6BR Frustration : ,

[Buzzbee]

I just want to share some of my frustration with this forum and hope to find a end to this. I’ve been working on load development for about 2 months on my 6BR, I will be my mid range,300~400yds) varmint rig, mainly for PD hunting. The barrel is a 26” 1-14” and I’m shooting 68~70g varmint style bullets in the upper end of 6BR velocity capability. I found if load twords to the upper ceiling of velocity, my 5 shot group is more like a pattern,1”+ MOA) and if I drop it down to where its comfortable to the 6PPC I usually can get it in the mid to low 2s. My goal is obvious, I want it to shoot it fast and tight,3300 & in the low 2s)
Here is the selection of components I have but I have not tried all the combinations possible.
Length and neck sized Lapua brass, N135, 2015BR, H335, H322, Varget with Rem 7-1/5 and CCI 4 BR primers and 70g B-tip and both 66 and 68g Fowler bullets, I’ve also tried the recipes I found on this board but my result also differs. I beg for any information that can help me get on the right course.

 

[jwv2001]

First of all, I don't understand what's wrong with 6PPC velocities in the low .2's. Accuracy is the 1st goal and I'd say that's pretty good. The combo that works for my 6mmBR 26" 14 twist, day in and day out is a 65 gr. Vmax with 32.5 GR. VV N135. Velocity is right at 3500 fps and it groups in the .2's.
I've used 70 gr. Berger and Blitz Kings with good results but not as good as the 65 gr. Vmax. Groups open up to about a 1/2".
Also, one bullet that has really surprised and impressed me is the 75 gr. Sierra Varminter HP. It is the same OAL as the 65 gr. Vmax and with 32 gr. Varget I get 3115 fps. This load also groups in the .2's in my rifle.
I know someone will pop in here with a disclaimer on my data so I will remind you that this data has been shown to be safe in MY rifle.

 

[Buzzbee]

There is nothing wrong with PPC velocity, that said, why not just shoot my PPC, its even more accurate than the BR at the same velocity and burn less powder.

 

[BoydAllen]

Unless I misread your post, your idea of fast is not very. I don't say this to insult you but to encourage you that you may not be looking at the 6 BR's full potential with 70gr. varmint bullets. A friend gets around 3,450 with a 24" barrel. Based on his work, I would suggest Federal primers and VV 135 and VV140 as powders to try with the Sierra BlitzKings. Another thing, I would think that for light bullets in the 6BR I would lop a couple of inches off at the muzzle. It might help accuracy, and my friend goes fast at 24". Are you shooting over wind flags? Where are you with seating depth? How do you clean? do you load at the range? On the latter point, as far as I am concerned doing load development at the range is the only efficient way to proceed. I know a lot of friends who don't but I can do what takes them weeks, in days, or a single day. Of the powders that you have I would stick with 135 and load a pressure series of one shot each in third grain intervals with the bullet about .010 longer than touch or with the marks about as long as they are wide, one shot each, with FL sized cases, over the chronograph, with flags, shooting carefully, at the same target. Stop when you feel the bolt lift increase above what you are used to. What kind of dies are you using? As to the so called PPC velocities, mid 3300s or higher with 66-68 gr. bullets out of a 22" bbl is a typical load for most of us.

 

[Buzzbee]

Hi Boyd,
I use Redding Comp dies but I only neck size after the fire forming. I do all my loads at the club and shooting in a 100 yd underground tunnel. As for seating depth, all are seated .020 in to the lands, barrel is cooled & cleaned after each 10 shot, I didn't have any luck with V135 but I did get some promising groups with Varget/CCI combination on all 3 bullet types over this past weekend. I now need to walk the ladder like Lynn said to find the sweet spot than fine tune it from there.

 

[BoydAllen]

In Benchrest we pretty much have to do more than neck size, because of the pressures that are typically used to obtain peak accuracy. I would suggest that you send a couple of cases that have been fired hot enough to be tight to Lynwood Harrell along with an order for one of his custom FL dies, and then load that puppy up to it's potential. His die will just barely size your cases, which will be good for accuracy and case life.