I'm working up loads for my 6mm Remington using the 85 grain Sierra HPBT.
I'm currently loading with RE19 and am looking at RE22.
According to Noslers manual RE19 at 49 grains(max for the 85-90g range) has a load density of 94%.
Pardon my question as it is bifurcate, if not vague.
In your experiences with the 6mm and slower powders
is load density critical in accuracy and would RE22
be a good choice for filling the case, decent velocity and good accuracy?

Merlin,

I have shot a lot of MRP in my 6 mm Rem (a Ruger #1 with 26" barrel). According to the A-Square Reloading Manual, MRP and RL-22 have the same burning rate.

I use Winchester .257 Roberts brass necked down which has a bit more capacity than Remington brass.

My hunting load is 48.0 gr MRP with the Nosler 100 grain bullet for 3,230 fps MV. It is a very accurate load in my rifle.

jim

The 85 Sierra was the first bullet I put through my 6mm some 15 years ago, used 44 or 45grs. of IMR4350, the rifle was uncanny in that it shot consistant 3/4moa from 100-200yds., I now shoot 39.6grs. H4895 with the 75 Sierra when I had a Jewell trigger on it along with 6-24 Burris, it was a consistant .3-.4" rifle at 100yds., one group measured .217", tried some H4350 which would give me better load density and the first group out of it was in the 3s, second group went an inch. At any rate, I believe that with heavier bullets the 6mm should be loaded with RE19 and powders in that burn range, have heard RE19 is the best powder for it, but for the 75s I shoot a bit faster powders like Varget, RE15 and H4895 might work better, and you won't get good load density with these powders, and don't really need them apparantly considering the groups I used to get. Jay

FWIW, my rifle seemed to like a little less than the top end of the loads with RE19 and RE22.
I loaded them to the listed OAL in the Sierra manual.
I intend to take the tight grouping loads and seat the bullets longer to see if I can decrease group size.
I also need to tweak my trigger a bit.
I hadn't shot the 6mm in a while and found that the trigger on my CZ 452 was lighter, not impressive .

With RE19:



grains group size(CTC) (all groups are 5 shots)

45 .83 first 3: .08
46 .516
47 .62 first 3 .147
48 .695 first 3: .148
49 1.091

I tried 49,50,51 and 52 grains of RE22.
The only one that grouped well enough to mention was 50 grains at .457" CTC.

5-shots at 200-yards.
Firearm: Ruger 77R
Optics: Leupold 3x9
Case: Remington
Primer: Remington 9-1/2
Powder: 43.2 grains of IMR-4350
Bullet: Sierra 85 grain Hollow Point Boat Tail
Velocity: 3128 FPS @ 15' from muzzle

My second choice powder is:
RL-22 From 44.0 grains to 52.0 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer

That is the kind of accuracy I'm going for!
Were those loaded into the lands?

In theory the powders in the 4350 to 4831 class should work well in the 6mm Remington. In practice, however, I've found that my 6mm -- a Remington 700 heavy barrel -- is persnickity about powders. It likes only IMR 4064.

Surplus 4831, with a burning rate about half-way in between currently-produced H4831 and IMR 7828, has always done exceedingly well for me in a 6mm/244 Remington, even with bullets as light as the 58 grain Hornady V-max.

RL-22 is very similar in nominal burning rate to surplus 4831, and slightly higher energy, so it should do well in the 6mm. One caution: RL-22 (virtually identical to Norma MRP) is notorious for significant burning rate variations from lot to lot. Any given lot is likely to perform well, it's just that you're best advised to purchase enough of a single lot to last for a while if you decide to use it.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
Surplus 4831, with a burning rate about half-way in between currently-produced H4831 and IMR 7828, has always done exceedingly well for me in a 6mm/244 Remington, even with bullets as light as the 58 grain Hornady V-max.

RL-22 is very similar in nominal burning rate to surplus 4831, and slightly higher energy, so it should do well in the 6mm. One caution: RL-22 (virtually identical to Norma MRP) is notorious for significant burning rate variations from lot to lot. Any given lot is likely to perform well, it's just that you're best advised to purchase enough of a single lot to last for a while if you decide to use it.

Use Rl 19 instead and that problem disappears and still gives the same accuracy and velocity performance....

cheers
seafire

My most accurate load in a Rem BDL is 48 gr of RL 19 behind a Hornady 87gr SP.Shoots into 1.5" at 300 yds.

I'm also revisiting this old friend and getting a new Ruger 77R in 6mm Rem (currently on layaway) for my "walking" rifle. Since I use RL-22 for 7mm Rem Mag, 6.5x55 SE, and 270 Win (from time to time), I figure its only natural to try it in the 6mm Rem with medium/heavy for caliber bullets. I will try the heralded Sierra 85gr HPBT (omg!! I'm gonna try a Sierra product ) and Hornady SPs (87-100gr) to see which give the best balance of accuracy and terminal effect for predator and medium game.