Groundhog match bullet/barrel recommendations

[BJ44BJ]

I want to attend a few groundhog matches this spring. I have several 6 mm BR barrels and at this point am leaning towards a slow twist barrel and shooting a 68 gr barts ultra bullet. The match is shot at 200 300 and 400 yrds. What do you guys recommend? Am I making a mistake not to take a fast twist barrel ? I have had great luck shooting this barrel at 200 and 300 yrds but have yet to shoot any 400 yrd groups.
I also have a 12 twist barrel that shoots the 80gr berger bullets very well too.I have a 6 mm dasher barrel on the way but I was just wanting some advise on what you guys recommend as the best combination for up to 400 yrds. What do you use for groundhog matches?

 

[tripcrow]

The best advice I can give you is to get to as many matches as possible and find what you’re comfortable with. You’ll need to get a feeling for balancing your desire for high scores with the fun of trying new things. Be warned getting into this will give you plenty of excuses to try new guns and calibers. Do you want to shoot against yourself or others? Do you want to win single matches, just the big matches, break records, or win the year end agg? All questions that are hard to answer until you get a real feel for the game and competition. Heck some guys set no goals and just come to enjoy shooting and the company.

A lot will depend on how good you can see bullet holes. I doubt there’s been more than 2 or 3 shoots out of the last 50 or so shoots where I was really hard pressed to see my 22cal holes at 400 with a 40x Leupold Comp scope. So that opens up a lot more choices than a guy that has a hard time seeing holes.

How good and what kind of conditions you are good at reading and compensating for will push you to certain caliber twist combos. If you’re planning on showing up at St Thomas Tuesday matches there is no real time limit and that means all the sighters you want. It’ll still be near impossible to win on a windy day with a slow twist. But I’ve lost the year-end agg (best 12 out of 26 shoots) to some little bullets simply because we’ve had a lot of calm days the last 2 summers. Those small bullets are just more accurate. That’s why they use 14 twist 6PPCs in the short range game.

The 6BR is probably your best starting place. Don’t let having to shoot a 80g 6mm bullet keep you away. 95g is outstanding for the 400yd max course. A good lot of 105g or 108g are a little better yet. Like Dave says, the weather is the most important thing in caliber twist choice. I've been trying switching barrels according to the forecast. But that just makes me dislike the weather man and makes it harder to settle in right.

 

[FrankintheLaurelMts]

As a particpant and range master at groundhog matches for the last 15 years or so I think you'd be making a mistake going slow twist..As a PPC shooter myself over that time I've found that conditions often don't favor those little 68 grain pills past 200 yards.. the wind plays lots of games with them..yes, the standard slow twist guns have won more than their fair share of matches over that time HOWEVER they could have won alot more if it weren't for that famous, that's impossible bullet that's blown off the target at 500 yards..I think the way to go it be the slightly larger case, the BR or Dasher with the fast twist shooting the 105+ bullets, they seem to hold their own at 200-300 and have a major advantage in the wind at 500.. As BILL stated, seeing those bullets is a major major problem, sometime they jump right out and sometimes you stare forever to find just one to see how to hold for you next shot.. it really is a very very difficult form of true benchrest shooting, 3 very different distance that require special needs and lots can happen after the usual end of normal benchrest at 300 yards..that extra 100-200 will drive you crazy.. the guys who love it, are fanatics about it.. it's on there mind just as much as the true 100-200 benchrest guru's...myself, I love the three challenges and those famous words.."that's impossible" heard up and down the line..all day long by lots of shooters..try it, you'll love, but be forewarned it's highly addictive!!

 

[skeetlee]

were do the 30cals fit in, in this game? Isnt scoring a big part of this game? The bigger 30cal bullets would give you a better chance of catching the next scoring ring. I am thinking 30x47Lapua, but to be rea honest i have no experience at this game, and i am unsure of my current choice. Lee

 

[dreever]

Lee,

I'm seeing a few 30X47's at our Ground Hog matches www.shippensburgfishandgame.com
Looks to be doing quite well out to 500 meters. Downside is the cost of dies and components. Those 30 cal. custom bullets are not cheap.
Myself I'll stick to my 6BR using an 8 twist and Berger 105 VLD's.

Danny

 

[357Mag]

BJ44BJ _

Howdy !

Last couple of times I shot @ the Western PA Groundhog Shooting Workd Championships, I shot a 6m mwildcat of my own design.
Case capacity is nominally 2gr less than that of .243 WIN.

I shot Sierra 95s froma 29" 1-8 5R Broughton.

In 2008, I believe a shooter using a 6 X 47 won Unlimited.
You see just about everything imaginable tried/shot @ Western PA.
If memory serves, 6mm IS the prevalent calibre in Unlimited class.

Best of luck in your endeavors !

Regards,
357Mag

 

[cmillard]

i would go with one of the improved 6BRs (dasher or BR-DX). get a barrel in the 8.5-8" twist range. i think that shooting the lighter (88-95) bullets at laser beam like speed could be a real asset in these types of matches. and, if need be, you can shoot the heavier bullets.

 

[skeetlee]

isnt seeing the bullet holes a big plus? Also i would think the 30cal bullets are better for catching the next highest scoring ring? Are these important issues? I have a dasher already but i am wanting to do another 30cal, but i need a reason. LOL!! Thanks Lee

 

[25AI260]

i agree Skeet""""" seeing the holes are the best way to a jhigher score
with that said i can see .223 hole out at 300 w/ a 36X weaver 6mm at 400 is testing your eyes... they do mine [same scope]

Skeet..
i don't wanna steal the threads, but what neck dia do you have on the your 30br chamber

 

[skeetlee]

my 30br's have .330 necks and i think i will keep that neck size if i go forward with the 30x47L. Lee

 

[tripcrow]

The top gun at St Thomas the last 3 years has been the same 6BR and it was a 22BR the year before that. 2-30BRs and a 6BR share the course record there. Over at Ship a 22BR broke a 30BR's course record last season. Up at Mifflin it's a 6 Dasher and a 30BR that hold the score record and a 22BR that holds their 500 yd group record. All the above guns are different.

The 30 is a big advantage in the mirage and with its larger hole. But everyone I know of shooting 30BRs or 30x47Ls are using small poor BC bullets that suffer greatly out past 300 yds in any kind of wind. There are a couple guys using 308s to some good effect. I'm in the process of building a couple 30 Dashers to experiment with next season. Hoping to find a 135g+ load that'll give a little more wiggle room in the wind. A study of my old targets showed that a 30 cal bullet will gain you near one and a half points a match if it is as accurate as a 22 or 6BR. But while the 30BR is probably inherently more accurate at 200 yards than the 22 or 6 and easier to see, it is not as accurate out past 300 where the match is usually decided. The 2 most accurate 400+ yd guns I know of are both 6BRs, despite one of those owners being near blind, and neither of those are as accurate as a lot of 30BRs at 200. If you can shoot and are lucky enough to have a great fast twist 6mm barrel and a good lot of 105 or 108s you have the best one gun rig there is for this game. But the person that can show up at the match on a calm high mirage day with a good 30BR or 30x47L will most likely take the day. And the guy with a great 6BR, a great 30BR, and an accurate weatherman probably has the best all around season agg chasing setup.

 

[dreever]

Bill knows of what he speaks, he's won more than his share of cash at these matches.
Myself I prefer the straight 6BR. No muss, no fuss. K.I.S.S. principal works for me.
I've looked at the thirties, the improved BR's, and the 6.5x47, but haven't jumped yet simply because as Bill said a good 6BR will come up near the top on any given day. Sure the thirties have a slight score advantage, but this is offset by the increased recoil, and the disadvantage of the low BC of the light bullets that are used in the 30BR and 30X47.
It's just like football. On any given Sunday anybody can win. That's what makes the sport of Ground Hog Matches so much fun.

Danny

 

[40X Guy]

Yesterday was my last match of the year of my very first season shooting groundhog matches. I second the notion of minimum being a 6MM cartridge with 105's in an 8 twist barrel. My cousin also shot with me with his new 22-6XC, and its deadly accurate with 75 grain bullets, but ability to see the holes at 500 yards hampered him along with not quite the wind bucking ability. I shot my custom 6AI yesterday in 10-12 mph winds from off our left shoulders, and only had to compensate 1 MOA at 500 yards with my 3200FPS Ackley, guys with 6BR's at2700 FPS using same bullet were blasted off the paper at 500 yards. So there is something to be said about speed and time of flight helping also. Need to be able to read the wind and practice practice practice.

Frank

 

[25AI260]

Grads on your match 40X Guy...

your observation speed verses weight was well put.. something to think on

what 'if' you could launch a 125gr bullet out of a 30Br speed [fps] would one expect ?

 

[40X Guy]

Grads on your match 40X Guy...

your observation speed verses weight was well put.. something to think on

what 'if' you could launch a 125gr bullet out of a 30Br speed [fps] would one expect ?

Thanks Rich, . A .308 125 grain BT has a BC of around .366, but I suppose if you drive it fast enough, it would do well. In a 30BR at 27-2800 fps, it may not get the job done. but in a Belted magnum it will but at the expense of lots of extra powder and a bruised shoulder. I believe as to the Op's original question, pick a cartridge that you can see the holes, thats a semi hot rod and shoots a hi BC bullet well. But guys are doing well with the smaller cases like 6XC and Dasher etc.

Frank

 

[skeetlee]

Here is my current thinking. 30x47L 14 twist 1.250 striaght barrel 155gr bib bt bullets, Bat MB, Mcmillan MBR, 36x whatever scope, I think i have a sightron big sky around here somewhere that would probably work well. I will also have a 6br barrel chambered with an 8 twist for the blustery days. Lee

 

[25AI260]

Hmmm 2750 fps... i hear ya 40X needs more zoom > 112's 118's ?

i have a 6Br but its a 14tw... i'll have to make do till next when can af$ord another barrel set-up

Bj"""" you guys have a lot a matches close by Va. 'Good Luck to ya'.... down here on the coast nc not much go'n on
thanks

 

[skeetlee]

Is anyone shooting 155gr bullets in 30cal at these matches? Im still stuck on this 30x47L idea and i may just run with it! Lee

 

[40X Guy]

I have not seen anyone shooting 155's in the GH matches, but in a 30X47L with some Bergers, Sierras, or Lapuas, it may very well be the ticket. When you find the right load for 500 and in with low SD and velocity spread #'s, just lob them in there. Nice thing with the 30 cal. as we have already talked about is seeing those bullet holes.

 

[fdshuster]

When the "seeing conditions" become a problem in not being able to find your 6mm bullet holes at the longer distances, a simple solution (although not cheap), is a big glass spotting scope set-up on the bench, ready to go, if I can't find the holes with the NF's. I'm using a Nikon Fieldscope 11, 82 mm objective, with the 25 to 75x eyepiece. I've been able to find all my shot holes, except when conditions are extreme with mirage. I also doubt the 30BR would be the answer at distances beyond 300 yds. The bullets must have a BC of a fireplug. Anything in 30 caliber firing a heavier bullet is really going to beat you up off the bench, so I also believe in the 6mm's/ 6BR, 6BRX, Dasher, etc. with 105/107 bullets. A 6BRX is in the works "as we speak".