Prairie Dog Load

[nativecat01]

I am picking up my new 6BR today. I am looking for a good prairie dog load. I have a 1:8 twist.

 

[17VLD]

I would use the 87 V-Max and Rel-15 or If you want the most from your 8 twist the 105 A-Max.Lots of good recipes listed on this site,just thought I'd get the ball rolling,if you have Varget,it's a good one as well.Lots of the lighter v-Max's work very well too,how far will you shoot p-d's?
Matt

 

[people]

It really depends on what you want out of your rifle. I shoot the lighter bullets for PD. If you want to shoot long range something in the 105gr range would be a good option.

 

[powderbrake]

My 6BR is my prairie dog gun. It is a Stiller Predator action, 28" Krieger 1:8 twist, no turn neck. I originally expected to use the Hornady 87 gr Vmax, but I could never get it to shoot small groups. I then tried the Berger 88gr Varmint bullet, and it shoots in the .1's. I recently shot a 600 yard target, after 1000 rounds through the barrel, and it was a 3" group. Plenty good enough for prairie dogs.

The load is 88 gr Berger Varmint, 31.7 gr Varget, CCI Br4 primers, touching the lands, a no turn neck. I neck size only, .002 under loaded diameter (I only use these cases in this one gun) in a Redding Competition Bushing Neck die set.

I tumble the cases in corn cob to clean them after firing. Resize the necks (no lube, I use a Titanium Nitride bushing) and insert the primer on station 1 of a Dillon 550. Powder is done with a Chargemaster to keep it within .1 gr, and I seat the bullet in the Dillon at the Redding micrometer seating die in station 3.

I also shoot benchrest, and know all the details of case prep, full length sizing etc etc. I just found that is not necessary for prairie dogs. The 6BR with a no turn neck and neck sizing only is a simple and effective way of having a very accurate and no hassle rifle.

My Back-up gun is a 22-250 and I treat the cases and loading procedure the same way. It was my primary prairie dog gun until I got the 6BR, I rebarreled it in 22-250, full length sized the cases to insure they fit the new 22-250 barrel, and now it just rides along in case my 6BR breaks.

 

[Hrsmn51]

Shooting Pdogs last Thursday Eastern Mt. 6XC shooting 105 nosler RDF over RL17 velocity around 3070. Hits 250 to 400 yds were devastating. Hits beyond were pass throughs. Not sure if that is helpful with the 6BR. This was the first time using the 6XC on Pdogs. 223AI and 52 gr amax were not nearly as explosive.
H

 

[long40shot]

87 v-maxs are great.

 

[mikegaiz]

When it comes to dogs I go for easy, fast, and good but CHEAP... Sierra 85 HPBT or Blitz king, ball powder (h380,w7480) so you can use a powder dump. Dump, seat, shoot.....reload..... Good out to 800 easy....

 

[Midnightmedic]

If it’s throated .104” or longer try 105 amax over 32.5-33.0 of Rl17 about .013” jam with cci450. Should get you mid 2900+fps and .25 moa accuracy. The amax expands very well at distance, no ice picking.

 

[fyrewall]

For my 6mm, a common ordinary .243 Win 1-8, using cheap brass that does not cause much unhappiness if lost in the weeds, I use the 87 VMax. I get about 3200 fps and it blows up these tiny rodents real good including aerial effects with exciting results at incredible distances. Some time ago I shot a huge rock chuck with a 105 Amax (lot variations?) maximum load from a 6mm AI at 300 yards for a non-eventful pass through that might indicate that this load might be good for coyotes or even small deer. I would guess that the 6mm BR would be about the same as the .243 for expansion and ballistics.