Start with 6mm Remington loads from a current load manual and work up.

Redding recently started producing their Competition dies for this round. I have made a few dummy rounds with the new dies, and will be re-testing some of these loads to look for improvements. During the original load work, the concentricity (and accuracy)was terrible on a number of rounds, especially with the longer bullets. The new dies should take care of most of that. All cases were outside neck turned just enough to clean-up about 80 percent around the neck. All brass was Remington. I will be trying some Norma 7x57 later. When I first began shooting this rifle, I did a poor job of brass prep, due to inexperience. After I got the hang of that, the accuracy potential of the rifle finally began to show itself. The poor groups below should be attributed to the shooter, not the rifle. The averages shown below include all the original groups that were measured. Occasionally, I did not measure, (yep, that bad) but made notes. Most groups were 5 shots, with 3 shot group averages noted. Distance was 100 yards. All primers WLR, except the 87 VMAX loads, which were fired with CCI BR primers.

 

55 gn Nosler Ballistic Tip

This bullet was a blast on Prairie Dogs recently.  You would not believe the air time.  I was surprised at how well the 9" twist factory barrel shot this light of a bullet.  It would be fun to try a slow twist barrel set up for the lightweights.
Charge Powder
Group Size
 Primer
 Velocity
Comments
54.0
 H-380 
.677
WLR
  
one group @.240 & one @.251 after proper brass prep
53.0
H-380
1.30
WLR
  
needs reshooting, brass was trimmed too short

68 gn Berger FB

Will shoot a few groups with these soon.  I am now in the process of making new brass out of Norma 7x57,
in order to eliminate some of the run-out I am getting from the Rem brass.  I don't want to waste these on junk brass.

Charge
Powder
Group Size
Primer
Velocity
Comments

70 gn Nosler Ballistic Tip

This is where the 6mmAI really starts to shine as a long range varmint round.
I will be trying several more powders with this bullet in the near future.
Charge Powder
Group Size
 Primer
 Velocity
Comments
54.0
 RL-19 
.442
WLR
  
very consistant, seemed hot
51.0
IMR-4831
.674
WLR
  
 
50.0
IMR-4831
.790
WLR
    

70 Sierra BTHP

Charge Powder
Group Size
 Primer
 Velocity
Comments
56.0
 RL-19 
 
WLR
 
MAX LOAD  -  LEAVE THIS ONE ALONE
55.0
RL-19
 
WLR
 
still a bit hot
54.5
RL-19
.550
WLR
 
(3 shot groups - worth trying again)
54.1
RL-19
 
WLR
 
flyers ruined several decent groups
53.5
RL-19
.522
WLR
 
 (3 shot groups - a couple of nice groups)
52.0
RL-19
 
WLR
 
 very mild, no accuracy
52.0
IMR-4831
.602
WLR
 
  
51.0
IMR-4831
  
WLR
  
mild, has potential
50.0
IMR-4831
  
WLR
  
poor  -  wasted components

80 gn Berger MEF

I just bought these, and have only fired a few groups.  I think this rifle is going to like them.
Charge Powder
Group Size
 Primer
 Velocity
Comments
 50.0
 RL-19
 .232
WLR 
 
 3 shot group - best so far.  Will shoot this load again
           

87gn Hornady VMAX

I will be re-testing some of these.  They are capable of better groups than what I got the first time.
Charge Powder
Group Size
 Primer
 Velocity
Comments
52.5
 RL-19 
 
CCI BR
 
shows potential, but was too hot second time
51.5
RL-19
 .967
CCI BR
 
3 shot groups, scattered shots
47.0
IMR4831
.565
CCI BR
 
3 shot groups - very mild
47.5
IMR4831
 1.05
CCI BR
 
3 shot  -  less a couple of flyers, av. down to .725
48.0
IMR4831
.960
CCI BR
 
 
48.5
IMR4831
 .797
CCI BR
 
  
49.0
IMR-4831
1.970
CCI BR
 
 why did I even measure these?
49.5
IMR-4831
 1.282
CCI BR
 
  
50.0
IMR-4831
 .452
CCI BR
 
what a difference 1/2 grain can make. Several nice groups.

95 gn Nosler Ballistic Tip

I only had a handful of these.  Will try more soon.
Charge Powder
Group Size
 Primer
 Velocity
Comments
49.0 
 RL-22
 .975
 WLR
 
 4-3 shot groups 

95 gn Berger VLD

With this bullet, the poor concentricity really showed itself.  When rolling a loaded case across a table top, the bullet appeared to flap up and down.  I don't have a concentricity gauge yet either.  The new Redding dies should really help here.  About 2/3 of the 95 VLD groups were 3 shots.  By this time in the load development, I was getting concerned about barrel life.  I shot 3 round groups to determine potential, then refired those loads in 5 shot groups the next time out.
Charge Powder
Group Size
 Primer
 Velocity
Comments
47.0
 RL-19 
  
WLR
 
scattered
48.0
RL-19
  
WLR
 
 scattered
48.8
RL-19
.437
WLR
 
 good combo, will use again
49.1
RL-19
.662
WLR
  
bullet seated hard into lands
49.1
RL-19
.576
WLR
  
same load as above, just short of lands

100 AMAX & 100 Rem SFT PT did not shoot. Twist rate too slow for the AMAX, and the Remingtons were bulk seconds.


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