6mmBR and the Nosler 55gr BT lead free bullet.

[bcott]

Posted this in the Varmint section. Should have been in the reloading....... Anyway. The rifle is a Blaser R8 Professional. The barrel is a 1:8" twist, 22 inch long fluted match contour. Ordered out two boxes of Nosler 55gr BT lead free bullets. Should be here in a few days. The plan is to develop a load for predator calling in CA. They are mostly lead free nowadays.

I have been using AA2230 powder and 55gr Sierra BK bullets with outstanding accuracy results. This is in a Nesika T action with 26"bbl 1:14" twist. However, I would "assume" that a load of equal accuracy can be developed with this powder and the Nosler 55gr BTLF bullet in the faster twist bbl.

Anyone using this powder/bullet combination in the 6mmBR? Also have several pounds of Varget, TAC H335 and H322.

Thanks, Carl L.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

No experience with lead free bullets in 6mm.

We have never seen the accuracy levels from lead free bullets in .224, .257, and .308 that we get from jacketed lead bullets. Not even close. Nosler lead free bullets are no exception. The regular jacketed lead Nosler BT bullets are much easier to load accurately than the lead free bullets.

 

[bcott]

I agree. I will accept what I get. Sometimes I wonder why I am even trying to develop a lead free load. The facts are that I shoot three coyotes with my 10ga to every one with a rifle. As I am in the "brush" a lot more bobcats fall also. As a caller, I very rarely rifle shoot a coyote outside of 120yds. So my minute of coyote can be a lot larger than someone who shoots them at 400yds or +. I switched from rifle to shotgun as my primary predator dispatcher around 1962. Never looked back. Costs have risen significantly. Shooting 2oz of #4 TSS in my 10 ga is about six bucks per shot, just for the TSS shot. Oh well...... Carl L.

 

[bcott]

Been working with the nosler 6mm 55gr ballistic tip lead free bullet in my 6mmBR rifle for some time. I have been getting 3 shot groups of from 3/8" to 3/4" @ 100 yards. Have shot some 5 shot groups which fall in the same 3/8 to 3/4 in. I do not have access locally for a range greater than 100 yds.

My load is a Nosler load: 35.1gr/AA2230 powder, Lapua cases, CCI450 primers, Nosler 55gr 6mm BTLF bullet. COAL: 2.268". 005" jump. Bbl is 22 1/2", 1:8" twist. Velocity should be around 3700fps.

I will load up a few 100 of these and be ready for several years of predator hunting. Carl L.

 

[Shaggy357]

Varget, Rem 7 1/2, and Nosler bullets go together like sausage, eggs, and hashbrowns. mmmmmmmm

 

[bcott]

Been working with the nosler 6mm 55gr ballistic tip lead free bullet in my 6mmBR rifle for some time. I have been getting 3 shot groups of from 3/8" to 3/4" @ 100 yards. Have shot some 5 shot groups which fall in the same 3/8 to 3/4 in. I do not have access locally for a range greater than 100 yds.

My load is a Nosler load: 35.1gr/AA2230 powder, Lapua cases, CCI450 primers, Nosler 55gr 6mm BTLF bullet. COAL: 2.268". 005" jump. Bbl is 22 1/2", 1:8" twist. Velocity should be around 3700fps.

I will load up a few 100 of these and be ready for several years of predator hunting. Carl L.

Finally got my Labradar chrono in. Went to the range. 10shots with the 35.1/AA2230 powder is giving me 3810fps avg, ES: 29, SD: 10.3. Happily surprised. Carl L.

 

[RAG]

Been working with the nosler 6mm 55gr ballistic tip lead free bullet in my 6mmBR rifle for some time. I have been getting 3 shot groups of from 3/8" to 3/4" @ 100 yards. Have shot some 5 shot groups which fall in the same 3/8 to 3/4 in. I do not have access locally for a range greater than 100 yds.

My load is a Nosler load: 35.1gr/AA2230 powder, Lapua cases, CCI450 primers, Nosler 55gr 6mm BTLF bullet. COAL: 2.268". 005" jump. Bbl is 22 1/2", 1:8" twist. Velocity should be around 3700fps.

I will load up a few 100 of these and be ready for several years of predator hunting. Carl L.

Hey Carl...I'm curious if you've also shot "leaded" bullets in your rifle, and how the accuracy compared. Between nosler and hornady nkn-toxic offerings, I've been able to get 20 TAC and 223AI to produce quite a few 5 shot groups sub .25", (both are match grade benchrest guns). So lead free can shoot.

 

[RAG]

Finally got my Labradar chrono in. Went to the range. 10shots with the 35.1/AA2230 powder is giving me 3810fps avg, ES: 29, SD: 10.3. Happily surprised. Carl L.

And yeah, I get 3900fps with 6br +2230 and 22" barrel, so 3800 should be no problem.

 

[bcott]

I have only shot Nosler 55 BTLF bullets in this 6mmBR. I dropped my powder charge to 34.5/AA2230. Went to the range yesterday and shot 3 three shot groups @ 100 yds. Vel 3808 avg. HI 3821, LO 3774, ES 47. Group sizes: 5/8", 1", 1". I am using bullets that I pulled Nosler 55gr BTLF bullets that I pulled from other 6mm cartridges. I have approx 225 of those left and then I am OUT of 55gr BTLF bullets. Bummer. Nosler says they hope to run off a zillion of them in Nov. They forgot to tell me which year.

Carl L.

 

[searcher]

If you run out of those and /or can't find any more of those bullets - I'd load up some 62 Varmint Grenades if you have an easier time finding them (I saw some at two different places last week - but don't recall where offhand- which leads me to believe there are some out there). Try them with your H322. I get 1/3" MOA in one of my tubes. Another tube favors IMR 8208 XBR. I'd definitely try your TAC. Those lead-free usually all shoot pretty good - but the Varmint Grenades were found to work in all my various varmint calibers - once the proper powder for the tube was identified. I like the Nosler's too - but for coyotes - the 62's seem to outshine all else in terms of dropping them on the spot - as long as you don't save pelts.

 

[searcher]

And - California is ENTIRELY lead free now (in respect to shooting animals- whether game or varmint) unless you are shooting an air gun. At least I don't think they require non-lead in air guns YET. Haven't checked the regulations in the past year or so.

 

[RAG]

I have only shot Nosler 55 BTLF bullets in this 6mmBR. I dropped my powder charge to 34.5/AA2230. Went to the range yesterday and shot 3 three shot groups @ 100 yds. Vel 3808 avg. HI 3821, LO 3774, ES 47. Group sizes: 5/8", 1", 1". I am using bullets that I pulled Nosler 55gr BTLF bullets that I pulled from other 6mm cartridges. I have approx 225 of those left and then I am OUT of 55gr BTLF bullets. Bummer. Nosler says they hope to run off a zillion of them in Nov. They forgot to tell me which year.

Carl L.

Ha...too funny. I contacted Nosler and they said the same thing...that they would be producing them, and they gave me name of a few suppliers and I set "in stock notification alerts at a couple of them...crickets still. I only want them for taking trips to shoot sage rats in CA...but at the 55+ cents/ea they're gonna cost, it simply might not be worth it.

 

[Webster]

Posted this in the Varmint section. Should have been in the reloading....... Anyway. The rifle is a Blaser R8 Professional. The barrel is a 1:8" twist, 22 inch long fluted match contour. Ordered out two boxes of Nosler 55gr BT lead free bullets. Should be here in a few days. The plan is to develop a load for predator calling in CA. They are mostly lead free nowadays.

I have been using AA2230 powder and 55gr Sierra BK bullets with outstanding accuracy results. This is in a Nesika T action with 26"bbl 1:14" twist. However, I would "assume" that a load of equal accuracy can be developed with this powder and the Nosler 55gr BTLF bullet in the faster twist bbl.

Anyone using this powder/bullet combination in the 6mmBR? Also have several pounds of Varget, TAC H335 and H322.

Thanks, Carl L.

Using 58 VMax. Get good speed with 8208 and H322. Slower with Varget and RE15. Some guys report great speed with AA2230 my loads were very slow?