December $487 prefit group buy, several barrels are a go

[solarshooter]

19" PBB with the 162eldm I'm ~2750fps with H4350 for reference.

LA 284 is a sweet match for a Tikka.

My 20" Benchmark 284 is pushing 175 Elite Hunters at 2670fps with 55.5gr H4831SC. The 162ELDM is a more optimal bullet, paired with some N560 or similar you might be able to get some serious speed.

My chamber was cut with a PTG reamer with a 0.188" freebore, and a no-turn neck, 0.317" I believe. I use Lapua brass and redding dies and have 0 issues with resizing/clickers. Boattail sits just forward of the neck/shoulder junction with ~0.030" jump. Plenty of room in the LA mag with this setup.

I've flirted with the idea of going 6-284 for a hot 6 in a standard bolt face. I'm biased but I think the 284 is the coolest standard bolt face case out there.

 

[Gila]

LA 284 is a sweet match for a Tikka.

My 20" Benchmark 284 is pushing 175 Elite Hunters at 2670fps with 55.5gr H4831SC. The 162ELDM is a more optimal bullet, paired with some N560 or similar you might be able to get some serious speed.

My chamber was cut with a PTG reamer with a 0.188" freebore, and a no-turn neck, 0.317" I believe. I use Lapua brass and redding dies and have 0 issues with resizing/clickers. Boattail sits just forward of the neck/shoulder junction with ~0.030" jump. Plenty of room in the LA mag with this setup.

I've flirted with the idea of going 6-284 for a hot 6 in a standard bolt face. I'm biased but I think the 284 is the coolest standard bolt face case out there.

I use Lapua brass also. I use H4350 for the 162 ELD but I think you could step on it with a double based powder. The 284 Win was way ahead of its time with a shorter and wider case for more powder with a 35 deg. Shoulder angle for efficiency. The neck could be a tad longer but I have found no disadvantage with it. Feeds just fine from a Tikka mag. If I load 180 VLDs the COAL is 3.1 plus something. I would rather have a 6.5 x 284 Norma than a 6.5 PRC.

 

[03mossy]

How close are we on either a 260 or 7-08?

 

[Bluumoon]

How close are we on either a 260 or 7-08?

Why not buy a take off? @hereinaz might even have one for you.

 

[hereinaz]

How close are we on either a 260 or 7-08?

There are probably enough for 7-08 if everyone settled on 7-08 or 7-08 ai and barrel length.

If you could go through the thread and tag all the interested fellas, I can put the consensus on the website.

 

[hereinaz]

Why not buy a take off? @hereinaz might even have one for you.

I am ordering rifles, so if you wanted a 7-08 takeoff barrel PM me if one would work and I can see. I will do the same for others. I chose 22-250 8 twist for someone to buy off me.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Yeah, we are talking about 1 extra press to get there essentially.

I run new brass through a die anyways to adjust the neck tension to what my die does and take out dings.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

LA 284 is a sweet match for a Tikka.

My 20" Benchmark 284 is pushing 175 Elite Hunters at 2670fps with 55.5gr H4831SC. The 162ELDM is a more optimal bullet, paired with some N560 or similar you might be able to get some serious speed.

My chamber was cut with a PTG reamer with a 0.188" freebore, and a no-turn neck, 0.317" I believe. I use Lapua brass and redding dies and have 0 issues with resizing/clickers. Boattail sits just forward of the neck/shoulder junction with ~0.030" jump. Plenty of room in the LA mag with this setup.

I've flirted with the idea of going 6-284 for a hot 6 in a standard bolt face. I'm biased but I think the 284 is the coolest standard bolt face case out there.

Yeah there are powders that could hot rod it, that was a stable starting place.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I am ordering rifles, so if you wanted a 7-08 takeoff barrel PM me if one would work and I can see. I will do the same for others. I chose 22-250 8 twist for someone to buy off me.

Did you buy any of those cheap 350 legends for the action?

 

[mlevimadden]

Posing a couple more questions/thoughts here while I deliberate my next rifle path b/c it is 6prc focused. (Special thanks to @hereinaz who's already been super helpful in talking with me offline about some of this.)

My current rifle is a T3X 6.5PRC and I'm contemplating one of LS Wild's pre-order barrels just to have on hand when I'm ready to swap. (Current barrel still has plenty of life in it.)

Thoughts:
-With ADG releasing the 6UM30, that feels like 1 less step not having to size down a 65prc case to a 6mm bullet as part of the reload process.

-Per UM, a 6UM30 has less recoil than a 6.5PRC, but the 6.5PRC will have a better barrel life (for those that care, I don't know if I do yet).

Assumption:
-A 6.5PRC and a 6PRC would theoretically have the same recoil since it's the same casing. Am I correct here? Therefore, the 6UM30 would have less recoil than even the 6PRC?

-I have access to a full reloading room, but may still buy any one-off pieces needed. Calling this out b/c it's a reduced cost of entry option I have for reloading.

Target goals:
-Targeting the min 1800 fps to 1K-1100yds w/ 108/9 eldm
-Will shoot this gun throughout the year on the range in addition to hunting, until I build a dedicated NRL Hunter rifle, hopefully with the same cartridge/caliber (bullet might change)

So the splitting hair questions are:
-Remain on the fence about barrel length. Either 18 or 20. (Running the OG65 come Jan)
-6um30 or 6prc, OR don't waste my time and just buy a 6cm barrel

I'll (unapologetically) be the first to admit, it feels like asking the same types of questions in 10 different ways, but that's part of the learning curve getting into all this wildcat stuff, so I appreciate everyone's patience and feedback as I learn.

As @hereinaz already mentioned, the 6UM30 and 6 PRC are so close in performance, you’d be hard pressed to see a difference.

If you want 1800 fps to 1k yards, you definitely need to go with the PRC or UM case volume over the creedmoor and probably need to lean towards the 20” barrel depending on your elevation.

You will see a 15% recoil reduction in the 6 PRC versus the 6.5 PRC due to the reduction in bullet weight. 6UM30 will be identical and 6UM40 will be higher.

One thing that people haven’t mentioned is there is a huge cost advantage with the 6PRC compared to the 6UM for sizing dies, headspace gauges, and brass. The cost savings would basically allow you to buy a second 6PRC barrel for free or get you 1k bullets to burn out your barrel.

 

[khuber84]

As @hereinaz already mentioned, the 6UM30 and 6 PRC are so close in performance, you’d be hard pressed to see a difference.

If you want 1800 fps to 1k yards, you definitely need to go with the PRC or UM case volume over the creedmoor and probably need to lean towards the 20” barrel depending on your elevation.

You will see a 15% recoil reduction in the 6 PRC versus the 6.5 PRC due to the reduction in bullet weight. 6UM30 will be identical and 6UM40 will be higher.

One thing that people haven’t mentioned is there is a huge cost advantage with the 6PRC compared to the 6UM for sizing dies, headspace gauges, and brass. The cost savings would basically allow you to buy a second 6PRC barrel for free or get you 1k bullets to burn out your barrel.

There is about 4.5gr capacity between the two. I have both in 20in configs. That extra capacity of the saum gives an extra 100-150fps w/ N570.

 

[mlevimadden]

There is about 4.5gr capacity between the two. I have both in 20in configs. That extra capacity of the saum gives an extra 100-150fps w/ N570.

That’s more than I thought. Thanks for the correction! Just to clarify I have zero hands-on experience with the SAUM case, so I’m just going from what I remember Ryan and Jake mentioning on their podcast and apparently my memory isn’t that great.

 

[benconfused]

As @hereinaz already mentioned, the 6UM30 and 6 PRC are so close in performance, you’d be hard pressed to see a difference.

If you want 1800 fps to 1k yards, you definitely need to go with the PRC or UM case volume over the creedmoor and probably need to lean towards the 20” barrel depending on your elevation.

You will see a 15% recoil reduction in the 6 PRC versus the 6.5 PRC due to the reduction in bullet weight. 6UM30 will be identical and 6UM40 will be higher.

One thing that people haven’t mentioned is there is a huge cost advantage with the 6PRC compared to the 6UM for sizing dies, headspace gauges, and brass. The cost savings would basically allow you to buy a second 6PRC barrel for free or get you 1k bullets to burn out your barrel.

These are great data points to call out and really help me. Follow-ups...

I'm in TN - Elevation 600-700 feet based on the (1200 yrd) shooting range location, right now DA is between 800-1300 feet however, NO game will be shot at those distances here.

The 1K callout is more for the western trips (and possibly overseas in 2027). This would range between 8K and 14K elevation.

On the recoil data - for the 6UM30 - are you saying the recoil will be compared to the 6PRC, or 6.5PRC?

 

[benconfused]

There is about 4.5gr capacity between the two. I have both in 20in configs. That extra capacity of the saum gives an extra 100-150fps w/ N570.

As @hereinaz already mentioned, the 6UM30 and 6 PRC are so close in performance, you’d be hard pressed to see a difference.

If you want 1800 fps to 1k yards, you definitely need to go with the PRC or UM case volume over the creedmoor and probably need to lean towards the 20” barrel depending on your elevation.

You will see a 15% recoil reduction in the 6 PRC versus the 6.5 PRC due to the reduction in bullet weight. 6UM30 will be identical and 6UM40 will be higher.

One thing that people haven’t mentioned is there is a huge cost advantage with the 6PRC compared to the 6UM for sizing dies, headspace gauges, and brass. The cost savings would basically allow you to buy a second 6PRC barrel for free or get you 1k bullets to burn out your barrel.

Can either of you quantify the recoil difference between a 6.5prc and 6UM30 (6 Saum)?

 

[mlevimadden]

These are great data points to call out and really help me. Follow-ups...

I'm in TN - Elevation 600-700 feet based on the (1200 yrd) shooting range location, right now DA is between 800-1300 feet however, NO game will be shot at those distances here.

The 1K callout is more for the western trips (and possibly overseas in 2027). This would range between 8K and 14K elevation.

On the recoil data - for the 6UM30 - are you saying the recoil will be compared to the 6PRC, or 6.5PRC?

You can check a ballistic calculator but the 3150ish MV will stay above 1800 past 1k yards when you’re over 8k elevation for sure. If you’re practicing and tracking cold bore hit rates at those ranges it might push you away from shooting animals at that distance (it did for me anyway). But there are still advantages beyond increased terminal range with the faster 6mm cartridges (forgiveness on wind call, forgiveness on range error, better terminal performance at hunting distances, etc.)

For the recoil, I use this calculator
https://shooterscalculator.com/recoil-calculator.php
The 6UM30 will be a close to but a little higher than the 6PRC.