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About to order a 6XC, any advice?

Was going to build a 600-1000 prairie dog rifle in 6mmBR but Darrel Holland suggested that I look at the 6XC. I did and I liked what I saw,especially in velocity for amount of powder burned). Can some of you pros comment on barrel life, accuracy, and anything else related to this cartridge that you think would help my decision?
Thanks, Glenn
 
Get brass first.

I ordered a T2K in 6XC 14months ago, when Tubb announced brass sales. But the batch I did get 6 months ago measures horrible in thickness variance.
I'm now waiting for the next batch, and may drop 6xc in favor of another 6Dasher or improved form of 6.5wssm.

Just my perspective, but it's bullets that sway the cal, and brass that makes or brakes the cartridge.
 
I agree with mikecr, the only guy I know of right now messing with it has given up on Tubbs brass and is making his own from 22-250 brass. I understand it's sort of a painful process. Perhaps the brass situation will improve.

I also understand that those playing with the 6.5 Grendel are getting great brass for it from Alexander Arms,but it's Lapua so enough said). I don't think the Grendel would be the best choice for dogs though.
 
mikecr,
What batch of brass did you get, the fist lot or 2nd lot of brass??? Where is the thickness varriance?? How do you measure it??? Thanks!!!!!!
 
Still working on my loads...& brass.
36/BLC2 & 87 V max
37/H4350 & 107 SMK....3 shots @ 100..my two best loads so far
6xch43502ap.jpg
 
Raptor
2nd batch
Measured 12.5 to 14.5 with a Sinclair neck mic on typical cases.
That is -one side measures thin,12.5), one side measures thicker,14.5). Some cases measure little variance, but at different thicknesses. Piles form. Like a perfect 13case goes in one pile, a perfect 12case goes in another. A .5thou variance pile, a 1thou variance pile, etc. Alot of little piles!
In this case, the max variance may correlate to 1gr change in H20 cap amoung them,per quickDesign/RCBS Load). Weight variance also has to be correlated and actual volume cannot be measured until fully formed. Since 1gr H20 variance is alot for a longe range cartridge, I choose -up front- those consistant, that correlate, and seemingly in the majority. Toss the rest. After firing I measure the H20 cap on each case, normally finding a few here & there that still leave the pack. Tossed.
It seems alot to figure out, but I setup a spreadsheet and have gotten pretty good at choosing brass for the long haul. Out of 500 Lapuas in 6br, I recently choose the best 300. After firing and H20 checks, I had under .2gr variance in all but 2. This was very easy with Lapua though -huge difference.
By the same standards, I'd be lucky to end up with 20 out of 300 6xc. So I stopped, and talked to Dave. He feels that it won't be an issue. But I haven't been motivated to proceed other than purchasing batch3 brass, and deciding from there. I might actually have the rifle then and try some. But a new barrel is easier to sell than a used one.
There is another factor -bananas. I'll be shooting a T2K with a standard chamber, and reloading with the standard redding 6xc dies. I'll clean up the necks, but with this body form, some body sizing will likely be needed with each reload. In the past I have seen runout increase to a point that cases were bad in my view, due to brass thickness variance and sizing -creating banana cases. This is part of what got me doing all this culling years ago. Eliminating as many basic factors right up front, has been the only way to ensure first shot, cold barrel hits on distant chucks.
 
Mikecr,
Thanks for the explanation!! I have some of his first batch an am in the process of some load development. I sorted by weight an it was very consistant that way. It all weighed 171grs +or- 1/2gr. The fist batch is at least 20grs heavier than the 2nd batch from what I can tell by talking to people.

I always do a clean up neck turn an the brass seemed to be consistant in the amount taken off. I don't have anything to check the actual neck thickness with.

I was worried I may not be able to reach my goal of 2970 to 3000fps with the heavier brass. However I am using 38grs of H-4350 an have been able to reach 3000fps with my 26" Kreiger 1-8 using bare 107s.,If my cronograph is correct) The Varget load of 33.5grs cronographed in at 2948fps.

The gun seems to shoot pretty well to 600yds but then opens up at 700 on out. I don't understand this, an part of the problem may be the wind too. I have shot in either 7 to 10 mph slight head or tail winds each time I have been out. Its hard to pick up a slight change when its jumping around like it does. I live in SDak an its not a very calm state. I built the gun for tactical matches an used to use the 6.5x284s an was hoping to get more barrel life out of the 6xc.

So far I don't know if I made the right choice with this or not. I am so ticked off over the brass thing I could bite nails. I tried getting brass an dies from Nov on an was told the same story week after week it will be in next week!!! Then I found 600rds of the fist lot so I bought it. Then I find out the fist lot is completly different from the new stuff, then they won't sell me dies, telling me they are all spoken for an will go out with the new brass shipment an maybe in a month I can get dies!!

I fought the brass problem with the 6.5x284s when Norma first came out with it I had some of the first batch then the 3rd batch then had to keep it seperated because it was at least a full gr. different in my loads. I hope I can get a decent day to get out an do some long range work to see if its me the gun or the weather thats opening up my groups at 700+. Thanks again for the info!!
 
A similar cartridge to the 6XC without the supply difficulties is the .240 NMC. It is a popular highpower cartridge here in the midwest. It is very similar to the 6XC in appearance and performance. The case slightly longer, has a 28 degree shoulder, body taper similar to a .308 and uses .22-250 brass. The .240 NMC headspaces the same as the .22-250 so fireforming is simple. Hornady dies are available from Randy Gregory of Wisconsin. Talking to one shooter, 37.5-38.0 grains of H4350 and a Sierra 107 is giving around 3050fps out of his 27" barrel.

6mmCARTSx.jpg
 
List: That was one reason I chose the 6mm/22-250 as the brass was easy to obtain and size up to 6mm. I believe its near the same as the .240 NMC cartridge. In my 30" kreiger barrel Im getting near 3100 fps with 37 gn of AA4350 but I have to reconfirm that.

Lester
 
dreever said:
I agree with mikecr, the only guy I know of right now messing with it has given up on Tubbs brass and is making his own from 22-250 brass. I understand it's sort of a painful process. Perhaps the brass situation will improve.

I also understand that those playing with the 6.5 Grendel are getting great brass for it from Alexander Arms,but it's Lapua so enough said). I don't think the Grendel would be the best choice for dogs though.

I just formed 100 pieces of 22-250 Winchester brand brass in the 6xc die and it was a very easy process. What made forming the 6xc from 22-250 a painful process for your friend?
 
I'd also like to know what the problem was forming the 6XC from 22-250 brass? I formed up 300 pieces of Norma 22-250 brass
into 6XC in one pass with no body buckling as shown in Tubbs sheet. The Tubb dies are a work of art and I really like the sholder portion in the neck bushing idea. Works great for me.
As I only FL size ever 3-4 reloads, I use a Redding 6BR comp bushing die to just do the necks.
Reid
 
ptf18 said:
List: That was one reason I chose the 6mm/22-250 as the brass was easy to obtain and size up to 6mm. I believe its near the same as the .240 NMC cartridge. In my 30" kreiger barrel Im getting near 3100 fps with 37 gn of AA4350 but I have to reconfirm that.

Lester

Lester, what condition are the primers in after several firings with your load? Have you experienced any problems ?

What is the shoulder diameter and angle on your fired cases?
Changeling
 
Changeling: Im on my 3x firing of the WW 22-250 brass I openned the neck up to 6mm. I dont know the shoulder angle but I think its whatever the 22-250 case is. I havent tried resizing the 3x fired cases yet so I dont know if the primers will just fall out or not....I hope not. I have not experianced any problems...yet.... with my load of 37gn of AA4350 with nakied SMK 107s. But Im sure tempted to drop back to the 2950 range. I shot a 600x60 match this past weekend but it was so windy I could not tell if this load was doing well or not.

Im going to try some more shooting this coming weekend.

Lester
 
Finally ran my 6XC over newly replaced Chrono....
107 SMKs @ 2925 w/37.5/H4350 & 27" 8 twist Pac Nor
87 V max @ 3120 w/37/BLC
formed 22-250 win brass
primary use for rifle is LR p/dogs....& 1500 yd club w/VHA
 

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