6XC1:8 twist stabilize a Hornady 65 grain VMAX?

[Baer45]

I’m trying to find a good varmint load for 6xc but there is no load data. All I’ve shot are Bergers..anyone been down this path?

 

[DogBuster]

In my 6XC varmint days.....my 8T/3 groove Pac Nor would spin jackets off the 75 V max

Started using the 87 V max & no issues

65 gr ? Dunno ):

 

[WIB3]

Seems really fast for a really light 6mm bullet.

 

[Baer45]

I’m open to larger bullets…just don’t want ricochets... any expanding bullet w/ data

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

My 1-7.5 Twist, 6 XC shoots, Berger 80 gr. Varmints into, One Hole ( .2's and .3's ) I can't really, shoot any better than that, at 75 y/o, anyway ! The 80 gr. bullet won't "explode" Sage Rats but, cuts them in 1/2 and Flips, the Two, Carcass parts, 3 feet in the Air. Haven't heard, any "Ricochets",.. YET !
The 87 gr. V-Maxes were NOT, "Consistent" in my 6 XC but were "good" in, my 1-10 twist, .243 Win Tikka (.3's+ )
Got lucky one Day and got, a 5 shot group in, the 1's with, my .22-250 Rem. W/ 55 gr. F. Base Varmint Berger's.
I use, IMR and H,.. 4895 and H-380, "Thrown" ( after Testing ) using, Hogdon's, 6 Creedmoor, Data, MINUS,.. 2.5 or, 3 Grains for, the 6 XC and "work up",.. CAREFULLY. There are other, Load Data, available, NOW.

 

[AckleymanII]

Nine yards of freebore does not help the 8T, 6 XC. Alex Wheeler and Urban rifleman can do shorter freebore chambers that will help with the light bullets.

You may have good luck with Berger Colum 68g bullets as they have a lot of bearing surface on their shank.

A 75g Sierra Hp may work well for you if you can find any, as they are a flat base with a lot of bearing surface.

 

[Twdmar]

I've used 55gr ballistic tips in a 1/8 6xc for fire forming 22-250 cases with 39 gr of ramshot hunter. It worked fine. Start with a powder at 80% case fill or there about and should be able to work up to something usable. Ive had good success with reloder 15 and 87gr hornadys too but the 87 has also given me more problems than other bullets. Sierra has data for 55gr blitzkings. Their reloading data app is 5 bucks a year.

 

[bigyin]

I use 70 gr blitz kings in my 1:8 with 42 grains reloader 16

 

[koger]

i have had great luck using 70 gr Sierras Matchkings

 

[urbanrifleman]

My 1-7.5 Twist, 6 XC shoots, Berger 80 gr. Varmints into, One Hole ( .2's and .3's ) I can't really, shoot any better than that, at 75 y/o, anyway ! The 80 gr. bullet won't "explode" Sage Rats but, cuts them in 1/2 and Flips, the Two, Carcass parts, 3 feet in the Air. Haven't heard, any "Ricochets",.. YET !
The 87 gr. V-Maxes were NOT, "Consistent" in my 6 XC but were "good" in, my 1-10 twist, .243 Win Tikka (.3's+ )
Got lucky one Day and got, a 5 shot group in, the 1's with, my .22-250 Rem. W/ 55 gr. F. Base Varmint Berger's.
I use, IMR and H,.. 4895 and H-380, "Thrown" ( after Testing ) using, Hogdon's, 6 Creedmoor, Data, MINUS,.. 2.5 or, 3 Grains for, the 6 XC and "work up",.. CAREFULLY. There are other, Load Data, available, NOW.

85 sierra bthp is your friend

 

[Hoot]

Sorry to be slow getting this up. I had some HBN plated 65 VMAX's ready to go, waiting for some impetus to load them. After reading your inquiry, I managed a few hours the next day (Friday) with them. Unfortunately, the wife came home from babysitting my nephew's two daughters the whole week with the creeping crud. Got worse and tested positive for Covid on Sunday. Been doing the well intended hubby shuffle ever since.

I used 35gr of AR-Comp because I have a jug of it and the speed for the light bullets felt right. Wasn't pushing them hard from my 26" Urbanrifleman 1:8 short throat (.050) Remage setup. I put together a 3 shot ladder of +.005 to -.060 jumps using 2F annealed, no turn Peterson brass and 450 primers. Most consistent velocity came in the -015 and -.030 jumps. Accuracy was good all the way from +.005 to-.045 but I had the 2 and 1 curse. 2 shot cloverleaf and 1 about .5 inches away, across four jumps. I'd give a slim edge to the +.005 and -.015 rungs. My bag and rest setup is not at all optimized. Too sloppy and slippery believe it or not but I share it across many different rigs. I almost forgot. Velocity with 35gr of AR Comp hovered around 3530fps with not even close to approaching any kind of pressure signs.

I'm with the others however, in that heavier bullets do better and I can also report that for some reason, the 87 VMAX's are stubborn to find a consistent recipe for, with several different powders.

Oops, mama-bear needs more Kleenex. Good Luck

Hoot

 

[urbanrifleman]

Sorry to be slow getting this up. I had some HBN plated 65 VMAX's ready to go, waiting for some impetus to load them. After reading your inquiry, I managed a few hours the next day (Friday) with them. Unfortunately, the wife came home from babysitting my nephew's two daughters the whole week with the creeping crud. Got worse and tested positive for Covid on Sunday. Been doing the well intended hubby shuffle ever since.

I used 35gr of AR-Comp because I have a jug of it and the speed for the light bullets felt right. Wasn't pushing them hard from my 26" Urbanrifleman 1:8 short throat (.050) Remage setup. I put together a 3 shot ladder of +.005 to -.060 jumps using 2F annealed, no turn Peterson brass and 450 primers. Most consistent velocity came in the -015 and -.030 jumps. Accuracy was good all the way from +.005 to-.045 but I had the 2 and 1 curse. 2 shot cloverleaf and 1 about .5 inches away, across four jumps. I'd give a slim edge to the +.005 and -.015 rungs. My bag and rest setup is not at all optimized. Too sloppy and slippery believe it or not but I share it across many different rigs. I almost forgot. Velocity with 35gr of AR Comp hovered around 3530fps with not even close to approaching any kind of pressure signs.

I'm with the others however, in that heavier bullets do better and I can also report that for some reason, the 87 VMAX's are stubborn to find a consistent recipe for, with several different powders.

Oops, mama-bear needs more Kleenex. Good Luck

Hoot

Try 20 jam. Or even more. The 55s love being jammed.

Btw I use 34.3 AR COMP with the Berger 108. I went up to 36 plus with no pressure.

I wouldn't be shocked if you could go to 38 or more with a 65 vmax.

 

[AckleymanII]

That load will be humping for sure!

 

[STOMP442]

My wifes Coyote rifle is a 6 Creed with an 8 twist that she is shooting the 65gr Vmax out of. I don't remember the specifics of the load but it shoots well.