6mm BR for P-Dogs, What twist?

[SLB]

I am looking at either buying (Savage LRPV) or building (on a Savage Target Action) a 6mm BR P-Dog gun. I currently have a Hornet, Fireball, .233, and am having a 20 VargTarg built, so I have got short to medium range pretty well covered. This gun is going to be a dedicated P-Dog gun, no competition shooting, no coyotes, etc., and it will mostly be for longer range (400+ yards). I tend to Favor Hornady V-Max, so 75 or 87 grain bullets (this isn't set in stone, and am certainly open to options). So, what twist barrel?

The factory Savage gun is a 1-8, but if I go the build route, anything is possible, so what would be your recommendations?


Thanks!

 

[markT]

I have the Savage PTA with Savage factory bbl. 1:8 TW. I'm using 87 gr Vmax.. with Varget. Can't remember gr's?
Anyway,,, Very accurate and 400 yds? Yes. NP

 

[STRSRLVR]

I would stick with an 8 twist just in case you want to try out something in the 105 class. Otherwise you could go with a 10 twist if you truely will never shoot anything heavier. A little extra twist isn't going to hurt and you won't be giving up much in speed. I love the 87s for prairie dogs

 

[2dogs]

I would twist it for the bullet I want it to shoot. I did my 6BR on a 1:14" twist. I run the 55 grain NBT at 3920 with AA2230 powder. I doubt I could have gotten that speed with a tighter twist. I haven't had a chance to take it prairie dogging but it is hard on coyotes, hogs and deer.

There is a lot of information on this forum on the 6BR with the various twist rates. Be patient and do some research. These guys got a lot of 6BR know how....

 

[SLB]

I would stick with an 8 twist just in case you want to try out something in the 105 class. Otherwise you could go with a 10 twist if you truely will never shoot anything heavier. A little extra twist isn't going to hurt and you won't be giving up much in speed. I love the 87s for prairie dogs

Will a 10 twist work well for both 75 an 87 grain bullets?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I build zero freebore Dashers for varmints. They push a 55 at 4000 fps. I use 8 twists, because that extra spin causes those bullets to really explode. Accuracy is excellent.

 

[pdhntr]

.... This gun is going to be a dedicated P-Dog gun, no competition shooting, no coyotes, etc., and it will mostly be for longer range (400+ yards). I tend to Favor Hornady V-Max, so 75 or 87 grain bullets (this isn't set in stone, and am certainly open to options). So, what twist barrel?

I have two 6Br rifles I use for pds. There are three bullets I really like, in no specific order, the 80 gr. Berger Varmint, the 88 gr. Berger Varmint and the 87 gr. V-max.

I really like Berger bullets, but testing time and time again, that 87 gr. V-max has done very well, and I have no problems using it.

I have tried other bullets heavier than these, and I have experienced bullets pencilling though, not opening up. The 88 gr. Berger and the 87 V-max are what I normally use to shoot in the wind, or mid/long range depending on your interpretation.

A 10 twist will stabilize these, but with readily available 8 twist barrels in 6mm, I just use them.

Jim

 

[STRSRLVR]

Will a 10 twist work well for both 75 an 87 grain bullets?

Yes a 10 twist will work fine for both and so will an 8 twist.

 

[17VLD]

The 87 V-Max is a awesome pd bullet out to 1000 yards,with the advent of the 95 Sierra TMK I think you would be better served with picking the 8 twist.Some day you may want to try the 105 A-Max also.It makes sense to build a dedicated pd gun with a 10 or 12 twist but some day I think you will find yourself wishing you had an 8 to try all the heavier offerings.I think it was Bryan from Berger bullets who posted a very interesting article about how little is actually lost velocity wise by using a faster twist barrel.
It has changed my mind about ordering barrels,by all means get a long one. Matt

 

[people]

I build zero freebore Dashers for varmints. They push a 55 at 4000 fps. I use 8 twists, because that extra spin causes those bullets to really explode. Accuracy is excellent.

The extra twist is amazing. Even a glancing shot where the pd would crawl off with a slower twist are killed with the faster twist bullet.

 

[waterfwlr]

One of my PD guns is a LRPV 6 br in a factory 12 twist. It shoots 75 and 87 vmax very well and 80 Berger varmints the best. All nasty on pds.

 

[Liven The Dream]

If you build ? 1-7.5 Krieger SS 26 28" long shank end 4-5" for set back if you shoot out the throat.
You can shoot 107's for long shots and less wind drift.

 

[SLB]

I build zero freebore Dashers for varmints. They push a 55 at 4000 fps. I use 8 twists, because that extra spin causes those bullets to really explode. Accuracy is excellent.

At that velocity and twist, are there bullets that are spinning apart? What is a good 55 grain varmint bullet that will hold together at that velocity and twist?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

At that velocity and twist, are there bullets that are spinning apart? What is a good 55 grain varmint bullet that will hold together at that velocity and twist?

Nosler Ballistic tips. No problems.

 

[powderbrake]

I use a 8 twist with the Berger 88 gr Varmint and they do a fine job on PD's. With the 8 Twist, I can go to the 105/108 bullets if I so desire.

 

[1raggedhole]

I built one on a savage pta, criterion barrel w 8 twist, 28". It shoots the 87 vmax really well, but I prefer the 105 amax for long range dogs. There is always wind out west, the 105s drift much less.

 

[Tommie]

I checked with Hornady when building a PD rifle. They said 1-12" is minimum for the 87 gr V-Max. I went with 1-11" just for good measure. A buddy built a nearly identical gun but used a 1-12" twist and it shoots the 87 grainers great.

 

[SenderoMan]

I picked up a 14 twist Remington 700 last year and it shoots everything from 55-70 grainers really well!

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have no issues shooting 60 grain sierras in a 6x47 7.5 twist. Launches a gopher about 20 feet.

 

[urbanrifleman]

80 grain Bergers in an 8 twist and Reloader 10x is bug holes and explodes like a grenade.