6BR load development - pick a load (pict of target)

TargetNorth

TargetNorth

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Hey All,

Shown is the load development for my 6mmNorma BR. It is a Shilen barrel (Thanks Mystic!) on a Savage 11 with a Sightron SIII (Thanks ATRS!) and a MDT Tac Chassis. Love the gun, can't believe how well it shoots. Just got some new Brass (about 800 rounds through 100 brass so far) so I was gonna retune the load to see if I could increase the accuracy with the fancy new brass. Last fall I shot the "300m 0.5 MOA challenge" and averaged 0.54 MOA over 5x5 targets. I think I can do better but something something kids and family and time...

Anyway, bullets are 70 grain V-Max's. Powder is Varget. Load goes from 31 to 32.7 gr of Varget. All are 3 round groups, at 100m. Shot from bags on a bench. (somehow I wrote the last 2 loads as 22 but they are 32.... something something attention to detail...).

Basically from the top left across the top the load increases, then continues from the bottom left across the bottom right. The load of 31.3gr had a flier, my buddy drove up as I was shooting and I shot a tiny bit before I intended. Looking at the surrounding groups I suspect it would have been a tight group if not for the flier. Target #4 I also shot before I expected but have no excuse for that.

So - what do you guys recommend for continuing on building this load?

To be honest, these groups are so friggin tight I'm not convinced any of the error is not mine as the shooters. Holding a rifle to shoot 0.2 inches vs 0.4 inches is really hard. I started this paper (it's further down outside the picture) with my "load" of 31.5 Varget and my old brass that's been shot through 8 times (and annealed etc). The group was 0.4" with 5 shots. Still pretty smoking. That load shoots normally around 1.5" at 300m with 5 shot groups (if it's not windy... lets not get into wind lol).

Thanks for looking, appreciate everyone's thoughts.

Barry
 
I'd keep going then. You want to find to top edge of that node then tune into the sweet spot. Who knows maybe that node tightens up more?
 
Glad the barrel is shooting well for you.

at 300m, test 31gr, 31.5 and 32.7gr... and +/- 0.2gr on either side in 0.1gr increments.

There is no point in hot rodding your load for 300m shooting. If the 31gr shoots as well at 300m, what more could you possibly want.

High pressure loading doesn't always equate to best accuracy.

Enjoy and you are well on your way.

Jerry

at 300m, top tier F open rifles will hold 5rds sub 1". That is pretty much the limit of man and machine at this time. If you can maintain, 1" or better for multiple 5rds groups... that is as good as I would say the Vmax could possibly shoot. Might have to switch to Berger or custom to keep accuracy consistent????
 
@mystic - I'll try those loads you suggested and see what they do. I'm not set on vmax's but as I'm not competing I'd prefer cheap bullets. I also have been Shooting 107gr amax's, and 70 gr Sierra match kings. All seem to shoot similar but there are lots of variables, more then I can account for. I agree i do not chase the hottest load, and the gophers don't seem to notice a few 100 fps here or there.

@Jay - the 6br doesn't feed very well no. It's not terrible, but if I loaded 10 rounds in the 308 mag, I'd probably have at least a miss feed. I've though of modifying the follower like a .223 short action mag, it gets a kind of plug at the back because the round is short. The sharp shoulders on the 6br don't help either. Normally for target shooting I single load anyway.
 
@mystic - I'll try those loads you suggested and see what they do. I'm not set on vmax's but as I'm not competing I'd prefer cheap bullets. I also have been Shooting 107gr amax's, and 70 gr Sierra match kings. All seem to shoot similar but there are lots of variables, more then I can account for. I agree i do not chase the hottest load, and the gophers don't seem to notice a few 100 fps here or there.

@Jay - the 6br doesn't feed very well no. It's not terrible, but if I loaded 10 rounds in the 308 mag, I'd probably have at least a miss feed. I've though of modifying the follower like a .223 short action mag, it gets a kind of plug at the back because the round is short. The sharp shoulders on the 6br don't help either. Normally for target shooting I single load anyway.
 
The only way to get good load info is large groups at long distance. If your range is longer go to 500m. A minimum of 5 shots like wad said before.

Looking good so far
 
Accuracy testing at long range becomes more of a weather report than a reflection of the load. Stay at 100 yds for your load testing.

5 shot groups are a much better indicator of accuracy than 3 shot groups.

I use a very similar load in my 6BR. I use 70gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and Varget. Accuracy is excellent as you have found. I have used this load out to 500 yds with excellent results. I have done some 700 yd shooting with it but wind does become an issue. The 70gr BTs are hell on gophers. ;)
 
If you look at Tundras groups on 1/2 min challenge at 100 y he had a pretty impressive groups using Varget and 105 gr Berger Hybrids and he shoots very well in F class at 900 m. two fellows in F class in Ottawa are using same loads and they shoot good.
NO ONE USES HORNADY BULLETS IN F CLASS THAT I KNOW.
To much variances in base to ogive on Hornady bullets see Gerry if he has some Berger 105 hybrids, and get yourself some lapua brass and prep brass
you will not be disappointed
manitou
 
Twist is 1-7".
@Manitou210, I shoot Hornady, Sierra, and Berger's in the 70 grain weight. I know there are more expensive bullets out there, but when the gun is already shooting groups under 1/2 MOA pretty consistently, it's hard to spend more on ammo when I'm only shooting at gophers, and shooting at lots and lots of gophers. If I start competing I'm sure I'll look at what other competitors are using and see what results I can get. (I won't tell you what brand of really cheap bullets I shoot from my .223 at gophers lol...)
 
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