Noob here

[cowboybart]

I acquired 2 slow twist barrels in a trade and am researching what to do with them. One is a nice Lilja 14" twist, the other is either a Shilen or Lilja "slow twist" (the previous owner was unsure on exact twist and maker). Other than realizing that I am out of my league, I am looking to make a 6mm prairie dog/coyote gun. I like the 6BR and 6 Dasher, slightly better than the 6 PPC, but can only see me using one of these barrels. I may sell the 14" twist Lilja to fund the build using the "mystery" barrel. I have a spare Savage SA and a spare Mauser 98 action. I'm guessing the Savage action will be cheaper to build.
Will a centerfeed Savage feed the Dasher or is it a single shot only proposition?
How heavy of a bullet can I go with a 14" twist at Dasher/BR or PPC speeds?
Are there light accurate hunting bullets that will turn a coyote inside out?
In a nut shell - What else do I need to know?

 

[snert]

I once had a Hart 14 twist 6mm barrel that had been chambered in 6HLS ( a short 6 rem) and I had it opened to 6mm Rem. I was amazed at the tiny groups from berger 68 grain match. However, 70 grains was max bullet weight.

The lighter shorter bullets will limit long range shooting, but with enough powder behind them...a 300 yard coyote will never know.

 

[Tim Singleton]

Wrap a piece of tape around a cleaning rod fold the end together to make a flag from it
Start a tight patch into the barrel measure from the back of the reciever or barrel end if not on an action to the flag record this. Push the rod in watching until the flag makes one complete revolution stop and re measure. This will give you the twist of the mystery barrel so you can make plans

 

[Sniper338]

Yeah you need to figure out the twist rate first.

As by enlarge a 6BR or dasher is a single feed round. However if it can be set up right they can feed from the right mag.. mine feeds, but i have a trued rem 700, stiller bottom metal, and an AI 308 mag. Still use a bobsled single shot block though for target shooting.

 

[carlsbad]

Noob level answer, keeping it simple. If this is simpler than you need then I apologize. Slow twist won't stabilize a heavy bullet so you shoot lighter bullets. Lighter bullets have low BCs so they don't do well at long distances. Thus, slow barrels are for short distance shooting. --Jerry

 

[Shynloco]

I once had a Hart 14 twist 6mm barrel that had been chambered in 6HLS ( a short 6 rem) and I had it opened to 6mm Rem. I was amazed at the tiny groups from berger 68 grain match. However, 70 grains was max bullet weight.

The lighter shorter bullets will limit long range shooting, but with enough powder behind them...a 300 yard coyote will never know.

+1 Yep!

 

[cowboybart]

The longest shot on game I've made is 438 yds (except the 458 yard shot that I went over the back and missed). I can't see shooting past that, and probably 300 being my limit in field conditions anyway. I would think a 70gr 6mm bullet would still punch paper fine at 5-600 yds.
I'll figure out the twist of the mystery barrel and go from there.
Thanks for the basic info Jerry - no worries. I do have an 8 twist 6-284, but alas have not fitted a stock to it yet.

 

[carlsbad]

your 8 twist 6-284 is the other end of the 6mm spectrum....the small bullets will bleed energy fast. fine for small animals but won't be much energy left at 600 yards. Even with my 105s I sometimes have trouble knocking steel targets down at 600 yds shooting a relatively low powered 6BR. --Jerry