Need help, new build, new to reloading 6BR

[Girthy]

I am finishing up my first build. Savage Target Action. I got a smoking deal on a barrel. But now Im not sure. after much reading, maybe its too long? 27" Criterion barrel, and I sent it to SSS and had a brake installed. This is a looong gun ;D twist is 8.

with this twist and barrel length, can someone give me a good starting point. I have a box of Lapua brass. not sure what round and powder combo. this is also a brand new barrel so i need to break it in. I want to use this gun for 1-500 yard groundhog plinking. Any thoughts for a ammo starting point?

 

[RDavies]

27" is not long for a Savage target action, most 6BRs seem to be between 26-30", so I would have thought 27" is spot on. (its what mine will be when it gets rechambered)
Classic target loads for the 6BR are up to 30gn Varget with 105-108gn bullets, but of course start at around 29gns and work up if you dont get pressure signs.
Maybe while fireforming (to your chamber) and running in the barrel, you might want to run it on the lighter side, maybe around 28gns.
Others here might be able to give you loads to try with lighter varmint bullets.
If you are new to reloading, do you have any friends or someone you know from the range who can help you set up your first few reloads?
Best advice for a beginner in reloading is dont try to push velocities and pressures too much above what others are using. If you need more speed, get a bigger cartridge.

 

[NorCalMikie]

You'll find two accuracy nodes. One with a lower and one with a higher powder charge. And don't be surprised at the accuracy you'll get with your first rounds. 8)
You don't have to be fast to be accurate.

 

[Hombre0321]

Three really good powders I have found for the 6BR. Reloader 15, Varget and 4198. By far the best for me is RL15, with this powder you could start around 27 grns and work your way to a good load. Varget has never shot like it should for me and I just almost have given up on it, however I seem to always going back to it and giving it another try, maybe because I have 24 lbs of the stuff. 4198 is another good shooting powder for me in the 6BR.

Also I had very good luck with Benchmark but it shows a lot of pressure signs in the summer months. Cratered primers were always a problem and I even pierced a few with Benchmark. Wish it wasn't so temp sensitive it shot Bugholes for me.

Roland

 

[boltfluter]

My best load in my 6BR is: Lapua brass, 30.0 Varget,CCI-450 primer,105 Berger VLD seated .010 into the lands. Will agg. under .25 moa if the driver is steering it right. . Hope this helps. Paul.

www.boltfluting.com

 

[Shynloco]

Girthy,
I'll throw this out for your consideration as I shoot a Savage Model 12 Benchrest and as some might say, defy the conventional advice on bullet weight. As someone else pointed out a 1:8 twist 6mm "should" shoot bullets weighing between 105 -108 grs. Guess what, my Savage like and shoots 68 gr Barts bullets lights out. Now I'm talking 100 yds and not 600 - 1000 yds. Don;t have that long a range near me. But I'm using Lapua brass (since day one) and the necks have been turned on all my brass. And I use 31.0 gr of Vihta Vuori N133 and have for two years of owning this rifle.

Now I will say that I shot next to a fellow last week who was shooting a custom built 6mmbr with a Borden action, Bartlein barrel with a 1:8 (27") Twist and Jewel trigger. He was shooting Sierra 105 HPBT's using Lapua Brass (no neck turning) being pushed by 30.3 gr of Varget. And his targets were simply awesome with some incredibly tight 5 shot groups. He also had one of those $1500 scopes atop his rig which I'm sure helped him see the target a bit better than my Weaver T36. But I don't compete and he does and his targets proved how well that combination works in his rifle.

I guess what I'm saying is that I've found each particular rifle has likes and dislikes. Conventional wisdon is often the ticket, but think outside the box because there may be some surprises out there that just might work in your particular rifle. Good luck with that new rig and I hope she puts abig smile on your face. I know my baby sure puts one on mine.

P.S. Just for fun, I''ve loaded up some Sierra 107's being pushed by Varget to test to see if they shoot any better/tighter groups in my rifle than my present load.

 

[noload]

I have found Varget will hit a groundhog, but RL15 will hit him any where you want. Beyond 200yds I would use the 105 gr bullets. Preferably Bergers.

 

[perry42]

I load SMK 107gr bullets in Lapua brass with 30.1gr Varget and CCI 450 primers. I started with the bullet just into the lands and the seated the bullets a little deeper in the case about .002 at a time to find my preferred OAL. Great cartridge to load for as it has little recoil and is very accurate.

perry42

 

[Mozella]

I shoot IMR 4895 or Vihtavuori N-140 with Berger 105gr Hybrids or the Berger 105 VLD Hunting bullet in 600 yard F Class and local 600 yd BR. The VLD Hunting round would be a good choice for your purposes. Both of these powders are more accurate in my gun than Varget and a LOT easier to find on the retailers shelf.

I'm not sure why you put a muzzle brake on your rifle because the 6mm BR has very low recoil. I hope you can remove it easily so that you can shoot F Class. You might surprise yourself by how much fun you can have in local F Class matches. Even if you're not a real serious competitor, chances are you will meet up with a great group of guys and gals and I guarantee you'll learn a thing or two. F Class shooting, even just for fun, is likely to improve your ground hog score but muzzle brakes are against the rules.

 

[MarkS]

I am finishing up my first build. Savage Target Action. I got a smoking deal on a barrel. But now Im not sure. after much reading, maybe its too long? 27" Criterion barrel, and I sent it to SSS and had a brake installed. This is a looong gun ;D twist is 8.

with this twist and barrel length, can someone give me a good starting point. I have a box of Lapua brass. not sure what round and powder combo. this is also a brand new barrel so i need to break it in. I want to use this gun for 1-500 yard groundhog plinking. Any thoughts for a ammo starting point?

I have and have had many 6BR's. Your barrel is fine. I have a new build myself, on a Target action, it has a 28" 8 tw CBI barrel. For Varmints I like 87 gr. Vmax, with 31.0 to 32.0 gr. Varget work up to that. I like Varget or RL15 for 105 o 108 gr. bullets. All with CCI br-4, 450, or Fed 205GM primers. H4895 is also a great powder, but I have not used it.

Mark Schronce

 

[Big Mc]

I am finishing up my first build. Savage Target Action. I got a smoking deal on a barrel. But now Im not sure. after much reading, maybe its too long? 27" Criterion barrel, and I sent it to SSS and had a brake installed. This is a looong gun ;D twist is 8.

with this twist and barrel length, can someone give me a good starting point. I have a box of Lapua brass. not sure what round and powder combo. this is also a brand new barrel so i need to break it in. I want to use this gun for 1-500 yard groundhog plinking. Any thoughts for a ammo starting point?

All of the above !!!

 

[HTSmith]

I ended up the "standard" load of 30.0 of Varget, CCI450, and a 105 Berger VLDH .025" off the lands. It took me a while to get it through my thick head that my rifle liked these bullets off the lands and not jammed. The 107 Sierra's were much less sensitive to seating depth, but 29.8 Gr of Varget was as much as I was willing to work the brass. When I had some of the old 80 Gr Fowler's, they actually shot the very best 100 yard aggs--so the lighter bullets can also work. And yes, one 1000 yd Fclass match (as humiliating as it was) taught me more about what wind could do and how critical consistent rifle hold is than anything I could have imagined. You are going to have some fun.