.308 to 6mmBR advice

[powderburnz]

Thanks for the replies. Still kind of interested in everyone’s thoughts on my comments/questions on brass 3 posts back. Thanks

[charlie b]

The times I have fired Lapua brass (.223 and .308) for the first time it shoots as well as later reloads. After firing you can decide if you want to neck turn or not. I'd wait and see what the runout is before I trimmed anything.

I do not shoot benchrest quality groups but I haven't neck sized anything since I had a .30Herrett.

[powderburnz]

The times I have fired Lapua brass (.223 and .308) for the first time it shoots as well as later reloads. After firing you can decide if you want to neck turn or not. I'd wait and see what the runout is before I trimmed anything.

I do not shoot benchrest quality groups but I haven't neck sized anything since I had a .30Herrett.

So am I good to just load without neck sizing mandrels which is what I usually do?

[charlie b]

That's how I did it. Just treat the new brass as full length sized and ready to go.

Just for grins I do a test fit in the chamber before I get too deep in the process.

[powderburnz]

So the neck ID on the brass is .242. That surprised me. .001 neck tension out of the isn’t much!

[JW]

New Lapua brass is usually consistant and ready to load out of the box.
The first load will not be a waste.
You headspaced the barrel to the new brass so that factor is out.
The barrel break in might play a little factor is the first few shots but I think you will be pleased with the initial results.
If you want to, size the brass. It will not hurt and it might make you feel better about the first load.
I have full length sized, necked sized, and just loaded new 6BR Lapua brass--all is good.
Enjoy your new 6BR
Jack

[bsekf]

Get 100 Lapua brass and never look back. I use a collet die for the bolt gun and a body die and collet for the Encore's. I try to put them all on one hole , so I spend time trying to precision reload.

[KMW1954]

Another question as I am looking to go from 243 to 6BR. Will the 243 4 round magazine work with the 6BR? As I understand it the mag for the 308 is the same one used in the 243.

[South Prairie jim]

So the barrel install went awesome guys, thanks for the help. Now on to my next series of beginner questions. In my 308 days I acquired all my brass 3 ways. Factory loads, the range and bought used. All federal. I learned trimming, turn and weighing. So now I have new 6br Lapua. Am I wrong to say my first load/firing is almost a waste? Can’t size it if course, can’t really discern any real info from the brass prior to the first firing? Neck turn maybe?, although Lapua has about .001 thickness variance, not bad but on the 308 I had it perfect so .001 seems bad to me. Chime in please.
Neck turning is nice but not required, I will run all my new brass through a .241 mandrel to ensure the necks are round, chamfer as you normally would and dry lube the inside prior to seating. Free bore will have a say in what bullets give you the flexibility to jam or jump, in my Savage Criterion barrel NSS uses a .93 FB that worked well for 90ish to 107, later as the throat eroded slightly108 Bergers took me to 1000 yard bench rest. If you have the reamer print ? You should notice the FB and case length of 1.570 defined and 6br do not grow very fast so you have plenty of time to order a Wilson trimmer and fired case holder prior to setting and trimming to 1.550 ish. I do not weigh each lapua case rather maintain lot seperation. For dies contact HARRELS precision, they will walk you through their process. Your first loads downrange are an opportunity to be amazed.
Hope this helps

[powderburnz]

Thanks guys! Now just trying to find powder and primers. Ha!

[pdshooter2]

just to be clear....6mmbr IS NOT A COMPETITIVE 1000 YARD ROUND
6bra/6 dasher are, as are a couple of others.

there was ONE 6br at the 1000 nationals and no it did not win, not place well
it works great at 600, but just not enough for 1000.
mostly 6 dashers and 6bra.

[pdshooter2]

if you expect ACCURACY to 600 and beyond, you need to start paying attention to small details.
hitting a 3 or 4 moa plate at 1000 is not the same as shooting a 5 shot group on a paper target at 1000

[charlie b]

Yep. But, the OP specifically said fun shooting and that is my goal as well. My 1000yd target is usually a milk jug. My 600yd target is a 5" plate.

[pdshooter2]

fun does not have to be poor or even average.
you are basically talking 1 moa at distance...it aint easy no matter what internet shooters say.
conditions are everything. i saw the results from a BENCHREST 600 yard match last weekend..and there were lots of 5 shot groups way over 6 inches...from true custom rifles. you want real accuracy, not internet claims, pay attention to the details.



Yep. But, the OP specifically said fun shooting and that is my goal as well. My 1000yd target is usually a milk jug. My 600yd target is a 5" plate.

[charlie b]

I don't disagree. And, yes, conditions are everything and you have to pay attention to details. That's why I don't even go to the range if the wind is over 15mph (which is a lot of days out here).

I was referring to your statement that a 6BR is not a competitive round for 1000yd. I know it isn't, but I will end up shooting it at that range anyway. Just like my .308 and .223 are not competitive at 1000yd, but, I shoot them that far anyway. I can have a few 'misses' and not be disappointed about losing a match.

[pdshooter2]

please note your statement and the posters request.
he is done with his 308 so wants a an improvement for 1000....
neither 308 nor 6mmbr are viable small target rounds for 1000.
both have been shot at the distance in comp...nether are competitive
so why reccomend a 6br...when a 6bra will work and bbls avaiable ??



I don't disagree. And, yes, conditions are everything and you have to pay attention to details. That's why I don't even go to the range if the wind is over 15mph (which is a lot of days out here).

I was referring to your statement that a 6BR is not a competitive round for 1000yd. I know it isn't, but I will end up shooting it at that range anyway. Just like my .308 and .223 are not competitive at 1000yd, but, I shoot them that far anyway. I can have a few 'misses' and not be disappointed about losing a match.

[charlie b]

Sorry, but, I would disagree. I will be moving from .308 to 6BR as well. Why? Less recoil and more efficient cartridge. I don't want to mess with something like the Dasher. I have considered the 6BRA but the difference in vel is minimal so will probably stick with the std 6BR.

6BRA is ok and 6BR is not? So 100fps makes that much difference in performance? Interesting. So which velocity is too much? 6x47? 6XC? 6CM?

[charlie b]

Just looked at the 2019 1000 national listing.

1st place two gun was a 6BRI, but, second place was a .30

Top 6BR was 10th place and he outshot a lot of 6BRA and Dashers.

Small group for light gun was a 6.5CM

I'd hate to make definitive statements about which cartridge is better. Would the .30cal shooter have won if he had used a 6Dasher? Or should all the shooters who finished below 10th change to a 6BR cause that guy beat them?

Or will 'everyone' change to a 6BRI cause that one won in 2019?

[pdshooter2]

what nationals ?
bri is an IMPROVED, basically a 6bra
and 2 gun is a bs answer...where did he finish with just the bri....
10th is not 1st and i will bet it was not a savage.

keep an apples to apples comparison

and that was 2 years ago...what i posted was this year.


Just looked at the 2019 1000 national listing.
1st place two gun was a 6BRI, but, second place was a .30

Top 6BR was 10th place and he outshot a lot of 6BRA and Dashers.

Small group for light gun was a 6.5CM

I'd hate to make definitive statements about which cartridge is better. Would the .30cal shooter have won if he had used a 6Dasher? Or should all the shooters who finished below 10th change to a 6BR cause that guy beat them?

Or will 'everyone' change to a 6BRI cause that one won in 2019?

[pdshooter2]

2021 ibs nationals,
an internationally known organization held in montana in middle aug.
1st 6.5gt
after that 10 "bra" ackley improved 6br mixed
with 6 dashers a br blown out about 0.1
3 listed caliber(6mm) no cartridge.

in 60 plus rifles not a single 6br
a savage rifle in 61st place in 22-250
again no 6br as it is not a competitive 1000 yd round