6BR build

[ratbuster]

In a previous post I talked about my son-in-law wanting a 6mm BR; he is looking for the most accurate 500 yard shooter he can get without reloading. This is not for competition but rather fun shooting on his property. My plan is to use a Savage PTA, Criterion barrel with muzzle brake resting on a Boyds Pro Varmint stock, pillared and bedded of course.

He does not reload. The bullet will be Lapua Scenar 105 HPBT. I'm thinking it would be wise to have a reamer by Dave Kiff designed around that particular bullet rather than just getting the standard 6mm BR reamer that Criterion happens to stock. It seems that going through the trouble and expense of a custom reamer should improve the potential for accuracy. Or am I just being too picky?

Opinions?

Phil

 

[swd]

I'd go with whatever free bore is appropriate for that bullet and then put a tuner on it.

 

[ratbuster]

What about setting the FB so the bullet is very close to or touching the lands? Another thought is if there is a jump and it doesn't shoot as well as expected I could pull the bullets out slightly and re seat them to a length where they are slightly jammed into the lands as they are chambered.

 

[Phil]

Phil,

Why not introduce him to reloading?????

 

[tclaunch]

In a previous post I talked about my son-in-law wanting a 6mm BR; he is looking for the most accurate 500 yard shooter he can get without reloading. This is not for competition but rather fun shooting on his property. My plan is to use a Savage PTA, Criterion barrel with muzzle brake resting on a Boyds Pro Varmint stock, pillared and bedded of course.

He does not reload. The bullet will be Lapua Scenar 105 HPBT. I'm thinking it would be wise to have a reamer by Dave Kiff designed around that particular bullet rather than just getting the standard 6mm BR reamer that Criterion happens to stock. It seems that going through the trouble and expense of a custom reamer should improve the potential for accuracy. Or am I just being too picky?

Opinions?

Phil

Call the reamer maker to be sure sending in a single round of ammo is ok, if not you may have to take it apart remove powder, primer and reseat bullet back where it was, send that in with a request for jumping .010" or whatever. It is a sound plan.

 

[normmatzen]

I would certainly advise him to keep the empty cases! Then when he tires of paying a fortune for the Lapua ammunition he may change his mind about reloading!

 

[Eric Leonard]

if I didnt reload and wanted to shoot 500 yards I would look into a 6.5 Creedmoor

 

[tclaunch]

if I didnt reload and wanted to shoot 500 yards I would look into a 6.5 Creedmoor

And Winchester ammo loaded with the 140 Sierra!!

 

[ratbuster]

if I didnt reload and wanted to shoot 500 yards I would look into a 6.5 Creedmoor

He's too busy and has no interest to reload, besides money is not an issue. I thought about the Creedmoor but the lower recoil and inherent accuracy of the 6br is appealing. The price difference is not really significant to him. Hornady Match 140 gr Creedmoor ammo is around $1.15, Lapua 6mm br ammo is $1.25 for the 90gr and $1.50 for the 105gr. The price diff is also somewhat mitigated by the value of the once fired lapua brass.

 

[Eric Leonard]

I wouldnt be worried about the money either,,it would be the availability that would concern me,,

at Midway there are 20 different kinds of 6.5 Creedmoor factory ammo and there are 5 different 6BR,,and they have the Creedmoor at Walmart most days

the odds of finding a factory load that shoots well in your rifle would seem better with the 6.5 and there is a huge market for the Creedmoor brass also,,

if he wants a 6BR thats fine,,if he wants the best shooter at 500 yards he can get with factory ammo I would look hard at the Creedmoor,

 

[swd]

I wouldnt be worried about the money either,,it would be the availability that would concern me,,

at Midway there are 20 different kinds of 6.5 Creedmoor factory ammo and there are 5 different 6BR,,and they have the Creedmoor at Walmart most days

the odds of finding a factory load that shoots well in your rifle would seem better with the 6.5 and there is a huge market for the Creedmoor brass also,,

if he wants a 6BR thats fine,,if he wants the best shooter at 500 yards he can get with factory ammo I would look hard at the Creedmoor,

This ^^^^

 

[ratbuster]

The creedmoor makes sense in many ways but one of the key characteristics of this build for my son in law is to have the lowest recoil possible. I have a recoil calculator that shows the Creedmoor has 50% more recoil than the 6 mm br (140 gr vs 105 gr). Yes, a muzzle brake is in the plans. He also will use it occasionally on ground squirrels over 400 yds. Does anyone make a tuner that works with a muzzle brake or is integrated with one?

 

[Eric Leonard]

a braked 6.5 is very easy to shoot,,but you have your mind made up on a 6BR and to shoot factory ammo,,I have shot a couple thousand 105 Scenars and they seem to shoot well jumped ,,and since you cant be sure all the ammo will be loaded the same length I would want something like .030-.050 jump ,,if you set up close to the lands the next batch might be slightly jammed or some jammed and some jumped,,

 

[ratbuster]

I asked my son in law to consider the 6.5 but he wants the BR. If needed to get better accuracy I will reseat the bullets to best CBTO length (without pulling completely out of the case)

Does anyone make a muzzle brake/tuner combination?

 

[Phil]

Harrells.......

 

[GeorgeSpringer]

http://www.bostromgunsmithing.com/Home/Products

I have one my 6BR and it works quite well.

 

[Rflshootr]

Whichever caliber you decide to go with, if it were me, I would acquire some ammo first, then design the reamer to have the bullet jammed about .020. I'm not saying you should do this, because there is a chance of high pressures. But, it is much easier to just seat the bullet deeper then to pull it some then reseat.
Less chance of damage to the round and IMO the neck tension would stay more consistent. And you could do it with a Lee hand press and a good quality seating die during your testing and not have to carry heavy equipment along.

 

[ratbuster]

I have chosen the Lapua 90 scenar and have some on order. I am thinking a freebore in the .050 to .060 range but will know more once I get my hands on them and make some measurements.

 

[ratbuster]

I have question hopefully someone can help me with. I was told the Scenar bullets are a half a thou smaller in dia. than other .243 bullets and will not shoot well out of some barrels. Has anyone experienced poor results with the Scenar 90's?

 

[ratbuster]

I think this thread has ran it's course so I'll pose the question in a new post