New 6BR Shooter In Need Of Advice

[Nick Caprinolo]

This is my first experience with the 6BR Norma. IO have the following powders. Varget, H322, BLC 2, CFE223, LT32, VV N133, SW Precision 062.

Barrel is 1/8 twist and the only bullets I have in the weight necessary is Lapua 105gr Scenar. The only powder I have listing the Scenar 105 is Precision 062.

The barrel has been cut to 271 neck and I was able to get a set of Redding precision bushing dies. They came with no bushings and I am wondering what size bushings to get. Brass will be turned to .0135.

Any advice you might offer will be appreciated.

 

[Herzo]

I hope you don't mind my piggybacking on your thread, but I am contemplating building a 6BR using an XP-100 action in 7mm-08 that has been a safe queen for the last 20 years. Am I wasting my time ordering a 28" X-Caliber Rem/Age 1:8 3R Palma contour? I have had good success with one of their 28" 1:7 barrels in 6mm AR on the AR platform shooting sub MOA at 400 yards.

 

[Fast14riot]

This is my first experience with the 6BR Norma. IO have the following powders. Varget, H322, BLC 2, CFE223, LT32, VV N133, SW Precision 062.

Barrel is 1/8 twist and the only bullets I have in the weight necessary is Lapua 105gr Scenar. The only powder I have listing the Scenar 105 is Precision 062.

The barrel has been cut to 271 neck and I was able to get a set of Redding precision bushing dies. They came with no bushings and I am wondering what size bushings to get. Brass will be turned to .0135.

Any advice you might offer will be appreciated.

Well, a loaded round with 0.0135 neck wall will give a 0.270 loaded diameter. I have a .266 and .265 bushing for my unturned lapua brass and the .266 works well in my no turn chamber.

30gr of Varget is about where you will end up. Start a little low and test a little over, you'll find a good load in there somewhere.

 

[Fast14riot]

I hope you don't mind my piggybacking on your thread, but I am contemplating building a 6BR using an XP-100 action in 7mm-08 that has been a safe queen for the last 20 years. Am I wasting my time ordering a 28" X-Caliber Rem/Age 1:8 3R Palma contour? I have had good success with one of their 28" 1:7 barrels in 6mm AR on the AR platform shooting sub MOA at 400 yards.

My 6br is a R700 with a 24" CBI RemAge set up and it shoots fantastic. X-caliber makes some good barrels, my dad has one, also a remage, in 6rem.

 

[rwj]

They came with no bushings and I am wondering what size bushings to get. Brass will be turned to .0135.

I’m thinking you’re going to want neck thickness closer to .0125” for a .271” chamber. If you’re planning to control bullet/neck fit using only bushings, I’d recommend a range between .265” thru .268” ID.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

I’m thinking you’re going to want neck thickness closer to .0125” for a .271” chamber. If you’re planning to control bullet/neck fit using only bushings, I’d recommend a range between .265” thru .268” ID.

You are correct. I have decided to turn them to .0125. I just order three bushing

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I have little problem with Redding dies without the bushing and a 243 mandrel. With Norma brass I end up with a .272 neck.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Standard "loaded no turn neck" is .272". Damn near any barrel length will work.
8 twist works VERY WELL on lighter bullets.
IMHO, go ZERO free bore, load 50 gr. bullets into the lands and go heavier as the throat wears.
Other than the stink and cutting kernels when measuring in my RCBS Uniflo, Varget works pretty good. A little temp sensitive but it WILL make bug holes. (sure does stink tho)

 

[iukamedic]

I’m also new to 6br. I have other 6mm variants but new to 6br. lapua Measures 0.266 and my resized brass with Redding no bushing dies measures the same. Fired rounds are 0.270 Out of my rifle. It’s a no neck turn chamber. There are no clearance issues with this set up. Might help to keep from neck turning. I also weigh my brass for consistency. Hope this helps.

 

[kindabitey]

Varget and SW Precision would be your best bets of the powders listed. I had my best results with
H4895, but it's nowhere to be found.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

Most of my questions have been answered and I thank you all and especially those who took the time to PM me.

My remaining question is bullets. My Bartlein barrel is 28in with a 1/8 twist. Now I may have made a mistake in the barrel and only time will tell. I can only shoot at 100yds. Shooting at longer distances would require a long trip and at 85 years old, that is something I don't look forward to.

I have read threads that suggest bullets in the 100gr +/- bullets and others suggesting 68gr works well in this twist rate. I find that hard to believe but I guess it is possible.

So, what do you experienced guys shoot?

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Standard "loaded no turn neck" is .272". Damn near any barrel length will work.
8 twist works VERY WELL on lighter bullets.
IMHO, go ZERO free bore, load 50 gr. bullets into the lands and go heavier as the throat wears.
Other than the stink and cutting kernels when measuring in my RCBS Uniflo, Varget works pretty good. A little temp sensitive but it WILL make bug holes. (sure does stink tho)

"I love the smell of Varget in the morning" - Lt Col. Kilgore.

 

[jimmymac]

With all that PPC shooting you do Nick, you must have some light bullets laying around. I don’t know shit about a 6BR, but half the fun is trying different things. You may find your barrel loves them.

 

[Ccrider]

This is one of my old threads. One of my outings with 6br. You may find some helpful info.

6BR “Boyer Method” Help Needed

Decided to test 80gr Bergers in my 1:8tw 28” Criterion using Varget and 450cci primers. Started off at .01 jumped and made .005 increases. Pretty much confused as to where to go next. No pressure signs with the 31.8 gr Varget. Too much info for me to process. Any help will be appreciated.

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[Forum Boss]

Berger 80s, 88s, 95s, and Lapua Scenar 90s, 105s all shot great in my 8-twist 6BR with 0.120 freebore shooting Varget. 105s were .007“ in lands, the lighter Bullets were Jumping. The 80s shot in high ones for 3 shots, the 105s well under quarter-MOA easy. 105s better at long range but those 80s were great at 100, real easy to tune.

 

[joshb]

Nick! Play with the lighter bullets for now. When I get back in the Spring, I’ll take you up to Atglen where you can shoot to 500! It’s a hoot!

 

[BlueWater]

This is my first experience with the 6BR Norma. IO have the following powders. Varget, H322, BLC 2, CFE223, LT32, VV N133, SW Precision 062.

Barrel is 1/8 twist and the only bullets I have in the weight necessary is Lapua 105gr Scenar. The only powder I have listing the Scenar 105 is Precision 062.

At the Vihtavuori website, they list the 6BR Norma105gr Lapua Scenar, for two of their powders.

From the 2021 Vihtavuori Reloading Guide (PDF) --

6mm BR Norma -- 105 Lapua Scenar @ p28:
COL = 2.362
N140 -- 25.8 grs @ 2447 fps; max 28.9 grs @ 2694 fps
N540 -- 27.0 grs @ 2480 fps; max 30.4 grs @ 2776 fps

... the only bullets I have in the weight necessary is Lapua 105gr Scenar. The only powder I have listing the Scenar 105 is Precision 062.

On the Vihtavuori website, they've got their 2021 Vihtavuori Reloading Guide. For the 6BR Norma they list load data for the two loads using the 105gr Lapua Scenar: VV N140 and VV N540 powders.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

With all that PPC shooting you do Nick, you must have some light bullets laying around. I don’t know shit about a 6BR, but half the fun is trying different things. You may find your barrel loves them.

Jim
You might be right. One never knows. Yes indeed, I do have a lot of 68 gr 6mm bullets.
Berger manual states 1/13 twist for a 68 gr bullet. That's a drastic change from 1/8.

At the Vihtavuori website, they list the 6BR Norma105gr Lapua Scenar, for two of their powders.

From the 2021 Vihtavuori Reloading Guide (PDF) --

6mm BR Norma -- 105 Lapua Scenar @ p28:
COL = 2.362
N140 -- 25.8 grs @ 2447 fps; max 28.9 grs @ 2694 fps
N540 -- 27.0 grs @ 2480 fps; max 30.4 grs @ 2776 fps


On the Vihtavuori website, they've got their 2021 Vihtavuori Reloading Guide. For the 6BR Norma they list load data for the two loads using the 105gr Lapua Scenar: VV N140 and VV N540 powders.

I do not have either of those powders. I did download their reloading guide and printed it out. I only have VV N133 which I use for my 6PPC.

 

[jpx2rk]

I'm new to the 6br game, but I'm shooting Bart's 68g bullets right now. I started with Hornady's 58gr bullets which it seem to like, but that was all I had available when I got the rig together and ready for the first range trip. I've got a 24" Shilen 8 twist, bullets make it to the target at 200yds so far. LOL Using H335 powder right now.

 

[Ccrider]

Go ahead and work up some loads and posit your results. The guys in here will help to get you to where you need to be. In lining proof of that.