Varmint bullets for 6mm br

[Justin_B]

I need a good explosive varmint bullet for my 6mmbr. I'm looking for something that will give great performance at 400-600 yds. My rifle really likes the 90 berger match, but don't figure they will expand correctly.

The specs on the barrel are pac-nor 1/8 twist, .272 neck, .085 freebore. I've tried the 87 vmax with .015 jam, got decent groups at 30.8 varget, yet up or down .2 grains, accuracy not so good. I don't like loading for such a small accuracy node. It's a savage action, so really don't want to get too hot of a load.

Anyway, any ideas what to try next?

 

[Tommie]

I wonder if it's possible that you haven't found an accuracy node with that particular combo. In my experience, moving .2 grains one way or the other shouldn't result in a severe loss in accuracy.

The 87gr V-Max is your best bet for splattage with a decent BC for 400+ yard varminting. Have you tried any other powders? Might play with powders a little lower on the burn rate scale. Maybe something in the area of WW748, H414 or H380. Those powders will provide great load density as well as a slightly slower pressure curve.

Tom

 

[Ogre6br]

Have had really good results with the 65 V-max and RL-10X but mines a 1:10 not a 1:8 like yours.

With your faster twist the 75 V-max might be the go for you and something like Benchmark or RL-10X or maybe 322
have never tried Viht powder but lotsa people report good things.

Look in the varmint loads list for the 6BR here in this site for more info.

65 V-max is a good paddock pizza projectile

LAter
P

 

[Justin_B]

The only powder that I have that might even work would be H4895 and H335, but those would cost me a lot of velocity. Are you guys jumping the v-max bullets or jamming? My COL is 2.200 with .010 jam. I was thinking about jumping them .010. I really didn't want to jam them much more b/c I hate it when I dump the action full of powder if I have to unload w/o firing.

I see some berger varmint bullets listed on the varmint page, but can't find them anywhere. Guess they are not made anymore, can't find any 6mm berger varmint bullets.

 

[Ackman]

I think that fast twist barrel is why your loads are so fussy about powder charge.

With a varmint gun, DON'T jam the lands. Unchambering a loaded round you'll stick one.....it's not a matter of if, but when. Stay out of the lands.

 

[NorCalMikie]

One thing to watch for on the Savage action is "pressure signs". If you jam your bullets .005 or .010 you should be OK. If you jump them you will get flat primers and tight cases,with the same load). At 30.8 grains of Varget under 87 grain bullets you might be close to being a little on the hot side. Back down to 30.0 and keep about a .005 jam. The pressure signs will show up if you jump the bullets and go away if you jam.

 

[Ackman]

NorCalMikie - Interesting.....why "pressure signs" with the Savage action in particular? And jumping bullets will give flattened primers and tight cases? Where do you come up with that stuff?

 

[billmo]

That is exactly opposite of what I have always found in ANY rifle "if the load is too hot". Very seldom have I ever seen pressure signs when I have jump to lands at or over .010. But then again I'm not bad about loading hot loads anyway. Bill

 

[shcal]

Justin: I shoot 75gr V-max from my gun, a savage converted to single shot, 1.055" straight PacNor at 28", 8" twist, no-turn neck. I load long at about +.015" into the lands. Load is 31.5 gr of VVN-135. I regularly knock-down ground squirrels at between 500 and 600 yds. It is true that the further the distance the more wind drift you get, but I find you need to shoot a lot in order to develop and hone your wind reading skills. I personally have not had as good of luck with the 87gr V-max as some of you. But whatever you shoot just get out and practice as much as you can, there is no substitute for shooting.

 

[Justin_B]

I'm going to try the 75 vmax. I tried the 87 again yesterday, still no success. I backed the charges down, tried jumping, etc. Nothing seemed to work. I was getting no pressure signs with any of the loads, no flattened primers or excessive case expansion. V-max bullets have shot well in all of my other rifles, this is my first. I'm going to order some 75 vmax and similar btips.

Shcal, sounds like we have the exact same setup. I have no VV powders on hand and they are impossible to get around here unless I order. Have you tried varger or h4895 with that bullet?

 

[shcal]

Justin: tried Varget and it is not bad, my load with 75gr V-max was 32.6grs. However I think the N-135 shoots better and is cleaner, it also meters better out of my Harrel's powder measure. Can't buy it locally either so like most of my shooting needs, I order on-line. Try some, I think you will like it in your 6BR.

 

[Preacher]

NorCalMikie--- knows that a bullet seated deeper in a case will raise pressures because the combustion chamber is made smaller to a degree.

Maybe not a super big deal but it's there to see.

Shoot one with a bullet seated .010 into the lands if it's about max, and then only
change the load to deeper into the case and you will notice a increase in pressure, not enough to blow your arm off, but still a increase......

 

[Justin_B]

After today, I have concluded that the rifle indeed hates the 87 vmax. I tried different powders, jumping, kissing, jamming, didn't matter. Pulled out the 90gr bergers and started shooting in the .3's again. Go figure. Never had a somewhat accurate rifle shoot a bullet so bad.

 

[Forum Boss]

Justin,

Don't fret too much. My 6BR doesn't like the 87 V-Maxs either and shoots the 75 V-Max so-so. But it will put 5 80gr Bergers into a cloverleaf in the high ones, low twos.

I also found, when measuring Hornady bullets, that they were not particularly consistent in base to ogive measurement and even diameter.

Re pressure rise when Jumping bullets--yes that will happen with a small case like a 6BR, but you have to quantify the dimensional change. If, for example, you go from .010" in the lands to .025" away from the lands, that means you're seating your bullet .035" deeper in the case when jumping. In that situation you WILL see pressure signs earlier with the jumped load,and a 100+ gr bullet).

Now, if you're talking .005" in the lands vs. .005" "jump", things can be different.

I personally observed .015" jump to give more pressure,indicated by ejector wipe) than .015" into the lands. That's a .030" change.

 

[TheSilverFox]

I've tried the 75 v-max in my Spencer 1-7 twist and average in the 6's. AGG 3170 fps

I've also tried the 58 gr v-max wich average .5" but this twist is ot ideal for that weight, 32.5 Benchmark, Agg 3500 fps

The 80 nosler ball tips average .3 with 32 gr of varget, that load seems a bit hot in my rifle. Funny enough all groups were virtually identical from .015 jumped to .015 jammed.Agg 3080fps.


All these test were unfortunately done in high winds. We haven't had a calm day arounfd here in months.

 

[Justin_B]

I have never tried the btips. Are they fragile enough to be safe in a pdog field? I sure wish berger would make a varmint bullet in 6mm. My gun really likes the 90 match, and even the finicky 88 LD. I think I will order some btips and maybe some 75 vmax. I'd be ok with .6's since it's just for a once a year pdog shoot. Otherwise, the diet will continue to be bergers.

 

[TheSilverFox]

Well i havent tried them yet. I dont think they will be as spectacular as the the 58 v-max, those shure blow-em up. lol).

I read in the Nosler reloaders book that the 80 gr ball tip in the 6br are great Pronghorn bullets???. My goal with those is for coyotes and prairie dogs at longer ranges. The smaller bullets is for max gore at closer ranges.

 

[patchhound]

The 80 bt`s worked good for me to about 300yrds in the wyo wind last year, past that, it kicked there butt @3050fps compared to the 87 Vmax. I tried the 105 Amax and they did OK for splat factor at 400+. If your planing a big trip you should consider the wind factor too...

The bt`s do ricochet a bit, but with any bullet you should watch whats behind your target. I use 85 Sierra varminters for short range, 87`s to 400, and 105`s past that in my 1:8 6br. Good luck on your trip.

 

[Varminator]

Justin,
I went back through my records and found that the 80gr Nos was /is a load that works in both my 10tw 6BR and my 8tw 6 Dasher. If you use H335 and load on the hot side you will get what you are looking for in range, the bullet is not as frangible as a 65 Vmax which doesn't shoot very well in the 10tw but with a hot load of H335 in my 6 Dasher 8tw shoots simply amazing. The best varmint loads in my 6BR 10tw I've found is with AA2015, H335 and or Data73,hot version of AA2230) with a 70gr SBK moly. With your 8tw I'd try the 65gr Vmax with a stiff charge of H335. Incidentally, both my 6 Dashers,both 8tw) like 95VLDs but don't shoot the 90s well and my 10tw shoots them well as well as the old 95VLDs which it shouldn't, go figure.
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