The Gay Tiger is tempting me from shooting straight with 6BR.

davere said:

ELR is an actual game/sport/whatever - for centerfire, it's generally regarded as "longer than PRS distances", starting at something like 1500 yards and moving out from there. The reason you got the "6mm for ELR?" thing is that a 6mm of most flavors is going to struggle there - if anything, because lack of energy on target is going to limit your ability to even know you hit the target. If they don't have flashers, it's totally possible to hit the target and no one can tell.

I've hit a target at a mile with my 6GT multiple times - and the only way we knew from the firing line was that we could barely hear the impact.

That's not to say you can't go give it a whirl, and have some fun at it - especially in a casual setting, just like you can drag race the ol' Camry and have some fun with that, to

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A bit of miscommunication on my part. When using the term "ELR" I mean reaching out toward the maximum range of a cartridges' ability to remain somewhat predictable. Going forward I will keep in mind that the meaning of "ELR" has become more concrete in terms of a fixed distance (i.e., greater than ~1500 yds). Learning the nuts and bolts of a discipline is often as much about what to call the nuts and bolts as screwing with the nuts and bolts themselves.

JR1200W3 said:

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VikingSinEater said:

I really like the GT.. I’ve developed some fantastic rounds using my 550 Dillon and using volumetric powder throw with 6.5 Staball… no trickling for me!!! So if a round can use Staball I’m in… photo is a 20 rounds group out of a Faxon barrel on a day with 15 mph wind… minimal load development. I’m taking a hard look at the 25GT as well now… alpha makes brass and seems you can get the 135s up to 2700 fps out of a 26” barrel with Staball… or going 25 Creed. But that’s a problem for future me. ATM I’m loving 6GT. 6BR will be great as well, but I hate tricklers….

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I planned on using Varget for 6 BR, but in the event that I get tired of trickling in the future are there any ball powders that work well for 6 BR?

Okay folks, it’s time to bring to a close the whirlwind of anxiety that erupted after my moment of weakness, when the Tiger tempted me away from my intended partner, the steadfast 6BR.


First off, a massive thank you to everyone who chimed in with their wisdom, experiences, and opinions. Shooters generously shared their knowledge so I feel compelled to share what I have learned.

We had advocates for the traditional, tried and true 6 BR, reminding me of why I chose this cartridge in the first place:

Ease in load development
Long barrel life
No fire forming

Then the siren song of the Gay Tiger. Ah, the allure of something newer, perhaps a bit more... flamboyant, promising:

An exciting future with hotter velocities
More versatility in terms of bullet weight
Availability of factory ammo
Ability to use standard 308 mags
Wider variety of powders

And let's not forget the proponents of the 6 BRA and 6 Dasher – the slightly wilder cousins of the 6 BR. "Have you considered her slightly spicier relative who really knows how to dance (handle higher velocities, higher bullet weights) but is also presentable to the parents (brass life, barrel life, ease of load development)?"

The volume of sensible, informed yet conflicting advice from different shooters highlights a basic truth, whether you're choosing a cartridge or a wife: there are many excellent options out there but there is no “perfect.” What works well for one person and their specific goals might not even be the best, but as many here pointed out, there are more important things than obsessing over the minutiae of cartridge selection, like a good training regimen, quality reloading components, etc. Hell, a great reticle is probably vastly more impactful to shooting well as the slight advantage one of these cartridges may provide over the other.

As one shooter put it, as long as you can get Lapua or Alpha brass and run Bergers around 2800 fps it doesn't really matter for PRS. I am still developing my eye for spotting bullet trace, so I am not trying to go anywhere past 2800. More like 2700 if that velocity range provides a decent node.

Since 6 BR, 6 BRA, 6 Dasher, and 6 GT all fit the bill for the above requirements in brass, bullets, and velocity, I am going to just call it. I already told the fine folks at MPA that I am sticking with my original choice of 6 BR. Was that my final decision, they asked. Yes.

I could spend a lifetime, or at least way too much time, agonizing over specs, comparing ballistics, and considering anecdotes and still wonder if I made the "perfect" choice. After weighing the pros and cons of each from a purely logical perspective, the BRA or the Dasher appeal to me the most. But here's the lesson for me, the universal truth that applies equally to rifles and relationships: At some point, you just have to make a decision and commit.

You've done your research, considered the advice, and weighed the pros and cons. Fretting forever about whether the grass is greener on the other side is a recipe for analysis paralysis and a lonely, cartridgeless existence. So, after much soul-searching and late-night spec checking I've realized that my initial commitment to the 6mm BR was a sound one. No more cartridge selection jitters.

Ultimately, the success of any marriage, er, cartridge selection, isn't solely about the initial choice, but about the effort you put in after the commitment. It's about learning her quirks, finding the right load, and building a strong, reliable partnership.

So, I'm committing to the 6 BR. I'm ready to embrace her for who she is, work through any... feeding disagreements... that may arise, and build a beautiful, accurate future together.

Thank you all again for your advice during this moment of last-minute cartridge jitters. Through this thread I have also learned what is the diameter of 6 BR case flash holes, a more accurate definition of ELR, and that Hornady brass is shit and will get you made fun of in the SH. Now wish me luck!

P.S. To the Gay Tiger and your tempting ways: Perhaps we'll meet again in the future, when I'm ready for a second... rifle, of course. Don't tell my BR.