6mm Ackley Improved, 87gr VMAX, looking for powder recommendations??

[SWRS]

Going to build a load for my 6mm AI in a 27in 12twist barrel using 87 grain Vmax, hopefully will hammer coyotes. I do not keep fur as the dogs I hunt in the southern desert are not worth anything. I need a good powder to get high speeds while keeping accuracy. Thanks in advance!!

 

[Plumsask]

Use N-160 and you’ll be pleased- it’s what I use with the 87 Berger hunting VLD, you may want a faster twist - you can still shoot lighter bullets with a faster twist- but not the other way around

 

[GAnderson]

Use N-160 and you’ll be pleased- it’s what I use with the 87 Berger hunting VLD, you may want a faster twist - you can still shoot lighter bullets with a faster twist- but not the other way around

I agree with Plumsask...use N-160. I have a 12 twist 6AI and 160 is my go to powder.

 

[AckleymanII]

6 Rem AI, 12T, 26" barrel
R#19 and Superperformance powders, WLR primers
80g Sierra BT Blitz or 80g Berger
3800 fps
Tiny groups
I do not think that you have the twist for an 87g bullet, it will be marginal

My favorite load was

70g Nosler ballistic tip
49.8-51.5g of Win 760
9 1/2 primer
Rem case
3980-4150 depending on the barrel
Tiny groups, tiny!

I hunted off of horses in S. Arizona, we got into areas were there were no human could get to unless they walked or horseback. We slaughtered coyotes there. Also, irrigated fields. When they turned on the water, the gophers would go to the rows in the field to keep from drowning. Coyotes would be way out in the field running up and down the rows...like shooting fish in a barrel.

You have one heck of a rifle, but I would not go 87g anything on a 12T. Also, i would not go 87g unless you are shooting beyond 600.

 

[Gary in MD]

Another vote for N160, extremely clean burning.
I use it in my 12 twist 6mm ai, I use the 75 grain Vmax to hammer groundhogs. I also have shot the Sierra 80 grain Blitz to good effect.
Gary

 

[GAnderson]

Another vote for N160, extremely clean burning.
I use it in my 12 twist 6mm ai, I use the 75 grain Vmax to hammer groundhogs. I also have shot the Sierra 80 grain Blitz to good effect.
Gary

Same here...75 VMax and 87 VMax work just fine in my 12 twist...the vmax's aren't a vld type bullet like some of the other "sleeker" bullets. Killed prairie dogs from 700 to 1200yds with both of these vmax bullets and N160.

 

[SWRS]

Thank you for the information fellas, I bought a 6mm AI off this site a few weeks ago. Stiller Predator with a Lilja barrel. I hunt coyotes in NM and only care to hit them as hard as I can, but I am also an accuracy nut.

 

[AckleymanII]

Same here...75 VMax and 87 VMax work just fine in my 12 twist...the vmax's aren't a vld type bullet like some of the other "sleeker" bullets. Killed prairie dogs from 700 to 1200yds with both of these vmax bullets and N160.

What is your speed with the 87's? Best guess.....

 

[GAnderson]

Keith, the 87's were running 3631 and the 75's were at 3845.
I believe Richard Franklin built a 6mmAI with a 14 Twist and was running the 75's at 4000...in his video he launched a ground hog in the air at around 700 yards...I am pretty sure this is accurate...may be off on the yardage.
Ironically, I am shooting my 6mmAI in a rifle that you put me on to that a friend of yours had for sale probably 20 years ago...Tim Tanker. I called you about it because I had never heard of a switch barrel and you walked me thru the process. When I bought it, it was a switch barrel with a 6BR and .243 barrels. I am on my second 6mmAI barrel now on this rifle...still in the same McMillan stock and I added weight to it...if memory serves me it is 27#. I had a 6.5x284 barrel for it also and got my longest Pdog kill at 1581yds. Still has the same Hart 2oz. trigger in it.

Gene

 

[GAnderson]

Also, my barrel is 27 1/2" in length. Varget is another powder that works well with this combination...seems to have a little more "bark" than N160 and just a bit harsher on the throat, in my opinion. I have done a little tinkering with IMR 8208 powder and have the same accuracy as N160, but haven't ran it over the chrono yet. Might just do that tomorrow for something to do.

Gene

 

[GAnderson]

Here is the link to the article on Richard Franklin...the 75vmax was knocking on the door of 3900, so it wasn't 4000fps. He also was using N160 powder and he was using a 14 twist. Interesting article worth reading.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/guns-of-week/gunweek042/

Gene

 

[Plumsask]

What is your speed with the 87's? Best guess.....

N-160 50.5 grains, 87 berger hunting vld gives me 3450 FPS 26” pipe 1:8

 

[BleedsBlue]

H4350 and H4831sc for temperature stability. H100V for barrel life along with speed but temperature sensitive.

 

[SWRS]

Here is the link to the article on Richard Franklin...the 75vmax was knocking on the door of 3900, so it wasn't 4000fps. He also was using N160 powder and he was using a 14 twist. Interesting article worth reading.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/guns-of-week/gunweek042/

Gene

Hey Gene,

The rifle I bought off this sight was inspired by this article. Single shot Stiller with a 27in Lilja 12 twist. I don't have access to VV powders without ordering it and paying hazard pay. So, this weekend I decided to try Reloader 16 in it and had phenomenal results. I was able to shoot 75gr Vmax up to 3850fps at 1/4in. The gun really like that node, I wasn't getting any pressure signs until I was over 3900fps. All of the loads I tried were under .5moa at 100yds from the bench. Great Powder! Please excuse the flyer.

 

[GAnderson]

Hey Gene,

The rifle I bought off this sight was inspired by this article. Single shot Stiller with a 27in Lilja 12 twist. I don't have access to VV powders without ordering it and paying hazard pay. So, this weekend I decided to try Reloader 16 in it and had phenomenal results. I was able to shoot 75gr Vmax up to 3850fps at 1/4in. The gun really like that node, I wasn't getting any pressure signs until I was over 3900fps. All of the loads I tried were under .5moa at 100yds from the bench. Great Powder! Please excuse the flyer.

With that velocity and accuracy, I wouldn't change a thing! The 6mmAI seems to be a very accurate cartridge in and of itself, which makes it easy to get to shoot good.

Gene

 

[fatheeler]

mine liked RL22 factory REM barrel don't remember grains, but it was in in sammi spec shot lights out,

 

[Barlow]

I would try RL17. Barlow

 

[AckleymanII]

Gene, that is great to know on the 12T handling the 87's!!!

 

[Zero333]

H-4831sc

 

[urbanrifleman]

Hey Gene,

The rifle I bought off this sight was inspired by this article. Single shot Stiller with a 27in Lilja 12 twist. I don't have access to VV powders without ordering it and paying hazard pay. So, this weekend I decided to try Reloader 16 in it and had phenomenal results. I was able to shoot 75gr Vmax up to 3850fps at 1/4in. The gun really like that node, I wasn't getting any pressure signs until I was over 3900fps. All of the loads I tried were under .5moa at 100yds from the bench. Great Powder! Please excuse the flyer.

I really like R16. Unfortunately so does everyone else!!! As soon as I had loads worked up it became unobtainium.