6BR barrel length

[juddroy]

I have just received my new Krieger barrel 8 twist. I was wondering what consensus was for optimal barrel length.This will be a F-Class rifle for my daughter who is only going to be shooting to 600 yds. We will be running 103-108 grn bullets.The barrel unfinished is 31.5 inches.Thanks,Jeff

 

[dreever]

Jeff,

I prefer between 25.5 and 28 inches for my 6BR's a 28 will give you a bit more velocity perhaps 30 fps. I currently have one of each and can see absolutely no difference in accuracy between the two at 600 yards.

Danny

 

[wnroscoe]

I had a 30" straight 1.250" on my first BR and it shot pretty good. I set it back to 27" and it shot lights out. When I replaced the barrel last year I went with a 27" HV and it shoots better than the first rifle did in it's prime. If I were to build a third BR it would also have a 27" on it.

 

[DukeDuke]

I think, what you got is perfect! For the purpose intended, I'd always go 30"+ in any caliber.

 

[spclark]

I'd think 30" max would be enough; any more & you may not be getting the most uniform sections of the bore. The extremes at both ends aren't always as finely dimensioned as the middle. If you have a choice,doing your own chambering) you might want to select the most uniform end for the muzzle, leaving the most meat on the chamber end.

 

[6BR]

IMHO, I would go with a 28" barrel for the 6BR. If it were a 6x284 or 6MM AI, I would then go with a 30" but the 6BR only needs a 28" barrel to get it's full potential.

 

[dan2116]

Hello all. I am new to the sport of 6BR and have a dumb question. Are all the barrel lengths mentioned a measurement from the front of the chamber out to the muzzle?

 

[Laurie]

I'm + 1 for 28" on the original question

Hello all. I am new to the sport of 6BR and have a dumb question. Are all the barrel lengths mentioned a measurement from the front of the chamber out to the muzzle?

Dan,
that's not a dumb question - get asked it regularly. Barrel length is from the muzzle to the bolt face. Also, when ordering a barrel blank you add one inch onto the desired finished length to compensate for the metal the gunsmith removes in squaring, threading and muzzle crowning.

Laurie

 

[Steve Blair]

Most 6BR shooters use powders like RL15 and Varget that are probably optimal in the 27-28" range. I use RL17 with Sierra 107 MKs and can get another 40 fps from 30 over 28. That puts me just over 3000 and into what appears to be a very favorable area. I also saw good results around 2850 with faster powders.

That is just how this barrel performs, another could have a very different personality.

 

[Laurie]

Sleepygator,

Most 6BR shooters use powders like RL15 and Varget that are probably optimal in the 27-28" range. I use RL17 with Sierra 107 MKs and can get another 40 fps from 30 over 28. That puts me just over 3000 and into what appears to be a very favorable area. I also saw good results around 2850 with faster powders.

That's interesting! There is another factor to be taken into account in addition to ballistics of course - all up weight. Since Juddroy's question is about building an F-Class rifle for his daughter, that won't be a problem with a 10Kg all-up weight allowed. But, going for 30" may not be on with a 17lb Light Gun limit. My 6BR with 28" heavy target barrel profile would be overweight at 30" unless I replaced the scope with a light fixed power model such as the Weaver T36 or Sightron 36X42.

So, a revised answer to Juddroy may be 28" if planning on using powders in the VarGet / Reloder 15 category and 30" if thinking of Re17.

Laurie

 

[Steve Blair]

Laurie,

Absolutely correct. If weight is a consideration, I would gladly trade a little barrel length for stiffness. My 30" Savage 12F comes in at 16 lb., 10 oz. with Ken Farrell's rings and base and a Nightforce 12-42 BR.

I ordered a Center Shot bipod and made good progress with a new, 30" long, 10" twist .308 barrel for the Savage. All up, the rifle will hit 18 lb., 1 oz., thus F/TR eligible. I expect to hear a few complaints.

Steve

 

[Laurie]

Steve,

all of us GBFCA F/TR shooters are RIGHT on the weight limit! There has been a lot of thought about trade-offs with one or two people going for a lighter (heavy Palma) profile but two or three inches extra length during 2009!

Laurie