How light is too light?

[Paddyd]

Try some 68s and 80's over n135. They'll shoot and likely better than the heavies at shorter ranges.

Thanks. I will try some. I am very new to this cartridge and reading up on it, notice the BR guys shooting those 68s were running 12 and 14 twist barrels. My 8 twist is quite a bit faster and with the price of bullets, didn't want to buy a box of duds

 

[Paddyd]

Dont know how short a range you mean but
70 gr Speer TNT's are nice bullets for the money
Especially a 500 pack

Range here is limited to 300 yds

 

[Carl S]

I've used 65grn v.max in a 8 twist.shot great and devastating on foxes.

 

[Mark W]

Thanks. I will try some. I am very new to this cartridge and reading up on it, notice the BR guys shooting those 68s were running 12 and 14 twist barrels. My 8 twist is quite a bit faster and with the price of bullets, didn't want to buy a box of duds

The problem won’t be your twist, it will be your freebore. All of my 8 Twist barrels are throated for a 105 class bullet, meaning a 68-80 grain bullet is going to have quite the jump. That doesn’t automatically mean it won’t shoot, but I don’t believe that most people find their best accuracy with a long jump. To solve this, I built a 1:12 6 BRA (still has the same neck as a 6 BR) twist with zero freebore that I use to shoot everything from 55-80 grain bullets. My only regret is using a heavy varmint contour. It works great from the bench, but it sucks to carry in the field.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

The problem won’t be your twist, it will be your freebore. All of my 8 Twist barrels are throated for a 105 class bullet, meaning a 68-80 grain bullet is going to have quite the jump. That doesn’t automatically mean it won’t shoot, but I don’t believe that most people find their best accuracy with a long jump. To solve this, I built a 1:12 6 BRA (still has the same neck as a 6 BR) twist with zero freebore that I use to shoot everything from 55-80 grain bullets. My only regret is using a heavy varmint contour. It works great from the bench, but it sucks to carry in the field.

You bring up an excellent point but that long neck of a straight 6BR sure is forging. I've found that a .104ish freebore works fine with MOST 68 flat bases and SOME boat tails, at least from a single shot action. There's not a lot in the neck, but enough, IME with them.
The 80s work very well with that freebore. The actual bearing surface length is very close to that of 105 class bullets. Of course, different brands/styles plays into that but every 80 I've used does work well with common freebores for heavies...with some room to spare. 68s...not so much but can shoot tiny with surprisingly very little bullet in the neck.

 

[WyleWD]

The problem won’t be your twist, it will be your freebore. All of my 8 Twist barrels are throated for a 105 class bullet, meaning a 68-80 grain bullet is going to have quite the jump. That doesn’t automatically mean it won’t shoot, but I don’t believe that most people find their best accuracy with a long jump. To solve this, I built a 1:12 6 BRA (still has the same neck as a 6 BR) twist with zero freebore that I use to shoot everything from 55-80 grain bullets. My only regret is using a heavy varmint contour. It works great from the bench, but it sucks to carry in the field.

+1^^^^^ I agree with your post above. Given the vast selection of different weights and configurations of bullets in 6mm, a too long or too short freebore will limit your options for the best seating depth in bullets. And yep, I bet that HV is a workout to tote around in 90* + weather.

I prefer to try to match up the twist rate and FB to the bullets I intend to use, pray that they work, then buy enough of them or whatever bullet works to shoot out the barrel. JME.

Another beauty of the 6br and its variants is that they shoot VERY well with an 8,9,10,12 or 14tw barrel given the optimal twist, bullet selection, and FB. JME.WD