There seems to be a decline in factory match grade bullets for fast twist barrels such as the 6mm 14 twist barrels. I’ve only found or was told about custom boutique bullets that you sometimes have to wait 6 -12 (or more) weeks for. Does anyone have any experience substituting varmint bullets for match bullets with success in cartridges like 6 PPC and/or 6 BR? If so, what is your barrel twist, bullet brand and weight?
1-8 twist 6BR Criterion barrel Savage action. 90-105 grain Berger Sierra Hornady bullets shoot great. 1-14 should shoot light flat base bullets like V-Max should be accurate
IF you are shooting Berger 68 gr Flat Base bullets you have a chance. Any others not custom and you are hosed. A 1:12 to 1:14 twist works well. Using Varmint bullets instead will only disapointe you. My Lilja 1:12 shoots Berger 68gr FB decently but not as accurate as various customs I have used with my No Neck Turn 6BR. My 1:12 Lilja shoots Berger 88 gr Varmint Match FB bullets at 200 yards good enough to shoot posables in Varmint for Score when it is too windy to use the 68 gr Bullets. I have purchased custom bullets through Bullet Central and other on-line retailers so keep checking. Good Luck
I have a 12 twist 6 GT and tried the Berger 88gr Match Varmint FB High BC bullets with no success but did a little better in my 10 twist 6 BRA so I’m gonna try them in my 6 Grendel.
I shoot a 6ppc with a ~14” twist. I have had great results using Berger BR Column bullets which are around 64 grains. Shooting local club matches at 300 yards I have achieved my personal best of 200 3x and a small group of 0.375”
Berger column you say, that’s some dang good shootin. I’m limited to 100 yards and they won’t shoot that good in my 14 twist. What’s your secret?
I don’t mean to be a Debbie downer, but if you’re consistently having a problem finding a bullet that works I would probably re-barrel my rifle with a little tighter twist rate, and that would open up my variety of bullets you have to choose from, I think in the long run that would probably be your best bet. That is just my personal opinion.
Ha! I wish I knew. As I said, those results are personal bests - I wish I did it more often.
The gun is an old (s/n in 160s) Bat 3Y action with a Hart barrel glued into a short range BR stock. I got it from the estate of a fellow shooter. It took me nearly two years to find a load and learn how to shoot it (free recoil style). I shoot a light load of 26.5 grains of VV N133 out of lapua neck turned 220 russian brass using cci br4 primers. Those BR Column bullets just work in this barrel.
You are correct, I bought this gun used (6 PPC 14T) basically for the action and stock, the carrier pigeon is landing tomorrow with my new barrel. I just wanted to see if what the previous owner told me was accurate, 66gr Bart’s and VV N133….
I like Bart’s Ultra 68g flat base over N-133. I’ve also had success with Berger 68g flat base. Shooting a 6PPC 21 3/4” Bartlein barrel with 14 twist. I presume you are talking about 100 yard benchrest with the 14 twist. I have shot Hornady VMAX bullets for fun and they are remarkably precise but not enough to win most 100 yard benchrest.