6BR Powder Choice and Barrel Life

[Kracken McGraw]

Since my original question from 5 years ago keeps getting brought back to life, I suppose I should close the loop on where I ended up.

Never did do a Dasher or 6BR trainer. Ended up building a 223 trainer instead, which was a much better fit my PRS style shooting practice. Shoot heavier 75gr bullets, load with XBR8208 because it meters awesome from a Dillon. Brass prep is easier because it's not doing double-duty with my primary match brass, overall costs are lower compared to a 6mm, simpler all around. Currently on my third barrel for the 223 trainer.

Match rifle has migrated to 6BRA with H4895. Run them slow at around 2880 fps with a 105gr bullet, 27-28" barrel length. Currently on barrel #4 for that caliber, seems to get 2500-3000 rounds if I treat them nice (PRS accuracy standard). Also have gone through 3-4 Dasher barrels, Varget and 105's, probably 2000-2500 rounds on average per barrel.

It's been a long 5 years since I started the thread, probably 30k rounds fired in practice and matches, have managed to win a couple dozen trophies, traveled to national finales, still shooting matches at least once a month. If I was to give my "5 years ago" self advice it would be this.

Caliber choice > Powder choice if you care about cost/barrel life for a trainer. Can't make a 6mm last as long or be as cheap as a 223.

Running slower velocities helps barrel life, no need for speed in the game of PRS.

Simplifying ammo loading/logistics is very important, if you're going to be loading tons and tons of ammo. XBR8208 meters great and is a perfect choice.

Buy more primers, you won't regret it.

What speed do you find best for the 75 grain bullets in the .223?
Thank you.

 

[Sheldon N]

What speed do you find best for the 75 grain bullets in the .223?
Thank you.

I run them around 2800 FPS, 26” barrel, around 23gr of XBR.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I run them around 2800 FPS, 26” barrel, around 23gr of XBR.

Thanks, I’m running some 69 SMK at 2800 in a 25 inch 1/8 twist. I have a bunch of Hornady 75 BTHP to try with H4895, will try to find that speed with the magneto-speed.

 

[Webster]

Looking at doing a 6BR as my "trainer" rifle for PRS style shooting practice. It would be run as a switch barrel and I'd be running the 6 Dasher for matches.

I'm going to be loading the trainer rounds on a Dillon 550b with thrown powder charges from the Dillon hopper. Match charges get weighed to 0.02gr but I don't want to put that amount of time into practice rounds.

I'm looking for a powder choice that is suited for the 6BR with 105g bullets, that 1) meters well from the Dillon thrower and 2) maximizes barrel life. Since this is a practice barrel for PRS steel shooting, it's going to be run until it can't hold 3/4 MOA, well beyond when a bench rest shooter would call it "done". Leading contenders for powder choice right now are XBR 8208, H4895, and RL-15.

Are any of these going to have a barrel life advantage over the other?
Any other powders I should be looking at?

Thanks!

I only shoot light bullets for varmint hunting (14 TW 6BR Kreiger) . I have 4200 rounds down the barrel. I started with Varget and R15 the last 5 years only 8208. Kelbly bore scoped my barrel and said it looked like I had about 1000 rounds fired. The barrel still shoots small groups if I do my part. 60 GR Sierra shoots about 1/4". Plenty good for GH's. Never checked recently if touch has incrreased.

 

[Snipe]

RL-15 should meter very well in the Dillon. I have found that going over 31.3 gr in my rifle the primer starts to show overpressure. RL-15 gives higher velocity than Varget in my rifle and the low SD's are causing me to switch from my 30.1 gr Varget load behind a 107gr SMK.

perry42

I'm building my first 6BR with a 28 inch 1.7 twist Krieger barrel. I'm thinking of running 110 sierra Mk bullets. How would H4350 work?