Finally got to shoot my 6GT build. Impact Precision action, Proof competition contour barrel blank, and MDT ACC chassis. I had a local competitor/gunsmith/machinist spin up the barrel and ended up with 27” barrel.
Shot the first 40 rnds today, first 10 or so were break-in/zero. The next 30 were getting acquainted at various distances from 100 to 550 yds. I had a magneto speed on it for the first 20 rnds. All 40 rnds were Hornady factory 109 gr ELD-M’s.
Max velocity: 2,944
Min velocity: 2,916
Average velocity: 2,928
SD: 11.2 (not bad for factory ammo I suppose)
My plan going forward is finish shooting the rest of the Hornady factory ammo I bought for break-in and the getting-to-know-you phase, then start working up a load. I’ve got a wad of H4350 powder, CCI SR primers, my once fired brass (see how long the Hornady brass lasts…), and a supply of 108 gr ELD-Ms.
I purchased the Hornady dies that GAP sells, but also bought a Mighty Armory decapping die and 21st Century mandrel die. Thinking I’ll decap, tumble, FL size (with the expander ball removed), then size the neck with the mandrel die. Chamfer/debur, clean the primer pockets, then prime.
See anything I should be thinking about?
FWIW, I’ve loaded a barrel’s worth of 6.5CM and also for various hunting calibers over the year. With the 6.5CM, I’ve been mainly neck sizing with a Forster bump die and bushing. The 6GT is the first rifle caliber I’m going to try breaking the brass prep down into decap/FL size/mandrel size the neck.