Anyone have 12" twist 6mm cartridge?

[RAG]

I'm in the lead-free zone and looking to convert a 6BR benchrest rifle around the Nosler 55 Grain BT Lead-Free bullet for squirrel shooting, but since it's the only viable lead-free bullet for this caliber (I don't like the Varmint Grenades at all), I first wanted to make sure these bullets fly well. And since I can't seem to find anyone who has actually tried them, I was hoping to find someone with a competition-quality 6MM with the appropriate twist...in which case I'd happily furnish some bullets for testing. According to Nosler, the ballistics of this bullet is (relatively) superb with a BC of .288...which means it's probably close to .27 since they like to "stretch" things more than other manufactures; nevertheless, I consider that excellent for a 55grain pill.

Anyone?

 

[CJ6]

You would just be testing if that persons bbl liked them or not. Testing yourself is the way to go. Things like lead, freebore, nk tension, throat errosion. play such a big part in what a bbl likes.

 

[357Mag]

RAG -

Howdy !

Thinking out-loud......
Some other 6mm bullets are "lead free".
For example.... the Barnes ( and other ) lead-free copper bullets.

There's an Australian source for frangible ( non-lead ) 6mm bullets. Can't recall the name, right now.

6mm bullets offered w/ "powdered metal " cores, will also be non-lead.

Use of the above would drive you to selection of a faster than 1-12 twist, perhaps.
But, whatever bullets you shoot, they're probably going to go right through ( not be contained by ) the squirrels; anywayz.

With regards,
357Mag

 

[RAG]

CJ6 - I realize you have a point. But in my opinion, if you take a benchrest-quality rifle (that shoots in the 1s and 2s with competition-quality bullets), this usually enables you to test the quality of other bullets to a great extent. I have found this to be the case with my compilation of rifles at least. If I test a bullet in one of my best rifles, I expect to see good groups out of other bullets with limited load development; however, if I start throwing .75" groups out there from the get-go, then the bullet quality is surely not good...and testing them in my other rigs has always confirmed this. I was just hoping to hear from someone who's been able to group this bullets well under 1/2" before I go down this path...otherwise I'll just re-chamber to a 20 or 22 PPC for varminting.

But I realize this venture is a long-shot.

 

[RAG]

Also, I would be interested in the alternatives...though I do need highly frangible bullets and prefer the Ballastic Tips for their BC advantage in the field. I suppose I could just go for it and build a 12" twist 6BR, and hopefully other alternatives from Hornady and/or Sierra will come along soon; frankly, I don't know why Nosler made a 55 grain lead-free BT...a 50 that would stabilize in 14" twists would be much better!

 

[stork]

I have a 243 that Dan Dowling built with a 1-12 twist Schneider he made for me 25 years ago. It was made as a carrying, live varmint rifle and shot anything in the 65-85 grain range very well (.2-.5) with 65 Cooks and 65 Bergers shooting the best groups of course. Since he made me up a 6 Dasher with a 10 twist, I really haven't used it for 10-12 years so can't speak for the newer bullet choices out there.

 

[Bulseyetom]

I tried the 90 grain Nosler Etip in my 12 twist 243 AI and they barely stayed on the target. They shot great in my 10 twist 6x47 Lapua. I tried the 62 grain Varmint Grenades and they shot okay but certainly not as accurate as I had hoped for. I only tried one powder and one load just to see if they would stabilize which they did. I had excellent groups in my 22-250 with the 35 grain Nosler so I have hopes to find a good load for the Varmint grenades in 6mm as well. Good luck in your endeavors. We are paving the way in load development in the lead free zone but I am convinced many of the western states will soon follow. Every condor death gets blamed on lead poisoning but how many hunters have ever even seen one? I would think you would be hard pressed to find lead fragments in a ground squirrel shot with a 6br and a normal bullet! Oh well. Tom

 

[RAG]

Thank you for the replies.

Regarding Dan Dowling...he is amazing. He built me a 6BR that has 6500 rounds and still shoots groups in the 1s and 2s...no exageration. Insane 1-hole groups...even with v-max bullets. I put a 6PPC barrel on it, used it on the only NBRSA registered benchrest match I've ever shot, and won the 200yard and Grand Agg with it.

Bulsey Tom...I have taken the 35 grain NTX and Nosler BTLead-Free to the range a few times...I've actually got the NTXs to perform better. Just as good as lead bullets (.25"-.3" groups with that gun). Those varmint grenades stink...all over the page for me.

 

[LIUNA]

I have a 243 Win Pac Nor Barrel 1 in 12 twist, and I have been shooting a 80 gr Nos Ballistic Tip Varmint BT, with 42.4 gr of IMR 4350, and I could not be happier with the results, although I am at the end of my load development, It will put 3 shots out of 4 in the same rough hole at 100 yds. but continuing to try and refine it for consistency.

 

[Ing. Michael W. Mayerl]

I'm in the lead-free zone and looking to convert a 6BR benchrest rifle around the Nosler 55 Grain BT Lead-Free bullet for squirrel shooting, but since it's the only viable lead-free bullet for this caliber (I don't like the Varmint Grenades at all), I first wanted to make sure these bullets fly well. And since I can't seem to find anyone who has actually tried them, I was hoping to find someone with a competition-quality 6MM with the appropriate twist...in which case I'd happily furnish some bullets for testing. According to Nosler, the ballistics of this bullet is (relatively) superb with a BC of .288...which means it's probably close to .27 since they like to "stretch" things more than other manufactures; nevertheless, I consider that excellent for a 55grain pill.

Anyone?

Hallo

I`m a lead free bullet manufacturer in europe and for the 6mm PPC with 14" twist I have developed a 60grain AERO bullet with a length of 20.95mm that works best. Groups of about 1/4 MOA are possible and it`s possible to hunt roe and red dear with it because they penetrate very deep (normaly they exit the body).

If the Nosler 55grain has the same length, it will work in 14" twist or smaller.

The 6mm BR works well with 14" twist - a real alternative to 6mm PPC.
10" like in the 243 Win would be ok too but accuracy with 14" is much better.

 

[RAG]

That's great to know!!!

So that's about .825", which would in fact be perect for a 14" twist. Those Nosler Lead Free 55grain Ballastic Tips ate .95"...which surely would not stabilize in a 14". Ideally I need more frangible bullets, and even though I doubt the AERO bullets are on the CA DFG lead-free "list", I'm sure it would keep me from getting a fine/ticket

 

[RAG]

I think Nosler has missed the boat with their 55grain Lead-Free BT...too long to stablize in the 14" twist barrels and too short for ideal accuracy in many of the 9" twist factory barrels. Somebody needs to make a frangible 45 grain bullet for the 6mm for all the short-range 6PPC/BR varmint shooters out there.

 

[RAG]

How do I find out more info about the AERO bullets, please?

I'm in the lead-free zone and looking to convert a 6BR benchrest rifle around the Nosler 55 Grain BT Lead-Free bullet for squirrel shooting, but since it's the only viable lead-free bullet for this caliber (I don't like the Varmint Grenades at all), I first wanted to make sure these bullets fly well. And since I can't seem to find anyone who has actually tried them, I was hoping to find someone with a competition-quality 6MM with the appropriate twist...in which case I'd happily furnish some bullets for testing. According to Nosler, the ballistics of this bullet is (relatively) superb with a BC of .288...which means it's probably close to .27 since they like to "stretch" things more than other manufactures; nevertheless, I consider that excellent for a 55grain pill.

Anyone?

Hallo

I`m a lead free bullet manufacturer in europe and for the 6mm PPC with 14" twist I have developed a 60grain AERO bullet with a length of 20.95mm that works best. Groups of about 1/4 MOA are possible and it`s possible to hunt roe and red dear with it because they penetrate very deep (normaly they exit the body).

If the Nosler 55grain has the same length, it will work in 14" twist or smaller.

The 6mm BR works well with 14" twist - a real alternative to 6mm PPC.
10" like in the 243 Win would be ok too but accuracy with 14" is much better.

 

[RAG]

I have a 243 Win Pac Nor Barrel 1 in 12 twist, and I have been shooting a 80 gr Nos Ballistic Tip Varmint BT, with 42.4 gr of IMR 4350, and I could not be happier with the results, although I am at the end of my load development, It will put 3 shots out of 4 in the same rough hole at 100 yds. but continuing to try and refine it for consistency.

Please send me a message if you ever get around to testing the the Nosler Lead-Free 55 grain pills...they are nearly as long as those 80gr lead bullets and have a claimed BC of .28, so the ballastics of the 55s at 4,000 fps should be FAR superior to those 80s...which your likely pushing at 3,250fps or so. And I know those lead-free are extremly frangible...

 

[Bulseyetom]

Regarding a bullet of 0.95 not stabilizing in a 14 twist, I thought I would report my results several years back with a 6ppc 14 twist that I was thinking of hunting antelope with. I had a barrel that had 1800 rounds so I screwed it in and loaded up some 80 grain Speer SP bullets to see if the experiment was worth the time and trouble. That bullet is 0.90 and with a hefty dose of H322 I shot less than 1/2 moa 5 shot groups. That barrel was by then shooting 0.300 groups at best with 66 grain match bullets so I decided that I could indeed make a varmint/antelope gun out of it. I soon gave up when I could not find a stock suitable for carrying in the field for the Viper action but it did open my eyes to the fact that you really can't exclude marginal mathematical twists unless you are shooting competition. I am not sure how good I could have made that bullet work by trying different charges and seating depths if I would have continued on. With that in mind, I am with RAG in thinking the Varmint Grenade might not be a very accurate bullet in any combo and I need to try the Nosler when I can find some. Tom

 

[Rustystud]

My Remington model 7 very early model, came with a 1:12 barrel. It would not shoot anything heavier than a 85gr hpbt.
I trued the action and rebarreled it with a 1:8, and it shoots 90gr Swift Shiroccos lights out.
Nat Lambeth

 

[shortgrass]

6mm X 45mm (6mm/.223). 1-12 twt. Shilen Select Match (new, very old stock). 75g V-Max or 80g Blitz. Both loaded the same,, 28.5g W748, Win. case, WSRP. Try any other primer and nice, tight groups turn to patterns. A devastating varmint/coyote load/round. Liked it so much, I had the barrel Melonite/Black Nitride treated.