Help me select a 6mm Cartridge for my next rifle.

[JFrank]

The consensus so far favors the 6mm BRA, but just barely, as is understandable since these cartridges are very similar. A good thing is that they can all share the same action, which will likely be an F-Class Panda, so I can start working on that. Not even close to a decision on a stock yet.

The reason I mentioned the possibility of both 600 and 1000 yards is that I have witnessed excellent shooting at both ranges with the same 6mm cartridge; namely a TAC40. I suspect that other shooters may have had similar results with one of the other 6mm’s.

It appears that any of the 6mm’s will work fine at 600 yards, so it will be a question of just selecting one and trying it. And while it may be a different story for 1000 yards, I would always have my trusty 284Win for that.

Thanks!
Alex

If I may say
i have witnessed amazing scores and accuracy from 6BRA .
J

 

[Alexander-M]

If I may say
i have witnessed amazing scores and accuracy from 6BRA .
J

Jim,
That is definitely good to know.
Thanks!
Alex

 

[steve123]

I only see one mention of the 6x47 Lapua. Anyone have good or bad experiences with it for his wishes?

It's been my go-to cartridge since shortly after the x47 brass became available. I bought my own .270" neck reamer with long freebore for 115's, have a Warner custom size die made from my fired brass and a Wilson seat die made to a very close fit.

One cool thing is I'm still on my original brass, 3 rifles and 6 barrels later. I benchrest prepped it when I got it so I'm glad the brass has lasted so long. I anneal on a Benchsource so that has helped along with .0025" neck expansion. I'm around 36 cycles on this brass.

Talking to friends that used to shoot 6x47 it won't shoot as tight as the BR's they shoot now but I've been happy with 6x47 as a steel shooting and PRS style cartridge. With it I won the 2011 and 2012 AZPRC points match seasons which were more of a field course steel match with 115 DTACS going 3000 fps.

That barrel, when I would check my zero at 100Y, there were quite a few months that went by that I got 3 shots touching. Other than that I hardly shot groups. It was Melonited so I got approx 3000 rounds out of it. Normally in the 1500 to 2000 round range.

This current barrel is a really good one. When doing my ladder test, 3 consecutive shots were touching at 323Y, and at times I get a 2-3" wide splat on steel from 600 to 900Y. Last year at 1450Y the accuracy on a 15" wide steel was astounding.

One year I experimented with R-17 and 105vld to see how fast they'd go before the bolt got sticky. 3350 fps.

Last year I tried the same experiment with 95SMK, almost 3600 fps. Both 28" barrels.

My load right now is 3172 fps with 105 hybrids in a 28" via H4831sc.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

It's been my go-to cartridge since shortly after the x47 brass became available. I bought my own .270" neck reamer with long freebore for 115's, have a Warner custom size die made from my fired brass and a Wilson seat die made to a very close fit.

One cool thing is I'm still on my original brass, 3 rifles and 6 barrels later. I benchrest prepped it when I got it so I'm glad the brass has lasted so long. I anneal on a Benchsource so that has helped along with .0025" neck expansion. I'm around 36 cycles on this brass.

Talking to friends that used to shoot 6x47 it won't shoot as tight as the BR's they shoot now but I've been happy with 6x47 as a steel shooting and PRS style cartridge. With it I won the 2011 and 2012 AZPRC points match seasons which were more of a field course steel match with 115 DTACS going 3000 fps.

That barrel, when I would check my zero at 100Y, there were quite a few months that went by that I got 3 shots touching. Other than that I hardly shot groups. It was Melonited so I got approx 3000 rounds out of it. Normally in the 1500 to 2000 round range.

This current barrel is a really good one. When doing my ladder test, 3 consecutive shots were touching at 323Y, and at times I get a 2-3" wide splat on steel from 600 to 900Y. Last year at 1450Y the accuracy on a 15" wide steel was astounding.

One year I experimented with R-17 and 105vld to see how fast they'd go before the bolt got sticky. 3350 fps.

Last year I tried the same experiment with 95SMK, almost 3600 fps. Both 28" barrels.

My load right now is 3172 fps with 105 hybrids in a 28" via H4831sc.

Steve,
Thank you very much for your very positive reply on the 6x47 Lapua. I didn’t mean to jump in on Alex’s post, but was just wanting to find about all I could about this caliber while it was being discussed along with the other 6mm’s. My type of shooting ranges would be similar. I would like to go with a no neck turn brass for 105 Bergers. I’ve read the .273 neck would be good for this and I don’t know what freebore is best if anyone has suggestions.

 

[Average joe]

Alex, do any of the improved 6br's, and don't look back. Get the br accuracy, with the extra velocity.
The dasher would probably be easiest:
I'll bet your gunsmith already has three reamers.
There are 10 guys on the line that have been running a dasher for years, and will shorten your learning curve.

 

[steve123]

Steve,
Thank you very much for your very positive reply on the 6x47 Lapua. I didn’t mean to jump in on Alex’s post, but was just wanting to find about all I could about this caliber while it was being discussed along with the other 6mm’s. My type of shooting ranges would be similar. I would like to go with a no neck turn brass for 105 Bergers. I’ve read the .273 neck would be good for this and I don’t know what freebore is best if anyone has suggestions.

Mine is .208 freebore and 115 DTACS are past the neck shoulder junction. Of course 105's have big jump but those hybrids jump so well it didn't matter.

IMO some of the freebores popular for 6x47 are too short.

I've been very happy with both those bullets using my reamer.

 

[fyrewall]

6mm Lee Navy

 

[JohnMill]

6 BRX - pros and cons similar to Dasher, but, since I shoot one, I had to add it. Fireform with the false shoulder method and shoot matches at the same time - surprisingly accurate.
Seriously, you won't go wrong with any of the cartridges mentioned.

Me too. All that.