Caliber choice question for competitive shooters

[Mike402]

I am planning on having a custom PRS comp gun built but need to decide on caliber. I am leaning towards the 6 - 6.5mm choices on a short action. Here are some of my guidelines:

1) Must be a cartridge that doesn't have to be fireformed (i.e. brass readily available - would prefer a caliber Lapua makes brass for right from the factory)

2) Reliable feeding from AI .30 cal mags

Here's the kicker - what caliber & bullet combination would you choose if you were limited to Varget powder? I understand H4350 is preferred in most cases, but I don't have any, can't find any, and I am stacked DEEP with Varget.

Thus far in my research, I have come up with 6.5x47 w/ 130gr bergers as meeting all the criteria. Any other combos out there that would best that in terms of accuracy and ballistics?

 

[boltman13]

Either 6.5 Rem or 6.5 Creedmoor with 120 gr bullets would probably work. Lapua makes 260 Rem brass, but 6.5 CM brass has never disappointed me. Hornady factory match 120 gr load uses Varget. Good luck.

 

[Mike402]

Hornady factory match 120 gr load uses Varget.

Wow good piece of info to know. I'll have to do some research to see what I'd be giving up to the 140s in terms of wind drift

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Once you get there youll see lots of 243 and 260's. Both can use cheap or expensive brass according to what match youre at and what you can afford to lose. If you gotta be tactikool then youll want a creedmoor. I go with best brass availability and bullet selection.

 

[Drop Port]

A 6.5x47L with 140 Hybrids bug holed in every rife I've tried it in. You will not get the speed of H-4350 but it is a go to load for accuracy.

 

[Mike402]

A 6.5x47L with 140 Hybrids bug holed in every rife I've tried it in. You will not get the speed of H-4350 but it is a go to load for accuracy.

Meaning you've shot those bullets w/ Varget & bug holed?

 

[Sheldon N]

Have you read through the "What the Pros Use" series of posts at the Precision Rifle Blog? It's got a detailed breakdown of all the gear the top 50 shooters in PRS are using. 6.5x47 was the most popular cartridge this year in the top 100, and second only to the 6 creed in the top 50.

http://precisionrifleblog.com/2015/10/12/best-rifle-caliber/

 

[Drop Port]

A 6.5x47L with 140 Hybrids bug holed in every rife I've tried it in. You will not get the speed of H-4350 but it is a go to load for accuracy.

Meaning you've shot those bullets w/ Varget & bug holed?

Many times.

Several rifles I've loaded for along with a few friends that have tried the load. My BAT VR-PIC Bartlein barrel tac rifle shoots this load as good as H-4350, just less speed. On any given decent condition day, depending on how I'm shooting I expect to see mid .3's down to high .1's (benched off a BR set up)

 

[Scott Harris]

6.5x47 Lapua with 37.5gr Varget and 140 Hybrids = awesomeness

 

[brian427cobra]

I shoot 6.5 Creedmoor, the reason I didn't pick 6.5x47 is my Surgeon bolt doesn't have the .062 firing pin and breach face hole. So get your breach face bushed, and rock the 6.5x47, you'll be glad you picked the 6.5 over 6 when the wind is blowing 25-35 across your muzzle.

 

[Mike402]

Have you read through the "What the Pros Use" series of posts at the Precision Rifle Blog? It's got a detailed breakdown of all the gear the top 50 shooters in PRS are using. 6.5x47 was the most popular cartridge this year in the top 100, and second only to the 6 creed in the top 50.

http://precisionrifleblog.com/2015/10/12/best-rifle-caliber/

I actually have read that article (thank you for linking it) and it certainly cemented me narrowing it down to a 6 or 6.5. However what it didn't mention was powder choice, which is the main reason for my post. Basically wanted to know the optimal caliber/bullet if using Varget only.

 

[Danattherock]

Your asking good questions.

Had similar ones myself when I recently bought a Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 creedmoor and Vortex Razor 5-20. Getting into PRS and similar local steel matches, this was an attractive package. Rifle is consistent 1/2 MOA with 139 Scenars and H4350.

And yes, it's a hard powder to find, bought 6 pounds on Bullets dot com (great site) a few days back. Didn't see it in stock anywhere else. They got best prices on Lapua brass I've found, bought Lapua 223 hundred packs for $46. Recobs Target shop, Ballistic Products, and Biggunoutdoors, are some less known sites I often find powder at.

But honestly, moving forward beyond your Varget stash, I think both powders are equally hard to find. I too have a Varget stash for 223, nearing 20 pounds, and to replenish it will be about same as restocking on H4350. The bigger question since you are not yet committed is 6 mm vs 6.5. That's where I would research.

Then projectile availability, part of why I got the 6.5 was Powder Valley seems to keep the 139 Scenar 1000 packs in stock, but the more expensive Berger 140 hybrids are hit and miss. I ordered another 1000 Scenars over the weekend to get my pile up to 3000. Supply of components is an issue to consider as you know.

But again, I would explore the 6 mm pretty heavy. I've worked up a good load and trying to get hard dope, truing Applied Ballistics app, etc.. first match is Jan 2nd. But already I can see where a milder recoiling 6 mm may be handy for spotting hits and misses. Just a hunch, but something you might want to read up on.

Good article here about power, projectiles, of the top PRS guys...

http://precisionrifleblog.com/2014/12/11/reloading-components/

6 mm vs 6.5 mm...

http://precisionrifleblog.com/2014/10/14/rifle-calibers-what-the-pros-use/

Dan
NC

 

[jsthntn247]

I am planning on having a custom PRS comp gun built but need to decide on caliber. I am leaning towards the 6 - 6.5mm choices on a short action. Here are some of my guidelines:

1) Must be a cartridge that doesn't have to be fireformed (i.e. brass readily available - would prefer a caliber Lapua makes brass for right from the factory)

2) Reliable feeding from AI .30 cal mags

Here's the kicker - what caliber & bullet combination would you choose if you were limited to Varget powder? I understand H4350 is preferred in most cases, but I don't have any, can't find any, and I am stacked DEEP with Varget.

Thus far in my research, I have come up with 6.5x47 w/ 130gr bergers as meeting all the criteria. Any other combos out there that would best that in terms of accuracy and ballistics?

You initially had the right way of thinking, don't let anybody change your mind.