6mm Super LR Barrel Life
- Thread starter Dgd6mm
- Start date
I am a member over there too, but have never seen anyone running the 6mmSuper LR for tactical stuff.
http://www.6mmar.com/Super_LR.html is the place to get the information that you are looking for on this cartridge. It is based off of a 243 case, but with steeper shoulder angle. I would expect that barrel life will be similar to a standard 243, but the creator of this round suggests that actual barrel life is improved. I was very interested in this round and still might give it a try in my new build. Good luck with your choice of new caliber and cartridge selection.
http://www.6mmar.com/Super_LR.html is the place to get the information that you are looking for on this cartridge. It is based off of a 243 case, but with steeper shoulder angle. I would expect that barrel life will be similar to a standard 243, but the creator of this round suggests that actual barrel life is improved. I was very interested in this round and still might give it a try in my new build. Good luck with your choice of new caliber and cartridge selection.
Just ordered the 6mm Super LR reamer from Pacific T&G. Plate # 9857. Throated for the 107 SMK. No turn neck.
You have to think a year ahead on these things. Will be sending the reamer to my barrelsmith when he is running a batch of 6mm barrels. In April 2011 will start using the rifle in F Class practise.
There was quite a posting on the 6SLR on this site late last Winter. Check it out at
http://www.accurateshooter.com/forum/index.php/topic,3742044.0.html
You have to think a year ahead on these things. Will be sending the reamer to my barrelsmith when he is running a batch of 6mm barrels. In April 2011 will start using the rifle in F Class practise.
There was quite a posting on the 6SLR on this site late last Winter. Check it out at
http://www.accurateshooter.com/forum/index.php/topic,3742044.0.html
1000yd,
That years wait is why I began to chamber my own bbls up. That plus the extra expense.
On two occasions, I waited for over one year to have a bbl installed on a competition rifle. I understand that the good smiths are backlogged and that is why the wait but a year was unacceptable to me. Plus, some of the smiths are not only good at building rifles, they understand customer service. Some do not.
Having a mechanic's/machinist background, the desire to learn to do the work myself was intriguing.
Now, when you know that you are planning a bbl project or need to replace a worn tube, order the bbl in advance and have it on the shelf waiting for your attention.
The actual work only takes an afternoon and viola', you are ready for some shooting.
RGDS
Bob
That years wait is why I began to chamber my own bbls up. That plus the extra expense.
On two occasions, I waited for over one year to have a bbl installed on a competition rifle. I understand that the good smiths are backlogged and that is why the wait but a year was unacceptable to me. Plus, some of the smiths are not only good at building rifles, they understand customer service. Some do not.
Having a mechanic's/machinist background, the desire to learn to do the work myself was intriguing.
Now, when you know that you are planning a bbl project or need to replace a worn tube, order the bbl in advance and have it on the shelf waiting for your attention.
The actual work only takes an afternoon and viola', you are ready for some shooting.
RGDS
Bob
Don,
I can tell you that based on a 6XC, with a mix of 70 and 107 SMKs that I got 2600 rds when accuracy started to fall off.
Several that shoot a straight 243 tell me that they get from 800-1200 rds of bbl life. That is with a steady diet of 105-107 gr bullets in an 8T bbl.
The Super LR has the longer neck and 30 degree shoulder and should help reduce throat wear. It shoots about the same loads as a straight 243. I am hoping that my bbl will go 2000 rds. It is a 7.5T, 5R Bartline 30 inches long.
I am not sure that anyone has shot enough rounds thru one to see the bbl end.
Bob
I can tell you that based on a 6XC, with a mix of 70 and 107 SMKs that I got 2600 rds when accuracy started to fall off.
Several that shoot a straight 243 tell me that they get from 800-1200 rds of bbl life. That is with a steady diet of 105-107 gr bullets in an 8T bbl.
The Super LR has the longer neck and 30 degree shoulder and should help reduce throat wear. It shoots about the same loads as a straight 243. I am hoping that my bbl will go 2000 rds. It is a 7.5T, 5R Bartline 30 inches long.
I am not sure that anyone has shot enough rounds thru one to see the bbl end.
Bob
I had a Kreiger chambered in a 6XC and at 1800rds wanted to try out the 115s but thought I needed more velocity for 1000+yds so I had it rechambered to the 6MM super LR.
It shot great using H1000 and 105s but I pulled the barrel at around 2800rds (Including the 1800 as a 6XC) because it just would not group well at 1000yds. It would still shoot near .5 moa at 600yds but would open up as it went out.
I was told thats a good indication the barrel is going south on you and probably good for another 500rds or so at 600 then it would be toast.
The 6 Super LR is a very easy round to load for and shoots great. I would say it would be good for around 2000rds easly if you don't get it hot.
It shot great using H1000 and 105s but I pulled the barrel at around 2800rds (Including the 1800 as a 6XC) because it just would not group well at 1000yds. It would still shoot near .5 moa at 600yds but would open up as it went out.
I was told thats a good indication the barrel is going south on you and probably good for another 500rds or so at 600 then it would be toast.
The 6 Super LR is a very easy round to load for and shoots great. I would say it would be good for around 2000rds easly if you don't get it hot.
I am curious, but how much many more accurate rounds would you expect out a 6mm rifle than in the 2000 count range? Maybe I am just picky, but that seems very reasonable to me. Is the 6CM that much more forgiving?
rcw3
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The 6mm Super LR and the 6CM will have the same barrel life if you use the same powders and have the same shooting habits and use same the cleaning routein. There's no magic to the 6CM that gives it a better barrel life, in fact the Super LR may have the edge over the 6CM because of its longer neck.
I have barrels chamberd in both cartridges and there is no difference in barrel life, assuming all other things being equal.
Robert Whitley
I have barrels chamberd in both cartridges and there is no difference in barrel life, assuming all other things being equal.
Robert Whitley
No magic is right. My loads with a 115 DTAC are 3153 and 3225 fps with H1000, and that's not pushing them very hard. Accurracy is verygood. I load for it and clean it the same way Joe does his. Back at the end of '06 when Joe set a National Record he stated that he had over 3000 rounds down both his rifles. When Joe and I talked the round count was almost 3900 and not just over 3000. The shoulder is 31 degrees and the neck lenght is .264. the difference in neck lenght is .057. No magic, just an outstanding cartridge. 
I have to believe that the difference in bbl life between the LR and the CM would be negligible. It would be like comparing the Dasher with the BRX.
If you are shooting the same basic powder charge down the same bore with the same bullets, what other variable is there that would extend useful bbl life? Shoulder angle? Neck length?
The other question is define accuracy? As an NRA HP LR (1K yds) shooter, if you are holding sub X ring, that is accuracy.
I am sure that we have all experienced the bbl that is hammering at 300 yds but falls apart at 600 yds. Same holds true when shooting 1K.
I am skeptical of 4000 accurate rounds out of a 243 based cartridge (and any mod there of) especially shooting 115 gr bullets at 1K yds. There can certainly be exceptional bbls out there no doubt, but that would not be the norm in my experience.
Bob
If you are shooting the same basic powder charge down the same bore with the same bullets, what other variable is there that would extend useful bbl life? Shoulder angle? Neck length?
The other question is define accuracy? As an NRA HP LR (1K yds) shooter, if you are holding sub X ring, that is accuracy.
I am sure that we have all experienced the bbl that is hammering at 300 yds but falls apart at 600 yds. Same holds true when shooting 1K.
I am skeptical of 4000 accurate rounds out of a 243 based cartridge (and any mod there of) especially shooting 115 gr bullets at 1K yds. There can certainly be exceptional bbls out there no doubt, but that would not be the norm in my experience.
Bob
rcw3
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Dgd6mm said:No magic is right. My loads with a 115 DTAC are 3153 and 3225 fps with H1000, and that's not pushing them very hard. Accurracy is verygood. I load for it and clean it the same way Joe does his. Back at the end of '06 when Joe set a National Record he stated that he had over 3000 rounds down both his rifles. When Joe and I talked the round count was almost 3900 and not just over 3000. The shoulder is 31 degrees and the neck lenght is .264. the difference in neck lenght is .057. No magic, just an outstanding cartridge.
3153 fps and 3225 fps with 115 DTAC's out of a 6CM and you are "not pushing them very hard"? All I can say is you must have a very special barrel there - better hang on to that one because you will likely go through a lot of barrels before you find another one like that. I always dislike getting into the high velocity discussions because it always seems to wind up about who can boast about who can push bullets the fastest, and in reality what's it matter anyway, it's not a bullet drag race, it's all about consistent accuracy (i.e. accuracy, consistency and velocity in that order of priority). Let's just say, I did not find the 6CM to be anything magical in that sense, or in terms of velocity. The 6CM I have has a 30" barrel, does not like H1000 as a powder at all (ES up in the 60-70 fps range no matter what primer I use, and S.D. in the 30's) and it winds up being consistently accurate with the same loads and powders at pretty much the same velocity as my 6mm Super LR - and looking at the 6CM barrel I have it is showing the same wear signs as my 6mm Super LR barrels show shooting the same loads. If you are convinced the 6CM is the greatest 6mm cartridge around - that's great - use that passion to do well with it and enjoy shooting it - no question it's a viable and good cartridge.
Robert Whitley
I have not put the 6CM on paper at 1000 yards lately, but at 855 yards on 6-23-10 my groups were no bigger then 3.25" This is at over 1900 rounds down the barrel. In about 1900 more rounds I'll be ready to order another barrel from David Bruno. That is how convinced I am. I have not seen anything equal it in a 6MM round. I believe in the right shooters hands it is sub X ring capable at 1000 yards.
Dgd6mm said:
But yet you were just asking about the 6mm LR???? So let me get this straight. You have a 6cm with 1900 rds of 115DTAC at 3153 and 3225fps (which isn't pushing it) and you plan to get another 1900 rds before re-barreling it........and you were curious about switching cartridges. I'm no mathematician, but this isn't adding up.
A 6mm BR guy would be tickled to get 3800 rds out of a barrel, and the 6mm BR is know as one of the most barrel friendly 6mm's out.
Yes I was asking, and yes curiousity killed the cat. Yes the 6BR is known to have lenghty barrel life and is easy to load for and so on and so on. The 6CM does add up for me. jrbet83, I was curious about the 6mm Super LR cartridge, I never mentioned switching, simply because it does not add up for me. There is your math. ;D I believe the 6mm Super LR is a good cartridge for those that choose to shoot it. I have received the info I was looking for on this round, with that being said this thread has run it's course. Thanks for all the replies. 
I can't understand how your getting that kind of velocity out of 115s and not blowing primers. I was blowing primers with 105s at that velocity!!
Then again I have become a skeptic on cronograph numbers since mine started reading a couple of hundred feet faster than it should.(For no apparent reason) I also see people claming how they are shooting 140s in their 6.5x47s faster than 260s with no issues. I also feel their cronographs have the same bug as mine!!
As far as rounds down the barrel goes I was being consiverative when I said 2000rds. I feel that you should be able to get that many good "Accurate" rounds with no problems with normal shooting.
When I pulled my barrel, as stated, it was still shooting right at .5 MOA at 600yds but "NOT" anywhere near that at 1000yds. My groups opened up and I had some unexplained flyers.
I also agree with Robert (As usual) that there should be no difference between the LR and the CM as far as barrel life goes. You take either one into a good dog town and they would both be junk in a days shooting.
Then again I have become a skeptic on cronograph numbers since mine started reading a couple of hundred feet faster than it should.(For no apparent reason) I also see people claming how they are shooting 140s in their 6.5x47s faster than 260s with no issues. I also feel their cronographs have the same bug as mine!!
As far as rounds down the barrel goes I was being consiverative when I said 2000rds. I feel that you should be able to get that many good "Accurate" rounds with no problems with normal shooting.
When I pulled my barrel, as stated, it was still shooting right at .5 MOA at 600yds but "NOT" anywhere near that at 1000yds. My groups opened up and I had some unexplained flyers.
I also agree with Robert (As usual) that there should be no difference between the LR and the CM as far as barrel life goes. You take either one into a good dog town and they would both be junk in a days shooting.
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