Choosing 6br barrel help

[iukamedic]

Hello I’ve been reading reading and learning for a while on here. Thanks to everyone for there information. I have a 26” dasher that I shoot 107 smk and it does well. It has a m24 barrel shoots good and is about 16 lbs. While it is fun to shoot it is not really easy to maneuver around and carry. I have a bighorn origin that I’m going to add a 6br barrel to. The 6mm has spoiled me with the small recoil and accuracy. I am wanting the br due to the components I have and simplicity for accuracy. My smith has 2 brux 7.5 twist barrels. One is a heavy Palma and the other is Remington varmint. I’m wanting something reasonably short (20-24 inches) that is not to heavy to carry and short enough to be efficient as a target/hunting rifle. I’m having a hard time deciding on the profile and length. I have heard about how loud short barrels are and how inefficient and don’t know first hand if this is true. I have read through several post and still need some help with this. I am fairly new to 6mm and would like some direction from those who might have used this type of set up. I have access to 95 grain Berger’s and 107 smk. Distance is probably 500 max. Most will be 300 yards and under. Looking for accuracy and something fun to shoot. Thanks ahead of time.
-Jeff

 

[boltman13]

I have experience with a 20" light varmint barrel and it is LOUD. It was a bench gun and was just under 10.5# and would have been lighter with a smaller scope. Getting a hunting scope to function as a target scope is doable the reverse not so much. My preference is for all of the barrel length you can stand to carry hunting and the heavy Palma would be more weight per inch. A 7.5 twist barrel can handle heavier longer hunting or match bullets quite well but a short barrel will reduce your velocity and limit your delivered energy on big game if that is your goal. Target work at 500 yds. in tough conditions also will be a challenge with the shorter barrel and lower velocity. Short range not so much. Finally I have to say, trying to do 2 things with the same rifle always forces you to compromise performance on both. Best of luck.

 

[HTSmith]

I would pick the Remington varmint contour and finish it at 24". I have a very similar rig based on a Remington action with a 26", 8 twist barrel. It works well for the kind of uses you are talking about. The only caveat would be you have bullets that are pretty far apart in optimum free bore length. You may want to dummy up some rounds and let your gunsmith take a look.

 

[iukamedic]

I have experience with a 20" light varmint barrel and it is LOUD. It was a bench gun and was just under 10.5# and would have been lighter with a smaller scope. Getting a hunting scope to function as a target scope is doable the reverse not so much. My preference is for all of the barrel length you can stand to carry hunting and the heavy Palma would be more weight per inch. A 7.5 twist barrel can handle heavier longer hunting or match bullets quite well but a short barrel will reduce your velocity and limit your delivered energy on big game if that is your goal. Target work at 500 yds. in tough conditions also will be a challenge with the shorter barrel and lower velocity. Short range not so much. Finally I have to say, trying to do 2 things with the same rifle always forces you to compromise performance on both. Best of luck.

Would the length of 23-24 be noticeably quieter? Thanks for the response.
-Jeff

 

[iukamedic]

I would pick the Remington varmint contour and finish it at 24". I have a very similar rig based on a Remington action with a 26", 8 twist barrel. It works well for the kind of uses you are talking about. The only caveat would be you have bullets that are pretty far apart in optimum free bore length. You may want to dummy up some rounds and let your gunsmith take a look.

Does your varmint have Point of impact change if you shoot say 10-20 rounds in a short period of time? Are there other bullets available that would work better for that twist? Thanks for your reply.
-Jeff

 

[HTSmith]

Does your varmint have Point of impact change if you shoot say 10-20 rounds in a short period of time? Are there other bullets available that would work better for that twist? Thanks for your reply.
-Jeff

I shot mine in a 1000 yard Fclass match when it was the closest thing to a target rifle that I owned. I believe we got 30 minutes to fire 2 sighters and 20 record rounds. Once I learned not to "cook" a round in the chamber I held a good water line. My wind reading stunk (nonexistent), but I put up a respectable score in the third string of the day.

The twist is not a concern--it should work fine. The issue is (could be) the shape differences of the Berger 95 VLD and the 107 Sierra. The 95 VLD has a very short bearing surface. Of course if you have the 95 Classic hunters, I have no experience with them. The easiest thing to do is to measure both bullets base to ogive and you'll see the difference. The Berger 105 VLDH would compare more closely with the Sierra 107 and they will knock over a smallish whitetail in a quick hurry.

I hope I haven't confused you.

 

[iukamedic]

Thank you Tim. I measured the rounds and found that one one terminate at the start of the shoulder and the other in the neck to get the same ogive measurement. I’m kinda leaning toward the varmint because of weight. That dasher I have has taught me a lot about reloading and is a hoot to shoot. Just not fun to tote. Thanks again.
-Jeff

 

[HTSmith]

Yep the calipers will tell you in 5 seconds what I was trying to say. If you can load a dasher, the straight BR will be a breeze. Have fun with it.

 

[RussellJ]

I have a Bighorn Arms TL3 chambered in 6BR with a 22" 7-1/2" twist Proof Research carbon fiber barrel. I went with a .055" freebore so I can shoot some of the lighter bullets. The rifle with the scope weights 8lbs and couldn't be happier with this setup for varmint hunting. Currently shooting 70grn Nosler BT bullets at 3200fps with IMR 8208XBR powder.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I just put a Bartlein carbon wrapped 20 inch barrel on my Sig Cross rifle. Chambered in 6XC. All I have had time to do so far is zero the Sig BDX scope. Accuracy is great. I have a can on it so noise is not an issue. I plan on removing the can when stalking or hiking to a stand. Screw it on when in the stand.

 

[boltman13]

Would the length of 23-24 be noticeably quieter? Thanks for the response.
-Jeff

Yes it would be much quieter hunting with no hearing protection or a can to mitigate the noise. Also 50-100 fps. faster.

 

[muleystalker]

You definitely want to go withe the REM VAR contour and not the Heavy palma, the Heavey Palma is as heavy or heavier than your M24.

 

[iukamedic]

I thank you all for the input. I’m gonna go with the Remington varmint contour. I think I’m just gonna make it 24 and be done with it. I’m pretty sure my smith has different reamers so i can go with different bullets if need be. Well there is another decision to make. Haha. I’m probably gonna tell him what I want to shoot and to just set the freebore at what he thinks I need. Thanks again for everyone’s input.