Best choice of the short fat accurate 6’s for a short barrel

[Lynn313]

My next build is decided except for choice of calibers. It will be a Tenacity action, mag feed, on the folding version of Manners EH1A stock. The barrel will be 16” - 20”. This rifle will be a paper, crow, coyote, & possible whitetail deer killer. It’s mostly for fun and being VERY accurate. I started looking at the 6mm BR Norma, but have heard of feeding issues. In addition to it I’m looking at the 6mm dasher, & 6mm XC. Quality brass availability is a must. Everything fired in it will be a hand load, but I have no desire to form my own brass. 6mm GT gets some attention, but lack of quality brass is a serious drawback.

I did a search looking at these calibers, but almost everything I found was on a long barrel. I’m hoping several of you have experience loading and shooting these through a short barrel. Thanks for feedback.

 

[Conrad]

If you’re going to go that short then I’d add some capacity back and go 6xc. Peterson brass.

Additionally R26 plays well with the 6xc case and will still get velocity gains in a short barrel.

 

[spife7980]

6br is perfect for what you’ve said

 

[supercorndogs]

243 Egolf Improved.

 

["HeysKSFirefighter]

I have a 20" Dasher...108s over 32.4gr Varget @ 2800+ (2850fps across the Magnetospeed last weekend).

 

[Lynn313]

If you’re going to go that short then I’d add some capacity back and go 6xc. Peterson brass.

Additionally R26 plays well with the 6xc case and will still get velocity gains in a short barrel.

Thanks....a real unknown for me is what powder and burn rate. I don’t have quick load to play with. Thanks, I would have thought RL26 was to slow to be efficient in such a short barrel. Any feeding issues with the XC in a bolt gun?

People shooting it in the AR platform should have some good data with shorter barrels....thank you.

 

[Lynn313]

I have a 20" Dasher...108s over 32.4gr Varget @ 2800+ (2850fps across the Magnetospeed last weekend).

Sounds good. How’s the accuracy? Any feeding issues?

That sounds awesome & you are actually shooting a short barrel. Appreciate your input.

 

[Lynn313]

6br is perfect for what you’ve said

It seems perfect, but I’ve heard of feeding issues with it riding high coming out of the mag. The best brass available also.

 

[spife7980]

It seems perfect, but I’ve heard of feeding issues with it riding high coming out of the mag. The best brass available also.

You can just adjust the mag. But usually an aics mag with a mag kit are pretty problem free.

 

["HeysKSFirefighter]

Sounds good. How’s the accuracy? Any feeding issues?

Mine was built by Isaac Frank (RIP) in 2016 on a 700SA to be a multipurpose rifle after Indiana first allowed centerfire rifles for deer, but only 6mm or 30cals...chose 20" to be a reasonable length with a suppressor. There are no issues feeding through a PTG M5 Stealth DBM with a 5rd Pmag 7.62AC. It even feeds 6BR fireform loads probably 90-95%, but if I tried a straight BR I'd use MDT BR magazines.

Accuracy is excellent. I don't consider myself a great group shooter and typically shoot less than 400rd centerfire per year due to time constraints reloading, but the rifle is capable of far better accuracy than I am most of the time - sub-half MOA five-shot groups are the norm and on occasion I keep it steady enough to be down into the upper .2s or low .3s. My reloading process is simple - Chargemaster throws 32.4gr Varget, I put it in fireformed Lapua brass, seat a 107SMK or 108 ELD-M to 1.788" BTO, go shoot. Now I never have to worry about the rifle or the ammo causing accuracy issues, only me. Isaac built hammers...

The only "problem" my rifle has is a .272 neck for formed Lapua 6BR brass...which means fireforming or buying hydroformed Lapua 6BR brass (which is awesome, just an extra step/expense). If it was .274-0.275 I could run Alpha or Peterson brass which didn't exist when my rifle was built. Next barrel perhaps...

My kingdom for factory Lapua Dasher brass and Berger Ammunition loaded with 105 Hybrids, 108 Elite Hunters or 109 LRHTs...alas

 

[Ep1985]

I built a shorty 6BR off a Rem. 700, I got the primal rights magazine kit and have had 0 issues with feeding and it shoots excellent.

 

[Lynn313]

I built a shorty 6BR off a Rem. 700, I got the primal rights magazine kit and have had 0 issues with feeding and it shoots excellent.

i watch a video on the Primal Rights mods. It looks like it solves all the problem. Glad to hear 1st hand experience with it. With that mod it appears all the 6 BR variances work. I need to look at the ballistics between them, but I really like having the Lapua brass in 6 BR. What bullets do you shoot and what velocities are you seeing? How short is your barrel?

 

[Ep1985]

I did a 14" barrel with an Ultra 7 can. I am shooting 105 gr. Berger VLD hunting bullets with Lapua brass. Don't know about velocities. Have only shot it out to 100 yds as of right now.

 

[BrienM]

I can not address the short barrel velocity part of your question. My family shoots 3 6BR Norma's built on rem 700's. I have a primal rights kit for one and MDT 6br mags for the others. They feed and function well. They all 3 have sako or mini m16 extractors though.
Brien

 

[264win]

6 br is a great choice for what op describes.
The dasher is great as well, but not worth the extra hassle to me.

if you want more performance than the dasher offers, get a 6 cm or 243.

 

[Lynn313]

That is short! If you ever get a chance to check velocities that would be nice to look at. I’m thinking 16” with a willingness to go to 20”. I’m ordering my stock from Manners today.

 

["HeysKSFirefighter]

I'd think a 16.5" 6BR would give in the ballpark of 2600fps with a 105-108 class bullet.

 

[Yoteski]

If you're not planning on shooting much in the way of distance, the simple 6x45 is a crazy fun little round to play with. Practically free brass, basically no case forming, and really good velocity out of a short barrel for the powder charge. I had an 18" barreled AR for awhile and I wish I would have kept it.
It is really a sleeper for hunting, especially coyotes.

 

[dirtytough]

I wouldn't let the Hornady 6GT brass scare you. It is plenty accurate.

Hopefully he’s actually got it built since his post was over a year ago

 

[spife7980]

Damn. Got me. This new "similar thread" thing on the bottom of the page requires some scrutiny.

 

[Raffy]

Well since were here anyway....how did it turn out??? @Lynn313

Im looking to build a dasher here soon and velocities on the short barrel and general thoughts on the build by the OP sound intruiging to me now. Would you please share?

 

[Lynn313]

Well since were here anyway....how did it turn out??? @Lynn313

Im looking to build a dasher here soon and velocities on the short barrel and general thoughts on the build by the OP sound intruiging to me now. Would you please share?

The short barrel decision turned into a 24” Bartlein Carbon Fiber MTU. It should be ready within a couple of weeks. It also changed from a Dasher to a 6 GT. After all that I built a heavy PRS type rifle 1st and went with 6 GT. For years I’ve wanted a Dasher because of the inherent accuracy & ease to load for. I had been reading a lot and seen claims of the 6 GT being the same with accuracy & ease to load. It’s a pre-fit Impact action/barrel so if it didn’t work out I could just change barrels. It has turned out to be the most accurate rifle I own. I’m about to start load development. I’ve never done a prolonged barrel break-in, but George Gardner who developed the round with Tom Jacobs recommends 170-200 rounds at a light load 1st. I don’t know why, but I’ve shot 130 at 32.5 Varget. With the light break-in loads I can consistently shoot .2 moa 10 round groups off of a bipod at 104 yds. With 32.5 I’m getting 2840 with 105 Berger. I expect to shoot at ~ 33.5 - 33.8 which is pretty gentle and should run ~ 2950
That rifle weighs 18+ lbs so still wanted a lightweight. With the pre-fit barrels the selection is pretty limited if you want Bartlein. Brian Allen is chambering the CF barrel & putting everything together on the lightweight- CF eh1 stock. I still wanted a dasher, but have extra brass, already have dies , giraud case holder, amp case holder, etc for the 6 GT so the lightweight will be 6 GT also. If I get same accuracy as with the heavy rifle I will be very happy.

pics are from 1 build. 10 shot group

 

[Raffy]

How did you decide to go 24 instead of keep it short? Was it suppressor related? That rifle looks like it shoots like a dream

 

[Lynn313]

How did you decide to go 24 instead of keep it short? Was it suppressor related? That rifle looks like it shoots like a dream

i didn’t want to give up the velocity. I’m thinking about buying a can for 22lr & 1 big bore one day, but I don’t own a suppressor now. There’s bluffs along river around here where you can set up and see vermin 500-1000 yds off. Also, got to thinking the 24” CF with the eh1 cf stock wouldn’t weigh much more, if any, than the 16” SS.

In all honesty it’s probably being a retired old man changing his mind as much as a kid in a candy store. There’s probably not a lot of logic that went into it. I am happy with my choice of the 6 GT. I used to think I would never compete, but now have joined a range and planning on some local comps just for fun. The heavy 6 GT will do for prs & I have a lightweight 65 PRC that will do for the hunter series.

I wish I could have given you a better answer. Maybe since where I’m at having an extremely compact truck gun wouldnt see much use. If we see a coyote while driving, it’s gone before you can stop and get out. So I can probably do everything with the 24” that I can with the shorter one and have more hp. It’s been awhile since I bought the blank. It might be a 22”. When Brian Allen finishes I’ll post pictures.

 

[Raffy]

All good info. Im deciding on barrel length now so hearing any experience is helpful. It will be a prs gun so it will likely be 24-26 inches also. I cant see a reason for running a short barrel in PRS unless it is suppressed, but am interested to learn all I can about the pros and cons of each.

 

[Lynn313]

I got a surprise yesterday. Brian called me and had already cut the muzzle threads and just checking to make sure it was a 6 GT before chambering. I think it will be headed to me tomorrow. And I had remembered the barrel length wrong. It is a 22” CF MTU 7.5 twist. So I’ll be able to give you the difference between 22” & 26” with the same load. I built the one I’ll be using for PRS 26”. The 22” is going to be very lightweight with the eh1 lightweight adj cheekpiece & a Mark 5HD 3.6x18-44 on it, oh yeah….I went with the Hawkins hunter dbm. The lightweight will probably become my fav play rifle.

im definitely not a prs expert, but with any decrease of speed your margin of error a flatter trajectory gives you decreases. After I get my rifle & shoot it I’ll post pics & results.

I laugh to myself about something. I can never bring my self to call a rifle a “gun”. It goes all the way back to Paris Island in spring of ‘72. The DIs would be all over you if you said gun. They made sure you were holding a “rifle” & the only gun you had was between your legs lol. I just can’t imagine how much the Marine Corp has changed since then!

 

[Raffy]

That will be great to hear the differences in velocity between the two lengths. Thanks for sharing

 

[Lynn313]

How did you decide to go 24 instead of keep it short? Was it suppressor related? That rifle looks like it shoots like a dream

I missed you were referring to the rifle in the pics. Yep……it absolutely crazy accurate. It’s what’s led me to wonder if “any” gunsmith can build better than the pre-fits by Impact Precision. There will always be a need for good competent gunsmiths like I used Brian for my lightweight. They keep their tolerances so tight & I’m guessing thier business model is based on just producing the barrels / cartridges in high demand. That way they can program their machines and run a “batch” before reprogramming. If they have what a person is looking for I don’t think thier quality can be surpassed. The group in that pic is 10 rounds shot off a bipod with me in a hurry. They were just break-in loads. I took this time to pass it on because I’ve never seen anything shoot like that. If I had been shooting a developed load off a rest it would be entirely different.

hope I didn’t ramble to much. You & fam have a great evening!

 

[Raffy]

I enjoy reading about your build. Especially seeing it all come together so well. Im excited to see how your 22 inch barrel come together and seeing the differences.

Heading with the family on a vacation right now. Ill keep checking in so I can keep up on whats going on for sure. I hope you and yours have a good time also!