Very first 6BR

[Minesweeper3433]

I have decided to chamber a barrel in 6BR for the first time. Midwayusa had Krieger 14 twist 27" straight blanks for 257 bucks on sale and I couldn't resist seeing as how I was already sending a gun and barrels to my smith anyway. I am going with 6BR to use the 308 bolt already in the rifle. If anyone has recommendations for a bullet to start with I would appreciate it. I am planning on getting into an arbor press so will also need to get appropriate dies as well. I have no other 6mm other than a fast twist 243 that is getting chambered at same time as this barrel for 105 Amaxs so I lack bullets for the new barrel as well as powder. Man vacation is going to be fun as heck.
This barrel set up will be used for varmint hunting and club level bench rest matches. I am looking for recommendations as to barrel length on finished barrel. It will be mounted into a 700SA short action for anyone curious.

I was told PPC might be better for the light bullets but I would have to get a second bolt for the rifle.

 

[T 700]

As far as the twist in the barrel being 14, I would think of bullets in the 70 gr range. I would try Varget, N 135, H4895. You will be limiting yourself with the 14 twist, If it was me I would go with a 8 or 9 twist, You can shoot the heavy bullets and the light ones too. Hope that helps. As far as dies i would go with Wilson Hand dies. You can cut the barrel at 26 inches and get all the speed you need to flip those varmints!!!

T 700

 

[hogpatrol]

Different guns, different recipes but in my 1-14 Lilja, 68gr Precision Ballistics and 68gr Bergers (both FBs) jammed .005 with 8028 shoot outstanding.

 

[Shynloco]

If it was me I would go with a 8 or 9 twist, You can shoot the heavy bullets and the light ones too. T 700

I have a Savage Target Benchrest 1:8 model and I can atest to it shooting both Barts 68 gr FB Ultras being pushed by 31 grs VVN133 as well as Sierra 107 HPBT being pushed by 28.1 Gr of Varget very nicely. Depends I guess on the accuracy you seek in BR shooting. Don't forget the Lapua brass also and be sure to turn the necks.

 

[Frankr]

for a accurate varmint bullet the 65gr V-max gets the nod.. allthough the 70gr siera BK is accurate enough and performs well in the field.. any of the custom 65-68 gr bullets should shoot very well.. powders..I like RL10x with the CCI450 primer.. max speed i go to the IMR 8208xbr for a 70gr siera BK at 3,550 FPS.. smashen G-hogs well beyond 500 yrds.

Barrel length's.. I have had both 26" and 24" ..I perfer the 24" .. really just depends on the barrel, my 24" barrel is as fast as my 26".. I also had a 24" barrel 22-250 and it was faster than my buddy's 26".. so you really cant go wrong with a 24" to a 26" barrel lenght...I really dont think you need a long barrel with the amount of powder that is being burnt...I also was told by a top smith that it was a waste to go beyond 26"...I also have a 21 3/4" length 6BR barrel in a 13 3/4 twist.. Have not croney'd it yet..

 

[Webster]

I am not an expert but I would think you would want a 14:1 twist. This is what they use in serious BR competition with the 6PPC for 65-68 gr. bullets which is what they shoot in big matches. A 9:1 would hurt accuracy with the light bullets. You don't need 107 gr. bullets for varmints and 100/200 BR matches. I think you stated your other rifle is set up for heavy bullets? Why not optimize the 6BR for accuracy and varmints under 500 yards. The proper free bore is quit a bit different to optimize for light and heavy bullets. My 6BR has a 0.065" free bore and 68 gr. bullets don't go into the case very far with about .010" jump. I just eyeballed this judgement. I could actually use close to a zero free bore. If the rifle has a free bore for 107 gr. bullets I would think you would have a huge jump with light bullets. If the bullet was touching the rifling I don't know if it would be in the case more than 10-20 thou. Someone may correct me on this or add to it but that's the impression I get with my rifle.

 

[Forum Boss]

A 1:8" twist 6BR with a .070 Freebore can shoot just about anything from 70gr to 108gr. The nice thing about the 6BR case is that the long neck gives you a lot of flexibility. Unless you are ONLY going to shoot at 100-200 yards, I'd probably recommend an 8-twist. Even a 10-twist severely limits your choice of higher-BC bullets. And the longer bullets definitely can help you at 400-600 yards (or beyond).

My 8-twist 3-groove PacNor shoots the 70-80 grainers in very low twos, with occasional high ones -- and that's with a 1.25-lb trigger.

 

[SS427]

The 14 twist will only stabalize up to a 70 grain bullets. So any varmint bullet from 58 to 70 grains like the Nosler BT, Sierra BK or a Hornady V-max is going to shoot pretty good. Might have to try them all to find the best one.

For ultimate accuracy try the Sierra 70 grain match or a custom 65-68 grain match bullet like Barts. Bergers are readily available, so try them as well. Out to 300 yards provided the wind is okay you will have very good accuracy. Not PPC accuracy, but the next best thing.

A straight contour Kreiger barrel is going to be heavy if it is the one I'm thinking of. For how you describe you are going to be using the rifle, I would go shorter rather than longer. I have a heavy varmint contour 6BR finished at 24 inches and I'd rather have a 22 inch barrel. My PPC finished at 22 inches is better balanced. You give up some velocity, but at the ranges you will shoot those light bullets at, not enough to make much difference.

Because of the short light bullets, make sure your gunsmith uses a reamer with very little freebore. That way you keep a decent amount of the bullet in the neck and can still jam the bullet into the lands if you gun decides that is what it likes.

 

[MarkS]

Minesweeper3433,

The best powder for light bullets is N135 with any 68gr benchrest bullet and a 70gr Sierria Blitzking. every 14 tw barrel I have had will shoot the 80gr Berger great. Some people say a 14 want shoot an 80gr, but mine have. I like a 12 tw for light bullets. The 6BR will run with the PPC at 100 & 200 yds and will out shoot it 300yd and beyond.

Mark Schronce

 

[fdshuster]

My most consistantly accurate 6mm bullet for slow twist barrels ( numerous 6BR's & 6ppc's, all with 1-14 or 1-13.5) has been the 68 gr. Berger #24411. They have worked for me since my first 6ppc build in 1998, and have a 14 year track record.

Have tried others, but keep coming back to those bullets. Reasonably priced ( about $25/100) & available everywhere.

 

[JohnHenry]

Would recommend a zero freebore for shooting the lighter bullets in a 1 in 14" twist. Would second Mark S' recommendation on N135 for the lighter bullets. Enjoy your 6BR.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

Another question on this is since this would be a new barrel should I consider getting into molly or having it melonited to try and get a barrel life increase if the plan is to use it for varminting?

Edit: I will be having the barrel chambered by Mike Bryant as he did a wonderful job on my 300 win mag that I love shooting.