6XC for varmints

[groundhogassassin]

Thinking about building a 6XC with a McGowen 1-10" twist barrel but I really haven't seen any information about the XC shooting the lighter 6mm bullets in the range of 75grs to 85grs. Any suggestions on bullets in that range for groundhogs and coyotes? and powder suggestions for those bullets as well.

Thanks in advance!

 

[dkhunt14]

A-max and Berger would be good. A lot of guys use 4350 but I would go with a little faster powder for the light bullets. Matt

 

[potatoe]

No loads but the 6x47 lapua loads should be very close to what you could use. I'm pretty sure my next barrel will be a 6x47L and for my varmint loads I'll give the 87 vmaxs a try as well as 80gr. Nosler ballistic tips. Both are great groundhog bullets. I'll be giving H4350 a go but like Matt said it might be a little slow. Some other powders I'll be looking at will be RL17 and maybe IMR4350. I still think varget might be just too quick but I do not know that yet.

 

[dkhunt14]

I remember reading through the Sierra reloading Manual. Looking at the accuracy loads and Varget was used with some big cases. I believe 458 was one of them. Matt

 

[spclark]

Oughta work fine.

6XC's most often chosen for it's virtues in competitive sports where heavy usually wins over lighter bullets, why you won't see much on anything lighter than maybe 85's or 82's with much frequency.

I know shooters who use 70SMK's for 200 & 300 yard & like results. I've used 85 HPBT GameKings myself for 200 & cleaned targets with 'em. Sierra makes 60 & 75 HP Varminter, 85 GameKing, 55 & 70 tipped BlitzKing... lots to try before changing box color.

Usual practice is to load everything the same for 200 - 600 charge-wise. Recoil's typically why (less = more) as well as reducing complexity. Light shoot fine with charges used under 105 - 108 @ 600 anyway for 10-round string score-shooting. Your pursuit might benefit from more velocity.

Pick a lightweight & go try 'em, let us know.

In all the years & barrels I've had in 6XC I never could get Varget to work (when I bothered to look for it); seemed too slow. Been using IMR 8208XBR for a few years @ 600 - 1000 yds. This past season Benchmark showed some promise in a late fall testing session, ought to work well with lightweights too.

 

[WyleWD]

Thinking about building a 6XC with a McGowen 1-10" twist barrel but I really haven't seen any information about the XC shooting the lighter 6mm bullets in the range of 75grs to 85grs. Any suggestions on bullets in that range for groundhogs and coyotes? and powder suggestions for those bullets as well.
Thanks in advance!

I've been using a Rem 700 BDL that I put a 26"10twist 6xc Lilja stainless "sporter weight" barrel on for about 5 years now. I find the same inherent accuracy with the 70-85 gr bullets as I do out of my bench rifles using heavier bullets in 6xc.

First of all, in my experience 4350 is WAY too slow of a burn rate for the lighter bullets and a 10twist, unless maybe you are going with a 30" barrel.

I've shot 68gr, 70gr NBT, 75gr Vmax, 80gr blitz, and 85gr Sierra HPBT. In a nut shell, the 68gr and 70gr seem to like either 4895 or R-15. The 75gr Vmax is my favorite and it shoots well with 4895, but slightly better with R-15. The R-15 seems to work real well with the 80gr blitz and (no surprise here) the 85gr Sierra HPBT is an exceptional performer for accuracy. I use only Rem 9 1/2 primers and Norma 6xc brass. All the bullets are seated deep enough to function through the magazine and it feeds very well.

Honestly, I've used the 75gr Vmax a LOT on chucks and yotes with some spectacular results, the heavier ones I just worked up loads on and have not put them to work in the field yet. I believe that 4064 would be a very solid performing powder for the 80-87gr bullets, but haven't had time to play with it. Good luck with your build, and enjoy it. WD

 

[Tommie]

A buddy built a 6XC for prairie dogs. Shoots 87 grain VMaxes. I think he uses H380 but I can't swear to that. I shot the rifle on a PD trip and the gun was amazing. Inside of 400 yards it was too easy.

 

[1shot]

As the title says, 105 A-max distance unknown. 500yds. and closer, they all look like this.
Lloyd

 

[groundhogassassin]

thank you! I believe I will end up going with a 6XC!

 

[scott in ohio]

WD I tried to

I've been using a Rem 700 BDL that I put a 26"10twist 6xc Lilja stainless "sporter weight" barrel on for about 5 years now. I find the same inherent accuracy with the 70-85 gr bullets as I do out of my bench rifles using heavier bullets in 6xc.

First of all, in my experience 4350 is WAY too slow of a burn rate for the lighter bullets and a 10twist, unless maybe you are going with a 30" barrel.

I've shot 68gr, 70gr NBT, 75gr Vmax, 80gr blitz, and 85gr Sierra HPBT. In a nut shell, the 68gr and 70gr seem to like either 4895 or R-15. The 75gr Vmax is my favorite and it shoots well with 4895, but slightly better with R-15. The R-15 seems to work real well with the 80gr blitz and (no surprise here) the 85gr Sierra HPBT is an exceptional performer for accuracy. I use only Rem 9 1/2 primers and Norma 6xc brass. All the bullets are seated deep enough to function through the magazine and it feeds very well.

Honestly, I've used the 75gr Vmax a LOT on chucks and yotes with some spectacular results, the heavier ones I just worked up loads on and have not put them to work in the field yet. I believe that 4064 would be a very solid performing powder for the 80-87gr bullets, but haven't had time to play with it. Good luck with your build, and enjoy it. WD

 

[scott in ohio]

Wd I tried to PM you,I dont think it worked. I live close,shoot me an e-mail. (mcdanielscott79@yahoo.com) Scotty

 

[groundhogassassin]

what would you reccomend, a mcgowen barrel already chambered or should I go with say a krieger and have a gunsmith chamber it? any other suggestions?

 

[357Mag]

Thinking about building a 6XC with a McGowen 1-10" twist barrel but I really haven't seen any information about the XC shooting the lighter 6mm bullets in the range of 75grs to 85grs. Any suggestions on bullets in that range for groundhogs and coyotes? and powder suggestions for those bullets as well.

Thanks in advance!

Groundhogassasin _

Howdy !

I DK where in OH you reside.
But..... have you considered going w/ a 1-8 barrel of sufficient length to give you 1,000yd capabilty on "Soybeanus Digestus" ?

Just a thought.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[groundhogassassin]

Yes I am actually leaning back towards that twist. I realize now that I will be able to shoot just about any bullet i want with it other than the extremely light 6mm bullets. I am planning on staying between the bullet range I stated but I am considering trying the 105gr A-max

 

[357Mag]

Yes I am actually leaning back towards that twist. I realize now that I will be able to shoot just about any bullet i want with it other than the extremely light 6mm bullets. I am planning on staying between the bullet range I stated but I am considering trying the 105gr A-max

Groundhogassasin -
Howdy, again !

I went w/ a 29" Broughton SS 1-8 for my " DEEP 6 " wildcat varmint/target rifle.
I don't need to shoot 115s, and the 1-8 works great w/ the 95 - 107gr wt range I do use.

For other than 1,000yd shots, 95MKs and 95 Bergers pretty much covered things for me, both
varmint and target. When I can get ahold of some, I intend to try-out the " tipped " 95MK.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[groundhogassassin]

I think I'll go with the 1-8" then. But again should i have the barrel chambered by a gunsmith or would a mcgowen barrel already chambered be ok?

 

[DogBuster]

built a 6XC barrel way back when...2005...brass/dies were scarce.......used Savage s/shot action..P-N 8T 27" tube...still have it set up up..but shooting more 20's now...great cartridge...37-38 gr charge....H4350..RE17....bullets from 87 V to 107 SMK....never really very fussy......have confirmed p/dog kills out to 1100 yds......Norma XC brass & Lapua 22-250 brass is what I use.....Forster & Redding dies....

 

[357Mag]

I think I'll go with the 1-8" then. But again should i have the barrel chambered by a gunsmith or would a mcgowen barrel already chambered be ok?

Groundhogassassin -

Howdy !

Can you please tell us what rifle action you intend to use ?


With regards,
357Mag

 

[groundhogassassin]

well I kinda got real excited about ordering it so I ended up ordering the McGowen 1-8 twist 28" barrel pre-chambered in 6XC. My action will be a stainless Remington 700 short action with a jeweled bolt bedded in a Boyd's thumbhole varminter stock. The trigger will be a Remington 40x because that is what came with the action. Maybe in the future I will get a timney but the 40x will do for now. I suppose I sort of jumped the gun with this but from reading about it I think i can get it to do what I want it to do. It wont be a bench gun although I may take it to a match or two but it will mainly be for varmints and bangin steel thanks all for the input!