6mmBR giving me fits
- Thread starter STOMP442
- Start date
STOMP442
Gold $$ Contributor
Exactly! I've done the work and spent the time and money. No way I am settling for 3/4" groups. Like I said in the beginning in all practicality its probably fine for its intended purpose but it's not good enough for me.
SHall
Silver $$ Contributor
Try what CaptainMal said earlier. Get some Berger 108BT’s. They are a lot more forgiving than the VLD’s. VLD’s are made to be shot in the rifling and will sometimes (not always) shoot bad when jumping. 108’s usually shoot well jumped. Try jumping just off the rifling 5 thou. Then 20 thou. And then about 35-40 off. If the rifle will shoot at all, it should shoot under 1/2 inch surely with this bullet! Samuel Hall
I agree with what Roger just said that would definitely rule out a total barrel issues if it's not consistent I would be on the phone with Frank an say hey it's not consistent he will work with you on it that is what I would do.
Clancy
Silver $$ Contributor
@STOMP442
It is appalling that nobody has suggested the scope may be bad. It’s a Leupold. They’ve had their share of issues.
It is hard to make a 6 BR shoot 3/4” at 100. Children can shoot them better than that.
Only other things it could be, based on what you’ve told us, are a bad barrel (highly unlikely), maybe a problem with the ejector or it just flat doesn’t like the bullet. Might check and see if you can push the ejector below flush with a drill bit.
It is appalling that nobody has suggested the scope may be bad. It’s a Leupold. They’ve had their share of issues.
It is hard to make a 6 BR shoot 3/4” at 100. Children can shoot them better than that.
Only other things it could be, based on what you’ve told us, are a bad barrel (highly unlikely), maybe a problem with the ejector or it just flat doesn’t like the bullet. Might check and see if you can push the ejector below flush with a drill bit.
Definatly check/change scope and try again,I that's always the first step. Still, I had a similar 6br I built that had the identical ¾ inch groups at 100 no matter what I bullet or load I shot in it. After a LOT of frustration, I cut the barrel off (more than 6"), and it started shooting like a dream. I'm rather certain that there was something bad in the barrel end. It happens from time to time... EVERY barrel mftr has replaced barrels. again, check scope & if it satisfies, contact the barrel maker (they may or may not want the button/end stamp, I always keep mine now).
Ken
Silver $$ Contributor
I agree,off a bench. Just saying, I can't hold 3/4 inch under field conditions.
I’ve chased issues before and will be the first to admit I sent a perfectly fine barrel back that the maker replaced free of charge. Come to find out it wasn’t the barrel. Ignition issues can be a real issue in firearms. Have you replaced the firing pin spring? Is the spring dragging? Is the cocking cam moving freely in the bolt shroud? Etc. check every little function and then if that doesn’t improve I think then yes it’s probably a bad barrel that slipped through. My issue was a little pin used to align the bolt handle to the bolt body. It was hanging inside the body by 1/16” and rubbing on the bolt shroud and would cause vertical issues. Took me 4 years and 4 barrels, brass, Bullets, powder, primers and all that wasted time before I finally found the problem. I couldn’t sell it if it didn’t shoot to my expectations. So I’d mess with it until I figured it out. Shot my best scores after that with that rifle. Sold it 2 months later. Wondering if I made a mistake now. Good luck and keep us posted.
Ken
Silver $$ Contributor
My point.
This is why I ask him to break the system and find the culprit - most trouble shooting is done this way....
Just saying....
STOMP442
Gold $$ Contributor
Today's range results.
I managed to get out to the range on my lunch hour today. Conditions were a bit tricky it's hot! 101 degrees with a variable wind 2-7mph from 4 to 10 O'clock. I found some 108gr Hornady ELD-Ms at the LGS so I decided to try them out. I started at 29.0gr of H4895 and my first group was more of the same lackluster results I have been getting. My second group at 29.3gr was actually the best group this rifle has shot so far. Still not that great but far and away better than the others. Not sure if it was a fluke but I am going to load some more at that charge weight and play with seating depth to see what happens. 29.6 opened back up to over an inch and showed a slight ejector mark on the cases so I stopped there. I have attached a photo of today's results. My targets are 1" squares with 1/2" dia dots.
I managed to get out to the range on my lunch hour today. Conditions were a bit tricky it's hot! 101 degrees with a variable wind 2-7mph from 4 to 10 O'clock. I found some 108gr Hornady ELD-Ms at the LGS so I decided to try them out. I started at 29.0gr of H4895 and my first group was more of the same lackluster results I have been getting. My second group at 29.3gr was actually the best group this rifle has shot so far. Still not that great but far and away better than the others. Not sure if it was a fluke but I am going to load some more at that charge weight and play with seating depth to see what happens. 29.6 opened back up to over an inch and showed a slight ejector mark on the cases so I stopped there. I have attached a photo of today's results. My targets are 1" squares with 1/2" dia dots.
Attachments
A.) Don’t start pounding slugs down it!
B.) Doubt it is larger at the muzzle the way we make the barrels. Possible yes. I’ll throw Murphy’s law in here.
Frank I am glad you commented here .
STOMP442, Give me a call bud! Let’s figure this thing out!
Or give me a phone number to try and call you at.
If you have the s/n of the barrel give it to me when you call. It’s nice to have for reference if anything. If you don’t have it....when and where did you get the blank from if not from us directly?
Later, Frank
Bartlein Barrels
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It can be a lot of things...
Tried different scope....so lets rule that out.
Bedding?
Crown damage?
Cleaning damage?
Yes can be barrel.
Yes can be ammo/loads. Very good friend and shooter and customer of mine just a few months ago thru out over $2k worth of powder that was bad. It’s a long story. We also have some powder at the shop that Mark uses for his bench guns. Opened up a brand new jug (older lot) and used it one time. Went to use it a couple of months later and it’s junk and cannot be used.
Firing pin spring is a good one to check along with the sear pin etc...inside the bolt shroud. We’ve seen issues with the firing pin and that pin dragging inside the bolt shroud not to mention burrs inside the bolt body from when the bolt was made. That burr inside the body will cause the firing pin to drag as well and cause ignition issues. We’ve seen these issues not just with factory actions but with custom actions as well.
That’s just some food for thought.
Later, Frank
Tried different scope....so lets rule that out.
Bedding?
Crown damage?
Cleaning damage?
Yes can be barrel.
Yes can be ammo/loads. Very good friend and shooter and customer of mine just a few months ago thru out over $2k worth of powder that was bad. It’s a long story. We also have some powder at the shop that Mark uses for his bench guns. Opened up a brand new jug (older lot) and used it one time. Went to use it a couple of months later and it’s junk and cannot be used.
Firing pin spring is a good one to check along with the sear pin etc...inside the bolt shroud. We’ve seen issues with the firing pin and that pin dragging inside the bolt shroud not to mention burrs inside the bolt body from when the bolt was made. That burr inside the body will cause the firing pin to drag as well and cause ignition issues. We’ve seen these issues not just with factory actions but with custom actions as well.
That’s just some food for thought.
Later, Frank
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