Powder Choice

[FroggyOne2]

Ok.. I have the dies, the brass comming and then I have 1000 SIE 107's. It is time to choose a powder. I can not decide if I should get RL-15 or Varget. Your suggestions and why would be greatly appreciated.

Frog

PS.. will be using Wolf primers

 

[FroggyOne2]

Sorry,,, This for the 6BR..

 

[Forum Boss]

Tough call. Both powders are well-suited for the 6BR and are exceptionally accurate.

Varget: Can be a little inconsistent lot to lot. If you have a "fast" lot of Varget, it may spike a little early with the 107s, meaning you can't run them as fast as with Reloder 15. Reloder 15, and its close cousin, Norma 203B, for many of us, yields 50-80 fps more velocity from a 28" barrel than does Varget.

Reloder 15:
Meters a little better than Varget, IMHO. Burns clean IF you run it at the high pressure window. It is a double-base powder so some folks think it may erode the throat faster than Varget. In my experience, it IS more temp-sensitive than Varget, BUT that's not to say you can shoot the same load of Varget no matter what the temps.

What I would do it purchase a box of 6BR loaded ammo,if you have a no-turn neck). Shoot it and chron it. That will give you a baseline to determine if you have a fast barrel or a slow barrel. If your factory ammo Vels are on the low side, I'd start with Reloder 15 or Norma 203B. If you're getting high speeds, Varget might be the best choice.

For many barrels there's a good accuracy node between 2880 and 2920 fps. You want to pick a powder that can get you there.

 

[FroggyOne2]

That is the kind of explination that i was looking for! I knew that both powders were somewhat close. I have been using Varget in my palma gun for a few years now. I used to use VV powders and I still have some left over that I will try in it. I have no experience with the RL-15 at all, hence for the question that I posed. I shoot XTC and Prone, so no shade from which to hide from the sun under. I do use moly'd bullets, so I am wondering, is the BR case like the .308 case, meaning, you can't get enough powder the case when using Varget and moly'd bullets?

Frog

 

[Forum Boss]

Running Moly, Danzac, or Boron Nitride will, as you indicate, require more powder to achieve the same velocity -- between 0.5 to 1 full grains typically.

If your chamber is throated fairly long, i.e. 0.100" freebore or longer,as Kiff measures it), you should be able to get enough powder in the case to overcome the "moly slow-down". I know some guys who are pushing 31.2 Varget in a 6BR with moly. My max load is about 30.5gr Varget with naked bullets in my barrel.

There's a caveat though. I'm assuming bullets seated .010-.015" into the lands. If you prefer a long jump, that will eat up some of your case capacity. Some barrels like the 107 SMKs in the lands, other barrels seem to work better jumping the 107s.

 

[Travelor]

I love Varget and have found that 30 grains of it with a 107 SMK of a 105 Berger BT shoot quite well. BUT my wife's gun shoots VV550 much better and we are getting more velocity with less pressure and I have read that it is easier on the barrel than both VARGET and RL-15.

As always, work up to the loads you read about here as your gun may not want that much powder. My wife's gun just cannot shoot that much VARGET as it shows definite presure signes with 29.5 grains.

George

 

[FroggyOne2]

Well, I do have VV140, 150 and 550.. so I will try some of that first I guess.. when the rifle gets here and I have tried some loads.. I will report back my findings..

Frog

 

[FroggyOne2]

Also, I believe that I will try the Boron Nitrite.. there is a source for it here in the same town that i live in .

 

[HPMike800]

Frog:
I just went through this for my 6BR XTC rifle. I went with 30.0 gr of RL15 with naked 108 Berger's and all was well during testing. MV was 2875 FPS. During a long prone match in warm weather the load proved to be very hot and I had very tough bolt lift. I even had a primer pop out. So watch RL-15 in the heat. It is a bit dirty, but,I don't know that it hurts accuracy.

Mike

 

[FroggyOne2]

Mike,

Yeah.. when I was using the N-150 in the 240NMC, it never gave me a problem in the heat and I was using a load of 36.5 grains in it. When I get the rifle and everything is set up.. I may just stay with the VV powders.. but then that would mean finding a new load for the Palma gun..

Frog