6mm BRX on Sako Varminter

[Kruger Human]

I am about to change my 6mm PPC in Sako Small action Varminter to 6mm BRX.
I need a 6mm bullet of "proper" weight and velocity ( 90 -100 gr) to hunt antelope size animals and to have a very accurate rifle ...like the PPC.
The PPC needs a new barrel and I have a Pacnor Match in 28" that I will keep as it is.
I need something with more power than the 6mm PPC that will still fit in the short action of the Sako varminter

I read a lot on the 6mmBR and his conversions and like the BRX, because it fits into the limitations I have with this small action.

Please comment.

 

[superlight93]

If you have your mind set on the 6BR case then I would do a 8 twist 6BR no-turn neck. Dies are available including Harrels. Why go thru all the trouble of a wildcat?

 

[Scott Harris]

If you have your mind set on the 6BR case then I would do a 8 twist 6BR no-turn neck. Dies are available including Harrels. Why go thru all the trouble of a wildcat?

Agreed, but go for the BRX if you are set on it. Also, is your rifle a repeater? I assume you are talking about a single-shot action. Get the 6BR/BRX chamber w/ a throat appropriate for a 107SMK and that will work for any of the 100-107gr bullets you will want to use. For hunting purposes, I'd get a .272 neck: good for old or new Lapua brass or any other thinner brass.

 

[Kruger Human]

Thank you for the response.
Maybe a bit of background should be mentioned.
I "started" the riflkes again after some 13 years bowhunting and guiding bow hunters.
Therefore I am aa bit "rusted" on knowledge.
We are also unable to just order a barrel and fit it as by law we need to apply for a license for a new barrel. In Africa that can take months.
I have this little rifle that needs rebarreling, from there the plan to convert it.

The rifle is a Sako Varminter factory in PPC on that small actions.
It is a magazine action.

I just want to step-up the 6mm PPC to a bit more powerful rifle.
I have not threaded the barrel yet

It looks like the 6mmBRX is the "best" I can come up to shoot a heavier (90 -100 gr) bullet around 300fps.
Other rounds are too long for the action/magazine.

I ordered a BRX reamer from Pacific Tools ( Clymer refuses to send me one) on recommendation from a writer on the website who has a 6mm BRX.
There is apparently no problem forming brass from 6mmBR to BRX....not as difficult as making brass for the other 6mm's.
Unfortuately the fastest twist I could find this side was a 1-10 Pacnor. I hope I can get a 100grainer stabalized, but a quality 90gr bullet will also be good. the 105-107 would be first choice, but would probably not stabalze.

I can get both Norma and Lapua cases in South Africa.....any comments on which to use would be appreciated.

I need a 6mm caliber to get me to distances of 400-500meters and the PPC, though very accurate, lacked a bit of power (only my opinion) when we pass 300 meters.

We calculatein metric, that is why I mentione meters.

I shoot a standard 22-250 with 55 gr Nosler Ballistic tips (boattail) on windless days easily out to 500 meters (550yards)

 

[Scott Harris]

The repeater/mag fed.option is the only problem I see. Does it feed well as a 6ppc? what is the maximum cartridge length that fits in the magazine. You may have a problem fitting a 6BR with the long 105 bullets.

 

[Eddie Harren]

I'm not a Sako expert but, can the boltface be opened up for a BR case?

 

[Kruger Human]

The rifle is a factory Sako in PPC and feeds 100%
A 6mm BR Loaded round with a 100gr bullet fits with some space left.
I think the BRX is just 2mm longer than the PPC.
The bolt face has ample surface/rim to open for the bigger head .
I may have to open the action where it feeds into the chamer from the magazine box if I want to use longer bullets.

 

[wapiti25]

I would leave the PPC action as is, not too many around. Find the L579 which has the .473 bolt face.

 

[Forum Boss]

With a 10-twist you'll be limited to 90grain bullets. Doubt if you can stabilize the 95gr bergers.

I'd stick with a 6BR if the PPC isn't big enough, and just rebate the rims... or just shoot a 6-6.5 Grendel. Smaller rim.

 

[bozo699]

With a 10-twist you'll be limited to 90grain bullets. Doubt if you can stabilize the 95gr bergers.

I'd stick with a 6BR if the PPC isn't big enough, and just rebate the rims... or just shoot a 6-6.5 Grendel. Smaller rim.

I did that and it worked fine.
Wayne.

 

[Kruger Human]

Wapiti & Wayne
I see on the PPC/6mm Forum a picture of exactly the same rifle I have.

Wayne, did you do rebating on the rims? And how ( Just want to find out how you did it, best way is possibly a small lathe)

I went out to shoot the rifle again after a year or so.
My son used it to kill 2 kudu last year using Rhino bullets...similar to the bonded bearclaws.... I think.
We used 85grainers at about 2850fps.
Both bulls died with single shots.
Don't get me wrong, this is definitely not a kudu cartridge. We did it under controlled circumstances. and killed them by shooting just above the elbow on broadside animals. Let say it was a "risky" experiment.
Today I loaded 70 gr Sierra match with 26gr H322. ( Yes,I still have a tin and it is basically unobtainable in South Africa)
Average velocity was 3020 fps and we shot5 shots into 3/4" at 100 meters.
That is good for hunting for us.
I should probably fit the 1-10" twist barrel and shoot 80-90 gr bullets for what we want to do with it and keep it PPC.
We are allowed silencers and it is such joy shooting this rifle.
Maybe I should not "repair" something that is not broken.

Kruger

 

[Killshot]

According to Wiki, the Kudu go 400-600lbs. If those went down with 85s, that was great shot placement.

I'd go straight 6BR with that 10 twist and try 90s/100s.

 

[bozo699]

Wapiti & Wayne
I see on the PPC/6mm Forum a picture of exactly the same rifle I have.

Wayne, did you do rebating on the rims? And how ( Just want to find out how you did it, best way is possibly a small lathe)

I went out to shoot the rifle again after a year or so.
My son used it to kill 2 kudu last year using Rhino bullets...similar to the bonded bearclaws.... I think.
We used 85grainers at about 2850fps.
Both bulls died with single shots.
Don't get me wrong, this is definitely not a kudu cartridge. We did it under controlled circumstances. and killed them by shooting just above the elbow on broadside animals. Let say it was a "risky" experiment.
Today I loaded 70 gr Sierra match with 26gr H322. ( Yes,I still have a tin and it is basically unobtainable in South Africa)
Average velocity was 3020 fps and we shot5 shots into 3/4" at 100 meters.
That is good for hunting for us.
I should probably fit the 1-10" twist barrel and shoot 80-90 gr bullets for what we want to do with it and keep it PPC.
We are allowed silencers and it is such joy shooting this rifle.
Maybe I should not "repair" something that is not broken.

Kruger

Kruger,
I ground a profile on a tool bit and cut and chamfered the case heads using a Wilson case holder and small lathe, since then I acquired a head turning bit for a 40 smith, it is carbide and it worked great! I since had my 6ppc bolt face opened up and it will shoot both ppc or .308.
Wayne.