6BR load suggestions

[Dean]

For me,load workup is half the fun of shooting,unfortunately my time at the range has been very limited lately <twice a month>.
I've been working on a new 6BR with less than impressive results.

Savage single shot action, 24" Pac-Nor Super Match, 13.25" twist, 3 groove.
I have tried H322 and Varget with 68gr Bergers.With these combinations my average is .5" with the occasional .3. Tell me this isn't as good as it gets.

This is a 100 yard gun...99 percent of the time.

The rifle itself is fine as far as bedding,scope bases and rings tight,its rock solid in the bags,free recoils straight back.

Is my choice of bullet weight for the twist wrong?Is there another powder I should be trying?

Any and all suggestions welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Dean

 

[Forum Boss]

Dean,

Some questions before I can offer much advice.

1. What stock are you running? Unless your set-up in near perfect it may be better to hold the stock a bit.

2. What's the trigger pull weight

3. Is this new brass? If so, what are you doing by way of case prep, and how's the neck tension.

4. What are your velocities? Generally the 6BR,like the 6 PPC) like to run with fairly stout loads.

5. H322 sounds good. Varget wouldn't be my first choice for those bullets, but it CAN work very well. Here's one of the Pet Loads listed in our Varmint table:

68 Berger, Varget 34.2 gr, CCI BR4, .276 BC: "Consistently my best load, and [I've tried] Sierra 55gr BKs and 70gr HPs, plus V-Maxs in 58, 65 & 75gr."

Start at 32.0 and work up. Put the Bergers .015 or more into the lands.

 

[tootalloutdoors]

NO. That's "not" as good as it will get. I'll e-mail you this evening when I've got more time.. I just sold my 30", 14 twist, Pac-Nor that I had on my model 112. For me work up is 90% of the fun also. In fact I'm also selling my 22BR barrel that required absolutely "NO" work up. I don't compete so where's the fun. I'll never improve on the 22BR's groups now. So I'll sell it while it's fresh.
You'll be able to cut that average in half. Are you shooting Lapua brass? Talk at you this evening.
tootalloutdoors

 

[rayjay]

Are you using wind flags?

What kind of stock? If it has a rounded forend do you have an anti-cant device.

What scope?

What trigger ?

What rest?

What rear bag ?

I have a 12 twist SSS/Douglas 6BR on my Savage. I haven't come up with a light bullet load yet that out shoots the 6mmbr.com std load of 80gr bullet [ Berger .005 into the lands ] over 30 gr of Varget .

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the quick replies.

The stock is laminated wood with a 3" wide forend.
Front rest is the Rock BR with a Protector 3" bag, rear bag is a low ear Protector with the thick leather bottom.Lapua brass neck turned just to clean up.Loaded round is .269" and the cases are neck sized only with a .267" bushing in a Wilson neck die.Factory Accutrigger set at 8oz.<did a little spring work on it>. Sightron 36x scope in Zee Signature rings.

I have tried resting my thumb on top of the stock but can't seem to keep consistent pressure on it,hence the free recoil.

I don't use wind flags<yet>but the wind hasn't been a real big issue.

Velocity for the H322 is 3300fps and the Varget is 3400fps,man that Varget Burns really dirty.

I haven't gone into the lands yet.One week it shoots ok at the lands and the next time out it likes a .012" jump<go figure>.

I load everything long at home and take my arbor press and Wilson seater die to the range and play with different seating depths.

Thanks for all the help,
Dean

 

[janderson0]

I'm currently working on my first 6br w a 14 twist. 2015 powder and the 68 Bergers were the best I found until I tried N133. Monday night a storm was passing near, and winds were changing. I'm using flags, but anyway five out of nine 4 shot groups were .250 or less. Worst was in the .4's. Went out Tuesday and bought the other 2lbs of 133 the dealer had!

Also try different primers I see a difference.

Jim

 

[rayjay]

I don't use wind flags<yet>but the wind hasn't been a real big issue.Dean

That is really the answer I was expecting. If you use nothing more than a stick stuck in the ground with some surveyors tape tied onto a branch you will be miles ahead. You probably already have a consistent .2 or .3 rifle/load but the wind is kicking it out to a .5 or more and you don't have way of knowing it.

Stop wasting components and build or buy some windflags. I use 4 music stands and some flags made out of left over elec RC plane stuff. I started out with the music stands and some surveyors tape. Instantly the 'unexplained' flyers were gone and the small groups became the norm.

 

[Dean]

Janderson0,
I've been itching to try some 133 or 135 but getting ahold of it seems to be a hit and miss proposition.I should smack myself in the head for not thinking about different primers.I currently use Fed205M.

Rayjay,
Wind flags in the way of re-bar and surveyors tape are in my future,your right,just because its not blowing at the bench doesn't mean its calm at 100 yards.

Thanks guys,
Dean

 

[tootalloutdoors]

O.K. After looking thru notes and targets....
My 6BR was a 30" Pac-Nor, 14 twist, on my savage 112. Boy, I experimented alot. This gun would shoot completely differently if I made contact with it, or free-recoil shot. You and I both don't want me to type all my notes sooo. After looking at these if I was to go back and load for it I would grab my H-322. Sierra 60-70gr hpfb, CCI-BR4 primers. I'm not looking in the books right now so let's just say all these may be to hot in your gun. O.K. I think that covers that. These are all Lapua and CCI-BR4s.

H-322-- 30.0grs.
Sierra 60gr H.P.
Seated -- 2.085" .010 jam in my gun..
----------------------------------------------

H-322 - 30.2grs.
sierra 70gr match ,also Blitzkings)
Seated -- way long Let the action seat them..
-------------------------------------------------

Varget - 34.0
speer 70 TNT's
seated -- 2.175 ,which is "way" jamed for me)
------------------------------------------------------

H-4895 - 29.5
speer 70gr. TNT's
seated long
---------------------------------------------------------

R-10x - 31.0
V-MAX - 58gr.
seated - 2.175
--------------------------------------------------------

R-10x - 30.5gr
Sierra - 60grHP
Sated - 2.108
--------------------------------------------------

R10x - 30.0
Bergers - 68gr
Seated - ??? but I'm sure it was long
---------------------------------------------------

TAC - 30.0
Sierra - 60gr
Seated - 2.108
-----------------------------------------
BLC-2 - 35.5
Nossler Bal. Tps. - 55gr.
Seated - 2.00
-------------------------------------------

There, that's about all I can contribute. The "ONE" common factor in all mine is, I was seating "long" and letting the action seat for me. Jamming to different depths but letting the action do it...

 

[Dean]

Thanks Tootall,
Looks you were a busy guy at the range.
I am going to try the CCI's,my 22-250 loves the BR2.I will also start the jam seating tests.

By the way,I saw your 22BR barrel for sale on SavageShooters,looks very tempting but my plate is full with other projects,like trying to get this 6BR to shoot straight.

Thanks for the help,
Dean

 

[tootalloutdoors]

It will shoot straight. My 6BR was my first target cartridge. I was amazed. You'll be happy. Remember mine was a 30" barrel. Your loads will bound to be different. But you'll find more than a few things that will work. Talk at ya later...
tootalloutdoors