Savage 12 LRPV in 6 Norma BR or should I reconsider?

[LR_Shooter]

Basically I have 3 choices, wait till end of July to get my new rifle back from repairs its 260 REM target, or I can choose: 6 Norma BR or 204 Ruger, I was planning to use 260 Rem for 600 - 1000 yards, but its not working out for me, I already wasted whole month waiting. So what do you think about 6 Norma BR ?

 

[MarkS]

Go with the 6BR.

Mark Schronce

 

[LR_Shooter]

MarkS, I never had 6MM BR, this is all new to me, I will need to get reloading dies, brass, bullets etc, and names get me confused specially with dies like 6mm BR REM, then I found dies in obscure die section for 6MM Norma BR and only RCBS makes them. Then bushings, what size bushings do I need to order? With powders and primers it seems to be same stuff I used when I was loading 308 like Varget, RE-15, H335, H4895.

 

[Delaware_Ken]

Good Morning,

My stock LRPV in 6BR loves 30 grains of Varget pushing 105 Berger VLD's. I use Lapua brass and CCI BR primers. Best 5 shot group at 600 yards so far is 2.54". I shoot it in 600 yard Factory Class Bench Rest, and if I do my part, it's very competitive.

Good luck with your build, Ken

 

[LR_Shooter]

Ken, I checked Midway, Graf, Sinclair, Midsouth and none have Lapua brass, so I'm considering Norma brass. By the way, how's chatter in your factory barrel, do you get heavy fouling?

 

[jhord]

Re: Lapua brass have you tried Eabco? I usually buy mine there, good prices.

 

[LR_Shooter]

Thank you jhord! I bookmarked Eabco, but I just placed an order for Norma brass. Is Norma brass something I should stay away?

 

[LR_Shooter]

OK, they test fire it and going shipped it to me, its 6 Norma BR. They told me it grouped 0.6"@100 during their test using 105gr Lapua ammo. Just hope I can squeeze its groups to at least 0.2" with handloads.

 

[Delaware_Ken]

Varget burns very clean in my 6BR Savage barrel. Very little fouling. I used to clean my rifle after each relay, but I don't do it anymore. It hasn't effected the accuarcy at all. By the way, I use a Forster Press and dies.

 

[LR_Shooter]

I ordered Forster Bench Rest 2-Die Neck Sizer Set and Redding Type S Bushing Full Length Sizer Die couldn't find any other FL dies, now bushings I only ordered one, since I'm not sure what will I need so I got 0.267" bushing, also I ordered pilot for Forster neck turner and 105gr Lapua & A-max. For primers I got some Federal match, CCI and Winchester so I think I'm set to start on 6mm BR loads.

 

[jonbearman]

I love the 6 br and it is extremely accurate. You will love it and if the factory barrel doesnt live up to your needs just get a pre threaded type and screw it on with just a few tools needed for the task.

 

[jhord]

LR Shooter it sounds like you are doing fine. I've never heard a bad thing about Norma brass. There's really no "wrong" way to load 6BR, but a ton of opinions on what everybody thinks is the "right" way. Just do what works for you. In regards to bushings you are in the right area. We can't tell you exactly, you'll have to do some measuring. I'd say most people run about .002" neck tension +/- a smidge? I use a Redding neck bushing die for a few loadings until I need to set the shoulder back. Then I use a Forster FL die that I had them custom hone the neck to my specs, in combination with Redding competition shellholders. Then I can do a bare minimum resize. I use CCI BR4 or Federal 205M primers. Doesn't seem to be much difference. Varget, RL15 are the powders to start with, experiment from there. I have been fiddling around with 8208 w/decent results. Last weekend at a 100yd BR match a guy I know shot a .247" group with his LRPV 6BR, basically right out of the box. Savage have their share of QC problems, but no other factory gun I've seen could shoot like that right out of the box.

 

[skeetlee]

I would have found some lapua 6br brass had it been me. I like norma 6ppc brass but Lapua is still the king!! Norma 6br brass seems to be a bit soft. Lee

 

[LR_Shooter]

I will eventually get Lapua, I ordered some Norma so I can do break in, not many, just 50 shells... Because I was planning to shoot 260 I spend money on Lapua brass and Scenar bullets plus reloading equipment, now I have to retool for 6br, the powder I bought for 260 is not quiet going to work with 6br, that's something I didn't foreseen. Since I already ordered Norma brass, I will get to Lapua in a month. You know family, kids, mortgage, loans, dog and the cat , my budget getting squeezed ;-)

 

[Terry]

Ken, I checked Midway, Graf, Sinclair, Midsouth and none have Lapua brass, so I'm considering Norma brass. By the way, how's chatter in your factory barrel, do you get heavy fouling?

Try...

http://www.brunoshooters.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=BSS&Category_Code=7L

 

[LR_Shooter]

Thank you Terry, it looks Bruno is out of 6br brass as well, but I bookmarked them to see if it will become available.

 

[MGYSGT]

Those Savage factory barrels do have a lot of chatter marks in the barrel. They smooth out after a few hundred rounds. They don't seem to bother the accuracy thoght.

 

[plinker625]

Gunstop Reloading has most Lapua brass in stock www.gunstop.com

 

[LR_Shooter]

MGYSGT, do you think lapping with J&B or fire lapping with Tubb's can get barrel break in sooner then firing 100 - 200 rounds?

 

[Terry]

Why does it take more that 20 rounds?


I have done the fire one and clean routine 10 times, followed by fire 3-5 and clean for years. It always worked for me.