6BR prairie dog loads.

[Chris Shelton]

Loaded some rounds to test some groups in the 6BR for our prairie dog hunt in June 2026. I’m trying 70 gr Nosler VG and 80 gr ELD-VT, both over H4895. What’s your alls go to powder for lighter bullets?

Here’s a picture the 70 VG and 80 gr ELD-VT beside a 105 VLD-H. Those 80s are extremely long.

 

[Murray Brook]

For the 70 & 80 gr bullets N-135 works good for me. I also got good results with AA-2015 using the 70 gr Sierra and N-140 with the 75gr Hornady V-Max and 88gr Berger

 

[SmokinJoe]

I'm using TAC with 70 BK and getting good results. This is out of a Hart 1-12 barrel.

 

[RussellJ]

Loaded some rounds to test some groups in the 6BR for our prairie dog hunt in June 2026. I’m trying 70 gr Nosler VG and 80 gr ELD-VT, both over H4895. What’s your alls go to powder for lighter bullets?

Here’s a picture the 70 VG and 80 gr ELD-VT beside a 105 VLD-H. Those 80s are extremely long.
View attachment 1698262

In my 6BR hunting rifle, I load 70grn Ballistic Tip bullets with 32.0grn of IMR 8208XBR powder & CCI450 primers with excellent results and have been testing the 80grn ELD-VT bullets with 30.0grn IMR 8208XBR & CCI450 primers a very accurate load as well.

 

[Webster]

Loaded some rounds to test some groups in the 6BR for our prairie dog hunt in June 2026. I’m trying 70 gr Nosler VG and 80 gr ELD-VT, both over H4895. What’s your alls go to powder for lighter bullets?

Here’s a picture the 70 VG and 80 gr ELD-VT beside a 105 VLD-H. Those 80s are extremely long.
View attachment 1698262

I shoot 58-68 gr bullets for varmint hunting. With 8208 and H322 I get about 200 fps more speed than Varget and R-15. No signs of pressure, long case life.

 

[Murray Brook]

I shoot 58-68 gr bullets for varmint hunting. With 8208 and H322 I get about 200 fps more speed than Varget and R-15. No signs of pressure, long case life.

What kind of speeds were you getting with these powders. I also used the 58 gr Barnes over 33 grs of N-135 and got 3636 ft/sec (26" tube ) as well as 32.2 grs of N-135 under a 64 gr bullet for Appx 3500 ft/sec. These loads were super accurate in my rifle.

 

[Ackman]

In a 24"6BR, 14tw. 0 Fb, I shoot 58 VMX or a 55r bullet. Hands down best powder in that barrel has been AA2230. Velocity is 3850-3900 with excellent accuracy.

 

[Hipshoot]

Not done yet but Varget and N140 show the most promise with the 80 VT.

Hip

 

[Chris Shelton]

Shot the loads today and the 70 gr VG is winning so far. The 80s did much better than expected with max charge being around .5” for 4 shots. The 70s stayed around .5” with two of the charges being slightly under. I hit the speed I was hoping for too. Planned to be 3150 out of a 23” shilen barrel and was able to get 3170. I’ll do some adjusting with it. If I can keep it consistently .5” or less I’m going to load them. Much cheaper than the ELD-VT.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Loaded some rounds to test some groups in the 6BR for our prairie dog hunt in June 2026. I’m trying 70 gr Nosler VG and 80 gr ELD-VT, both over H4895. What’s your alls go to powder for lighter bullets?

Here’s a picture the 70 VG and 80 gr ELD-VT beside a 105 VLD-H. Those 80s are extremely long.
View attachment 1698262

The great thing about that bullet would be the standard target 6br say with 104 fb would be perfect. And the 8 twist which is the most common in that freebore would be perfect.

 

[AckleymanII]

In several 12-14 twists with very short freebore, the 55g Nosler with H335 or Better yet, the AA2230, is printing 3/4" at 300 and flatter shooting than a 220 Swift at 3900 fps. The 60g Sierra HP keeps surprising you with its accuracy, whether using H335 or AA2230, yielding incredible barrel life, Rem 7 1/2s.

Using H322, you will cut your barrel life in half vs H335 or AA2230, not to mention double the cleaning needed.

I prefer a 6 BRX or a 6 Dasher for 70/75g and a 6x47/6XC for 87s. I really hate that shooting over and under due to poor trajectory.

 

[K9TXS]

Chris, what twist is your barrel?

 

[Charlie-NY]

I was shooting the Berger 65 BT Target bullets with 31.5gr Benchmark in an 8" twist Bartlein. The bullets were .150" off the rifling and regularly shot well under .5moa @ 400yds. Velocity average was 3,370fps.

In reviewing my targets, many groups fell into sub 1/2" (not moa) at the 400yd line. Conditions must have been excellent on those days because I normally cannot shoot that well.

 

[DogBuster]

In my 6 BR days

70-75 grain

Benchmark….H4895….IMR8208

Heavy PAC Nor 12 twist

20 years or so….estimated 12K rounds down range

 

[Chris Shelton]

Chris, what twist is your barrel?

It’s a 1-8” twist. Believe it’s a .104 freebore according to the fella I bought it from years ago.

 

[Chris Shelton]

In my 6 BR days

70-75 grain

Benchmark….H4895….IMR8208

Heavy PAC Nor 12 twist

20 years or so….estimated 12K rounds down range

I’d like to have it rebarreled to a slower twist since we don’t shoot long range like we used to. When my buddy and I were shooting the other day I made mention of pulling the barrel off, sending the action to pac nor and just getting it over with.

 

[Tommie]

For terminal ballistics in a BR sized case I’d stick with nothing heavier than 70 grain bullets. I’m partial to under 60 grains. Larger cases are better suited for the heavier 6mm bullets. JMO

 

[Chris Shelton]

For terminal ballistics in a BR sized case I’d stick with nothing heavier than 70 grain bullets. I’m partial to under 60 grains. Larger cases are better suited for the heavier 6mm bullets. JMO

I was figuring the 80 gr would likely lose the wow factor. I’m running a 23” barrel and the best load was published max load with the 70s. They were running 3170 average if I remember correctly. I’d think they would do some damage at that speed on a prairie dog.

 

[rayporter]

if you like the WOW factor, go with the 55 bt in the 8 tw.

use a bunch of powder and get them moving!

 

[Chris Shelton]

if you like the WOW factor, go with the 55 bt in the 8 tw.

use a bunch of powder and get them moving!

May have to try that. Have you used any nosler BT 55 gr (not the varmagedons) on prairie dogs? I know they are a tougher bullet so curious how they work. I bought about 1000 of them from an estate auction one day for about $50 so I have plenty of them to burn.