6mm BR stub barrel project update

[NFG]

I'm finished except for the painting and making a new fore arm spacer to blend with the alum fore arm.  First loads didn't do too bad...low on the velocity - 2900 tp 3050 f/s...accuracy so-so at 5/8 to 3/4".  Ended up making two fore arms...the first was not wide enough and didn't fit quit right,  even though I had planed on adding a piece of wood to fill it out.  The second is just solid Alum mated to a bridge type piece attached to the barrel.

First loads didn't do too bad...low on the velocity - 2900 tp 3050 f/s...accuracy so-so at 5/8 to 3/4".  Ended up making two fore arms...the first was not wide enough and didn't fit quit right,  even though I had planed on adding a piece of wood to fill it out.  The second is just solid Alum mated to a bridge type piece attached to the barrel.

I tried several powders...Varget, Benchmark, H4895 but none were outstanding in either velocity or accuracy and they all started sticking cases around the 46 Kpsi mark.  Finally tried AA2230.  First loads at 33 gr and 58 Horn VMax bullet gave 3300 f/s but stuck the cases.  Dropped to 32.5 gr and got the first tight group at 0.500" but vertical and still stuck one case...dropped to 32.2 and got the 0.250" group but still vertical.  Velocity is around 3200 - 3250 f/s, not too bad for 16 3/4" but still low for the bullet weight.  I will drop to 32gr and go hunting.  The bullets are seated touching the lands at 2.15" COAL.

I will leave this barrel alone and just shoot it until the sagerats go underground in a couple months or the accuracy starts dropping off.

Sighted in zero at 200 yds, it is 1.5" hi at 100 and 3" low at 250.  Just right for rats out to about 250 yds, then drops like a rock beyond that.

Sometimes things turn out OK...I was wondering about this barrel and how this project would turn out.  I have a 375 JDJ cal stub barrel in the back of my mind for the future if I can find a cheap barrel to use.

'Njoy

The pics.

[dw06]

Looks like ya did good NFG. I like the fore arm,looks cool. Should do a number on the sagerats for sure!

[PHATINJUN]

Nice job NFG

[NFG]

Thanks for the compliments...it will work great for what it was intended for but it definitely needs about 10" more barrel for this cartridge to really shine, plus it is almost self regulating as far a pressure goes...the cases start sticking in the chamber well before the action locks up.  I've started making more 6mm BR out of 7mm BR...I've just about used up the 15 original load workup cases.

I found a "cheep" A&B .375 cal barrel at Midway I will get ordered.  I have a SMLE action I started to do the 375 JDJ on but it got pushed to the back burner somewhere along the way...I will have to think about it for a while to decide if I want to do a stub barrel on the NEF, just go with a 444M or 450 M factory barrel or finish up the bolt gun.  I have all the components ready...cases, bullets, dies, slightly modified magazines for the SMLE...everything but the reamer.   I think the NEF is such a neat platform as long as you keep things in perspective and I orginally wanted a fast handling short range, multi-shot relatively heavy hitter, that I might just do both.  A 350 gr bullet at 2000f/s is plenty good enough for any two or four legged critter sniffing around the back door up to no good.  Heh, heh, heh.

Too many decisions...not enough time...not enough money.  Where's the Lotto when you want it?

'Njoy

[NFG]

Loaded up 17 rounds of  6MM BR and took it out squirreling today.  Hit more than I missed out to a bit over 200 yds.  Wind was blowing 25-35 mph and rocking everything all over the place plus making the rats jumpy.  This one is definitely a keeper.  My 17 Rem with 20 gr Vmax about 4300 f/s was connecting better with it's velocity...hardly any air time.  Hold on the ratz weather edge as far as I could see them and the reticles didn't cover them up...but that's no contest anyway...the NEF handle's quick and the 17 Rem weighs 14 lbs and is  just tough to hang it out and nail'em.  Different shooters...different purposes...ALL FUN.

Temp is going from just right to freaking HOT by Sat...mid 90's...way too hot for this area and this time of year.  Breaking records all over the place.  I need to look for a cool place to hang out until next week.

This post will  be the last of this topic.

'Njoy

[NFG]

whoops