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Looking for load ideas with 88gr Berger FB Varmint bullets / 6 BR

I have been having awesome results with Bergers 80gr flat base bullets so decided to try some 88gr so looking for pet loads for them. Loading in a long tube 8 twist and have most powders on hand.
 
The 88 gr Berger High BC Flat Base Varmint bullet is my go-to bullet for Prairie dogs. Here is my load and data:

32.5 gr Varget, seated .006 to .009 into the lands, BR4 primer, no turn cases, sized with a Whidden 6BR Full Length die with a .267 bushing.
Barrel is a 28" Krieger, 1:8, .237 bore, chambered for a no turn neck (.272), and .104 freebore.


88 gr Berger HBCFB, 32.5 gr Varget, Velocity is 3136, 15 ES, 5.7 SD

I find I have to adjust the powder a little for each batch of Varget, and adjust the seating depth for each lot of bullets, and adjust seating for land wear.
 
I shot 88 bergers with 31.grs. of rl 15 out of a 24 inch barrel @ 3120 not that fast
but shot into the one's @ 100yds. and at 600 was shooting 2.5 with out wind problems
also used cci400.hope this helped and varget is hard to find! rick
 
From AS

We could fill a book with 6mm BR reloading recipes, case prep secrets, accurizing tips, and miscellaneous voodoo. Or we could tell you simply take a new Lapua 6BR case, add a CCI 450 primer, drop in 30 grains of Varget, top it with a Fowler 80gr FB bullet at the lands, and shoot it.

Works with 88's too.
 
Thanks guys, I actually found 3 pounds of Varget locally and bought all 3. Paid a premium for it but for once I actually have a rifle that loves Varget,... weird? I loaded up some test loads and a few seating depths and going to try them at 300yds today. Will post results...
 
The 88 gr Berger High BC Flat Base Varmint bullet is my go-to bullet for Prairie dogs. Here is my load and data:

32.5 gr Varget, seated .006 to .009 into the lands, BR4 primer, no turn cases, sized with a Whidden 6BR Full Length die with a .267 bushing.
Barrel is a 28" Krieger, 1:8, .237 bore, chambered for a no turn neck (.272), and .104 freebore.


88 gr Berger HBCFB, 32.5 gr Varget, Velocity is 3136, 15 ES, 5.7 SD

I find I have to adjust the powder a little for each batch of Varget, and adjust the seating depth for each lot of bullets, and adjust seating for land wear.
I shot a pretty basic starting OCW test tonight at 300 yards and less than stellar results. Numbers looked good but not printing too good on paper. I probably should have done a seating depth test since the 88's are a VLD bullet but I just ran them at .010 off to start. My velocity seems fast in looking at your load data as I was getting similar speeds but at almost a full grain less powder,... 31.7gr Varget / Velocity 3165 / ES 7 / SD 3.6 I'll try and get the target posted sometime tomorrow.
 
I always run them into the lands. I have not had good results with any jump.
I also run my 105 Hybrids .010 into the lands, and they shoot very well there.

The barrel I have now is slower than my previous barrels, but I don't worry about it. With a no turn neck . I am going for hits on dogs, not scores on target. Your needs may be different. Your ES looks great!
 
My initial load test with the 88 FB Berger was 30.4 gr. of RL-15 CCI BR-4 Primer in new unfired Lapua brass kissing the lands was promising with 3/8 inch 5 shot group @ 100 yds. My rifle has a 1 - 8 Twist and 26 inch H V barrel.

(THIS LOAD WAS SAFE IN MY RIFLE WITH NO SIGNS OF PRESSURE - ALWAYS WORK UP YOUR LOADS)
 
I bought 200 Berger 88 gr FB to try out for 100 yd score competition, but so far I can't get them to shoot as well as 107SMK's. Maybe I just haven't found the sweet spot yet. Everybody say's the FB are the way to go for close in, so I'll keep trying, but maybe these just aren't quite up to competition level shooting. Any comments?
 
I bought 200 Berger 88 gr FB to try out for 100 yd score competition, but so far I can't get them to shoot as well as 107SMK's. Maybe I just haven't found the sweet spot yet. Everybody say's the FB are the way to go for close in, so I'll keep trying, but maybe these just aren't quite up to competition level shooting. Any comments?
I'm still playing with the 88's but I got killer groups with the 80 grain flat base bullets. Surprising but well below max is the sweet spot for them. I was told to try 30.0 grs of N135 and it shot really well but I ended up at 30.3 grs. 28 inch 8 twist bullets seated .015 jam and Federal 205 primers in Lapua brass.
I think the 88's being a VLD are just too picky on seating depth. If I could find a powder and a load that showed some awesome results I could spend more time on the seating depth.
 
I've shot exactly 100 of the 88 grs and have not found a reliable node. Initial tests seem to indicate 32.0 gr Varget and bullet backed off .020 from hard jam was sweet spot, but further testing in windy conditions (with flags) didn't seem to confirm that. May be my lack of wind reading skills, so further testing is called for. I had just one more box of 100 to use so I ordered two more boxes from a different supplier, and was delighted to find them to be the same lot number.

I also have 200 of the 80 gr Bergers and plan to shoot those next. The previous owner of this rifle indicated the 80 gr and 32.0 gns of Varget was the best load he'd found.

Here is my load workup target for the 88 gr.
 

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I've shot exactly 100 of the 88 grs and have not found a reliable node. Initial tests seem to indicate 32.0 gr Varget and bullet backed off .020 from hard jam was sweet spot, but further testing in windy conditions (with flags) didn't seem to confirm that. May be my lack of wind reading skills, so further testing is called for. I had just one more box of 100 to use so I ordered two more boxes from a different supplier, and was delighted to find them to be the same lot number.

I also have 200 of the 80 gr Bergers and plan to shoot those next. The previous owner of this rifle indicated the 80 gr and 32.0 gns of Varget was the best load he'd found.

Here is my load workup target for the 88 gr.
That is an interesting target you use for test loads, what is the theory behind it? I normally shoot 3 shot groups at 200 yards and look for tight groups on the same level and hope those jive up with the best ES/SD numbers. I shot some more 88gr bullets today and just tried N135 at 30.2 grs and that gave me a 5 shot group of 1 1/8 at 200yds. I think it's wanting more speed so I need to load some more and step them up. The 30.2 load is Berger's max in the book.
For comparison the other pic is my 80gr load. Also this load has awesome numbers changing the primer to 205M Vel 3138 ES 4 SD 2.1
 

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Thanks for posting your load info, Lefty, your 80 gr load amazingly accurate. Looks like the node you're working is in the neighborhood of 3075 FPS. That's interesting! Two very different weight bullets, same velocity. I would tend to load the lighter bullet to a higher node, but maybe I'm making a mistake by doing so.

The target depicted is a portion of an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet with four rows of 5 targets that duplicate the 10 ring and X dot on a 100 yd BR for score match target, the competition I am practicing for. By placing one shot per target I retain a clean point of aim, as precision vs group size is the objective. I am also beginning to see a pattern in shot placement as I progress from shot one to shot five, and that tells me I am being more consistent in my gun handling at the bench. Wind reading continues to be my greatest challenge.

I just put together a load workup consisting of charges from 31.8 to 32.3 Varget with 80 gn Berger seated -.025 off hard jam, Fed. 205M's, Lapua brass second cycle since new. Five rounds per charge wt.

I'll post back with results.
 
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Thanks for posting your load info, Lefty, your 80 gr load amazingly accurate. Looks like the node you're working is in the neighborhood of 3075 FPS. That's interesting! Two very different weight bullets, same velocity. I would tend to load the lighter bullet to a higher node, but maybe I'm making a mistake by doing so.

The target depicted is a portion of an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet with four rows of 5 targets that duplicate the 10 ring and X dot on a 100 yd BR for score match target, the competition I am practicing for. By placing one shot per target I retain a clean point of aim, as precision vs group size is the objective. I am also beginning to see a pattern in shot placement as I progress from shot one to shot five, and that tells me I am being more consistent in my gun handling at the bench. Wind reading continues to be my greatest challenge.

I just put together a load workup consisting of charges from 31.8 to 32.3 Varget with 80 gn Berger seated -.025 off hard jam, Fed. 205M's, Lapua brass second cycle since new. Five rounds per charge wt.

I'll post back with results.
I have tried several time and I'm just not having any luck with those 88gr Berger flat base. I can not get any groups to remain consistent so clearly my barrel dont like them. I do most of my testing at 200 yards because at our club the 200 yard range is never in use. For the most part if I can find a load that will group three shots together at 200 it will work out great at 300yds, our max distance.
 
if you get the 88 to work it is a great bullet. i would not over look the 90br berger.. it always seemed easier to tune.

i use it for dogs a lot and some times i over drive it and get nothing but a puff of smoke.
 
This reply concerns a 6BRX (not 6 BR) but I think the theory applies.
I have 6 BRX's for target purposes using the 105 style bullets.I decided to chamber a 10 twist barrel specifically for the 88 FB's to be used as a hunting rifle. I was a bit disappointed with the results using Varget/AR 2208. When I went to a faster burning powder H4895/AR2206H the groups shrunk dramatically.....lighter bullets, faster powder....makes sense!
Bullets seated approx 10 thou "in" running just under 3200 fps = repeatable sub .3 moa at 300 meters.
 
I have tried several time and I'm just not having any luck with those 88gr Berger flat base. I can not get any groups to remain consistent so clearly my barrel dont like them. I do most of my testing at 200 yards because at our club the 200 yard range is never in use. For the most part if I can find a load that will group three shots together at 200 it will work out great at 300yds, our max distance.
I shot both the 80 and 88 Bergers in a score match last weekend in cold and heavy wind conditions. Being a newcomer to wind reading I didn't do too bad scoring a 249-5x. Had I not drifted that one shot in the second round, I could've placed 2nd, but then everyone else could say the same...LOL

The 80's shot to a .22 moa precision. The 88's to a .2 moa precision, about the same as my 107 SMK loads. This may be all I can wring out of this barrel, but I'll keep trying. I can't afford to buy a 1000 top of the line bullets so this will have to do. My goal is to clean the targets in match conditions, that's all. It's all about having fun and developing my shooting and wind reading skills.
 

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