New to 6 Dasher, free bore question.

[Redfisher60]

Looking at prefit barrels free bore options seem to be numerous. 1 maker is .130, another offers both .150 and .185. I’m guessing that bullet selection drives the choice, but how do you decide when just starting out?

 

[Old Man with Gun]

I usually call the barrel maker and tell them the bullet i want to use and follow advice from them.

 

[45-90]

My reamer is .104" Free Bore, shoots everything from 55 gr at 4100 fps to 115 gr DTACs at 3040 fps with a 28" barrel,
Alpha brass.
And the match loads 2950 to 3020 fps with 108 Berger and Varget or RL 15.
Can't see any advantage over .130" FB, (but it ain't mine,) especially if ya want versatility with a wide range of bullets...especially with varmint bullets, a really long jump to the rifling, no thanks.
58 gr Vmax at 4100 fps are accurate in my barrel.

 

[W6SPK]

I ordered a reamer from Manson for mine. Told them I was shooting the 109 LRHT and they spec'd me .200 freebore.

 

[45-90]

This is what 104" FB looks like with new 107 SMK, almost perfect. The short neck is right at the neck shoulder juncture, taking full advantage of your short neck.

No donuts to worry about with Alpha Munitions brass..
The donuts are the problem with reformed Lapua brass, so may want to be forward the donut area..hence the longer FB.

Which loses your ability to hold on to the bullet as the throat wears and you may want to be close to the rifling, you have little adjustment and still keep the bullet in the neck.

The next up is the 115 DTAC, with .104" FB here it could use a small bit of increase in FB to be perfect. But a little bit of throat wear will take care of some of that as you shoot the rifle.

Choose what ever free bore ya want, but Alpha brass is the way to go in IMO.

Better chance of low run out when ya get a full length neck grip on the bullet with this short necked cartridge, plus low velocity deviations, and super accuracy.

 

[Redfisher60]

This is what 104" FB looks like with new 107 SMK, almost perfect. The short neck is right at the neck shoulder juncture, taking full advantage of your short neck.

No donuts to worry about with Alpha Munitions brass..
The donuts are the problem with reformed Lapua brass, so may want to be forward the donut area..hence the longer FB.

Which loses your ability to hold on to the bullet as the throat wears and you may want to be close to the rifling, you have little adjustment and still keep the bullet in the neck.

The next up is the 115 DTAC, with .104" FB here it could use a small bit of increase in FB to be perfect. But a little bit of throat wear will take care of some of that as you shoot the rifle.

Choose what ever free bore ya want, but Alpha brass is the way to go in IMO.

Better chance of low run out when ya get a full length neck grip on the bullet with this short necked cartridge, plus low velocity deviations, and super accuracy.

Thanks, just picked up 200 Alpha brass.