New rig

6MT

6MT

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Location
Parkland County, AB
New varmint (coyote) rig.

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Got it put together and bore sighted the scope.

Bergara B14 HMR in 6.5CM (22” 1:8”)
Insite Arms Heathen 4 port brake
Athlon Midas Gen-2 4.5-27x50 scope
Vortex Pro 30mm low rings
Vortex lens covers
Harris 6-9 inch FDE bipod
Paracord sling (Amazon special)

Ok, diving in with load development. (I really love being retired!)

I figured out where the lands are in the new Bergara with the little 90gr bullet. I also checked the magazine length maximum (no issues with this short bullet!). And I rolled up the first charge weight of 39.5gr and seated the bullet to @2.01”. (CBTO). Which gives a .010” jump.

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You can see the mag length is no issue at all. I cycle tested the sized empty cases. They chambered beautifully. And then cycle tested the loaded rounds. Again they chambered beautifully. I’ll concentrate on shoulder bumping and a tighter chambering with fire formed cases after testing.

Here’s a comparison picture with the loaded 140gr Berger bullet next to the 90gr Nosler bullet.

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That’s why I single feed the 140’s in my competition rifle.

Ready for testing. The weather was cool…+5c. I also wanted to get the scope close since it’s brand new. This test was done at 100m.

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I have 5 charge weights to test. I defaulted to my standard seating depth (.010” jump). I guess being a varmint gun, I’m looking for at least 1moa (or better). But I’ll see how that goes. As far as speeds go, I’ll be happy with an accuracy node around 3100fps. My goal is to find an accuracy node and figure out the terminal ballistics to a maximum range of 350m.

This is what I based this first test on using Varget powder.

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Yep, the Bergara sub moa guarantee is not in jeopardy…

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Five shot group at 100m during load testing.

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Here’s the data:
Temperature: +3c Wind: none
All charge weights were 10 shots

39.5gr 2862fps average ES=77.5 SD=21.2 group: .650”
40.0gr 2954fps average ES=77.0 SD=20.0 group: .860”
40.5gr 2995fps average ES=104.7 SD=29.1 group: .820”
41.0gr 3022fps average ES=81.4 SD=21.7 group: .760”
41.5gr 3059fps average ES=86.5 SD=23.2 group: .770”

I’m pleased with the first set of charge weights. You can see the accuracy node right off the start at 39.5gr. Then it opened up and then tightened as I progressed upwards in charge.

I’m going to try 42.0gr next. I don’t really want to go higher for the sake of brass life. Also, the temperature was cool. I know Varget is pretty temperature stable, but if it were +20c, the speeds would definitely be higher. Also, the speeds above published by Nosler reflect a barrel two inches longer then mine. At the 41.0gr charge, my speed was 150fps slower. That looks normal with the temperature and my barrel length.

Onwards…
 
Out today with the 42.0gr charge weight. I was pretty cold. Minus five ambiant, but close to minus ten in the enclosure. Made for an uncomfortable session.

Here’s the data.

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Ave speed: 3115fps ES=49.4 SD=13.9 best 5 shot group: .390”

This is just where I want to be with this bullet. Because my maximum range for coyotes would be 300m or so with this set up, the speed should offer great penetration (from 50m through 300m). With the big caveat that this is a hunting rifle.

It looks like some of the commenters below have issues with this set up. Firstly, hunting coyotes will be done off a tripod. Weight won’t be a problem. Neither will the magazine. As for the choice of caliber, I believe there’s nothing wrong with the 6.5CM. Haters gonna hate. And the 90gr bullet…? Objections with that baffle me. And the brake? Who cares? Braked or not, a second coyote will always hear a rifle shot. The first one will be dead. Again..haters gonna hate. My apologies to those of you who believe that a hunting rifle needs to be a pencil barrelled 6 pound wonder. For what I’m using this for (read: specialized purpose), I believe it’s ideal. You do what you do.

My impressions on a factory rifle, the Bergara? I am impressed so far. Buttery smooth action. No feeding or extraction issues. Great bolt design with a proven 2 lug beveled nose and Sako style extractor. The stock/chassis is very ergonomic. Very comfortable to shoot. The rifle is accurate….and I’m sure it would be, with either hand loads or factory ammo. I’m sure the stiffness of the stock with the internal aluminum skeleton has something to do with what I’ve seen so far (accuracy wise). My previous coyote rig was a Sako A7. That rifle had such a “floppy” fore end, that I’m sure the barrel made contact under recoil. But I’m not here to discuss Sako.

For some fun, I walked this out to 700m with hits on 8” gongs. At 300m, 400m, 500m, and 600m, there were hits on the first try. At 700m, it took 4 tries. I was close at 800m, but the cold was affecting the speed I was getting as the rounds got colder and colder. And then I ran out of ammo.

So there you have it. Take my impressions of the Bergara B14 HMR in your own way. I’m not here to try and please anyone. I thought I would tell my story so others can see how the Bergara performs (if it interests them).



My impressions on the Athlon scope coming soon.
 
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What's your opinion on the Bergara? You tend to have nice rifles so how does it compare? I try and avoid factory rifles due to most of them being crap in some way, but the Bergara tempts me from time to time.
 
So delicately put lol. I built a couple tikka varmint rigs back in the day because I'm a slow learner, as soon as I took them coyote hunting a couple times I sold them, somehow forgot the first lesson. Lightweight sporters from then on. Gotta be light and fast handling for coyotes imo. Easier to stretch a light rig for hung up coyotes than to move heavy rigs in normal ranges on that fast small buggers. Nice toy though.
 
I consider myself old (56) the Bergara looks fantastic for a coyote rifle I prefer a light weight sporter barrel - the most I will shoot is a couple rounds so heating up the barrel isn't a concern. The only drawback to this is when sighting in or testing reloads I have to wait for the barrel to cool down after a couple rounds.
 
6MT said:
Out today with the 42.0gr charge weight. I was pretty cold. Minus five ambiant, but close to minus ten in the enclosure. Made for an uncomfortable session.

Here’s the data.

IMG-2390.png


Ave speed: 3115fps ES=49.4 SD=13.9 best 5 shot group: .390”

This is just where I want to be with this bullet. Because my maximum range for coyotes would be 300m or so with this set up, the speed should offer great penetration (from 50m through 300m). With the big caveat that this is a hunting rifle.

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My impressions on the Athlon scope coming soon.
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Thanks for the post, well done!
 
Good write up and congrats on the new rig, no reason it won't be a dog killer, I know a guy that totes a 16 lb 6.5 CM on coyote hunts, he took a dog the other day at 670 yards with a 140 ELDM I have a couple new spots where I can do some long range calling and I'm going to pack the 6mm CM with 109 bergers, it weighs just over 18 lb.
 
I can say, I run 100grn hp and softies at close to 3200 fps in 6.5x55 swede and its like thors hammer compared to 223. Last one was over 200y and its lights out.

Whats the big deal about weight (to a point)? More sitting or laying prone for coyotes than anything.
 
guess you can kill coyotes many ways, hunt them or target shoot them with target rigs from a distance lol, guy my friend is related to does it all with shotgun and 30-40 a year...would love to see one of these heavy rigs guys get that many a year lol, anyway...every flavour will work, rule is the best gun for a coyote is the one in your hands, for those trying to blend as much versatility into the coyote game as possible the lightweight sporter with appropriate lower mag typical scopes will get you the most love if you actually get out there and hunt them, doesn't take long to see how heavy slow handling tanks don't make sense for small fast targets that come out of nowhere and rarely stay still for long, most of that action lands inside 200 yards...it's easy to stretch a lighter rig for the hangers than move on them inside 200 with a pig...but it's fun trying things out and learning what works best for you ;)
 
blakeyboy said:
guess you can kill coyotes many ways, hunt them or target shoot them with target rigs from a distance lol, guy my friend is related to does it all with shotgun and 30-40 a year...would love to see one of these heavy rigs guys get that many a year lol, anyway...every flavour will work, rule is the best gun for a coyote is the one in your hands, for those trying to blend as much versatility into the coyote game as possible the lightweight sporter with appropriate lower mag typical scopes will get you the most love if you actually get out there and hunt them, doesn't take long to see how heavy slow handling tanks don't make sense for small fast targets that come out of nowhere and rarely stay still for long, most of that action lands inside 200 yards...it's easy to stretch a lighter rig for the hangers than move on them inside 200 with a pig...but it's fun trying things out and learning what works best for you ;)
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We are certainly lucky to have your vast knowledge and experience to guide us. I see that Grade 3 English class was a little tough, but hey, you're keeping the coyote population down, that's what counts!
 
blakeyboy said:
guess you can kill coyotes many ways, hunt them or target shoot them with target rigs from a distance lol, guy my friend is related to does it all with shotgun and 30-40 a year...would love to see one of these heavy rigs guys get that many a year lol, anyway...every flavour will work, rule is the best gun for a coyote is the one in your hands, for those trying to blend as much versatility into the coyote game as possible the lightweight sporter with appropriate lower mag typical scopes will get you the most love if you actually get out there and hunt them, doesn't take long to see how heavy slow handling tanks don't make sense for small fast targets that come out of nowhere and rarely stay still for long, most of that action lands inside 200 yards...it's easy to stretch a lighter rig for the hangers than move on them inside 200 with a pig...but it's fun trying things out and learning what works best for you ;)
Click to expand...

Just for a little insite, you (and others who are not familiar with this style of hunting) may want to consult YouTube. There are a lot of videos about shooting coyotes from stands at distance. You may also see a lot shooting “heavy” rigs off tripods sitting and standing. And some even shooting prone.

Personally, I hunt by setting up a caller approximately 75 to 100 metres in front of my stand. And call them in. Usually I take my shots around 150m depending on how the dogs react. Sometimes I have taken coyotes at distances just below 400m. Very similar to what you might see on YouTube.

Just a suggestion.
 
Dmay said:
We are certainly lucky to have your vast knowledge and experience to guide us. I see that Grade 3 English class was a little tough, but hey, you're keeping the coyote population down, that's what counts!
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you're welcome, it was only a deep passion every winter for a decade or more, started with hand calls because the e-callers weren't legal yet...I'll head back to school just for you, glad that would help lend credibility to a redneck coyote hunting discussion on a redneck forum lol

oh, forgot to add...these small speedy targets often come in multiples...

have fun trying all the techniques and gear possible, it's a nice target rig he built, opposite end of spectrum of the shotgun guy who kills more a year than anyone else I've heard of in my circles, even when it was my jam I didn't pull off those numbers, I camp on ice more now fishing than coyote call as I got my fill but nothing changes, hunt them however ya like, he's going to use the target set up for coyotes, perfect for a landowner hunting from his heated blind (house)...target shooting ;), not versatile enough for me, I'm of the 'as many stands a day as you can fit in camp', pack light, the lighter rifle weight helps for packing but helps even more dealing with multiples inside 200, I've tried the heavies before, couple times...grade 3 education I guess, had to learn the lesson twice lol, the packing was fine really it was the slow two handed everything trying to move the rifle around on small speed targets that come in multiples and only hold still for very short periods if at all

my longest is 620 (7 lb sheep rig, I may have spun the Harris 9-13" swivel bipod on it for that one but could have been over my pack too), other than that a few around 450, they are not easy to kill, every advantage possible, for me heavy rifle slow handling was a no go, not hard to stretch a lightweight fast handling rig out for the hangers...much harder dealing with them in normal calling ranges with a heavy

Fudd alert, was doing it before YouTube lol
 
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