Re: 6 WOA
Scott,
I have been shooting the 6WOA since its inception, and all I have is wonderful things to say about the caliber/package. I call this a package, because that is what it is, more later. There are many caliber options available today, if compared when the 6WOA came to be, but I have not seen any that is as versatile, and inherently accurate, as this one.
Now, this does not mean that other 6mm/6.5mm options are as good, but I can almost certainly say that they don't go past the line. How can I so assuredly arrive to such an "opinion" ?, well, it's all in the grouping, vertical inches. This is how I measure my accuracy, regardless if it is 300M, 500, 600, or 1000yds.
You can make the other options almost as accurate, but get ready for some fancy loading technique, dedicated time, and plenty foreplay. My favorite is the 6mm Haggar. If anybody doubts its accuracy, feel free to ask Mr. Carl Bernosky, who favors the extra speed and inherent accuracy of same. Practically a longer 6WOA, of sorts, based on a 30Rem case.
I have shot most of the available options out there, and still have to find a user friendly cartridge as simple as the 6mmWOA. Run the brass through the FL sizer, closing the neck. You are done. Go shoot, and fireform if you must. Some believe that fireforming is a prime neccesity. Some times it is, sometimes not. The 6WOA is forgiving. My first time at 600 yds with non fire formed brass bought me a 198-12X, 198-15X, 198-13X. All dropped points were on call between the wind and myself. It is a 600 yd cleaner. Mind you, fire formed brass did close the vertical spread in half. And every little bit helps.
As to the package, it seems as if the 6WOA was specially made for the AR-15 system, and vice versa. It works great with 6.8 magazines for XTC, and single feed for prone. The speed and accuracy sweet zones intersect each other like a marriage in wonderland. Shoot SIE 70, or 107 SMKs, and Berger 70, or 90, or 105BT, and you won't have to look elsewhere. And I do mean, don't look elsewhere. If you have to, this is not your rifle.
With a SIE SMK 107, or Berger 105, you will be in accuracy heaven between 2,720-2,750fps. Don't push further. Stay with Varget, life is good, no surprises. Use CCI BR-4 or Fed 205M with the SSA SP brass. Want to cut the vertical spread a bit more? Separate the brass by weight, cut, trim, debur, etc.
What is accuracy? For many, hitting a coke can at 600yds, and tht's fine. For me, it is hitting the 3" spotter repeatedly at 600yds, with irons sights and slung. Not many calibers can do this as effortlessly, unless they are a 6PPC, 6BR, or 6XC, and its variants. But these sure don't work in the AR-15 platform. Do you get my drift now about what I mean about the "package"?
There is another recent caliber, the 6RAT, using Grendel brass (expensive), which when fireformed, stretches considerably, so that it will accept enough powder to push the envelope past 2,800 fps. My take is that the 6mm 105/107/108 enjoys another accuracy node between 2,860-2,880 fps. If you can make it work, well, you'd be in heaven.
Keep it simple, and the more simple it is, the more time you'll spend getting to know the rifle. A win-win situation indeed.
Cheers, and enjoy.
Andy
