First load dev

[wisconsinteacher]

I am hoping to have my rifle up and ready in the next week or so. Hard to devote time with the holidays and ice fishing. Here is what I have:

Lapua brass
Varget
107 Sierra bullets
Rem bench rest primers

Where would you start when loading for a 6mmBR? How far off the lands or jammed into the lands?

Thanks

 

[GSPV]

30 grains of Varget is an old favorite with that bullet. With the 6 BR, I start with 12 jam and work my way out. The Berger way is to start 20 off and work in.

I'd try to pick up some Br4s/450s. I think that you'll be happier with them.

 

[ShootDots]

I think GSPV is right on the money, including the CCI 450's. However, it has been my experience that with very sleek for caliber, TANGENT ogive bullets, which the 107 Sierra is, I start out at 7-8K into the lands... Other than that difference, GSPV is absolutely right on the money!

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Thanks. I have never loaded around that went into the lands. Do I need to do anything different when loading these up?

 

[GSPV]

The necks are very tight out of the box. Make sure that you run the virgin brass over a mandrel to open them up a bit before the first loading. Then, run them through your die and put about 2 thou neck tension on them.

You posted your question before I finished... The above doesn't have much if anything to do,with jump vs jam.

I don't think you'll notice any difference between jump and the amount of jam that we're discussing except for having to find the "just kissing" point so that you have a point to measure from.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Just double checking. I need to open the mouth before I load them. From there after I shoot them, I need to use the bushing die to size the brass to the right neck tension.

 

[Rtheurer]

Hoping not to insult you.. Not sure what your loading experience is.

Just wanted to see if you have all the tools you will need to:
Measure neck tension
Set head space, ( sizing Die)
Find your OAL bullet length where the Lands are. (OGIVE to Lands)

This is a very forgiving cartridge.. Lots of fun to shoot. I think you will enjoy it. Im with the other guys. My first BR i took the info off the 6BR info page on the home page, 30gr Varget CCI450Primer and a 105gr Berger VLD in the lands with .002 neck tension and Violla.. Quarter MOA groups and a couple in the ones...I have since dropped to 29.5 do to my lot of varget is a little faster this time around.

RT

 

[wisconsinteacher]

You are not insulting me at all. I am trying to make sure I have my bases covered. I have a caliper to measure, a Hornady gauge for headspace and the inserts for measuring the ogive of the bullets. The only thing I have not done in my reloading is setting neck tension with a bushing die. I have a Redding FL sizing die to use when the time comes.

 

[GSPV]

Just double checking. I need to open the mouth before I load them. From there after I shoot them, I need to use the bushing die to size the brass to the right neck tension.

Right. The necks are tight out of the box.

Just open the necks up a tad if you have a mandrel and run them through your FL die with a bushing 2 thou smaller than your loaded neck diameter.

Thereafter, just run them through the FL die.

If you don't have a neck expanding mandrel, just load them with some cheap bullets and a mild load the first time around.

But, you'll eventually need a mandrel for other uses

If you need help, I think that you already have my phone number and email.

 

[GSPV]

I don't use the Hornady tool. I use the "Boyer Method". Dummy round, #0000 steel wool and a magnifying glass.

I don't think it matters as long as you are consistent.

 

[jr600yd]

+1 on the load development. Just a point of interest is the primer you use. Believe it or not the best groups I got from my BR was with Remington 7 1/2's, Varget and 107 smk seated +.010 to just touching the lands. Berger 105 vld liked it + .010 - .015 in the lands.

 

[dkhunt14]

In my Dashers the 107 Sierra liked it in 10 to 15 thous. I also used Varget but liked the BR4 primer better. Matt

 

[wisconsinteacher]

With the way the world is today, I found some Rem BR primers and grabbed 1000. I was hoping to find CCI 450s but they did not have them. Have any of you used lighter bullets with a 1:8 twist?

 

[HTSmith]

Lot's of good advice. With my lot of Varget 30.0 of Varget is a little warm with the Sierra 107's, so I go with 29.8. I've found a good load with Jammed into the lands and out of the lands a good bit. You're going to have a ball.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I do not have a mandrel. I am wondering if I can run them through my sizing die just so the expander goes into the case to open up the neck tension a little. Will that work?

Do I need to FL size my Lapua brass before I load it up the first time?

 

[GSPV]

Every cartridge that I load for gets run over a mandrel and through the FL die the first loading. That, or the first loading is for fire forming and doesn't matter...like the fire forming method of forming 30 BR from 6 BR.

 

[jr600yd]

1. Yes the expander ball in your die will open up the necks if required.

2. Since each chamber is a little different it's a good idea to FL size new cases.

3. Lapua is good brass, probably the best out there. Since they make millions of cases they have + - specs. Do you have a tight chamber or a standard one? FL size for your rifle the first time and you won't have any problems.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I have a standard chamber. Virgin brass fits in the chamber with ease.