If you don't think a 6BR with 80 gr bullets is good for 600 yards why would you think a 22BR would be better. Big advatage to 6BR with 80-90 gr bullets. The difference is in wind drift more than drop. Your 6BR as it is should be good for 600 yrds. Run some numbers through the Berger trajectoty software with the rifle sighted in for 275 yrds. You need a lazer range finder and a good drop wind chart for your load. My rifle has a target micrometer adjustment knobs. I lazer the GH, look at the hold over or put the clickd on the scope. If I adjust the scope I can hold exactly where I want the bullet. I hold ogg for wind. If you want more rifle get yours rechambered for 6BRX and shoot 80-90 gr bullets. This should be good for 1000 yrds in an accurate rifle.
Still Searching for a Good 600yd Groundhog Gun
- Thread starter HillbillyLongRifle
- Start date
HillbillyLongRifle
Gold $$ Contributor
I always use good target scopes with target turrents for dialing from my drop chart. The 6BR is holding up good to 500yds with the 80 bergers. Now add 0ne to two more hundred and the wind really kicks it butt. 6mm AI sounds nice but barrel life not so well. Its hard to have it all in one cartridge. My 20 cals will handle my 400yd shooting very easy and I have stretched them out farther. Just looking for a True 700 yd Varmint Rifle.
drags
Silver $$ Contributor
I agree with Jortz a 8 twist 22 cal. would be ideal 220 swift,22-250 ai, 22x47 l ect. with 75 or 80 gr. bullets. There is a gunsmith near me that uses the 22x47 for deer and shoots them at 800 plus yards with good results, I think he uses the 80 gr. a-max. I personally shot a groundhog at 510 yards with a 22x47 using 80 gr. a-max bullets. One of our members Frank (40xguy) has a fast twist 220 swift and as far as I know it is working well for him, I think he is shooting the 75 gr. a-max.
Drags
Drags
rich44
Silver $$ Contributor
HillbillysniperSWVA said:
I agree if your shooting pdogs or some other colony varmint, some guys are lucky and can shoot a couple of hundred groundhogs a year, any more where I'm at if I got 100 I'm doing really good, I usually average about 60 I built my 6AI for groundhogs out past 600 yards and windy days I've shot 3 hogs with it so far out of the hogs I've taken so far this year.
I usually have a couple rifles with me, this morning it was 20VT, 20-250, 22-250AI and the 6AI we shot 2 hogs one with the 20VT and one with the 250AI so at this rate my 6AI barrel should last a long time.
what kind of freebore for the 6 BR 12 twist shooting the 87 Vmax?
If you are serious about shooting groundhogs out past 500 yards, take a good long look at the 6XC and 6SLR. Those are my two go-to cartridges for woodchucks. Very accurate, good velocity (less wind drift), and reasonably good barrel life.
I shot 427 in 2012 with those two cartridges. Shortest was 20 feet and longest was 1067 yards. 270 last year and 122 so for this year.
8 twist barrel and shoot 105 Amax bullets.
I shot 427 in 2012 with those two cartridges. Shortest was 20 feet and longest was 1067 yards. 270 last year and 122 so for this year.
8 twist barrel and shoot 105 Amax bullets.
HillbillyLongRifle
Gold $$ Contributor
I really have all my shots covered mostly. 223 rem 40 V-Max 3800fps have taken groundhogs at 415yds this year. Also 20 Vartarg 32 sierras 3700 and 40 V-Max 3450fps. These rifles cover me out to 400yds. My 6mm BR with 80 Berger 3150fps is working real well out to 600yds and I took one at 630yds one shot kill. Most of the time shots are inside of 350yds.
I ran some numbers through the Berger ballistic program. The high velocity 22s with a 75 gr bullet are a surprise. The lighter 22 bullets don't cut it at distance. Calibers like the Creedmoor shoot 120 gr bullets around 2900 fps. Didn't include the 6XC. To much custom equipment short barrel life. If the choice is between a hi velocity 22 and a 22BR I would take the 22BR. You give up a little but you should have a more accurate rifle, good barrel life and simple loading (no complicated case forming). The 22s use a lot more powder 34 vs 24 grains). I won't worry about a small increase in drop with the 22BR since you have to use a laser and drop chart a long distance. A micrometer knob adjustment scope really makes it easy.
Attached table with some ballistics info.
Attached table with some ballistics info.
From the Chuckhawks.COM website:
Producing a 6mm-284 case is simply a matter of running .284 Winchester brass through a 6mm-284 forming die. Trim to a length of 2.155". Naturally, the 6mm-284 is at its best with slow burning powders. These are necessary to achieve the high velocities of which the cartridge is capable, and to keep pressures within reason.
With 75-85 grain bullets the 6mm-284 makes an awesome varmint cartridge, similar to the .240 Weatherby. The Hodgdon Data Manual 26 shows that 51.0 grains of H4831 can drive an 80 grain varmint bullet to a MV of 3397 fps; 55.0 grains of H4831 delivers a MV of 3683 fps with the same bullet.
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The 6-284 is a 1000 yrd gun. You could shoot mild loads and have a 700 yrd gun.
After thinking about it a barrel burner isn't that bad if you only shoot it enough to stay sighted in and at varmints. Have another rifle to shoot for fun at the range. If you shoot 100 shots a year the barrel could last over ten years. You could load a 6-284 down to the 3100-3200 fps range to get barrel life. A 220 Swift with 75 gr bullets is an off the shelf rifle. No case forming.
Producing a 6mm-284 case is simply a matter of running .284 Winchester brass through a 6mm-284 forming die. Trim to a length of 2.155". Naturally, the 6mm-284 is at its best with slow burning powders. These are necessary to achieve the high velocities of which the cartridge is capable, and to keep pressures within reason.
With 75-85 grain bullets the 6mm-284 makes an awesome varmint cartridge, similar to the .240 Weatherby. The Hodgdon Data Manual 26 shows that 51.0 grains of H4831 can drive an 80 grain varmint bullet to a MV of 3397 fps; 55.0 grains of H4831 delivers a MV of 3683 fps with the same bullet.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 6-284 is a 1000 yrd gun. You could shoot mild loads and have a 700 yrd gun.
After thinking about it a barrel burner isn't that bad if you only shoot it enough to stay sighted in and at varmints. Have another rifle to shoot for fun at the range. If you shoot 100 shots a year the barrel could last over ten years. You could load a 6-284 down to the 3100-3200 fps range to get barrel life. A 220 Swift with 75 gr bullets is an off the shelf rifle. No case forming.
HillbillyLongRifle
Gold $$ Contributor
Shot some 87 V-Max in my 12 Twist Brux 6BR. 3 shot groups measure .132 and .140. Five shot groups measure .33 and .42. Thanks to Mark I have found my Long Range Groundhog and Coyote load. 87 V-Max and Vith N-135 what a combination.
HillbillyLongRifle
Gold $$ Contributor
80 berger varmint shoot really well I mean .25 moa everytime but they dont perform on long range groundhogs like I wanted. The 87 VMax has worked well for me in the past in a 6mm rem and 6mm-06 but I really dont like the barrel burners. I thought of doing a 6 mm Ackley but barrel life is poor. Will try out the 87 VMax tomorrow evening on some groundhogs hopefully. I have taken one at 630yds this season with the 80 berger.
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