Hunting with a 6XC

[Fire306]

I purchased a Tikka M55 6XC a while ago with a "blank" barrel on it, got sick of using it only at the bench but loved the cartridge. I just got it back from being rebarreled with a Krieger #6 contour, 1-8 twist barrel.
Still not a super light hunting rifle, but its light enough to tote around for coyote calling, or possibly even to the deer stand.
Tried a couple of loads out yesterday, and found a couple of decent loads. 105gr Berger Hunting VLD, over 39.5gr H4350 pushing them out at right around 3000. And another load with 88gr Berger Varmints over the same 39.5gr charge of H4350, they were moving at 3060fps.
I'll likely just stick with the 105's for all purpose hunting, although both loads had exactly the same impact at 100 yards, so switching back and forth between the 2 won't require re-sighting.

Just wondering how many other hunters are using the 6XC, and what loads you are using.

Fire.

 

[6xcshooter]

I use 6xc for coyotes all the time . use 105 berger and berger 88 gr bullets.
shoot the 88 gr at 3200+ fps. Does a great job! 105s good for deer and elk.

 

[Fire306]

So far, like I was saying in the opening post, I have only tried 88 gr Bergers and 105gr Berger VLD bullets.
Anyone using any light weight bullets in their 1-8 twist barrels?
It shoots the heavier stuff great, so really there is no need, also I have a few 6PPC's that handle the light weights perfectly. Just curious that's all.

 

[6xcshooter]

I've tried 70s and 80 gr bullets found that they don't shoot as accurate as the 88's and 105's out of the 8 twist barrel

 

[Breakshunter]

Mine is a 10 twist barrel and I am shooting 70gr Sierra Blitzkings with 39gr of Varget at 3380fps. It is a #4 barrel with a short throat, this load is shooting 3/4" at 200yds consistently and not too bad on coyotes either, that is the main purpose for this rifle. I have also shot the 87gr Berger VLD out of it with 43gr of H4350, load is the max in my rifle and was getting 3450FPS from it.

 

[rcol317]

The 6 XC is a great little hunter. I shoot a Gunwerks LR 1000 in a 6 XC and it's incredible. Shot some prairie dogs this summer 635 & 665 yards with 105 Hybrids. Shot an axis deer a few weeks ago in TX 265 yards head shot have no other rifles that tempt me to try those shots but my little 6. I'm getting ready to build another hunter don't want to shoot out my Gunwerks. I shoot 115 VLD 1/2 moa to 600 yards. Looking forward to a Coues deer in the future with her!

 

[tgonza]

I shot a 6mm BR with a heavy barrel at targets and thought it would be a good caliber for my grandson. I sold the heavy barrel and built a hunting rifle from a sporter blank. He killed a really nice pronghorn in October with 95 grain Nosler BTs at 270 yards. Bullet broke through one shoulder and buried inside opposite shoulder. I wouldn't use it for much more than antelope or smaller deer but it proved reliable.

 

[Frankr]

The 6 XC is a great little hunter. I shoot a Gunwerks LR 1000 in a 6 XC and it's incredible. Shot some prairie dogs this summer 635 & 665 yards with 105 Hybrids. Shot an axis deer a few weeks ago in TX 265 yards head shot have no other rifles that tempt me to try those shots but my little 6. I'm getting ready to build another hunter don't want to shoot out my Gunwerks. I shoot 115 VLD 1/2 moa to 600 yards. Looking forward to a Coues deer in the future with her!

What twist did gunwerks go with in the 6XC? I had a successful season with my 6XC. shooting the 105 VLD Hunting bullet. I sent a PM to Fire306 about my load. 1-8 twist 26" barrel.. some people might not realize that the 105 VLD Hunting bullet has a .532 BC and a .254 sectional density. that puts it in a whole other category over 100gr 243 bullets. push that bullet at 3,150 FPS and you have a flat shooting super accurate rifle capable of dispatching deer size game out to my guess 1,000 yards..farther than most of us can shoot. I feel confident out to 700 yards with mine. I have a lot of practice and have been able to hold 3 to 4 inch groups at 700 yards. in my practice I have been able to hit a 10" steel plate off bipods in different locations and different days on the first shot.
I just love mine..it maybe the smallest BIG rifle I have ever built.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3860279.0

 

[Fire306]

Worked out one load at the range the other day, 87gr V-max's at 3360fps. They should take the step out of coyotes.
I will continue working on a load for the 105gr Berger VLD's. I don't have any, nor can I find any RL17 powder, so right now I have basically been using only H4350.

 

[rcol317]

The Gunwerks 6 XC has a 7.5 twist I believe so it will stabilize the 115's. I shoot the 115 VLDs @ 2950 fps and is very stable to 800 yards. I was a critic of Gunwerks rifle because of the price but picked this one up brand new for huge discount so I tried it. This rifle is very well thought out and has all the right ingredients to make a great combination. It shoots right along side of a custom 6 mm AI I built but is really a nicer hunting rifle and I believe the 6 Xc will get a far longer barrel life. I haven't used RL 17 yet that's on my to do list but H4350 shoots very well. H 4350 is a great hunting powder because of temp sensitive. I also have had great results with Hybrid 100. Seem to get better accuracy with the 105's and use a little less powder with the Hybrid 100 but it's not an extreme powder. Good shooting Rick