223 vs 6br for girlfriend

[Fast14riot]

So, my girlfriend is taking a serious interest in shooting with me, so like I need any little excuse to build a new rifle, I'm considering either of the two rounds due to reduced recoil and expense to feed as well as ease of tuning.

223 because it's cheap and I'm already set up for loading it. Minimal recoil, but might be a bit tough for 1k.
6br because its reasonably inexpensive to load and extremely easy to tune, though I do not currently own one, minimal recoil and better at 1k.

Rifle will be single shot, and most likely shot at short to mid range 90% of the time. Probably build something in the 14-15 pound range. Honestly, I've wanted a 6br for a long time, but I dont want her to be the least bit apprehensive about it, and I know the 223 can hold it's own inside of 600 with a rookie driver.

So, any other considerations? Not currently considering any other carts, especially wildcats for her.

 

[jetboat]

Start with the 223 then move to 6br later. Spend money on ammo.

 

[mac86951]

223 cause my girlfriend always outshoots me and you'll need the 6br for all the help you can get.

 

[joshb]

“Honestly, I’ve wanted a 6br for a long time.”
Build a 6br.
Reasons:
The recoil isn’t bad. It’s deadly accurate and provides instant gratification to a new shooter.
It’s different, so when she tells her friends she’ll feel special because you built her something unique.
She may occasionally out shoot you with it. That has it’s perks.
If and when she loses interest or dumps you, you have a gun you always wanted.

 

[Geno C]

If she can handle the slight increase in recoil,
Br. The decrease in wind drift makes for more hits for someone that doesn’t read the wind as well. I built a 6brx for my wife. She has no problems shooting it all day.This is her with her team mate from this last Saturday. About 60 rounds and no complaints

 

[22DASHER]

Joshy boy hit the nail on the head. 6BR all the way.

 

[Falfan2017]

Got my girlfriend set up with a used dasher. Low recoil super easy to shoot. She’s beat me a couple times with it. 6br would be a good way to go. Minimal difference in reloading costs between 223 and 6br and you get much better ballistics and potentially better groups

 

[Mark W]

I vote 6BR since the OP doesn’t already own the cartridge. When the GF decides that she doesn’t like shooting anymore he will have an extra rifle.

 

[Fast14riot]

I think if shooting 105s in the 6br is too much I could always load 75s or lighter bullets too, but it will be an 8 twist in either chambering.

I'm heavily leaning to 6br, but I'll get her shooting my 223 service rifle or my 6.8 prone rifle to introduce her to center fire to start.

She shied away from shooting my 260AI for now, especially after seeing my shoulder after a match from not having a recoil pad, lol!

 

[Evan]

I'm going to go against the grain around here and recommend the 223.

6mm 108 ELDM - $30 per 100
22cal 80 ELDM - $19 per 100

6br Lapua brass $90 per 100
223 Lapua brass $55 per 100

6br - 30gns varget, 233 rounds per pound of powder
223 - 25gns varget, 280 rounds per pound (that's nearly 50 more!)

remember that less powder means less heat means you can shoot longer.

The ~$0.13 difference in powder and bullet alone, across 3000 rounds, saves $400 bucks towards another barrel. If you use the arguably better Lake City 223, and factor in the brass cost, the gap grows more.

It is significantly cheaper to shoot a 223 and the accuracy is still going to be outstanding. You should honestly evaluate how often will you shoot at 1k in a setting that the 6 BR advantage will outweigh the increased cost of shooting it.

 

[dolek]

I'm going to go against the grain around here and recommend the 223.

6mm 108 ELDM - $30 per 100
22cal 80 ELDM - $19 per 100

6br Lapua brass $90 per 100
223 Lapua brass $55 per 100

6br - 30gns varget, 233 rounds per pound of powder
223 - 25gns varget, 280 rounds per pound (that's nearly 50 more!)

remember that less powder means less heat means you can shoot longer.

The ~$0.13 difference in powder and bullet alone, across 3000 rounds, saves $400 bucks towards another barrel. If you use the arguably better Lake City 223, and factor in the brass cost, the gap grows more.

It is significantly cheaper to shoot a 223 and the accuracy is still going to be outstanding. You should honestly evaluate how often will you shoot at 1k in a setting that the 6 BR advantage will outweigh the increased cost of shooting it.

+ 1

Well said, and thanks for doing the math for us. My wife started with .223 ,tried the 6mms and has decided to stick with .223 . That little bit of recoil makes a difference with a petite lady.

 

[watercam]

If you went with a 7" twist and 28-30" bbl she could shoot Sierra 90s to a grand. With my rifle so set up I keep up with 6BR shooters easily to 600yds. Cut the throat long enough so that 80s and 90s sit with the bullet shank just ahead of the shoulder/case shank joint. With 24.6gr. of Varget I am pushing 90s to 2770fps easily and retained 1K velocity above 1400 fps.

 

[ttfreestyle]

6br is my pick. My petite 15 year old daughter won several mid range f class matches and never had recoil issues. Gun weight was 12 pounds. Just our experience, good luck with your decision.

 

[JFrank]

6 BR all the way every day

 

[urbanrifleman]

Hands down 223 ACKLEY. And I will tell you why... Because you can PRACTICE. I have had buddies that decided to start shooting and they wanted some upgraded caliber and I told them NO!!! And they said "why"? And I said because you can bring 100 rounds to practice instead of 20... and a 223A in 1-8 twist will really, really shoot, and more consistent than the 6mms (I know heresy right?). You can shoot just as tight with a standard 223 in an an Ackley fire forming. Barrel life is really almost infinite. I still have my space gun that will shoot 1/4 MOA after 6000 rounds.

You can buy ammo at WALMART for goodness sake. 223 from a progressive will outshoot most people. I know... I have loaded 10000s of 223 rounds of progressive ammo and I am constantly stunned how good it shoots.

And recoil is ZERO. I know there are lots of guys that start their women on larger calibers and RUIN THEM. They say or a 6BR is not a lot of recoil, well it is best to start them in 22LR really... This isn't a GUY.

Don't build a 1K rifle if you are shooting less than 200 nearly all the time... that is huge mistake...

But I am sure I will be in the minority here...

 

[pirate ammo]

View attachment 1100695 Got my girlfriend set up with a used dasher. Low recoil super easy to shoot. She’s beat me a couple times with it. 6br would be a good way to go. Minimal difference in reloading costs between 223 and 6br and you get much better ballistics and potentially better groups

Boyo,you in so much trouble and you don't even know it yet. I'm waiting for the results...

 

[butchlambert]

Recoil with a 6BR in a 14-15lb rifle?

 

[Dgd6mm]

I think she deserves a switch barrel.

 

[butchlambert]

I think she deserves a switch barrel.

You could do that and rebate the 6BR rims to fit the 223.
The cartridge to the far right is a BR rebated to 223 rim size.

 

[Fast14riot]

I'm going to go against the grain around here and recommend the 223.

6mm 108 ELDM - $30 per 100
22cal 80 ELDM - $19 per 100

6br Lapua brass $90 per 100
223 Lapua brass $55 per 100

6br - 30gns varget, 233 rounds per pound of powder
223 - 25gns varget, 280 rounds per pound (that's nearly 50 more!)

remember that less powder means less heat means you can shoot longer.

The ~$0.13 difference in powder and bullet alone, across 3000 rounds, saves $400 bucks towards another barrel. If you use the arguably better Lake City 223, and factor in the brass cost, the gap grows more.

It is significantly cheaper to shoot a 223 and the accuracy is still going to be outstanding. You should honestly evaluate how often will you shoot at 1k in a setting that the 6 BR advantage will outweigh the increased cost of shooting it.

Not to mention I'm already set up for loading 223, have plenty of brass, bullets too.