End of Life for 6BR

[phlegm]

I bought a used Savage in 6BR, with an unknown round count. 29gr of Varget is getting me about 2750fps with 105 Bergers, so it seems the throat is going.

I'd like to shoot it a little longer before I re-barrel to another caliber.

In the mean time, will I wreck my brass too fast to justify increasing the charge to get speed back? Should I just have the chamber set back and shoot on with a normal load?

I'm open to suggestions, if I'm missing something. Still somewhat new to the 6BR.

 

[madmixerman]

My load with 105"s is 30.2 grs. Varget, so I don't think bumping up your load a little would ruin the brass. Are you getting bad target results or just losing speed? If results, try setting the bullets out a little farther. IMO, with a barrel with unknown rounds ;I wouldn't waste my money on a set back I would rebarrel.

 

[Baddog0302]

IMHO you should be concerned with accuracy rather than with fps. +1 for what Madmixerman said, check around and see what the wait times are, and IF they will cut the chamber for a specific bullet .

 

[phlegm]

Accuracy is modest. I've shot some groups around .5MOA, but it only reliably does about .8MOA.

I'll play with seating depth a little more, and see what I can make happen.

 

[Sniper338]

A new barrel always feels good.

 

[HTSmith]

The velocity you are getting looks normal to me. Most 6BR's will tolerate 30.0 of Varget with no problems, but nothing is guaranteed in the reloading world. Berger VLD's, in my experience, are very sensitive to seating depth. Unless you just want a new barrel (nothing wrong with that), I'd do some more load development--find your best seating depth and then go up on the powder a bit would be my thoughts.

 

[phlegm]

The velocity you are getting looks normal to me. Most 6BR's will tolerate 30.0 of Varget with no problems, but nothing is guaranteed in the reloading world. Berger VLD's, in my experience, are very sensitive to seating depth. Unless you just want a new barrel (nothing wrong with that), I'd do some more load development--find your best seating depth and then go up on the powder a bit would be my thoughts.

The velocity reports from the 6mmBR.com page are throwing me off, then.

 

[shoot4fun]

30.2 Target with 105's is a pretty popular load and hasn't been hard on brass. You really should chase the lands with VLDs to get best results.
I don't know if you have access to a bore scope but the barrel probably needs to TLC with a cleaning rod. Savage barrels tend to build up copper due to the tool marks. Give it a good workout with copper remover (I like JB or Bore Tech Copper Remover) and make sure you have any carbon ring out of the chamber area.

 

[WyleWD]

My load with 105"s is 30.2 grs. Varget, so I don't think bumping up your load a little would ruin the brass. Are you getting bad target results or just losing speed? If results, try setting the bullets out a little farther. IMO, with a barrel with unknown rounds ;I wouldn't waste my money on a set back I would rebarrel.

^^ +1.

Might be a thought to order the new barrel first, and try some seating adjustments and or some neck tension adjustments as well while you're waiting on it. In a couple weeks it might be a month or so before you get delivery on that new barrel. A month or so will seem like an eternity to wait on a barrel sometimes. WD

 

[Richard Jones]

I don't think I would spend $ on setting back a factory barrel unless it was a real shooter. .8 moa sounds like it's not. That being said, I would chase a bit to see if accuracy improves. Nothing like a new quality barrel, tho'.....

Always glad to enable help.

 

[Bugs]

If you want more velocity, Viht. N540 will do it. Accuracy may (or may not) be satisfactory

 

[Keith Glasscock]

.5 to .8 MOA is a recipe for a new barrel.

I can make a worn out Dasher barrel shoot .5 to .8 MOA, but it takes some serious work to find a scatter node that big...

Screw a new prefit on it and enjoy a reliable, boringly accurate, shooter.

I'll also agree that your load is conservative. You could work up and see if it comes together.

 

[GerryM]

I would have someone with abore scope , give it a good cleaning with iosso bore paste.
It works very well if it's done right, accuracy will improve

 

[ASbobcat]

I bought a used Savage in 6BR, with an unknown round count. 29gr of Varget is getting me about 2750fps with 105 Bergers, so it seems the throat is going.

I'd like to shoot it a little longer before I re-barrel to another caliber.

In the mean time, will I wreck my brass too fast to justify increasing the charge to get speed back? Should I just have the chamber set back and shoot on with a normal load?

I'm open to suggestions, if I'm missing something. Still somewhat new to the 6BR.

I'm in the same situation. Mine's still OK for now, but it's only a matter of time. I read somewhere recently about a new product that is made from a ceramic paste. It fills in pits and cracks and cures with firing. Supposed to bring old barrels like ours back to life, and a lot cheaper than a new barrel.
Going to do an internet search and post it if can find it.

 

[JohnKielly]

I read somewhere recently about a new product that is made from a ceramic paste. It fills in pits and cracks and cures with firing. Supposed to bring old barrels like ours back to life, and a lot cheaper than a new barrel.
Going to do an internet search and post it if can find it.

Ever try to regrout bathroom tiles over the old grout? That product sounds to have about the same chance.

 

[Shynloco]

What distance are you shooting? If its 100-200, think about changing bullets and powder. Varget is notorious for throat erosion but something like VVN133 is much kinder. Even using Bart's 68 gr FB's being pushed by VVN133 will help prolong the life of the barrel. Been there done that.

Alex

 

[243BR]

+1 for a new barrel. There are really good drop-ins available and with a few tools and gauges it's a do it yourself job and a great learning experience.

 

[ASbobcat]

Ever try to regrout bathroom tiles over the old grout? That product sounds to have about the same chance.

Where do you get the "grout on grout" analogy?
Do you have a ceramic barrel?

Refer to the thread "Too good to be true, barrel 'rejuvination' ?" (4/13/21012)

 

[jsthntn247]

What's normal barrel life for a 6br with 30gr of varget and 105's?

 

[Eric Leonard]

when my 6BR and BRDX bbls get worn I have them set back and chambered in 243 and get lots of use from them banging steel and long range plinking,,