6mmBR Norma

[No1_49er]

Hello to all you good people.
A question re' a new build 6mmBR Norma - I see no point in reinventing the wheel so I thought it best to ask here for some guidance.
The rifle build is as follows:-
Stolle Teddy action,
Jewell trigger,
Bartlein 1 : 7.75, barrel, 27",
Stolle rings,
Leupold 6.5-20x, 30mm tube,
Anschutz 3P stock (1907)
The 'smith who built the rifle used factory Norma BR ammo to proof fire it, and the group was, in essence, one hole.

Load (starting):-
Lapua cases,
Hornady 87gn V-Max,
Varget 31gn,
Seated to just touch lands.

First 10 shot string produced a 20 mm C2C group @ 100 mtr - not too flash, in my opinion,
Max 2994.75 fps
Min 2960.63 fps
Spread 33.79 fps
SD 10.17 fps
Data from a Garmin xero C1

The question is: what should I play with first; seating depth (how much), or powder charge? I know that it can do much better.
Thanks for your guidance.
49er

 

[Bc'z]

Seating, do this at the range with your comparator and press if 2 ain't touching move bullet deeper into case .003 rinse and repeat, don't stop once you make a 1 hole group but search out front side of Seating depth.
I shoot this @200 yards

 

[No1_49er]

Thanks for that. I'll try seating depth first.
My intention for the rifle is to shoot 3P, 100/200/300 mtr.

 

[Clancy]

Seating depth is by far the most important thing to me, so I’d start there.

I’d also consider a premium bullet, perhaps the 87 Berger.

Enjoy it!

 

[No1_49er]

I'm sure that I will enjoy it, eventually.
I'll persist with the V-max because I was fortunate enough to be able to procure a bulk supply at a favourable price.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Sadly, I had, NO real Luck with, Horn 87 gr., V-Maxes in, a 1-7.5 Twist, 6 XC And I tried, several, Seat Depth's !
Just couldn't get, any "Good" group, "Repeatability" for, some reason ( Not Concentric enough, Maybe ?? ).
But, I DID like, the 85 grain, Sierra's ( SPBT and SGK's ) and, the 95 grain, Berger Classic's.
87 gr H-VLD's shoot, "Small" in my Gransdon's 1-10 Twist, .243 Win !
The 107 grain SMK's "Shoot" the BEST "Jammed" lightly,.. in the LOW 2's for, Me !

 

[No1_49er]

Thanks, Lefty.
I'll persist, for a little while anyway, and get a supply in of your recommendations.

49er

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Good Luck !!
Some Barrel's seem to shoot them, just Fine ( Possibly, I got a "Bad Run" )
OR, My Barrel Twist, wasn't, "Right".
I get BugHoles, out of, 80 gr Berger, Flat Base, Varmint Bullets, also.
PS ; Your Rifle Build,. sounds Awesome !

 

[Fire Dog]

Sadly, I had, NO real Luck with, Horn 87 gr., V-Maxes in, a 1-7.5 Twist, 6 XC And I tried, several, Seat Depth's !
Just couldn't get, any "Good" group, "Repeatability" for, some reason ( Not Concentric enough, Maybe ?? ).
But, I DID like, the 85 grain, Sierra's ( SPBT and SGK's ) and, the 95 grain, Berger Classic's.
87 gr H-VLD's shoot, "Small" in my Gransdon's 1-10 Twist, .243 Win !
The 107 grain SMK's "Shoot" the BEST "Jammed" lightly,.. in the LOW 2's for, Me !

Yes, I ran the Sierra 107's as they shot better than all the different "flavours" of Berger 105's in my Eliseo R5 rifle. {1:8 x 28" Benchmark} then I switched to 103's and never looked back when they delivered a five shot, one hole group at 100 meters off the bench...
CCI 450's, 29.3gr Varget/AR2208, 5-7 jam, Peterson brass {worked as well with Lapua}.
Bullets hBN coated.
Garmin: Avg.2771.5
Std Dev, 9.4 over 11 shots. {one sighter}
Many thanks for that load Rushty in WA.
As mentioned, no matter what the weight you decide on, get some "quality" bullets rather than "got them at a bargain" ones...
Back to the race car days query: "Speed costs money... How fast do you want to go?"
Think Bart's 103 or 105's or Vapor Trail 103's.
Normally I only shoot F Open or 100mt BR but this combo has delivered a 200.14 at 600yds off the mound.
The 103's just seem to be perfect weight for this cartridge, especially if you are only going to shoot to a max of 300 mt. Have shot them to 1'000yds but wind can certainly start to factor but 600yds and under I use it and then to a 280AI after that out to 1'000yds.

 

[hoz53]

I'm sure that I will enjoy it, eventually.
I'll persist with the V-max because I was fortunate enough to be able to procure a bulk supply at a favourable price.

get a "better" higher powered scope and thanks for leaving those bergers on the shelf for me- ill leave the hornadys on the shelf for you--

 

[Fire Dog]

get a "better" higher powered scope and thanks for leaving those bergers on the shelf for me- ill leave the hornadys on the shelf for you--

May I suggest a "better scope" be something like the Kahles 1050 or perhaps a March 10-60 High Master...
I have used both on my 6BR and currently favouring the Kahles for clarity and reticle. Just get the accessory "star shaped" Parallax adjuster as otherwise it is difficult to not affect the elevation knob as they are stacked one on top of the other...

 

[No1_49er]

Thanks for your thoughts on "a better scope".
To date, I have had no problem with the 20x @ 100 and 200 metres in my 3P pursuits with a 6PPC.
My current "issue" is an undeveloped load for the BR - group size is nothing like it should/could be. My test, so far, has been a grand total of 10 shots off the bench.
Load developement is going to take front stage before I contemplate a higher power scope.
Do I take it that you've shot competitively in the 3P disciplines with a scope greater than 20x?
Thanks for the suggestions re' the 103/105gn projectiles.

 

[dusterdave173]

The sooner you get rid of the 87 Vmax the faster you will get to 6BR heaven
Have fun--sounds like a great build

 

[No1_49er]

Thanks, Dave. Seems like I'm destined to take another path re' the projies.

 

[dusterdave173]

The 107 SMK just into the lands enough to make a square mark from the rifling and 30g of Varget with a CCI450 primer will make you smile! I have had same results with Peterson or lapua brass don't fear the Peterson--Grafs usually has in stock--after a couple of loads it is ready to punch one hole groups Good Luck! You get seating depth where it is happy and you will be smiling