2023 Vortex Vengence - My first two day PRS match

[stevieb92]

This past weekend I competed in my first two day PRS match, the 2023 Vortex Vengence. MKM Precision (Matt, Ken and Mark) put together an awesome match and super facility! The prize table was absolutely stunning! Everyone I've met in this sport has been incredible!

I learned a few more things about the game and was in squad 2 with several Pro and Semi Pro level shooters. I watched them and how they addressed the stages. Great folks and willing to help a newbie! Overall, I had some good stages, but experienced some issues with my rifle shortly into the first day. I treated the remainder of the match as a training opportunity and was just hoping the stars would align and I would get some impacts. lol

I shoot a 6 cm (107 smk, lapua brass, 40.5 of H4350, CCI 450 running around 3135) and had just over 2k rounds on it prior to the match, but a couple weeks before this match I shot a 7 shot .4 moa group from modified prone off a bench. That group also included a 0.1 mil elevation adjustment, so I thought (bad assumption) the barrel would last for the match and I could swap barrels afterwards. A little back story. Almost 2 months ago, I noticed a drop in velocity around 50 fps, and that should have been the warning sign to swap the new barrel in well before this match. But I took a gamble and tried to see how long it would go. Well, like I mentioned above, part way into the first day, my impacts were hitting low and mostly off the target. It was pissing me off, so after the first day was over, I dropped another 50 fps off the muzzle velocity in my kestrel and was able to be more successful with making impacts on the second day, but accuracy past 600 was sketchy at best. I had surely exceeded the life span of that barrel. This weekend I'm going to clean it really well and take some video in the bore for a future YouTube video then swap the barrel to get ready for the next match in June. For now, here's a short that has some of the highlights. I've still got a lot to learn. It was a super fun weekend!

 

[The4GunGuy]

2K rounds for a barrel to burn out is a bit low...BUT, running that at 3135 will do it. You might want to consider reducing your velocity in the future to somewhere in the 2850 range? I'll let others comment on that recommendation since I run a 6 BRA at 2,800 fps, which is a bit slower than others. I expect to get somewhere around 3,500 rounds out of the barrel. The pros are slowing down their velocity so they can follow the trace of the bullet better and see where they are missing. This brings me to another point, which is, I'm older, so I can't see trace even looking through my ZCO...BUT, if you're younger, and have good eyes, the slower speed I recommend above may allow you to see your trace (depending on the quality of your scope of course) so you can really understand what's going on with every shot. By the way, what brand of barrel are you using? Again, just my 0.02 for this specific area of your shooting and hope it helps.

 

[JBoomhauer]

2k rounds is a good run for a 6 Creed at 3135fps shooting prs stages.

 

[lennyo3034]

I’ve never had a 6CM last 1000 rounds much less 2000.

 

[stevieb92]

2K rounds for a barrel to burn out is a bit low...BUT, running that at 3135 will do it. You might want to consider reducing your velocity in the future to somewhere in the 2850 range? I'll let others comment on that recommendation since I run a 6 BRA at 2,800 fps, which is a bit slower than others. I expect to get somewhere around 3,500 rounds out of the barrel. The pros are slowing down their velocity so they can follow the trace of the bullet better and see where they are missing. This brings me to another point, which is, I'm older, so I can't see trace even looking through my ZCO...BUT, if you're younger, and have good eyes, the slower speed I recommend above may allow you to see your trace (depending on the quality of your scope of course) so you can really understand what's going on with every shot. By the way, what brand of barrel are you using? Again, just my 0.02 for this specific area of your shooting and hope it helps.

Yes, I'm planning to reduce the speed on the next barrel. Probably not all the way down to 2850 though. The first 700-800 rounds out of this barrel were not shot at PRS tempo, so maybe that is why it lasted to just over 2k? Not sure, just speculating here. There are times during a match when I can spot the hits/misses and times when I can't. Same goes for the bullet trace. I'm using a Bartlein Heavy Palma 5R 7.5 twist. It was chambered by Southern Precision Rifles for their BugNut. The replacement is identical and sitting on my workbench ready to go. Thanks!

 

[stevieb92]

I’ve never had a 6CM last 1000 rounds much less 2000.

What were the details of what you were shooting that didn't last past 1000?

 

[Covertnoob5]

For shooting a 6CM 2k rounds is pretty good. Im shooting mine at 2880 28” Bart 115 dtacs. Shoots awesome and really looks new in the borescope. I’ve taken a different approach to this barrel testing a little different cleaning method than my usual which is clean about every 200rnds and it’s holding well so far.
I have friends including a top national shooter that regularly gets 2k rounds out of a 6CM with 115’s at 2880. There’s really no need to push for velocity.

 

[lennyo3034]

What were the details of what you were shooting that didn't last past 1000?

105 hybrids at 3150ish. Two proofs and a McGowen. None made to 1000.

 

[stevieb92]

For shooting a 6CM 2k rounds is pretty good. Im shooting mine at 2880 28” Bart 115 dtacs. Shoots awesome and really looks new in the borescope. I’ve taken a different approach to this barrel testing a little different cleaning method than my usual which is clean about every 200rnds and it’s holding well so far.
I have friends including a top national shooter that regularly gets 2k rounds out of a 6CM with 115’s at 2880. There’s really no need to push for velocity.

That's encouraging to hear! What are the details of your cleaning process?

 

[stevieb92]

Well, I cleaned the barrel on my rifle and took some pics with the bore scope. I also took some pics of the same area of the brand new barrel for comparison. I think that old barrel is toast. The pics are mainly in the throat area and just forward of it. Anyone think the old barrel has any life left?

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

Bore scope really doesn't tell you shit unless you are trying to figure out a copper/cleaning issue. Either the barrel shoots or it doesn't. Those people saying they get 2k from a 6cm pushing over 3100 are smoking something good. A 6gt running 3k will burn the barrel out around 2k, maybe sooner. A br/dasher/gt running about 28-2850 should last almost 3k. Most of the people running piss hot 6cm or xc are looking at 900-1200 rounds before barrel takes a dump.

I was at the match too, challenging COF and the rain really ruined a few stages. You learned a valuable lesson, you pull a barrel before its shot out, not after, especially shooting a 2 day match with all the travel and cost associated. I pull my gt barrels at 2k as a precaution and then only use for practice or scrap metal. Just build the amortized barrel cost into your shooting cost per round. $750/2000 = barrel cost per shot.

There is another match in august( sign up if it's not full) and they are also hosting the national rimfire finale.

 

[stevieb92]

Bore scope really doesn't tell you shit unless you are trying to figure out a copper/cleaning issue. Either the barrel shoots or it doesn't. Those people saying they get 2k from a 6cm pushing over 3100 are smoking something good. A 6gt running 3k will burn the barrel out around 2k, maybe sooner. A br/dasher/gt running about 28-2850 should last almost 3k. Most of the people running piss hot 6cm or xc are looking at 900-1200 rounds before barrel takes a dump.

I was at the match too, challenging COF and the rain really ruined a few stages. You learned a valuable lesson, you pull a barrel before its shot out, not after, especially shooting a 2 day match with all the travel and cost associated. I pull my gt barrels at 2k as a precaution and then only use for practice or scrap metal. Just build the amortized barrel cost into your shooting cost per round. $750/2000 = barrel cost per shot.

There is another match in august( sign up if it's not full) and they are also hosting the national rimfire finale.

Well, I don't know about other people, but I've been keeping track of the rounds down the barrel since I installed it and I don't smoke. In my case, the bore scope gives me a look at the relative condition of the bore. If I can't get it to group anymore, and see those conditions, it's done. I'll get it back out this weekend and shoot some groups and get some velocity since I'm curious. Another friend suggested that I increase the charge weight a little to bring it back in the velodity node, but I'm thinking I don't want to waste the time anymore. The first 6-7 hundred rounds from this barrel were not at match pace, so that may have helped. I don't know...

Yes, it was a challenging course of fire. It was my first two-day and I'm relatively local to MKM, so the biggest costs for me were the match fee and ammo. I'm planning to shoot the Peterson Challenge too. See you there. I'll have the new barrel in by then I'm sure. lol

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

There is no such thing as nodes ( really) and upping the charge weight is not going to make it shoot better. Your throat is cooked, there is a reason guys pull barrels early instead of too late. Your barrel has most likely been done a while.

I would look at switching to a br bra dasher or gt for your next barrel. It will be better optimized to run a smaller charge around 2800 to 2850. This is going to do a few things as mentioned earlier. It's going to extend barrel life, reduce reloading costs and make it easier to spot your hits on plate and misses, which is the extremely important. They are also extremely easy to load for. Basically pick a velocity , jump a berger hybrid .020 to .120 and it will shoot bugholes. No fuss, no load development, just shoot matches.

Me and some buddies are driving up to shoot Peterson too, when it gets closer dm me and we can link up.

 

[M4orturnate]

It was definitely a good match. I think our whole squad shot better on day 2. The rain screwed me out of 12 points on the mover and that kinda ruined the match for me. Peterson should be fun. If i had to guess it'll be a harder cof

 

[Mormegil87]

I'll be at Peterson in August. Wish I could have shot the Vortex but the schedule just didn't align

 

[Covertnoob5]

That's encouraging to hear! What are the details of your cleaning process?

I use boretech eliminator and C4 if I see a carbon ring building up. I’ve tried cleaning more often with this current barrel than any in the past. I used to do the whole, “clean when Accuracy falls off” then I moved to clean every 500rounds now I’m cleaning every about 200. And I use bronze brushes and a drill for the chamber if it looks nasty. I won’t chase speed in anything I shoot, but some people will. Just depends how often you want to change barrels I’d say.
My current 6CM is a 1.250” 28” bartlien mod400BB so I’m testing to see if it’ll get double the life or close. I’m at 678 documented rounds currently and I’m taking it to K&M next week for the match.