Thinking of a drop in barrel, 6mmBR or 6.5 284 on a Savage Model 12

[Hans]

Hi

Wonder if an owner could give me a report, I have the short action . I have heard all the barrel burner - high cost / hard to find /short life brass stories.

Whats the accuracy like on watered down loads on lighter 6.5 flat based bullets .At short ranges "300yds " I hate wasting hot loaded boat tails.

Would I be better off going with a 6mmBR with a 1-8 twist if I wanted to shoot heavier bullets past 600yd,and just forget about the 6.5 ? I know the 6mmBr is cheaper to shoot,but thats not a big deal to me.

This is my first post here, I am more of a .223 -.308 gas gun re-loader, With ARs and M1A's for the last 25 years.

Thanks Guys

 

[mysticplayer]

It is very hard to beat the 6BR for an accurate, inexpensive cartridge that gives you excellent barrel life. Another would be the 30BR. If shooting for score, the larger hole may help.

Others are looking at the 6.5X47L with 123gr bullets for this type of mid range shooting. I am sure a 6.5 BR/Grendel or improved version would also do well.

I shoot a 6.5 Mystic,my version of the 260AI) and 139gr Lapuas in F class. Most of my competitions are 300m but I also go out to 1000m. I decided to go with the larger case and heavier bullet so I would only need to have one combo for all my distances.

I would have gone with the 6BR if I only shot 300m to 600m.

Jerry

 

[Forum Boss]

I'm with Jerry. I think it comes down to distance. If you are shooting/competing mostly inside 500m then go with the smaller case.

If you often need to shoot in windy conditions at 800, 900, and 1000 then go with a 6.5-284 or maybe even a big 30 or a 7mm WSM.

But at 200-500 it will be pretty hard to beat the 6BR,or 6BR improved), and you're burning a LOT less powder and the gun will probably be much easier to tune. The 6BR, for many of us, is the easiest path to 1/4 moa.

FYI, at my club we shoot a 600-yard "varmint silhouette match". You need bonafied 1/3-MOA or better accuracy to consistently hit the smallest targets. Three good shooters were running a 6-284, 6.5-284 and 270 WSM respectively in 2005. They all "down-graded" to a 6BR this season and, overall, their scores have improved. Yes they are giving up something in the wind but they are hitting more chickens,which have a 'hit zone' of under 3" in diameter).

This is not to say you can't do equally well with a 6XC, or 6.5x47, or .243 Ackley. It's just that the 6BR can do the job with less recoil, less powder.

IMHO, any case with the small primer pocket and .308 rim will allow you to run higher pressures. I think that contributes to accuracy and low SD/ES.

 

[Hans]

Yeah, you confirm my thoughts, my .308 uses less powder than the 6.5 284. I do most of my shooting under 600yds . The 6BR seems to be the happy combo bullet -brass - powder costs . But the 1/14" twist seems to hold it under 300yds, sound like 8 - 10" is what I need.
I was trying to stay with the .308s large primers & Varget an keep it simple. I don't think that's going to happen, at least the shell plate in the same.

That 30 BR sounds good,easy on powder as well .I have two 1/12" 28" SS blanks in 30 cal.

I guess no one has a pre-fit barrel, that barrel nut setup savage uses ) on their savage action, to report about.
Thanks for the replies

 

[Forum Boss]

I have a Pac-Nor 8-twist which was chambered by PacNor so I guess you could call it a Pre-Fit. It is awesomely accurate and cleans super-fast.

That said, I prefer to have a chamber cut by a known smith. I just feel you are getting more attention to detail.

Definitely go with the 8-twist in a 6BR. Then you can shoot everything from a 65 to a 107. I've tried a lot of different bullets, and past 250m it is hard to beat a 105 Scenar or 105 Berger.

- - -

For score matches or "Fly shoots" the 30BR is a great choice out to 300m or so. Very, Very accurate and efficient and the bigger bullet hole IS an advantage in score shooting.

 

[Rustystud]

HANS:

Look at the 6mmBRX and 6mmDasher you want be unhappy. Both only give up 2 inches at 1000 to the 6.5 X .284 and the barrels last 2-3 times as long. The less recoil, better inheret accuracy, more readily available components, lower cost to shoot, and long brass life. These cartridges all will work fine in the model 12. The 6.5 X .284 loaded with the longer bullets is too long for the Savage model 12 action.

You can use the 6mmBR dies to load the 6BRX. Take a .243, .260, .7mm08, or .308 sizer die and remove the decapping pin and use it as a body die. You can take a 6mmBR sizing die and ream out the top if you want a custom body die.

The 6mmDasher and 6 X 47 requires custom dies.

The fire forming is easy and can be done during practice.

You will want not neck turning reamer.

With a 32", 1:8 twist barrel you can expect 3000-3100fps.

See the John708 project thread.

Rustystud

 

[CAB]

Actually,....for full length sizing, which is usually the problem to overcome, the 6mm Dasher and the 6mmx47 Lapua are both stocking items from Forster.,and actually darn good dies to boot!)

 

[Hans]

I will try a 1-8" 6BR 28" pre-fit for savage actions $385 ready in January . Wish me luck, I order brass from Bruno's, bullets from midway.

I am still looking at Dies,,, PM me your favorite places for reloading components .

Hans

 

[Forum Boss]

Hans--

If you go PacNor, be aware that you CAN specify a larger profile. I think they default to the Savage varmint taper. My PacNor bbl is thicker--tapering to about .92" at the muzzle.

On the action side, you are limited by the inner diam. of the barrel nut,presuming you keep the nut), but you can keep the barrel pretty thick.

 

[Hans]

Editor in chief


Yeah, I think the savage profile is .800 -.840 28" at the crown. Now I wonder the difference in accuracy from 1:10" to 1:8" twist.

One post had 1:10" as much better than the 1:8" at 100 - 400 yds. What is much better in inches ?

I will shoot for fun and some informal matches a few .001 wont be a big deal.

 

[Forum Boss]

A ten-twist will shoot the 90s and probably give you a little more speed than an 8-twist.

Maybe, just maybe, a 10-twist would give a little more accuracy when shooting the 80gr Bergers or Fowlers.

But the 105-class bullets are just so nice to shoot at 300m and beyond, I'd lean toward the 8-twist. You can always shoot the lighter bullets if you want.

In 300m competition, Lapua tells me that some of the guys are shooting 90-grainers, but most competitors are using 105s. You can debate all date the "raw accuracy vs. BC" thing, but the bottom line is the 105 Scenars, 105 Bergers, and 107 Sierras all shoot really well. There aren't so many match-winners shooting 90-grainers, and the 95-grain Berger really requires a 1:9" or faster twist.

 

[Rustystud]

Paul:

Savage is goming out in 2007 with a factory 6.5 X .284 and a .308 Set up for F-Class TR.

I also would suggest you talk with Tim North at Broughton about your needs he might have a surprise for the Savage Shooters on the horizon.
Rustystud
a/k/a Nathnaiel G. Lambeth, Sr.
Custom Guns and Ammunition