Anyone use both 6mm and 6,5mm cal for competition?

[woody_rod]

Just wondering if anyone uses both 6 and 6,5mm cal for F Class Open comps?

I have today just got my new 107 grain SMK's for my 6BR barrel. I have the 260 INCH also. I am thinking to use the 6mm at shorter ranges on rough days (which can be most days on our South Coast in Western Australia), and the 6,5 at the longer ranges.

Just wondering if anyone chooses the caliber based on the weather, or just use them for set ranges?

Just some thoughts on caliber choice:

- the 260 is a big burner on powder and likely barrels (3000 fps + with 139 scenar)
- more recoil in the bigger cal
- barrel is almost twice the weight of the smaller cal (4,6 kg vs 2,5 kg)
- very good long range performance
- balance a little forward

- the 6BR is cheap to run
- very low recoil
- much longer barrel life
- also very good long range performance
- balance ideal

I am thinking of using the 6BR as much as I can, and the 260 only when needed.

Thoughts?

[ovenpaa]

Personally I do not presently shoot either the 6.0 or 6.5 however a 6.5 is planned for this year. Both have been used in various guises in F Open in the UK and there is no denying the 6mm is very capable, the 7mm being the preferred choice for many in windier conditions. I have shot next to a 6BR shooter a few times and even at 1000 yards he was working well, he also aces most of the comps out to 300m in one of our local clubs. Having tried it, for me the 6BR is a dream to shoot with the low recoil making life a lot more enjoyable over a long days shooting, there is a lot of load data, a good choice of bullets and from his comments it seems to work well regardless of what he loads it with so it is a good choice if you have no desire to 're-invent the wheel'

Have you considered a 6BR improved? Downside is more work on the case preparation, new reamer, less available load data and a bit more hassle with reduced barrel life to complete the mix however it is always fun to be an individual.

[woody_rod]

Have you considered a 6BR improved? Downside is more work on the case preparation, new reamer, less available load data and a bit more hassle with reduced barrel life to complete the mix however it is always fun to be an individual.

The whole point of the 6BR for me was that it was not improved, not even neck turned. Cheaper and just get the gear and shoot. I already have enough other calibers to worry about. The question relates to using two calibers in the same competition, not a question about the caliber per se. I have no reservations about either caliber in their own right.

The idea that the 6BR shoots well any almost any load is what I was looking for.

[ovenpaa]

The whole point of the 6BR for me was that it was not improved, not even neck turned. Cheaper and just get the gear and shoot. I already have enough other calibers to worry about. The question relates to using two calibers in the same competition, not a question about the caliber per se. I have no reservations about either caliber in their own right.

The idea that the 6BR shoots well any almost any load is what I was looking for.

So an Australian F Open match could be anything from 300-1000 yards or more in the same match?

F Open competitions over here are usually either medium or long distances, not both so you would only ever need one rifle. Having watched the 6BR in use and shot it I would have no concerns about the competitiveness of one out to 600 yards.

[woody_rod]

Our Australian comps are almost always inclusive of short and long ranges. Our own club peize meeting is 300 to 1000 yards. The one coming up shortly for us here is 300m to 800m (close enough to 900 yards).

We shot on the south coast range yesterday, with typical winds for there. I shot the highest single range score with a 57 in F Std (our version of F/TR) from 60, the next closest was 55. This was all coached shooting only, but still good for the comp coming up. I generally do the coaching these days for our club.

[RDavies]

Gday Rod. Over this side of the country, quite a few of us swap barrels or guns as we go along. A few people screw their 6BRs in for 300yds up to 600yds (Some do well with them all the way to 1000). I use a 6 Dasher (or last time, a 6x47)for the shorts, up to 600 (or longer in light conditions) then run my 284 in the longs (or rough conditions).
Since I am a girly boy with recoil, I have built a 6.5 WSSM to hopefully have similar ballistics as my 284, with less recoil. A few good shooters I know have their 284s realy humming and use them all the way.
I have read on some Brit forums that in U.K, some people use 284s for 800yds and switch to big WSMs at the longs.

[1066]

Hi
I'm new to this forum and shoot both 6mmBr and 6.5x284. I originally bought a standard Savage 12F in 6.5x284 and also ordered a 6mmBR barrel from Shilen's in the US as a personal import with the idea that I would switch barrels, using the 6mmBR out to 600yds and the 6.5 from 600-1000yds.

In reallity it didn't work out quite like that. It took 8 months to get the barrel sorted out and then after changing the barrels a few times and needing to re-zero after every change I decided to but another Savage single shot receiver and a seperate stock and put together a new rifle.

So now, in general, I use the 6mm out to 600yds as planned and the 6.5 out to 1000yds. However I love shooting the 6BR and will happily shoot it out to 1000 yds in good conditions.

The 6BR also shoots well at club level 100 and 200 benchrest and is a delight to shoot and load for. One little problem is that the little short stubby case wont feed well and often need to be fiddled forward with the fingers when loading.
The 6.5x284 performs well out to 1000yds and is more forgiving in breezy conditions but I'm very aware of the fact the barrel won't last long and the fact that you don't get many shots to the pound of powder.

1066