Cartridge Selection Help

[Jakes10mm]

I'm going to try my hand at Benchrest Shooting this season with one of my hunting rifles...either 243Win or 260Rem. Here's my question...if I was to build a Savage-based benchrest rifle to do double duty as a competition and varmint rifle, what would be the best caliber and twist for reaching out to the 300yard range? My shooting endeavors are on a fairly tight budget, so costs belong the rifle itself are factors,powder usage, bullet selection and cost, reloading equipment cost, brass availability, etc.). My initial cartridge list based on reading through these forums and the 6mmBR forum are:
22BR
22 Dasher
223rem / 223 AI
22-250
6mmBR
6 Dasher
I'm sure I've left out some other "favorites", but I don't want to get too exotic.

Thanks.

 

[Forum Boss]

For varminting and club-level BR work out to 300 yards, I would go with a straight 6BR, 10-twist.

IF, and that's a big IF, the Lapua 22PPC and 6PPC brass is available soon through Dakota Arms, then that's a viable alternative that would give you,maybe) a little more accuracy and burn less powder. But I don't think you want to go the route of turning necks and fire-forming cases just to get a slight accuracy edge.

A 10-twist will give you a nice range of bullets from 50-95 grains.

The beauty of the 6BR is the brass is ready to go, bullets are great, loads are well-known, you have a good selection of factory and "semi-custom",Harrell's) dies, and you can buy an off-the-shelf Wilson seater.

If you'll be primarily varminting, I might favor a 20-cal, i.e. a 20 PPC or 20 Practical.

 

[Jakes10mm]

I'm not looking to jump into BR shooting. This rifle would be primarily for groundhog out to about 300 yards and double as a rifle to initially use in either the hunter or sporter class. I'm leaning a little towards 22cal strictly off the prices I'm seeing on varmint bullets. The 50-70gr 22's are looking considerably cheaper than 6mm bullets. If I determine that I really like this competition, I will start planning a serious rifle for 2007 after "playing" in a few matches this year, checking out everyones equipment, and tapping the other shooters' brains for information.

With that in mind, on the 22 side, what would be the best out to 300yards? 22BR, 223, 223AI, 22-250, etc. From the information I've gathered, sounds like 22BR would give me the best inherent accuracy and the brass could be "easily" formed from 6BR brass. Comments?

 

[Forum Boss]

I'm not a big 22-250 fan, though we are planning to do a 22-250/22-250 AI Cartridge Guide later this spring. I just think the brass options are better with the BR or PPC cases, plus you burn less powder and the barrels last longer.

If you are planning "all day long" Prairie dog hunts, the .223 as a parent case is very tempting. The brass is so plentiful and so cheap.

If you'll be happy with a couple hundred pieces of brass, yes the 22BR is a good option. Some guys can neck down in one pass. Others find it's best to use a couple of bushings in sequence. A 9-twist 22BR would give you a lot of options bullet-wise.

And don't rule out the 22PPC, particularly if Lapua 22 PPC brass will be coming out soon.

 

[shcal]

I agree with Moderator. I have both a 22-250 AI barrel and 6BR barrel for for my Savage. The 6BR is hands down my favorite because: brass is superior, 6mm bullet choices,especially for varmint hunting) are superior and plentiful. I just think the 6mm gives you more bullet choices, especially if you get a 1:8 twist barrel.
shcal

 

[Wild_Bill]

cost of bullets.

Hi i would not let that be the deciding choice of your rifle project if it is stick with the 223 rem. Now i have a 6mmBR and a 6mm Dasher for the uses you are looking at a 10 twist 6mm BR would br the best choice in my opinion. If you want to shoot back to 600+ yards go to a faster twist but with a 10 twist you can still go to 90gr VLD's. I have a prototype 6.8 twist MAB barrel i am testing i have just done a side by side test of 80gr Sierra, 80gr Nosler, 75gr A MAx and Hornady 75gr HPBT for the NRAA from 200 yards to 1000 yards. and will be testing the folowing Sierra bullets 90, 80, 69gr Matchkings and 65gr GameKing and 55gr BlitzKing all tests as 223 then we will rechamber it to 22-250AI i will let you know on the results. I dont like 22's as they are a pain to clean with rodd clearence verry close to bore diameter i prefer 6mm's to clean and shoot.

What will the price in 22 to 6mm Bullets be in diference 1 or $2 per 100 not a real reason for choosing a diferent round say you get 3000 rounds thats only 30 to $60 on the whole barrel life dont limit your project for $60.

Cheers Bill
Australia

 

[Ogre6br]

HI
Are you set on using the Savage action??
I have never used one and I'm not condeming it.

I't might be more cost effective to get a S/H 6mm BR gun and get it rechambered to 6BR.

A LV gun can compete in LV and HV.

There are some cheaper, older Sleeved rem 700 guns always seem to be available for reasonable prices.
You get something with all the time and $$ spent on it you just need to order a pre-fitted Pac-nor in 6BR and away you go.

Just an idea.

later
P
Edit: heres a link to a list of Used BR guns. Expensive ones ar listed first.
http://www.benchrest.com/shooterscorner/the_list.html
P