A friend recently gave me a couple of hundred rounds of Norma 6mm BR brass and being new to the cartridge I was wondering what would be the best reamer design to go with for this brass. I know from reading that I eventually want to build one with a 1-8 twist barrel, but the barrel I have on hand is 1-12. What would you guys suggest as far as reamer design. First rifle will be mostly a varmint rifle. I would eventually like to build one to shoot in 600 yd matches.Is there one reamer setup that will work with 65gr-108 gr bullets. Thanks for the info on this site. I've learned a lot over the past few months.I lurk a lot more then I post.
Norma 6mm BR brass
- Thread starter dodgefan
- Start date
I only shoot 300 and 600 yds belly matches with the 6BR. I prefer .272-.273 necks and shy away from any neck turning.
There will be many different points of view here, particularly since you have a 1/12 barrel. Mine are 1/7.5, and 1/8.
Talk to any good gunsmith an he will take you by the hand and do it right the first time. There is plenty of good information in the "Gunsmith" section here. They all are well versed in the 6BR subject.
Andy
There will be many different points of view here, particularly since you have a 1/12 barrel. Mine are 1/7.5, and 1/8.
Talk to any good gunsmith an he will take you by the hand and do it right the first time. There is plenty of good information in the "Gunsmith" section here. They all are well versed in the 6BR subject.
Andy
I'm primarily a varmint shooter,but I've been interested in the 6BR for a while and then my friend ended up getting a pile of brass and a barrel. Since it wasn't a 1-8 like he wanted he offered it to me at a price I couldn't pass up so now I'm trying to find out if there is a reamer design out there that will work with both light and heavy bullets. Henriksen did the only reamer I've had made so far I'll probably go ahead and give him a call and get his advice. Thanks for the tip.
LarryDScott
Site $$ Sponsor
First, you reamer is not going to determine selection of bullet weight, barrel twist does that. Your 12 twist will let you shoot down to the 55, but the top end will likely be 87s, whereas a 1in 8twist will shoot the full selection. Your reamer selection will determine neck size,and bullet free bore. If you do buy a reamer, contact David Kiff @Pacific tool, tell him what you want to accomplish,and he will send you the correct reamer. 541-826-5808. Larry
Thanks for the info on the max bullet weight that was one of the things I was wondering. I guess what I was trying to get at was what freebore length if any will work with light and heavy bullets, and are there any major issues with Norma brass vs. Lapua that I should be aware of? Being as I have exactly zero experience with this round I'll take all the help I can get.
Since my friend and I both plan on building fast twist rifles in the future we would like to find a freebore length that will work with most bullet weights,biased more toward the midweight and heavier)Hopefully this post is a little clearer then mud this time
Agin thanks for the info.
Dodgefan
Since my friend and I both plan on building fast twist rifles in the future we would like to find a freebore length that will work with most bullet weights,biased more toward the midweight and heavier)Hopefully this post is a little clearer then mud this time
Agin thanks for the info.Dodgefan
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
You'll have to decide ahead of time what freebore to choose. You won't be able to load 55s and 100S out of the same barrel and have the neck contact the same. I like as much bullet in the neck as I can get but other folks arn't that picky. 80s at full contact and 40s ready to fall out of the case.
Get the freebore short because it will get longer as you shoot it. Get it long and you can't shoot light bullets. You have to choose. Or get 2 barrels.
One short and one longer in freebore.
55s just ready to fall out of the neck were doing "one holers"!
Go figure.
And if you're dealing with a Savage, you need to be able to jam the bullets.
Get the freebore short because it will get longer as you shoot it. Get it long and you can't shoot light bullets. You have to choose. Or get 2 barrels.
One short and one longer in freebore.55s just ready to fall out of the neck were doing "one holers"!
Go figure.
And if you're dealing with a Savage, you need to be able to jam the bullets.
Norcal yeah I have a 220 swift where the 40 gr Vmax bullets don't even come close to the rifling and they still shoot better then anything else.Go figure. I reread that article I mentioned and it seems like the best solution right now. It's going to be a while before I start another project. I had just got started on another project when the barrel and brass kind of fell in my lap. I figured I'd build a rifle to shoot light bullets with this barrel and a 1-8 twist later. Anyhow that .073 freebore sounds like it worked out pretty well so I figure I'll give it a shot.
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
I've read about jamming the bullets on a Savage action.
I've had problems with loads and shouldn't have.
In this case, 6 BR.
Something to do with the design of the "Savage" action and the bolt head.
Say if you take a load at 29.0 of grains of powder pushing a 80 grain bullet and you seat it .010 off the lands, you may start showing pressure signs. Still bolt lift,pierced primers, etc.
Some folks may not have problems but I have.
Take that "same" load that you were having problems with and jam the bullet .010, you can run your load up to 30.0 + and never see a problem. Increased accuracy, smooth bolt lift and a cleaner burn. 30.0 grains of Varget and a 80 grain berger is a "good" load in my rifles.
I don't know the reason why but it works for me.,and others too) It works good enough that I jam all my loads as a norm.
Never heard of the same thing on a Remington, etc. action.
I've had problems with loads and shouldn't have.
In this case, 6 BR.
Something to do with the design of the "Savage" action and the bolt head.
Say if you take a load at 29.0 of grains of powder pushing a 80 grain bullet and you seat it .010 off the lands, you may start showing pressure signs. Still bolt lift,pierced primers, etc.
Some folks may not have problems but I have.
Take that "same" load that you were having problems with and jam the bullet .010, you can run your load up to 30.0 + and never see a problem. Increased accuracy, smooth bolt lift and a cleaner burn. 30.0 grains of Varget and a 80 grain berger is a "good" load in my rifles.
I don't know the reason why but it works for me.,and others too) It works good enough that I jam all my loads as a norm.
Never heard of the same thing on a Remington, etc. action.
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
I know what works in my rifles and you may not have the same experience.
I've broken one handle trying to get the bolt open.
I keep a small dead blow hammer in my bag just in case.
Try your same load with a .010 jump and see if it makes any difference in your rifle. It may not, but I don't like to take the chance anymore.
It's got something to do with the pressure spike when you jump to the lands verses that same load with a jam.
I've broken one handle trying to get the bolt open.
I keep a small dead blow hammer in my bag just in case.
Try your same load with a .010 jump and see if it makes any difference in your rifle. It may not, but I don't like to take the chance anymore.
It's got something to do with the pressure spike when you jump to the lands verses that same load with a jam.
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