6mm Twist rates for Varmint rifle build

[Tiger830]

Hi, I'm new to this so here goes. I'm thinking of building a 6mm dasher for a varmint and target shooting rig. Where I live a 250 yard shot is long so I have little or no need to shoot the real heavy bullets for long range. My question is will the 1-8" work for the 65-90 grain bullets that I want to shoot? Seems that most premium barrels that are in stock to ship are either 1-14" or 1-8. The wait for anything else is 6 months plus. Any real world advice would be helpful. Thanks

 

[22BRGUY]

The 1-8 will do just fine with your 65-90 grainers. Also as time goes on, the 1-8 will stabilize just about anything where the 1-14 is going to be fairly limited to the light stuff. Also, if you ever decide to sell, my opinion is that there will be more interest in the 1-8.
Big Welcome to the site to you and Best Wishes in whatever you decide.

 

[22BRGUY]

If you are reasonably sure that you will never have a need for heavier bullets, go with a 14 twist. Your best accuracy potential with 55-75 Gr. bullets will be with a 14.

Under those conditions, I agree with Eddie. In my shooting experience though, over time it's always about trying something maybe new and better and different opportunities seem to come along. You will achieve the "best accuracy" as Eddie stated with those bullet weights in the slower twist, but not by a lot in my experience. If you intend to compete, it's a different story. JMHO

 

[Tiger830]

I do not intend to compete. What I do like to do is shoot paper, and play with load develope

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ment. Our local range is only 100 yards and most of the guys are just casual shooters that love their guns. The club is mainly smoothbore shooters. I was thinking the 75 vmax looked like a great ground squirrel bullet, and the 87 vmax for sound dogs. Thought it would also be nice to try the real light ones for the splatter effect though. I just didn't know if they would come apart spinning that fast. Thanks for the input really helps.

 

[spclark]

1:8 will shoot anything up to 105 - 108 grain well, the heavier best used out to 600 yards & beyond. 1:14 will limit you to light-weight bullets mostly, and maybe 300-400 yards with those approaching 65 - 70 grains.

Looking at Berger's products, none of their 6mm varmint (1:12, 69 grain) or hunting (1:10, 87 grain) bullets are recommended for slower than 1:12. They have some target bullets (52 - 65 grain) for 1:14 so your choices get significantly reduced with a slow twist.

Consider that a PPC case uses ~ 25 - 28 grains of propellant while a 6Dasher allows ~ 32 - 33, few shooters choose heavier than 60 grain bullets for their 6PPC rifles.

You can shoot light bullets in a fast twist as long as you're willing to be prudent with your load profile & avoid super-hot loads. A 1:8 would be my choice for a 6Dasher.

 

[Phil]

Tiger,

First off.....Welcome to the forum.....you will learn a lot here..

Now, you have to set some ground rules so people can better help you.

Have you fire formed cases before??? The Dasher requires this...

Next, bullet weight, you never know what a barrel will like (manufacturer wise) until you try, BUT you can get the right twist for the bullet weight.

So, if the 87 V max is your heavy weight bullet then a 12 twist will do it, some will argue this but mine does fine.

To be on the safe side the 87 will stabilize for sure with a 10 twist barrel.

Now on to the reamer and freebore.........You need to have the proper freebore for the bullet/bullets you intend to shoot...

My 12 twist Dasher barrel has a .070 freebore to shoot the 75 and 87 V max bullets.

The nice thing about barrels is that they have threads, meaning that if you want to shoot the 105 weight bullets some day you just get a 8 twist barrel and have it chambered to your action and go long......

Phil.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

If a long shot for the OP is 250 yards, and the local rifle range is 100 yards, I'd be shooting a .222. Low recoil, little powder use, Lapua brass. And if Lapua really comes out with .221 Fireball brass, I'd consider a .20 Vartarg.

 

[Tiger830]

Thanks for all the input. I just got into gunsmithing. I finished a 22-250AI with a Benchmark barrel on a blueprinted Remington action, and it shoots very well. So yes I have fire formed cases before. I like the Dasher because I guess I'm kind of a speed freak and like the little additional performance of the standard 6BR round, but it also will be easy to form with the standard components available, and it won't burn a hat full of powder every time I pull the trigger. I see that Bartlein has some progressive twist barrels in stock, 1-12.7 to 1-12.6 I think. Do you think one of these would be a good choice for what I want to do?Or maybe I should just order a 10 or 12 twist and wait.
Thanks

 

[Phil]

Bruno`s shows a 10 and a 12 twist in stock both Krieger barrels.....

If the 87gr. bullet is on your list then the 12 twist is your minimum......

 

[waterfwlr]

If you are set on those bullets, then a 12 twist will do it. My 12 twist 6br shoots 80 bergers, 75 and 87 vmax very well. That being said, I would go with a 10 twist, just to be sure on those 87's.

 

[Tiger830]

Thanks, I saw that Brunos has a couple of Kriegers in the right twist. I think I will order one up Monday. Just got to decide on 10 or 12 twist. Leaning toward 12 so I can shoot the lighter bullets better.

 

[Old Navy]

Thanks, I saw that Brunos has a couple of Kriegers in the right twist. I think I will order one up Monday. Just got to decide on 10 or 12 twist. Leaning toward 12 so I can shoot the lighter bullets better.

My last barrel was a 6BR with a 10 twist. It shot very well from 60 to 90 grain. Absolutely would not shoot the Berger 95 VLD. Twelve is not going to out shoot the ten. Later! Frank

 

[Quickoz]

I only have 8T barrels in my 6x47s but I would go with a 10T for a varmint rig and really, I'd prefer an 8T as it gives you most versitikity aswell. I know you say that you only have 250yds to shoot over but what if you find somewhere that's further? I'd get the 8T to give you most usability for the rifle. I run 70gr Blitzkings for my varmint loads and they shoot very nice. An 8T will limit you in velocity somewhat but not enough to worry about.