6BR - where to learn what i need to know?

[drgunlimited]

Hi... new to the forum... I'm looking to buy a 6BR most likely a Savage 12 LRPV 6BR Fluted 18534.
What is the best source for reloading information? From what ive read so far, reloading for the 6BR is more complicated than your standard cartridge. I live in a small town and don't know of anybody shooting or reloading this caliber so im on my own for now. What do I need to know BEFORE I spend a bunch of money??? Thanks_DRG

 

[txdan]

First welcome to the forum. You are at the most informative place for reloading info I have found. The 6BR is NOT more diffucult to load than any other metallic cartridge. There is a lot of versitilty in this round. From 55 gr. to 108+ gr. bullets. Start your loads low and work up. The article on ladder loads helped me a lot. Much knowlege gain by me here. Hope you get to enjoy yours as much as I do mine.









=

 

[woolenmammoth]

The 6br is about the easiest cartridge Ive ever loaded for. Its VERY easy to work up to a load that will work. There are the best components possible to build the most accurate ammunition possible in 6mm. There are VERY experienced people with practical knowledge to help you both on this board and at matches.

The first thing you need to figure out is either what weight bullet you want to shoot or what the factory twist is in the rifle you want to buy, with more than 50g difference in bullet weights and 8 to 14 twist available in common 6mm barrels, you'll need to match that up first. You would not want to shoot a 100+g bullet in a 14 twist barrel in most cases.

I shoot mostly at 300 and have a 10 twist for 90g bullets and its perfect. Many BR guys that shoot at 100 have 14 twist, XC guys have 8 twist for 600 yds+ to shoot the heaviest bullets that will work in the case.

Dont be intimated by 6br. Get a no turn neck chamber and I think odds are pretty good that you'll discover how easy it is to load. There's also an absurd amount of information here and its coming from really smart guys.

To get you started, Lapua brass is good to go out of the box. Get a wilson seater and an arbor press, send two fired cases to harrells and get their threaded BR die (which they'll match to your fired case) and then set your die to push the shoulder back around .003 Easy peasy. Experiment with seating depth. Marvel at the one hole you just made with five bullets.

 

[fdshuster]

Excellent source(s) of information on this sites home page related to the 6BR. Read it all. If you are going for a no turn neck, the 6BR is no different to load than any other cartridge. Use the always excellent Lapua brass right out of the box just as you would Winchester or any other brand. As good as most Savage rifles are, right out of the box, don't expect the same results that you would get with a hand-lapped custom barrel. Use it "as-is" and plan on re-barreling sometime in the future with a custom barrel.

 

[drgunlimited]

Thanks, I'll be lurking in the shadows for awhile... I'm not dead set on the savage but I have never built my own... and dont know any gunsmiths. What would things cost if I were to get a custom barrel and buy the parts to assemble one? Thanks_DRG

 

[woolenmammoth]

you would be wise to budget around $3500 if you built it from scratch and be happy when it comes in under budget.

the best route if you plan on using the rifle for benchrest (or at least not carrying it in the field hunting) is to buy a used gun from bob white at the shooters corner. I would imagine he has a large inventory of BR guns for under $2k, complete. A shot out barrel for a br competitor is still plenty accurate in many cases if you are not competing. This IMO is the best introduction to get your feet wet as if you are brand new to BR you arent gonna shoot .1 aggs with the most accurate gun in thew world anyway under any circumstances until you get your technique figured out. He's got a huge stock of used BR rigs (many of which have always been handled with white gloves, get to know some BR guys...) and you can get into a fully custom built rifle very conservatively. You'll find most of his guns are chambered in 6ppc but you can buy a new 6mm barrel for under $400 and have him chamber and install it for you if you are dead set on 6br.

There are a few vendors that can sell you 6ppc brass if you want to buy something he has on the shelf. Bob is about the nicest guy I have met in BR and will patiently and thoroughly answer any questions you have when you are ready to buy and pretty much do everything in his power to give you a warm welcome to the sport. World needs more guys like Bob White.

There are also a periodic stream of used BR rigs in the classifieds here, keep your on on that for a few weeks to get a feel of what your money can best do for you. The difference between a used BR rig put together by a top smith and a new savage is somewhat along the lines of a used porsche vs a new pickup. Ultimately depends on what your use will be.

 

[drgunlimited]

you would be wise to budget around $3500 if you built it from scratch and be happy when it comes in under budget.

$3500 is more than I can go. I'm not a match shooter. I'll have to setttle for a factory rifle or pick up a used one. I don't like buying used without really knowing what im getting... pretty hard to do over the internet. Thanks_DRG

 

[fdshuster]

DRG: A lot of high quality used rifles on the market, must be several thousand Remington 700's alone. Try to buy from a private seller. Asking prices are usually lower than a dealer would want. If able, take a look inside the barrel with a borescope. Some used rifles advertised "as new condition", with barrels that are completely shot-out. I've inspected some of these "as new" claims & seen the first 2" to 3" in the throat to not have any rifling left.

 

[drgunlimited]

I checked out the shooters corner...the list says updated june 2010... thats more than a little outdated... It would be nice to find an outfit with dies good to go...

 

[tiny68]

DRG,

The LRPV is a great rifle for the money. If you are not pleased with the performance of this rifle with a factory barrel, you can spend $300-350 for a Pre-fit custom barrel from one of several top name barrel makers. A gunsmith should charge $50 tops to swap the barrels or you can do it yourself with a little knowledge. If I where making your purchase, I would probably do that anyway and sell off the new factory barrel for $200-225 and invest it in a custom barrel. Once you shoot a custom barrel, you want go back.....

Be aware that the 18534 is a 1:12 twist of the 6BR which limits you to 75 gr bullets or so. Wonderful is you want to shoot shorter ranges (under 300 yds), but a 6BR really shines with the 1:8 twist and 105-107s bullets. The 1:8 twist is a 18671. You can pick one up for $950-1000 if you shop at the right places.

Hope this helps. Luck, Tim

 

[drgunlimited]

DRG,

The LRPV is a great rifle for the money. If you are not pleased with the performance of this rifle with a factory barrel, you can spend $300-350 for a Pre-fit custom barrel from one of several top name barrel makers. A gunsmith should charge $50 tops to swap the barrels or you can do it yourself with a little knowledge. If I where making your purchase, I would probably do that anyway and sell off the new factory barrel for $200-225 and invest it in a custom barrel. Once you shoot a custom barrel, you want go back.....

Be aware that the 18534 is a 1:12 twist of the 6BR which limits you to 75 gr bullets or so. Wonderful is you want to shoot shorter ranges (under 300 yds), but a 6BR really shines with the 1:8 twist and 105-107s bullets. The 1:8 twist is a 18671. You can pick one up for $950-1000 if you shop at the right places.

Hope this helps. Luck, Tim

thanks... thats looking like what i will do... but with snow coming I have time to look. thanks for the model number i must have missed the twist... i would want the 1:8 twist. where are the right places??

If i were to go with the savage and then rebarrel could i go with a different caliber that would be easier the sell and have the action work for the 6BR? I would like to buy the dies once...

 

[tiny68]

NIB on GunBroker right for $979. Ship to your FFL and your set. Luck, Tim

 

[bozo699]

$3500 is more than I can go. I'm not a match shooter. I'll have to setttle for a factory rifle or pick up a used one. I don't like buying used without really knowing what im getting... pretty hard to do over the internet. Thanks_DRG

DRG,
I have bought several rifles off the classifieds here on 6br and each one of them have been as advertised, not that someone couldn't rip you off but I haven't been yet. I bought a 6br in the same model you mentioned from a forum member that shot better then he said it did, I re-barreled with a 1:8 Krieger and my son has competed with it in 1K bench rest since and uses the factory 1:12 for vermin in the off season. You could buy a true used BR rifle off here with a custom action for not much more then a new factory Savage, the barrel may be on it's last legs but it will probably still out shoot a factory savage and you can re-barrel it and you will really have something, anyway something to think about.
Wayne.

 

[woolenmammoth]

thats a deal.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php/topic,3774558.0.html

 

[spclark]

Might want to ask Mac Tilton what he has on the shelf right now. He deals in more than just rimfire rifles.

Mac's been in the business longer than many of us have been alive & has a sterling reputation as well. You buy something from him you can trust it to be exactly as described & for a fair price.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2008/06/macs-magical-mystery-tour/

http://www.mtguns.com/

 

[stapher1]

you would be wise to budget around $3500 if you built it from scratch and be happy when it comes in under budget.

$3500 is more than I can go. I'm not a match shooter. I'll have to setttle for a factory rifle or pick up a used one. I don't like buying used without really knowing what im getting... pretty hard to do over the internet. Thanks_DRG

I'm like you i don't shoot match but i built mine off a donor Rem 700 action, a shilen stainless match barrel and bobby hart accublock stock plus gunsmith work. For around $1600 total. I don't turn the necks or do alot of tweeks that these guys do but, even a varmint load out of it, it shoots .202". It knocks the snot out of groundhogs and unlike a factory rifle it was built to fit me and i never felt so confident shooting any of my other custom rifles like i do this one.

 

[drgunlimited]

[/quote]
I'm like you i don't shoot match but i built mine off a donor Rem 700 action, a shilen stainless match barrel and bobby hart accublock stock plus gunsmith work. For around $1600 total. I don't turn the necks or do alot of tweeks that these guys do but, even a varmint load out of it, it shoots .202". It knocks the snot out of groundhogs and unlike a factory rifle it was built to fit me and i never felt so confident shooting any of my other custom rifles like i do this one.
[/quote]

I would like to go the custom route... I'm 6'4"... big mitts and most gun stocks seem child size...

 

[stapher1]

I would like to go the custom route... I'm 6'4"... big mitts and most gun stocks seem child size...

I buy all my components (barrel, stock, etc.) myself and just have my gunsmith do the machine work. I do any stock work myself so i can say i built it. Plus i save about enough to buy a scope for it. 8)

 

[GSPV]

I would like to go the custom route... I'm 6'4"... big mitts and most gun stocks seem child size...

Didn't catch what kind of shooting you're planning to do. Just be aware that if you're shooting off a bench, you'd be wise to learn about shooting free recoil. If you do shoot FR, then, your size doesn't have too much to do with the stock.

On the original topic, if you're shooting 100-300 yards off a bench, I'd encourage you to look at used Light Varmint/Sporter rifles. There are tons available, often with dies and brass. Slap on a Weaver T-36 and you'd be in business.

 

[drgunlimited]

Didn't catch what kind of shooting you're planning to do. Just be aware that if you're shooting off a bench, you'd be wise to learn about shooting free recoil. If you do shoot FR, then, your size doesn't have too much to do with the stock.

On the original topic, if you're shooting 100-300 yards off a bench, I'd encourage you to look at used Light Varmint/Sporter rifles. There are tons available, often with dies and brass. Slap on a Weaver T-36 and you'd be in business.

I have no real plans for the gun other than some target and varmit shooting... want something accurate to at least 600yds and a bit different. I don't know of any matchs in my neighborhood, but i havent really been interested till now...