I'm in the process of purchasing a Remington 40-X target rifle that has a shot out .308 Winchester barrel. I shoot some local 100 yard bench competition. The range that I shoot at normally has winds 5-20 MPH on most days. We rarely shoot in calm weather. My first though was to go with another .308 barrel, but that may be just too much caliber for my needs. Any recommendations on caliber that will perform under these conditions?
My thanks in advance for any recommendations!
Tell us more about the style of competition.
And which version of the 40X?
Depending on the yardage, 6mm br, 6x47, 6.5x47, 30 br
6 BR will put a smile on your face. It cuts the wind good, easy to load for, good brass available, low recoil and every one I have had or shot has been very accurate. Perfect for your stated purpose IMO.
drover
For 100-200 yard benchrest competition, the 30BR is hands down the way to go. Get a 17 or 18 twist barrel, some good 115 to 120 grain bullets, H4198 powder, and it will shoot into one hole every day.
For 100-200 yard benchrest competition, the 30BR is hands down the way to go. Get a 17 or 18 twist barrel, some good 115 to 120 grain bullets, H4198 powder, and it will shoot into one hole every day.
THIS!
He shoots in high winds, so 30 cal 117's are a no go.
6 XC
Tubb sells some fantastic brass at $69 per hundred
Shoot 115's at 3050
Very, very easy case to tune enabling you to shoot very tiny groups
I have several of the 6 xc's, and the installation of a RAS Mike Ezel tuner will simply amaze you in how tiny the groups are with little effort.
The 6 BR would be a great option until you mentioned high winds, you are in need of the 115's...a decision you will not regret.
Get a 30" 7.5" twist, Brux is my favorite, Krieger is second.
If you can shoot an unturned blank on the rifle, the use of this type of barrel will allow you to get more than one very, very good chamber on the barrel. Finished length on the first barrel should be 30", then the next chamber will probably will put the barrel length at 26", with amazing accuracy. I do this all the time on my own guns.
You don’t mention if your rifle is a single or a repeat action...
Today’s benchrest guys -
If you shoot 100 yds bench precision wise you’d want to go PPC, score wise 30 BR... if you check the benchrest guys NBRSA goes PPC, IBS goes 30BR.
the difference here is the 30 BR makes a bigger hole so it can impact your score -
Otherwise stated.. if you shoot for groups = PPC, if you shoot for score = 30BR
In reality it depends what your goals are...
If you are trying for tiny groups, you will also want to think about neck turning, or at least use high quality brass and get a custom reamer so you are controlling neck clearance.
I schooled under a great Benchrest gunsmith... so I’m somewhat tuned into this stuff.
I’m also a OCD type precision shooter who likes to stack round into whatever I’m shooting.
There is one winning competitive shooter that’s replied...
My shooting is done off separate front and back rests. I don't have the rifle yet, so I don't know whether or not it is a repeater or single shot.
Thanks for you input, guys! I appreciate all of your feedback!
There is one winning competitive shooter that’s replied...
More than one actually, but point noted......
I know I’m not qualified to answer!
I'm not competitive, but I am a winner and I say 6br.
SRShooter: I purchased a new all factory stock Remington 40XB-BR-KS in caliber 6x47 Remington several years back. The reason I bought the Rifle in 6x47 was because I had tried for YEARS to get one in 6m/m Remington Bench Rest with no luck. The demand for them was so great they never got to the west coast where I lived back then.
Anyway the 40XB-BR-KS is so exquisitely accurate I would recommend that to you but the bolt face is wrong.
Later I had a full custom BR type 6m/m Remington Bench Rest Rifle made up for my uses in that wonderful caliber.
It also is stunningly accurate and does well in the windy Colony Varmint fields where I use it mostly.
I vote for (recommend to you!) the wonderful and wonderfully accurate 6m/m Remington Bench Rest cartridge and have your barrel chambered/necked to fit your choice of flat flying and wind bucking bullets.
Light recoil, slow to heat barrels, long barrel life and the aforementioned wonderful accuracy - plus it is EASY on brass IME.
Best of luck to you with whichever cartridge you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
The OP is shooting in very high winds...don't forget this fact...he needs BC
As Wayne Shaw said I believe-30BR. Mike Stinnett shot the World Record 5 shot group at .007 with a 30 Grendal wildcat. I use 112-118 bullets in my 30BR and a 17twist Lederer barrel.
Remember the 40X receiver is the same as the 700, it ain't special. All of them are short actions, even the 300WM. A few were solid bottom single shots.
Is the 6 PPC a caliber that I should consider?
You don't have the bolt face for it, but it's absolutely worth a look if you don't mind the expense of a new bolt.
It is what wins all the short range stuff I do believe.
Might look at 6 Grinch too.
SRShooter - if you are going to shoot NBRSA... yes 6PPC
IF you are going to shoot IBS - 30 cal is what they use.
Go to the National Bench Rest Shooter Association NBRSA website, and the IBS (International Benchrest Shooters) and look at the equipment list and you’ll see the majority of the shooters use those.
Aw heck..
Here is the first link
https://www.nbrsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Equip-list-3-2019-Sheet1.pdfHere is for the IBS ... page down until you see the equipment list.
https://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/tag/international-benchrest-shooters/
Bottom link is the score nationals, which is best edge scoring, bigger bullets for the win.
Lots to think about & consider, guys! Thanks so much!
Is this sanctioned competition, or just club guys having fun?
I also missed where you said which version of 40X it is.
I picked up The 40-X yesterday---a very, very nice rifle for its age. It is a repeater. I'm just getting together with some other shooters a day a week---a few $$'s in the pot, but nothing at all serious. Even though the former owner said it was shot out, I bought a box of Federal 308 Win Target Ammo to see for myself. Thanks again, Guys!
A quote from a recent article pretty much sums it up my recommendation, the mm Creedmoor (and I have one as well, a Christensen Arms MPR): "The 6 Creed offers excellent accuracy, low recoil, and good barrel life, and it shoots flat and bucks the wind. But equally important, you can get match-ready ammo from Hornady, Barnes, Federal, and others without needing to reload".
He's shooting at 100 yards, the Creedmoor has much more juice than he needs.
Give it a good cleaning and see what it does. If it shoots leave it alone or get the barrel turned back and ream it with a tighter chamber. If going new the 6mm is attractive, there are so many good ones it is a difficult choice but I would opt for the medium sized one twisted for 115 bullets ( 1-7 to 1-7.7).
The 6mmx47, 6 Creedmoor and 6XC are all stand outs. I would probably go 5 CM due to cheaper dies and components.
aalf,
What bullets would you be leaning towards for the short game with a 6br?
Powder?
I'm intrigued by the short range vs high wind trade-off.
aalf, What bullets would you be leaning towards for the short game with a 6br?Powder?
My recommendation was based on a guess that you were just a "club" shooter amongst friends, not a balls to the wall BR competition, kinda based on buying a wore out 40-X for a platform.
Good read here:
https://www.6mmbr.com/100BR.htmlhttps://www.6mmbr.com/6mmbr.html
Oh wow! lotsa of things to think about from some very knowledgeable thinks and shooters! Thanks again, guys!
The 6BR was developed as an alternative to the 6PPC and was intended to be loaded with 63 to 70 grain bullets fired through 13 or 14 twist barrels. This is still a good blueprint for a competitive short range BR rifle. At 100 yds., regardless of wind values, high bc bullets don't seem to offer much advantage. I know, this seems counter intuitive but enough good shooters have tried it to satisfy me. My own current BR rifle is a 6BR (original spec) and it will produce sub .2 moa groups.
If I was rebarreling a rifle with a 308 boltface, for use in short range BR, I would use a 14 twist 6mm barrel and chamber it in 6BR. GD
Guess what? I shot this 40-X this morning with some factory ammo at 100 yards. I started with some cheap PMC 147 grain full metal jackets, and that group spread was about 2 inches. Then I tried some Federal Premium target ammo that uses 168 grain Sierra Matchkings,, and it put 5 of them in a roughly 5/8" x 5/8" group, outside to outside. Needless to say, I'll need to round up some dies, some 168 grain Matchkings or Berger 168 grain target bullets, and some appropriate powder and primers to do some further testing. We'll see how the next phase goes.