choosing a prs bullet

mpwolf

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Minuteman
Sep 17, 2014
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Spinning up a 1-8" 6br barrel to try shooting some matches this year. I've got 500-ish 105 vld's, but will need more bullets soon enough. I'm pretty new to PRS style shooting, so bullet choice won't be a limiting factor in my performance for while, but would love to hear what has worked for others. Rifle is a Tikka in a Whiskey 3, with a 5-20 Razor Gen 1. Been shooting 139 scenars out of 6.5 creed up until now.
 
The absolute standby is the Berger 105 hybrid.

Also great is the HORNADY 108 eldm, smk 108, the Berger 108 boatail, the 103 vaportrail.

If you want to spend more Berger 109 or Hornady 110 Atip…although both are a little heavy in the straight BR.
 
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My 2 cents, all future 6mm barrels for me will be 7.25 twist. 7.5 has worked... but in the cold winter matches I have noticed my stability rating was under a 1.5 and that it could impact my elevation predictions. While this hasn't been seen in my 6mm's performance I have had it impact my 223's performance, so it is a real concern. That said, back when the 105 Hybrid was new to the market my 1:8 twist would not group well if the temps were 50 degrees or cooler at my altitude and a second 1:8 barrel would not group them well at all regardless of temperature. The 1:7.25 twist in my data modeling down to near 0 degrees and 500 feet ASL will work well with all bullets currently available to the 6mm excluding solids. My coldest match so far started at -3 degrees for the day.
 
If you are not placing in the top half at matches, the bullet does not really matter. A great affordable option is the factory pointed 107SMK. Also the 108 Berger BT is an easy to find option that shoots amazingly well.
 
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Not only that, but the 107 SMK has been available through bullet droughts when Berger was unobtanium unless you were sponsored. I used to shoot only Bergers, and on one of the price hikes I got pissed and switched to Sierra. I always try to buy components in bulk, but before Covid I got a line on a crazy deal for a massive amount, and basically bought a lifetime supply of the 107s.

Once you pick a bullet and go through all the trouble of setting the gun up to shoot a combination that's money, I find I'm loath to change anything lest I have to go back and do it all over from the beginning. Some people love load development and finding what shoots the straightest. I used to like doing it, but now I find it to be a hassle and would rather keep doing what is working than going back to the drawing board.
 
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