Help!! what cartrdige for LR Varmint new buld

[6BR]

I have been trying to figure out what cartridge I am going to use for my new heavy gun long range varmint rig. I already have a 6BR,Orange Crush), but I need another rifle to help out with the 800 to 1000 yard shots. I was originally going to go with the 300 WSM, but the more I think about it and look at the ballistics of the 6x284 and 6.5x284, I believe one of these tow cartridges would be the better choice. Plus, I don't want the extra recoil that the 300 WSM would generate.

With this build, I am not concerned about barrel life, so I am thinking either a 6x284 or 6.5x284. Both have awesome ballistics out to 1000 yards. Here are the drops and windage adjustment for 800, 900, and 1000 yard shots, with a 10mph wind, using the 105grn Lapua Scenar out of the 6x284 and the 139grn Lapua Scenar out of the 6.5x284:


6x284 pushing the 105grn Scenar at 3200fps,Can push at 3400fps)
800 yards-Elevation-15.75MOA, Windage-4.75MOA
900 yards-Elevation-19.25MOA, Windage-5.50MOA
1000 yards-Elevation-23.00MOA, Windage-6.50MOA

6.5x284 pushing the 139grn Scenar at 3000fps
800 yards-Elevation-17.00MOA, Windage 4.50MOA
900 yards-Elevation-20.75, Windage 5.00 MOA
1000 yards-Elevation-24.00, Windage 5.75MOA

I have owned both of these cartridges so I am very familiar with them. However, I had to sell both of them and was never able to use them enough to really know what they could do. I know they are excellent cartridges, I am just trying to figure out which one I should go with. I am hoping to get some feed back from guys who have used these cartridges at the competitions and in the fields. Remember, I am not worried about barrel life with this rifle and I will be going with a 30' barrel so I will have plenty of barrel for at least three set backs one the time comes. Here are the specs I am going to use;

1. Stiller PYTHON 1.650 Diameter Action.
2. Bartlein, 30', 1-8 for the 6mm or 1-8.5 for the 6.5, 1.450 STRT Cylinder.
3. Tooley MBR Stock w/3 Lb's lead added to rear.
4. Jewel Trigger.
5. Vais Muzzle Brake
6. Stiller 30mm 20MOA Off set rings.
7. Weight will be around 30 to 35 lbs

I will be using it off the bench and I want it heavy for stability and to really lesson the recoil so I can get back into the scope quick to view the hits and MANY misses at 800 to 1000 yards. This is a really hard decision and would like to get a vote from all the viewers. I am leaning toward the 6.5x284 because of the better performance in the wind and the possibility that I will be shooting in 1000 yard competitions. The 6.5x284 will have more recoil with the bigger bullet. But with a heavy, braked rifle, I don't think she will recoil to much. If I go with the 6x284, I could use the same bullets that I use in the 6BR and that would be convenient too. Plus, my gunsmith has my old reamer from my prior 6x284 build. I also thought about a .260, but I want more horsepower. Anyhow, would love to get your input on the project and cartridges.

 

[MarkS]

6BR,

The bigger the better. You need a big bullet to see you inpact at long range. Talk to some F- Class shooters. They shoot a lot of rounds a year. see what is working for them.

Mark

 

[alf]

6BR,

Finally, at least you have it down to two choices.
Just do the 6.5-284 and get on with it. While you say barrel life isn't a concern, the 6 will be less, due to the same amount of powder down the smaller hole than the 6.5. All the ballistic gack is only relevant to where the accuracy node is at. Typically, the 6.5 is around the 2950 or so range. My 6-284's have been around the 3250 range. A couple of 6.5's were at 3040.
I think the new gun's 1.450' barrel's balance point will be too far forward. I think you'll need to add more lead or go to a tapered and/or fluted barrel. You're worried about setting the chamber back too much and not a balanced gun on the bags. I had a 1.450' 6.5 barrel blocked gun and the barrel itself weighed 13 lbs. 3 ozs. My latest HG has a 31', 1.380' fluted and tapered to 1.145' weighing 9 lbs. 2 ozs and five pounds of lead added for balance.
With a 30 pound gun you'll be able to spot your shots without a brake and still shoot in IBS.
Enough talk, order parts.

Al

 

[nodNoff]

You guys are real close to my latest project.
I'm looking for a caliber for 600-800 maybe 1000 yards varmint shooting. I have a 20VT & a 22-250. I have been considering a 6BR in a Savage 12 'F' Class or a custom made 6.5 x 284 or 6.5 Creedmoor. The rig should be weighing in around 15 +/- with scope.

Scope: Either a NightForce 8-32x56 or a 5.5-22x50 NXS. Should I run out of money I might temporarily put on a much cheaper scope

Any advice or comments?

 

[6BR]

NodNoff, if you don't have a 6BR, you should get one ASAP.

 

[6BR]

Alf, thanks for the info. I will go with more weight in stock If I go with that size barrel. It looks like I am going to go with the 6.5x284.

 

[nodNoff]

to 6BR

Building a 6BR would you consider the Savage 12 'F' Class?
What scopes for PD's at 600-1000 yds?
Mounts & rings?

 

[6BR]

NodOff, yes I would recommend the Savage F-Class 6BR. My friend has one that he bought for varmint hunting. I would recommend a Nightforce NXS scope, power is up to you, I am using a NXS 8x32x56mm. I would recommend Nightforce Rings and Bases. This would be an excellent set up for varmint hunting.

 

[nodNoff]

6br, On the Savage would you do the dual port,12 Benchrest) or stay with the 'F' Class model?
Do varmint shooters use the dual port?

 

[6BR]

Nodoff, the regular F-Class will be perfect. My friend's Savage F-Class 6BR is very nice and very accurate.

 

[nodNoff]

6BR, On the NightForce scopes isn't it desirable to have the zero stop? I don't believe the 2x32 has it.
I have been looking at the NP-R2 reticle.
Comments?

 

[Phil]

6mmAI..........13 twist for the 75`s or a 10 twist and use the 87`s....


A 6mmAI with a 13 twist using 75gr.V-max bullets is my 1000 yrd. choice....

 

[Steve Blair]

My 6BR 12F has the excellent Farrell rings and bases with a Nightforce BR 12-42, FCH reticle. It shoots better out of the box than any factory rifle I have owned and that includes four 40-X Remingtons going back to 1978.

I do not think the Savage 12F 6BR can be beat for value and accuracy. At 15+ pounds, it is just so pleasant to shoot that I hate running out of ammo at the range.

 

[deadeye_ruck]

I will go out on a limb and say the 6-284. I currently have a 6mm-284 that is built on a M700 short action with a 30.5' K&P barrel,1-9' twist with a 1.25' diameter straight taper). It sits in a McMillan Hunter Benchrest style stock and weighs in about 25 pounds with the nightforce 8-42x56 scope. I am able to shoot 87g Vmax's at 3600 FPS without even pushing it. There is no problem shooting 105g Amax's at 3250fps,anything much above that is about where they begin to come apart). While i agree that a 6.5 shooting somehting like a 140g Amax wouldn't be a bad choice the name of the game for varmint hunting is wind doping and accuracy but hard hitting power at those long ranges is still important. If you shoot a groundhog with a 105g or 140g berger vld at 1000 yards then it has been my experience that it will likely pencil through allowing the critter to crawl off back into it's hole. The last thing you want is to make an incredible shot and for the thing to get away. At 1000 yards, my 6-284 shooting the 87g vmax's is pushing about 1600 fps. The 105's are also clipping along at about 1700 fps. The amax's hit pretty hard for a 'match' bullet and this speed is still fast enough for pretty dramatic expansion from both bullets.

While the 87's are no match bullet they still shoot great and have a claimed B.c. of about .400. They drift about 8-10' more than the 105's after you get past 700. They keep up with the 105's when they are launched at 3600fps.

You could always go to shooting 115g bergers,i'm pretty sure they make a bullet that heavy) or something like that out of the 6-284 if you aren't happy with the 105's or 107's. The 107's will hold together up to at least 3400 fps in my experience and i've heard of several taking them to 3500 or so.

I have found that we can punch numbers all day long but in reality many times we are comparing apples to apples.

The only real drawback with the 6-284 will be sighting your misses. I can easily spot for myself at 1000 yards when shooting my 6-284 because of it's weight. The 140g 6.5 bullets will kick up a little more dust but i doubt it will be that much more. Overall i have been very impressed with the performance that i get out of mine.

Ruck

 

[Dgd6mm]

THE 6CM with a 115 DTAC or BERGER at 3150.

 

[j_22250]

whichever one you decide to get. there is alot more to be conserned about with long distance shots than what cartridge you decide on. any of the 6mm should definatly be a top pick. with that said my 6x47 is awsome. a straigt 6mm rem would be great too and don't overlook the 6mmbr. it can do some impressive things for what it is. pick the weight range bullets you want to shoot and get the appropriate twist and everything else will fall in place. for a strickly varmint build i would go with 70-85 gr. bullets even tho some will say hevier. this weight is better than 55's outta .224 cals and i've seen some long shots w/ 22-250's. so w/ these bullets outta any 6mm should prove it's affectiveness at double those ranges.