SMK 107. What's not to like with an extended neck?

 

[DanS]

TAJ45,
I have a couple 6XC's but haven't shot them much sine getting setup with the 6BR's. Honestly, I don't know if I am good enough to even shoot in the 2's consistently.

Also these are sporter rifles, with #2 and #4 contour barrels. I will look into some of that brass.