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I have a 14" twist barrel that I can't sell, so I will use it. Using 75gr and lighter bullets - which chambering would you make?? Please support your pitch with reasons ie - easy/cheap brass or non custom dies or ... . I will use this for a prairie dog gun out to 600 yds
How long is the barrel? My initial thought would be to suggest my perennial favorite: .243 Winchester, which has the benefit of being so ubiquitous that you'll be tripping over factory ammo choices and have reloading options out the wazoo. However, if you're going to end up with a shorter barrel, maybe a more efficient use of powder is in order. I've been interested in the 6mm BR family but have had no experience with any of them. The 6mm AR or .243 LBC also look interesting, but they would need a non-standard bolt head and Grendel brass. I don't think there is a 6mm round as easy to find on store shelves and to reload for as the .243 Win, so almost any other option would almost certainly need reloading.
Id agree with Dr Thunder, whats not to like about a 243, and on a nice day even more than 600 on those p ds.
If you get up to the Volborg area say hello to my rancher friends out on Stacey Rd.
Sorta depends on your intended use and your action length. Bench gun or hunting? Short action 243AI. Long action 6mm AI or 6mm-06. How long would you like this barrel to last?
It is 24". I have only shot IHMSA in the late 80's and have not competed since, so this will be a prairie dog and coyote gun, not a competition gun . I haven't bought loaded ammo since the late 80's (except 7.62x39 and 7x57R) so a reloading only option is not a problem. I would like to keep brass making steps to a minimum.
I am leaning toward the BR, PPC or 6-250 Savage. The PPC has easy to find dies. The Savage has easy to make brass. Still doing research on the BR.
The barrel is threaded for a small shank Savage, so that is the action I will use. I have a 98 Mauser in 6Rem AI, but that is a 10" twist and will be fed 100-105gr pills for antelope.
Is a Grendel/PPC bolt face available for a Stevens 200 action??
6x47 might be cool although I've not shot light bullets with one.
Great brass(necked down Lapua), decent barrel life, should get plenty of speed from the light bullets without too much powder, low recoil.
PTG makes a PPC bolt head. SSS makes one and can convert your .223 bolt head. This conversation and the recently expired Midway 4th of July deal actually inspired me to get a PTG PPC bolt head for one of my growing collection of 12FVs. Which chambering? I'll figure that out later!
6mm Dasher
http://www.6mmbr.com/6BRImproved01.html
The Dasher is looking good - especially now that brass is available.
Why not look into 6-45mm? It works best with light bullets, easy brass to obtain, sounds like a fun cartridge. Just a thought. SHM
Its gonna cost the same to chamber any of them. So what your talking about is just the value of the barrel you have.
If you buy a new barrel your choices of bullets are endless. Sticking with the old barrel places limitations on bullets you might regret later.
You have an excellent cartridge now with the 6mm rem ai, although the twist in that could be better also for heavier bullets.
Id sooner have an 8 or 9 twist 22/250ai over a slow twist 6mm for what your doing with it.
+3 for the dasher. LR is calling the 6mm Creedmoor (yes I said 6mm) good as well.
Whats the best twist for a Dasher? I'm asking because frankly I don't know. But I'm doubting it would be a 14.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robinhood
Depends on the bullet. If I was building one for long range and using the 105 class bullet it would be an 8 twist. I have heard of guys using a 7.5 for 115's but don't know if it was necessary.
With a 14 twist I would set that thing for some serious short range accuracy and by short-range I mean out to 300-400 yards. 6mmBR with 70-75 grain bullets zipping along at a good 3200 plus would be seriously hard on coyotes and prairie dogs while being easy on the barrel, shoulder and the pocket book.
For ease of brass 6x45 or 6x6.8
I have both and run them to 700 yards on steel, p-dogs, coyote & antelope.
The 6x6.8 runs at starting 243 speeds with 10g less powder, very efficient caliber.
6x45 w 55/65g bullets are not to be overlooked...perfect for every varmint.
Dies are readily available & easy to get and
That 1-14 is going to considerably limit your bullet selection. Depending on the bullet and how fast you launch them, I'm not sure you'll even be able to shoot the 70's. For me, the ability to obtain top quality brass, such as Lapua brass, is always top priority. You said you'll be loading your own ammo so having factory ammo available is a moot point. If it were me, my top three picks in order would be 6-284, 6 BR, 243win. Since you'll only be shooting shorter lighter bullets a 6-284 in a short action will work fine as a repeater. With the 6-284's velocity potential the extra rpm's it'll be sending out the bullet it could stabilize heavier and higher BC bullets that a slower shooting cartridge won't. I have a 6-284 with a 1-12tw Lilja barrel built on a short action and with 75gr Vmax it's a death ray on coyotes.
6ppc 14 twist is most common using 55 to 60 grain bullets. Probably best use for.your barrel.
If you want a dasher to get the best out of it you want to use bullets in the 105 gr range with an 8 twist
14 twist? 1st choice no-turn CIP chamber 6BR, 55BK, 55 NBT or 58VMAX, 3800-3900fps the right powder, HAMMERS PD's at 600. Brass lasts forever, is readily available, and stupid easy to tune a good load. Only drawback is setting up a reliable repeater without spending money, I'd sled it or use a single shot action.
2nd choice would be 223 case based 6mm, 6x45, 6x45AI, 6TCU etc. Maybe a 6x47 or 6-204 if you can get 222 mag or 204 brass cheap. Take 200-300FPS away from the above, easy to set up as a repeater, brass is good cheap and available in 223, you can run the brass as hard as you want and not feel bad about throwing away a case.
6BR's are just too easy to get shooting good at decent velocity and barrel wear to really want to venture into wildcatville. 6BR you only cry once- when purchasing hundreds of brass, BUT YOU ONLY CRY ONCE, that stuff will last 50+ high pressure reloads if you anneal the necks a few times. Per shot case expenses usually ends up LOWER than just about anything but free 223 range brass.
Dang, almost had my mind made up on a PPC, then you throw the attributes of the BR at me
I have 6br, given your twist rat, I'd go in this order. 6br,6ppc, 6x45, you're limited to 60 plus or minus grain bullets. 6br is great all around caliber and very effective on prairie dogs. Brass lasts a long time. 6x45 brass is cheapest and would give you slightly less range than 6br IMO.
A 14 twist may be able to stabilize a 65vmax at sea level. It should be stable at 4000ft elevation. PD's are found at ~2500 ft and up.
6BR and a 65vmax at 3400 tears PD's UP.