Shot my first match today. Suggestions/advice 6br

[Cory porter]

I shot my first match today with my savage model 12 br 6mmbr. I purchased the rifle used with 400 rounds fired. I sighted it in with 105amax and 29.2 varget at 2.350 oal cci 450. It shot really well today, it was a varmint league hit 20/20 and 13 in the 1 1/2in circle.

I have done zero load devolpment. And this I will probably only use this rifle in the varmint league. I'm not sure what other matches they have besides 200yd benchrest and an occasional 500yd varmint.

So should i experiment with any other loads or basically what would you guys do from this point.
Go on 100yd groups?
Speed?

I would like to try vld's or smk. But my thinking is how do I know if I improve or where to go from here.

 

[RonAKA]

I shot my first match today with my savage model 12 br 6mmbr. I purchased the rifle used with 400 rounds fired. I sighted it in with 105amax and 29.2 varget at 2.350 oal cci 450. It shot really well today, it was a varmint league hit 20/20 and 13 in the 1 1/2in circle.

I have done zero load devolpment. And this I will probably only use this rifle in the varmint league. I'm not sure what other matches they have besides 200yd benchrest and an occasional 500yd varmint.

So should i experiment with any other loads or basically what would you guys do from this point.
Go on 100yd groups?
Speed?

I would like to try vld's or smk. But my thinking is how do I know if I improve or where to go from here.

I shoot a Savage LRPV in 6BR 12 twist just for fun, mostly at 100, but out to 300 at times. I think your Varget powder and CCI 450 primer is fine as a start. I would switch the A-Max bullets for Berger 105 VLD's. And you really should do a ladder test to determine your best velocity. Here is an example of a test I did with Varget on some lighter bullets suitable for a 12 twist. 3400 to 3420 is now my target velocity. You will not be able to go that high with a 105 bullet of course, and will need to find a flat spot under 3000. Just make sure to measure and record the velocity of every shot, and the POI of every shot. Then produce a graph like the one below. You are looking for a velocity range which is tolerant to velocity variation. Ideally do your test at 300 yards, or if that is not a choice at 200.

Once you have a target velocity you should find your best seating depth. I would start with 0.010" off the lands as a default. The VLD bullet may work best with a much larger jump. You just need to try it to see. In my lighter bullets I found that a 0.010" jam worked best. Check for uniformity of velocity and accuracy with each seating position.

As far as trying other components, I would not do it until you work up a good basic load of Varget, Berger 105 VLD, and your CCI 450 primers. Then you might want to try (one at a time) the Berger 105 Hybrid. It will be marginal for stability in your 8 twist, but it might work for you, depending on elevation and temperature. You could also try the CCI BR4 primers, and H4895 as an alternate powder. The objective again is to check for uniformity of velocity and group size.

Hope that helps some.

 

[Cory porter]

I shoot a Savage LRPV in 6BR 12 twist just for fun, mostly at 100, but out to 300 at times. I think your Varget powder and CCI 450 primer is fine as a start. I would switch the A-Max bullets for Berger 105 VLD's. And you really should do a ladder test to determine your best velocity. Here is an example of a test I did with Varget on some lighter bullets suitable for a 12 twist. 3400 to 3420 is now my target velocity. You will not be able to go that high with a 105 bullet of course, and will need to find a flat spot under 3000. Just make sure to measure and record the velocity of every shot, and the POI of every shot. Then produce a graph like the one below. You are looking for a velocity range which is tolerant to velocity variation. Ideally do your test at 300 yards, or if that is not a choice at 200.

Once you have a target velocity you should find your best seating depth. I would start with 0.010" off the lands as a default. The VLD bullet may work best with a much larger jump. You just need to try it to see. In my lighter bullets I found that a 0.010" jam worked best. Check for uniformity of velocity and accuracy with each seating position.

As far as trying other components, I would not do it until you work up a good basic load of Varget, Berger 105 VLD, and your CCI 450 primers. Then you might want to try (one at a time) the Berger 105 Hybrid. It will be marginal for stability in your 8 twist, but it might work for you, depending on elevation and temperature. You could also try the CCI BR4 primers, and H4895 as an alternate powder. The objective again is to check for uniformity of velocity and group size.

Hope that helps some.

It does and I appreciate it. The only downfall is I only can shoot at 300 at the matches so it will be difficult for me to do devolpment at that range to determine what the best load is. That's the only issue.

 

[slm9s]

is your 'home' range 100 or 200?

 

[Cory porter]

150, I am trying to attempt to join a 200 yard range here soon. But that's all I have besides shooting on a farm that would require getting a portable bench and it's no where near flat

 

[RonAKA]

150, I am trying to attempt to join a 200 yard range here soon. But that's all I have besides shooting on a farm that would require getting a portable bench and it's no where near flat

You could try doing the ladder test at 150 yards. You have a gun that is pretty accurate for an off the shelf model. The reason for doing the ladder test at 200 or 300 yards is that it shows more difference in vertical when you step up the velocity and it is easier to find the flat spots. With an accurate gun you may be able to see the pattern at 150. Worth a try. Just get a chronograph if at all possible. You are looking for a sweet spot velocity, and ideally the highest one you can reach with your preferred bullet.

 

[fm1947]

I been shooting 6mmbr in varmint for 5 or 6 years I prefer the Berger 105 match BT I set it .010 jump, I then start a 3 shot test at 200 yards if you only have 150 that's fine until you go to 200 , with VArget I start at 26 grs in .3 gr increments you may find two accuracy nodes one low one higher, my end result was 29.7 gr varget and All my 6mm br will shoot under 1/2 moa at 200 5 shot groups once I find my load , once you find a tight group out of the bunch then load up what you want and shoot 5 shot groups see how you do, most shoot 5 shot after that some shoot 5 in the beginning do as you wish 5 shots does tell you more about consistency, I'm just used to shooting my 6brs and I have a 200 yard range in my back yard so I test and shoot a lot. good luck.