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My experience with a 6BR.
Bet you cant guess what platform I decided to use for a
6BR well you have to work with what you have so I used my
T/C Encore frame. I have been on a quest for accuracy for
some time now and have fulfilled my accuracy needs pretty
well with the various .17s. After reading some good things
about the 6BR, I found myself wanting one for my encore frame.
I purchased a stainless 26" barrel in this caliber from
Virgin Valley Custom Gun a few months back and put it in the
back of the safe. I gradually gathered the components needed
to shoot this gun including the dies, bullets (not used to
such big bullets), powder, scope, and load information. It
took a couple of months to gather all of the necessary stuff
but I managed to obtain all of the essentials in a few months
time. I chose to load some rounds for it using a couple of
different powders. The first time out to the range was a success
and I knew that I was going to like this barrel.
The powders that I tried were Vihtavouri n133 and Accurate
Arms 2015. I had gotten some H322 that I intended to try as
well, but didnt find the need to experiment further after
getting the desired results with the AA 2015. I found that
the load that I had the best luck with was at the book max
value, but the velocity for the load was somewhat anemic.
The load that I have settled on is 30.5 grains of AA 2015
behind a 65 grain Starke which chronographs at 3250 fps. Anemic
or not, this is what I am using. Below is a picture of a couple
of groups shot with this combination. I am pretty happy with
these groups, but may change my opinion as I start to shoot
my benchrest gun in 6PPC. These groups were both shot without
the use of windflags, shame shame.
I recently acquired a benchrest rifle and was planning on
attending an IBS match for score. I hadnt received the rifle
but still wanted to attend the match so I took the 6BR. I
was also out of the Starke bullets that I had developed the
load for so I substituted some Gentner 65 grain match bullets
that I had gotten for my benchrest rifle. I hadnt had a chance
to try them at all before the match and the first time that
I shot them was during the open range to sight in. These bullets
shot to the same POI as the Starkes and seemed to perform
equally as well, which should be of no surprise to any of
you who have used Gentner bullets. This was my first match
and was a learning experience. I was a little apprehensive
about shooting the 6BR in the match considering that every
other gun on the line that day was a benchrest rifle. The
conditions were less than ideal (read very windy) but
I was able to put the bullets into the desired location more
often than not. I managed to score a 233 4x for the day. I
managed to finish dead last (not including the individuals
that decided to pack it in) but was still very happy with
my effort. The winning score was a 249, so nobody finished
clean in the conditions. I did have a clean round with a 50
2x which is shown below. I met my personal goals for the match
and look forward to future matches. Bottom line, this barrel
shoots great and if I read the flags well enough, it will
put em in the 10 ring.
I met a lot of great people at the match and received plenty
of help. I even got a few compliments on the encore (Thank
you Bullberry for the terrific stock set). One gentleman a
couple of benches down reminded me that I was not allowed
to come to the line until I opened the bolt on my gun. Not
realizing that I was being teased initially, I was not sure
how to respond until I looked over and saw him grinning. I
then responded that he had to disturb his gun in the bags
between shots in order to even things up since I was having
to deal with a break action. Come to think of it, he should
have to adjust his trigger to 2 pounds also, and maybe put
on a 16x scope. All in fun and I have found that to be the
standard with the benchrest community thus far.
I had the opportunity to shoot a BR gun in the last round.
One of the guys that I met that day offered to let me shoot
his BR gun and I took him up on the offer. I was glad that
I did, and it made me even more anxious to receive mine. That
is the first time that I have ever looked in a 36x scope or
touched a 2 ounce trigger. Wow, is all that I have to say
about that. Of course, I had to deal with some serious switch
winds and couldnt catch my condition. I went back to the
sighter on several occasions and was only able to score a
47 1x in that round.
I hope to include a picture of me on the line with my encore,
this was taken by my coach Craig Kostyshyn who finished 3rd
for the match. After he gets the pictures developed, I will
scan one in to post here. He has helped me enter the BR world
and has been very helpful in shortening the learning curve.
His score for the day was 248 7x. Second place was 248 11x.
As I write this, I am to receive my BR gun from the FFL today
and am growing very anxious. It is mothers day weekend and
I can only hope to find an hour or two to sneak off to the
range probably will have to wait a few more days.
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