28" is where you want to be. I've had 22 24 26 28 and a 30.
- Thread starter Dthomas3523
- Start date
I have a 28" 6GT. FWIW, almost all of the posted load data is from 26" barrels.
Been playing with 115 DTACs and different powders. RL 16, RL 15.5, N555, H4350. I decided to stay with 15.5. Chamber is a standard .120 freebore. It likes .040 jump. I ran tests multiple times to ensure repeatability. This load is very consistent.
Two weeks ago the match I shot was pretty much the last of that lot of 115 DTACS. So when switching to the new lot# I figured it was time to try the new SAC bushing . No matter what powder charge or seating depth I tried I couldn’t get it to group as well at 500yds or get SD/ES as good. Though don’t get me wrong they still shot decent just not up to what I’ve come to expect with this barrel and DTACS. So I loaded up enough to foul the barrel and check zero since I’d recently cleaned it. Below are the results though I only did two 5 shot groups the results were good enough for me.
115 DTACS
H4350 35.8grs
SAC neck bushing
Exact same load as above but back to using my Redding bushing
115 DTACS
H4350 35.8grs
SAC neck bushing
Exact same load as above but back to using my Redding bushing
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No mandrel used? Just bushing die and seat bullets?
Groups with the SAC bushing being used. Not sure if it’s runout or the flare that SAC uses being at a bad spot for my seating depth.
SD with the SAC bushing was 7.5-9.
SD with the Redding was 3-4
Groups with SAC bushing
Normal groups with the Redding bushing
SD with the SAC bushing was 7.5-9.
SD with the Redding was 3-4
Groups with SAC bushing
Normal groups with the Redding bushing
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Not all dies are created equal, no matter the price. That 'spensive juice ain't always worth the squeeze.
@drglock
It could be a slight difference in neck tension between the two dies? The sizing could be slightly different resulting in a case capacity difference. I bet slight tweaking would result in groups of equal size. If not you could go back to the other sizer and live happily ever after.
It could be a slight difference in neck tension between the two dies? The sizing could be slightly different resulting in a case capacity difference. I bet slight tweaking would result in groups of equal size. If not you could go back to the other sizer and live happily ever after.
This was with using Redding die with the SAC universal neck bushing. Only thing I changed out was the bushings. So yes just gonna stick with the Redding bushing.
Gotcha. For some reason I thought you were using their complete die.
Same here
My bad I did say bushing die in the original post.
Micrometer the inside edge of the two bushings, Chances are they arent the same. Even a redding TiN coated 267 bushing sizes a thou smaller than a standard stainless 267. Then compress RCBS, Forster, Hornady 267 VS the Redding and they all measure a lil different! Sometimes a thou of nk tension will make that big a difference.
Redding bushings are often a different size than what is marked on them.
I assume this is the 21st Century Innovation mandrel?
Not to get off topic with load data but what magazines are working the best with the GT?
I've talked with a number of shooters who claim they're seeing lots of feeding issues at matches
I've talked with a number of shooters who claim they're seeing lots of feeding issues at matches
These work amazing and are very reasonably priced!
I've run arc aics mags(not in production currently) with arc, zermatt, impact, lone peaks with no issues. My first 6gt was on an impact and magpul pmags worked well after taking a dremel to the top of the lips and shortening them a bit. Tried metal mdt aics mags that didn't have a binder plate and they were problematic. Aw mags work well with my CDG action as long as you load them forward in the mag to where there case shoulder is up against the ridge in the magazine. I know there was a guy who 3d printed a spacer kit(similar to 6br spacers, but slightly shorter for longer coal) and put them in accurate aics mags and had good luck.
Magazine lip measurement 6GT
I have 4 relatively new MDT mags. Two are 10 round and two are 12 round. I shot my third PRS match last weekend and had all sorts of feeding issues. It was suggested that I needed to adjust my feed lips. I am shooting a 6GT. The gap measurements between the four magazines aren’t remotely...
www.snipershide.com This thread has a lot of info in it.
Tuned feed lips with a mag tool and they’ve been 100% reliable.
AICS mags for two seasons without a single problem in my Impact. I did tune the feed lips but just to make feeding smoother.
MDT 12 round metal AICS. Only issue is that I can only run 11 rounds reliably. If I run 12, the first round doesn't like to load every time. Generally not an issue as I usually only run 10 rounds when competing. When running 10 I don't recall ever having any feeding issues. I never had any feeding issues running 12 rounds when I was shooting 6.5 CM using the same mags.
Quick brass question
Is anyone running the Hornady GT brass? With Lapua on the horizon I'm thinking about grabbing a few hundred to get me started.
I don't really want to spend money on Alpha just to replace it with Lapua.
Is anyone running the Hornady GT brass? With Lapua on the horizon I'm thinking about grabbing a few hundred to get me started.
I don't really want to spend money on Alpha just to replace it with Lapua.
Well, this took a lot longer to get back to than I had hoped. However, I learned a ton.
I redid the ladder test and went higher than I ever plan on running it to try to learn to identify pressure better. The last 3 charges started to have a heavy bolt lift.
Pics of the ladder and the last few charged cases closer up.
Groups were better than I expected:
I dialed some elevation on the white target so I didn’t chew up the aim point.
I have the chronograph data, but made some mistakes with the OCW sessions, so I have to separate them out correctly. Otherwise I’d put up the pics.
33.0: Avg - 2867
2865
2857
2866
2874
2881
SD 8.3, ES 24
33.5: Avg - 2901
2885
2901
2909
2905
2906
SD 8.6, ES 25
34.0: Avg - 2939
2922
2939
2949
2927
2956
SD 12.7, ES 34
I planned on running the speed around 2800-2850. Thinking I’ll drop the charges down to 32.0-33.0 and retest in that range. Also will need to do a seating depth test at some point. This was just a guess on the seating depth.
Overall, I’m am pretty happy with the results, being the first time I have ever tested my own reloads for groups and beyond just a ladder test. I’d love additional insight from anyone willing to offer it. Thanks a ton for all the help!
Thought I had cross posted this here as well, but must not have.
Original thread on accurate shooter:
I redid the ladder test and went higher than I ever plan on running it to try to learn to identify pressure better. The last 3 charges started to have a heavy bolt lift.
Pics of the ladder and the last few charged cases closer up.
Groups were better than I expected:
I dialed some elevation on the white target so I didn’t chew up the aim point.
I have the chronograph data, but made some mistakes with the OCW sessions, so I have to separate them out correctly. Otherwise I’d put up the pics.
33.0: Avg - 2867
2865
2857
2866
2874
2881
SD 8.3, ES 24
33.5: Avg - 2901
2885
2901
2909
2905
2906
SD 8.6, ES 25
34.0: Avg - 2939
2922
2939
2949
2927
2956
SD 12.7, ES 34
I planned on running the speed around 2800-2850. Thinking I’ll drop the charges down to 32.0-33.0 and retest in that range. Also will need to do a seating depth test at some point. This was just a guess on the seating depth.
Overall, I’m am pretty happy with the results, being the first time I have ever tested my own reloads for groups and beyond just a ladder test. I’d love additional insight from anyone willing to offer it. Thanks a ton for all the help!
Thought I had cross posted this here as well, but must not have.
Original thread on accurate shooter:
6GT is about as easy as Dasher.
Any reason you're going so long?
26" is common. 28" seems a little more lengthy.
I personally have used 22" for 2+ years. No desire to go longer.
Just buy Alpha. Shoot it until it dies, then buy Lapua. Hornady is trash and your primer pockets will loosen quick.
I have Alpha brass that has 25+ firings on it, and I still use it for local comps just fine.
What's your purpose? BR, PRS, or just for fun?
If you're doing the latter 2, I wouldn't even bother with seating depth test. You're wasting time and components at that time.
Choose the speed you want, load, and shoot it.
Good question. Latter 2 mostly. Local PRS competitions is primary focus. Something to ring steel with friends secondary.
Although, I would like to try out mid range to 1000 yd f-class at some point as well. More for fun than trying to be serious about it. Also as a way to judge how I do at the reloading bench more than just the hit or miss of prs/steel plinking.
If you have a lot of new brass, you may as well pick one of those loads and shoot it all at once. You'll need to rework your load for the second firing. Expect a 40fps increase and reduction in ES/SD.
Yeah, part of what I was doing with the learning to reload process. Figured I would get through the new brass and learn the process, try to learn what matters and how to improve my efficiency. These speeds are faster than I wanted to run, but if the lower speeds produce similar results with groups I’ll probably load the rest and have a good day at the range.
Having loaded less than 100 rounds total, I am probably waaay overdoing the measuring and recording of data. But, I don’t know what I don’t know yet.
Have you used the Hornady GT brass?
Yes, I was an early adopter of 6GT. Prior to alpha and alpha OCD.
I have upwards of 20k rounds fired in 6GT and numerous barrels and builds in it.
Cool
I know it's nothing special, but I'd think it'll last a dozen or more firings based on my experience with Hornady 7 wsm brass.
I'm not into running over pressure loads
When you get a chance to reload some of your brass that was loaded to higher pressure let us know how the primers seat. That's Hornady yeah?
I got 6 firings out of hornady before I got case head separations with 6gt. Not ever getting close to pressure.
You don't need to run high pressure to realize the Hornady brass sucks. I got 4 firings out of one batch going 2725 and then primers were falling out.
Spend the extra cash, get Alpha (or wait for Lapua).
Yes, mine is hornady. I’m curious how they will be. I looked at this as a cheap way to start climbing the reloading curve. It’ll do what I need it to for now. When this brass is shot out, I’ll prob move to Lapua or Alpha if the lapua isn’t out yet.
My first barrel I ran HDY brass and 108bt bergers with rl16, it was an extremely accurate combo. HDY brass will not hold you back precision wise. I was running it warm at 2960 from a 26" 236 bore. I started getting loose primer pockets 3-4 firings. I have been using 600x pcs ocd brass last 3 years, and it's on its it 12th cycle, and it still has pockets as tight when HDY was new. I went to 28" barrels and still run heavies around 2860-2920 with dtacs and 109s, so prob less pressure than that first barrel.
That being said, if I were jumping into GT, and plan to reload, I'd go alpha gt all the way, it's an excellent product. I now have near 1500 pcs of it, and I can mix and match brass from the 4 different lots and it all shoots the same sorted separately or mixed, as I tested this prior to mixing it. Lapua will be great, but when and how often will it be available? If you find it, buy 6+ boxes, that should get you through at least 3-4 barrels, cuz who knows when you'll find it in stock again
That being said, if I were jumping into GT, and plan to reload, I'd go alpha gt all the way, it's an excellent product. I now have near 1500 pcs of it, and I can mix and match brass from the 4 different lots and it all shoots the same sorted separately or mixed, as I tested this prior to mixing it. Lapua will be great, but when and how often will it be available? If you find it, buy 6+ boxes, that should get you through at least 3-4 barrels, cuz who knows when you'll find it in stock again
Same issue I have with my MDT 12 Rounders in my MPA Matrix Pro.
I’m running the MPA Matrix.
Curious what are you running load wise? I got only 200rnds on mine so using 32.8grns or Varget and 109's getting 2820 all factory setup.
Has anyone tried N540 in the 6GT?
Berger has 109load data for 540 start 30.2 max 33.2 2830fps 92% fill
N135, 140 is better suited
What length barrel? When I was first breaking in my GT, I was using factory ammo with a 105 hybrid. It shot lights out. I tested the last five shots with about 175 rounds down the barrel, and it ran 2,964 with an ES of 12, and SD of 4. My barrel is a 27" Krieger.
The powder was 33.5gr of what looked like either N150 or RL-16. I have both, and am going to start testing now that I have my hands on some hybrids finally.
So how do you decide what length to seat the bullet? Just mimic overall length of the commercially loaded bullets and start shooting?
Mine is a 26” bbl. Which factory ammo was using the 105?
