nosler 55 gr lead free bullet in the Norma 6mmBR

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YooperCaller

New member
I have been developing some loads for my 6mmBR Norma, 1:8" twist rifle. Because this is for southern cal during the winter months I am restricted to lead free bullets. So far the Nosler 55 gr 6mm ballistic tip, lead free bullets are promising. With a COAL of 2.265" I am .010" off the lands. I have yet to experiment with varying seating depths.

Best accuracy so far is with 34.5gr/AA2230 powder and a CCI450 primer. Cases are Lapua. The accuracy is in the 1/2" to 5/8" area for 3 shots. Using a Harris bipod and leather bunny bag. Speed is unknown. I will chrono in near future.

Anyone else loading these bullets? Carl L.
 
They have worked pretty good for me on coyotes out of my 243 Win. I have been using CCI Benchrest Primers with 39.0 gr of Benchmark powder.

The Nosler 22 cal Lead Free Varmint BT 50 gr bullet is also working good for me and two friends of mine.
 
I'm working up a load in my Savage, and initial load testing was promising. This was the second trip out, bipod and leather bag:

243 Winchester
55gr NBT LF
42.5gr 8208 XBR
CCI 200
WW brass
2.660" coal


I need to test again at 200/300 yards and maybe play with the seating depth.
 
Good for me too. I'm shooting them in a 6mm-204 over Benchmark and 2230.

The 2230 box has 3700 fps penciled in(22" barrel) but it has been at least 7 years since I ran them over my chrony.
 
Thanks for the replies. Without any "real world" experience with this bullet, I was a little concerned about surface splash and minimum penetration on a coyote. Good to hear that they work well. I am NOT a hide saver.

Carl L.

 
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Originally Posted By: derbyacresbobIt is a good thing you are not a hide saver!

Because sometimes it is not pretty. Here in CA yote hides aren't worth the trouble, and bobcats are on the short list to be protected anyways (probably within a few years at most). So get a trophy bobcat asap before it's too late and just blow up the yotes.
 
For me they have been good on hides, no splashes and good penetration. I had one standing with his body covered by a sage bush with only his back end visible and hit him right in the ball joint shattering his pelvis, he spun when he went down and finished him with one to the body, the pelt had two small holes. It might be because I am running them slower than a 6mm Rem or 243 can run them.
 
Originally Posted By: YooperCallerI have been developing some loads for my 6mmBR Norma, 1:8" twist rifle. Because this is for southern cal during the winter months I am restricted to lead free bullets. So far the Nosler 55 gr 6mm ballistic tip, lead free bullets are promising. With a COAL of 2.265" I am .010" off the lands. I have yet to experiment with varying seating depths.

Best accuracy so far is with 34.5gr/AA2230 powder and a CCI450 primer. Cases are Lapua. The accuracy is in the 1/2" to 5/8" area for 3 shots. Using a Harris bipod and leather bunny bag. Speed is unknown. I will chrono in near future.

Anyone else loading these bullets? Carl L.

What is your freebore? .010" off lands with a 55 indicates a short freebore??
 
Short freebore...... I think not. My loaded round COAL is 2.265" This is .045" beyond SAAMI Max COAL. Remember, this bullet is .938" long. This is .147" longer than the standard Nosler 55gr Ballistic Tip 6mm bullet which is .791" long.

The rifle is a Blaser R8 Pro. 6mmBR Match Bbl 23" long with a l:8" twist. Blaser R8 barrels are normally LONG throated for whatever caliber is chosen.

I have upped my AA2230 load to 35.1gr. This load chronographed with my Oehler 35P. 10 shot data: Avg vel: 3810fps, ES: 29fps, SD: 10.3fps.
Groups still in the 1/2" to 5/8"

I believe I am ready for my annual move to winter quarters in southeastern CA.

Carl L.

 
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I started load testing these 55gr NBTLFs in my 6mm DTI and they definately show promise so far. I need to refine this load but it's sub 1/2 moa with 3 diff charge weights at 100 yards no problem.

36475435875_f9f849675d_c.jpg
 
Dirty D.; Like you, I have had good accuracy results with this bullet. I REALLY wanted to stay away from the monolithics. I think the Nosler 6mm 55gr BTLF bullet is the answer, at least for me. I also call southeastern CA during the winter months and do some calling in the "condor" zone. So I needed to develop a california legal load. An additional advantage is that I can shoot heavier cup and core bullets in other areas.

This load was initially developed by: Keith Candler, Ackman and several others over on the 6mmBR website in August, 2009. I was running a 20/250AI at the time so I just copied the info for use later on. The 20/250AI finally burned out and about two years ago... and here we are.

I say I am going to develop for better accuracy, but what I have is plenty good for the ranges I shoot predators at. (200 yds and less). Also I have 285 of that combo loaded up so.........

Carl L.
 
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