Cheechako

[NeilNE]

Cheechako, could you give me soon loading data for your 6mm Orphan.
I have basically the same as your. My base to shoulder is 1.455, by running a 6mm Rem. Ack. in short. So far I'm impressed with the cartridge. Getting 243 Vel. with 4 to 5 grains less powder. Thanks in advance.

 

[Cheechako]

Neil

Be glad to. The loads I use are very similar to the loads that other guys are using in their mid-sized 6mm wildcats and what David Tubb uses in the 6XC. I built my first Orphan about 5 years ago by running in the 244 Ackley reamer .300" short. Since then I have had Dave Kiff make a dedicated reamer. My first loads were with H4831 SC and the Berger 105 VLD. In a 28" barrel I loaded 42.7 grains for 3100 fps. I didn't like the accuracy so I tried 40.0 grains of H 4350 SC for the same velocity. With both loads I could,did) go a full grain higher but the lighter loads shot better with the Berger and the Sierra 107.

The barrel I am using now is a 30" Hart. I dropped the load down to 39 grains H 4350 SC for 3100 fps and then dropped down again to 38 grains for an even 3000 fps which shot best of all. Both the Berger and Sierra seem to like velocity between 2950 and 3050, at least in my barrels. I considered shortening the barrel to 28" and upping the charge but haven't decided if that is the best idea.

For the 115 DTAC I went up to 38.5 grains H 4350 for 3030 fps. 38.0 grains with the DTAC gave me 2970 fps and 39 grains gave me 3070. The jury is still out on the DTAC, at least as far as I'm concerned.

If you'll search around you can find some of the loads the other guys are using. I believe David Tubb also settled on H 4350 as the best powder. Some of the other shooters have tried other powders but I have not. The only difference you will find between the various cartridges is the shoulder angle. Tubb's and Gary Noble's is 30 degrees, Larry Kahle's is 35 degrees and mine is 40 degrees. The 6 x 250 and 6mm HLS are all about the same cartridge with just minor body dimension differences. If somebody like Lapua were to come out with a factory case I would switch to it in a minute. It may be that Tubb's 6XC will be the answer if he can get the brass problems sorted out.

Good luck with yours. Let us know how it turns out. It may be blasphemy to say it on this site but I think these cartridges are so much better than the 6BR at 1000 yards. No more pounding the bolt handle to extract. The BR is probably better at 600 yards but not by much, IMHO.

Ray

 

[NeilNE]

Thanks Cheechako, I'll look at the other cases. I'm using LC 308 match cases and they hold less powder. I did buy some Lapua 308 that I will reform this winter. Gun is a alum. stock with 30 inch
1 in 8 Broughton, and 8.5x25 Leupold boosted to 18x50 power. Had about 2k to 3k 6mm 70 gr to 100gr bullets that I did not have a gun for. So that is why I made this case. Will be ordering soom Horn. 105 this winter.

Have a great one!!!!!!!