Stupid Questions

[Muleskinner30189]

I have a Savage Model 12 in 6BR 29" 1-8 twist that has been sitting here unfired for over a year now, and i am just about to explode to get to the range and start working with it. I have Sierra MK's in 107 and 70 grain, and Berger 80fb grain bullets to start testing with, as well as Varget powder. I have been reading all sorts of loading info on the internet showing loads of Varget ranging from 29g to 34g, which seems really hight to me. I have also read that anything higher than 2800 fps will cause accuracy to suffer. Is this true?. I am trying to get set up to shoot 100-200 yard benchrest at my local club this year, but unsure where to start.

#1. If i use the 70g Sierra MK's, how much Varget should i start with?

#2. If i use the 80g Bergers, how much Varget should I start with?

#3. When working with the 107 MK's, I have noticed if i set it up with the ogive touching the rifleing, there is very little area of the bullet That has a grip on the case neck due to the long boat tail on the bullet. How much grip area on the bullet is realy needed?, or do i need to back it off the rifleing?

Thanks

Muleskinner

 

[shooter63]

mine loves just touchin &107gr.smk 450cci mag primer 2th. tension 30.3 gr varget but thats my barrel start at 29gr.& work up shooter63

 

[FroggyOne2]

With the Sierra 107's, try them seated with the bottom of the bearing surface just above the junction where the neck of the case meets the shoulder. The 107's like to jump.

 

[bozo699]

I have a Savage Model 12 in 6BR 29" 1-8 twist that has been sitting here unfired for over a year now, and i am just about to explode to get to the range and start working with it. I have Sierra MK's in 107 and 70 grain, and Berger 80fb grain bullets to start testing with, as well as Varget powder. I have been reading all sorts of loading info on the internet showing loads of Varget ranging from 29g to 34g, which seems really hight to me. I have also read that anything higher than 2800 fps will cause accuracy to suffer. Is this true?. I am trying to get set up to shoot 100-200 yard benchrest at my local club this year, but unsure where to start.

#1. If i use the 70g Sierra MK's, how much Varget should i start with?

#2. If i use the 80g Bergers, how much Varget should I start with?

#3. When working with the 107 MK's, I have noticed if i set it up with the ogive touching the rifleing, there is very little area of the bullet That has a grip on the case neck due to the long boat tail on the bullet. How much grip area on the bullet is realy needed?, or do i need to back it off the rifleing?

Thanks

Muleskinner

Muleskinner,
Welcome to the forum,.....When are you going to ask the stupid question?? You have a 1:8 twist so it's not really setup for short range bench rest it's setup to run them 107 SMK's which are a long range bullet, if you want to compete at short range you would be better suited with a 1:14 and 68 grain FB bullets, the main thing is be safe and have fun, I will monitor this post to see what your stupid question is going to be
Wayne.

 

[NorCalMikie]

The only stupid questions is "Did I really do that last night"? :-[
Start your loads around 28 grains of Varget and work up from there. Watch for pressure signs. All my loads are started at a jam into the lands. My rigs don't like a jump.
Make 3 shot loads and watch for groups forming. When you start grouping, adjust powder to 1/10 th at a time.
Only change one thing at a time. And above all, have fun. ;D

 

[Muleskinner30189]

With the Sierra 107's, try them seated with the bottom of the bearing surface just above the junction where the neck of the case meets the shoulder. The 107's like to jump.

So, are you saying i should seat the 107g bullets where you say, and not pay attention to how much it has to jump before it hits the rifleing? I hope to go shoot this thing next week if its not too cold, and i guess i will start with some 80 Bergers with 29g of Varget agaisnt the rifleing, and some 107 MK's with 29g of Varget seated with the bottom of the bullet at the top of the shoulder, unless someone else has a better idea they would like to share.

Also, I understand 1 in 8 twist is not ideal for 100 and 200 yard benchrest, but i got this rifle wanting to use it for short range Production class benchrest, but also use the same rifle for some 600 yard fun as well. Will the 1 in 8 twist not do well with the 80g Bergers? or 70g MK's ?

Thanks. Muleskinner

 

[dirtworks5]

You need to do a seating depth test first. Every barrel is different. Just pick a mild load like 28.5 of varget and use this charge for your test. Load groups of 3 or if you have a chrony you can load just one of each. Start at a .010 jam and load in 0.010 increments out to .080 off before you even attempt to mess with the powder charge. This will eliminate putting a large amount of rounds on the barrel to find what it likes. Trust this method it works. I normally do the 3 shot groups as I do not have a reliable chrony.
Good Luck and happy shooting,
Vern

 

[dirtworks5]

By the way, a question is only stupid is if the person asking it does not learn anything from the reponses he or she may get.
Vern

 

[Shynloco]

I have a Savage Model 12 in 6BR 29" 1-8 twist that has been sitting here unfired for over a year now, and i am just about to explode to get to the range and start working with it. I have Sierra MK's in 107 and 70 grain, and Berger 80fb grain bullets to start testing with, as well as Varget powder. I have been reading all sorts of loading info on the internet showing loads of Varget ranging from 29g to 34g, which seems really hight to me. I have also read that anything higher than 2800 fps will cause accuracy to suffer. Is this true?. I am trying to get set up to shoot 100-200 yard benchrest at my local club this year, but unsure where to start.

#1. If i use the 70g Sierra MK's, how much Varget should i start with?

#2. If i use the 80g Bergers, how much Varget should I start with?

#3. When working with the 107 MK's, I have noticed if i set it up with the ogive touching the rifleing, there is very little area of the bullet That has a grip on the case neck due to the long boat tail on the bullet. How much grip area on the bullet is realy needed?, or do i need to back it off the rifleing?

Thanks

Muleskinner

Muleskinner,
I think I have the same rifle as yours. I shoot 100 yds which doesn't do this rifle justice to begin with, BUT thats the local range available to me. Since buying my Savage about a year or so ago, I'd been shooting 68 Bart's Bullets being oushed by 29 and later, 31 grs of VVN133. Then decided to try the Berger 70's (horrible results) at varying loads and finally BINGO...the best being Sierra 107's being pushed by 29 grs of Varget. Might I suggest you jump directly to the Sierra 107's and try the Varget or RE15 (28+ gr) that works well too. And yes, if you increase your powder loads by as much as even 1 gr, your accuracy will diminish and quickly. At least thats what I found happoen in my Savage Model 12 Benchrest 6mmbr. BTW, I use Lapua brass with an ojive measurement of 2.866 that sets me gentlly right on the lands where that darn sear block doesn't activate due to pressure against the sear. Good luck and have fun. Those one hole (though ragged)- 5 shot targets make me bubble inside.

 

[queen_stick]

there was a daily bulletin in the last week or two (maybe 3 or 4) about the Berger 80fb being very accurate in an 8 twist. I haven't tried them in either of my 6br 8-twist rifles yet, but I want to.

I've shot very small groups with the 107 SMK's at 100 and 300 yards. (3/4" at 300 and in the 1's at 100). That's not every group, but they shoot very well at short range.

Last year I used the 107's in my 1K BR rifle (chambered in 6br). My scores and groups were consistently worse than the year before, when I was using the Berger 105VLD's. Not saying that's what everyone's results would be, but it was enough for me to revert back to the Bergers.