Bullet Selection

[rcaillouet]

Hello all, and thank for the help! I currently have a Rem 700 LA ADL in 30-06 that I am thinking of turning into a 6mmBR. Planning on making it single shot, or if anyone has advise on how to make it a repeater with the LA mag I am all ears!

Now my range has max of 350 yards. I am looking for advise on many things:

1. Bullet selection for shooting to 300 - 350 yards max,Sierra 95 HPBT comes to mind.)

2. Twist rate that would be best for 0 - 350 yards with bullet choice.

3. Best barrel for the money.

I work for the military and don't have a lot of money to waste, so making a good choice is at a premium for me. Also, my bullet choice doesn't have to be the absolute best on the market, just something affordable and will give me accuracy to be happy with!

Thanks for all the help!

 

[357Mag]

R -

If live varmint is your bag w/ occasional paper punching;
I'd look at the mid-wt 6mm bullets, such as Sierra 80gr "Blitz", Sierra 85HPBT varminter, Hornady 87gr "V"-Max; even Berger's 88gr LD , not a true varmint bullet ).
The 88 Berger is great for target work, and will kill varmints, albeit... not explosively.


For an inexpensive but effective bullet, you can buy 6mm Rem
80gr PLHPs from places like MIDWAY. These are "plated", and not jacketed ) bullets. Main-stream Sierras and Hornadys
have gone up in price yes, but are still " affordable ".

You don't need a boat tail on the bullet, if all you are shooting to is 350yds. Even to 400yds, a flat-base will do you just fine. If 350yd is the true limit, you could get by
w/ the light 55-60gr 6mm varmint bullets; if varmints is what you will be shooting at; out to that range.

The 95gr bullet you mentioned, like a Sierra 95MK ) are good to 600yd. So, that buulet wt is way heavier than you HAVE TO HAVE; for shooting just to 350yd.

For barrels, you have many great choices:
Broughton "5-C" rifled, Kreiger, Hart, Bartlein, Satern, Brux; and others. You need to check each companie's catalogues/charts
to detemine IF they offer your desired barrel features as standard & no-extra cost; or if some features cost extra
, like: diameters over 1.200", special twist rates, lengths past 28" finished, special groove count; etc ). Those, and the lead time they quote you... can help you pick the barrel maker. Also, if you are adamant you want cut-rifled barrels only, that alone would help you cull-out many barrel makers.

You should always pick your barrel's twist rate, based on the heaviest bullet wt you know you are most likely to ever shoot in the rifle. You need to be very honest w/ yourself, on that point. The barrel's chamber leade will be set, biased towards this prefered bullet choice. IF the leade is set-up for a heavy-wt, long ) target bullet, even the mid-weight 6mm bullets might be challenged in reaching the rifling.

You can see now, why factories offerd 1-10" twist 6mms; so thier rifles could shoot heavier 100gr bullets @ deer, and lighter 87gr bullets @ critters like groundhogs.


Best of luck in your endeavors.

Regards,
357Mag