6 xc questions

[argos11]

New to the forum and hoping I could get some ideas.

So I just picked up a 6xc rifle and it shoots great but I feel like I'm a bit over my head in reloading. I currently reload in 308, 223, 30-06, and 6.5 grendel. Lots of powder transfer over between these rounds and I reload to numbers by the book. Lots of published data on them all and I feel safe.

As I said before the 6xc shoots great and is a cool looking rifle but reloading for is a bit different. It uses way different powders than what I'm used to and reload specs are just things I scrapped together from forums. Not to mention brass is hard to get.


So I guess the question is is there a round with similar BC that uses the powders I would run in the other cases. And if so would it be worth rechambered the rifle or just sell it and start over

 

[spclark]

6XC is well-established enough now that reloading data should be fairly easy to locate. What powders are you using for 223 & 308? I shoot the latter (among others) with the same propellant as my 6XC and they both shoot well for me.

As for similar cartridges: 6-6.5x47 is one (6.5x47 necked down to 6mm), Randy Gregory's 240NMC is virtually identical (but not well-known)l, 6Dasher with a few more grains of powder....

What kind of shooting do you want to do (Distances? Target type? Off a bench & rest or a mat w/sling?) and bullet preference do you have?

 

[DogBuster]

Lots of 6XC info/data out there....great cartridge......

Get a jug of H4350...your favorite 6mm boolit....(105-107 class)

Some Norma factory brass......get after it......

I built my 6XC in '07........welcome to the forum........

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/6xc/

 

[argos11]

Thanks guys and right now I'm using varget 4064 and 8208 for 223 and 308 and 6.5 and 223 both use h335 so that why most my powders all match up. The big thing is I'm just a bit nervous on setting this round up so far I have loaded to factory ammo length and do middle of the road loads. This round seems a bit more than my knowledge of reloading so far.

I'm not a competing shooter just do plinking about out to 600 yards at max mostly under 300

 

[Ledd Slinger]

4064 and 8208 will work in the 6XC. Maybe try 4064 with heavier bullets and 8208 with the lighter pills. Though if you only go "by the book" you may be limited on data, if you find any at all. I invent loads for many of my rifles using powders that are not published in manuals, books, or internet forums. Especially for some of my wildcats where there is next to NO data. However, it takes a good knowledge of burn rate chart and experience using many different powders to know where to start safely. Not really a practice I would suggest for someone fairly new to reloading.

Try finding data for the 6XC using RL-17. that powder will also work perfectly in anything that likes 4064... Your case being that you find safe published data for it in the other chamberings as well. Most loads you read about on internet forums are 'NOT' SAAMI approved. So be careful there and always remember to start low and work up.

If the 6XC ends up liking a different powder, it's really a good thing in the long run because when you acquire more rifles down the road, you will have more powders on hand to experiment with.

 

[argos11]

I do not know my burn rates at all to be honest. I have been looking into them but not really sure how to compare. Right now I use reloader 17 and have been keeping it at a fairly low load.

On a side note where would be a good place to research data on burn rates so I can start to learn at least

 

[Ledd Slinger]

All of the Hodgdon reloading manuals have extensive burn rate charts in them that have proved accurate for me in developing safe loads with unpublished powders. I then reference them with my Speer reloading manual, Nosler reloading manual, and the data in the Hodgdon manual itself with identical weight bullets to get an idea of a safe place to start. Sometimes cartridges (like some of my wildcats) aren't listed in the manuals, so I then have to find commercially available chamberings in manuals with similar case capacity to know where to start. Ask a TON of questions and get as many expert opinions on anything you want to try before actually loading the ammo. After a while you develop an experienced method of figuring it out. But by no means try to do this on your own when new to hand loading. It can be VERY DANGEROUS. Especially when dealing with the faster burn rate powders. The faster the burn rate, the less powder it takes to build a large amount of pressure. So the margin for error is much smaller with faster powders.

 

[r bose]

Argos 11, go to the home page of this site, scroll down the left side to the 6xc page. Read the 6xc page. Lots of great info there. Then, all the way at the bottom, hit the 6xc related articles tab. You'll see a R-17 article that has lots of load data for the 6cx using R-17. The author uses moly so back off his charges 1 to 1 1/2 grains.

I have had very good results with R-17 and using a mild load I get good speed and accuracy. I'm shooting the 105g class bullets and the 115g DTACS. You don't need to get 3300 FPS out of the 6xc. I've found 2950-3050 FPS is a good sweet spot. Buy some Norma brass. Their pricey but worth it. Take care of them and you'll get many firings.

 

[joshb]

You came to the right site! Lot's of guys, here, shoot the 6 xc, and will come forward wih help. Don't be afraid to step out of the "norm". I've been at this a while and a 6 xc is on my wish list. Be prudent and cautious, sure, but keep at it and once you find a good load, enjoy. It's part of the learning curve.

 

[jr600yd]

If you can't find 6XC brass it's easy to make from 22/250 brass. Looks a little funy until its fireformed but your good to go.

 

[spclark]

If you can't find 6XC brass it's easy to make from 22/250 brass.

Or 6.5 Creedmoor, or even most brands of 308 though there's more trimming involved. I've even made it up from Lapua's PALMA brass & it works great, just a lot of work.

With the usual caveat about personal responsibility when using "internet load data" for your rifle and shooting discipline, I've been using IMR 8208XBR for 6XC behind Berger's 105VLD or 105 Hybrids with great results out to 1,000 yards in a bolt gun. 34.7 grains in any of the brass I've tried with it (Tubb Gen3, Lapua 22-250>6XC, Lapua Palma 308>6XC) works great. I'd strongly suggest you start at 34.0 grains then work up carefully since your rifle isn't the same as my rifle.

I tried RL17 early on & found it kinda peaky though accurate. Early reports were that it tended to shoot dirty so I abandoned it in favor of 8208XBR. If you send me your e-mail address I'll forward on a PDF I made up from a day's testing at 600 yards using five different propellants. This day's findings were what caused me to settle on using 8208XBR years ago.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

If you Google carefully, you should find references to David Tubb using N160.

http://www.davidtubb.com/index.php?route=account/download/free&download_id=26

Regards JCS

 

[tclaunch]

Here is a 6XC on a Accuracy International stock. I did this barrel work and am shocked by how fast he found a load. 105 VLD and H4350. This was a set back from a Dasher with 1500 rounds. He sent a new fluted blank which was said was going to be melonited in Arkansas. Both 6XC`s. I am about to order the XC II die from 6mmar.com and get brass etc. I used Whitleys print for the XC II and made my adjustments to it.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Here is a 6XC on a Accuracy International stock. I did this barrel work and am shocked by how fast he found a load. 105 VLD and H4350. This was a set back from a Dasher with 1500 rounds. He sent a new fluted blank which was said was going to be melonited in Arkansas. Both 6XC`s. I am about to order the XC II die from 6mmar.com and get brass etc. I used Whitleys print for the XC II and made my adjustments to it.

Very nice rifle What is your bullet speed and load recipe used for the target in the pictures? (primer, charge weight, brass, etc...)

 

[tclaunch]

I asked him to chronograph that load to see if there was an advantage with the larger case. I have not heard back yet, he just took delivery Friday 6/24/15 and the first afternoon tried IMR4350 and Tubb 115`s and got 1" groups. He thought it may be bedding and was about to proceed, I asked him to switch components, and in short order on Saturday sent me this picture. Norma brass, Redding S-Type XC II die, H4350, Berger 105 VLD in the lands.

Sunday he sent another pic of 80 grain Bergers on a steel plate at 300 yds that would easily be covered by a dime, 3 shots. My buddy is truly a talented shooter and rifle tuner. When you chamber barrels for junebug, he makes your work look great!!! He and mr.big live the same area of TN, and shoot together, both guys are excited about accurate rifles!!

 

[argos11]

Thanks everybody for the data and spots to figure out some more load recipes. What is the difference in the xc2 the dies I picked up are forrester with the micrometer bullet setter. I have picked up some 115 dtac and some 95 silver tips to try and load with as well as 100 norma brass for it.

 

[tclaunch]

Tubb made the 6XC originally from 22/250 brass that is smaller at the base than the new Norma brass. Many FL die sets will size this new Norma brass excessively. One can eliminate trouble with compatible reamer design and correct die. junebug asked the same and why I wanted him to get the XC II die, it matches the chamber I cut for him.

Info here:

http://www.6mmar.com/6XC_II.php