.243 vs 6mmm barrel life??

[Homerange]

I know the thread is about barrel life, but another reason to choose one over the other is action length. A 6mm Rem is a little long for a Remington 700 SA, but it makes a wonderful re-barrel option for old Mauser actions. It usually feeds with little to no alteration, with a .308 length cartridge often causes feeding problems on the old Mausers unless you know how to alter them. The 8x57 is an excellent big game cartridge but with limited bullet options and the lack of a flat trajectory, the 7x57, 257 Roberts, and 6mm Remington are very attractive alternatives for those actions.

Yet the 6mm Rem was also factory chambered in a SA Rem Model 7 with a std 2.8" mag length, go figure.

 

[ImBIllT]

Yet the 6mm Rem was also factory chambered in a SA Rem Model 7 with a std 2.8" mag length, go figure.

Yep. They did it, and it's certainly doable, but a longer action is preferable in my opinion.

 

[Homerange]

Yep. They did it, and it's certainly doable, but a longer action is preferable in my opinion.

Yep, I've got one and it's a bit of a battle to find what it likes to eat and still fits the mag.
At this stage it won't group under 1/2" unlike my Mod 7 in 223.
More work on it in progress............

 

[Webster]

Thanks for this.
Can I ask of the powder used and targeted velocities, guessing they were handloads.
30 yrs back is a bit of an ask I know and if you can't remember no worries.

I don't have my data any more for 6mm Rem loads. I shot 75 HP and 85 HPBT Sierra bullets. 4831 and 4350 powder. As I remember the velocities came very close to reloading manual fps. As I got better barrels it forced me to refine my shooting techniques to get the groups the rifle was capable of. Still shooting the same factory Rem 700 BDL bought in 1968. Glass bedded, Kreiger 6BR barrel, Jewell trigger, 15X scope. Just bought a new 700 ADL converting to 6BRX for GH.

 

[Brians356]

That it does, but it spun the cleaning rod when I got it. It also won't stabilize a 60gr flat base despite its supposed 12 twist. I wish I could buy ten more. It's one of my favorite firearms. No doubt the heavy barreled Sako's would be just as lovely. The barrel thickness is just right...more than a sporter, less than a Rem 700 varmint taper.

Anecdotal evidence suggests the Microgroove rifling in centerfire rifles, especially with hot loads, wore down fairly quickly compared to conventional rifling. Your experience seems to add to the evidence. But as you point out, accuracy does not necessarily suffer unduly, and there's apparently plenty of rifling remaining down the bore. The 1-in-16 twist probably helps smooth out the transition.
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[Rsadams]

Thanks everyone this has turned out to be a great thread....