.243 vs 6XC or others? need advise quick.

[Gunner75]

I am setting up a rifle that will be used in local 200,300,385 and 500m range.

I bought a Surgeon Repeater action and thought I would stick to the trusty .243 cal.

I have been reading quite a bit about the 6XC, and think it may be worth looking at.

I have reloaded for 3 or 4 years now, and would like a cartrige that didn't take forever to load for. This is why I thought I would stick with the .243.

Any thoughts on this?

I am currently planning on using a Bartlien barrel in a hvy palma contour, 8 twist. Chamber in .243 and shoot the 107 Sierras across the range.

Any input would be greatly appriciated.

 

[acloco]

Stick with the 243. Buy the bullets that will do the job and use the time that you save on practice.

 

[Tommie]

I'll second the vote for a .243. Great brass is available from several manufacturers, loading dies are inexpensive and common, no major brass forming is needed and the .243 will provide all the powder capacity you'll likely ever want. I understand and appreciate every theoretical design advantage of cartridges like the 6XC, 6-250, 6-250AI,own one of those), 6-6.5x47, .243AI etc. But in real world use, the old war horse .243 will do everything the others will and sometimes a little more.

Keep it simple.

Tom

 

[chrisj]

You can't go wrong with the 243. However...the 6-250 is a great round too. There is no crazy forming, just take a 22-250 case and run it through a 6/22-250 die. The shoulder is either 26 or 28 degrees, so you won't need to tim the brass nearly as much as the 243 brass. The trimming of the 243 bras is why i gave up on it. I loved the performance of the 243, but with fairly hot long range loads, I had to trim every 2nd firing. The 6/22-250 would go @ least 4-5 firings for me before needing trimming. The 22-250 brass lasted many more firings before the necks split also. You will get another 150 fps or so from the 243, but @ the distances in which you will shoot, it should matter much.

Good luck,

chris

 

[SDWhirlwind]

What I would consider a very reliable source told me less than 2 weeks ago that Hornady is coming out with a 6mm based on the 22/250 case. Never asked him when or other specifics but will be interesting to see what they change if anything from the standard 6/250.

 

[chrisj]

AWESOME! Just what we need...another 6mm cartridge like the 6xc, 6-250, 240 nmc,6mm intl, 6mm ihmsa, 6x, 6x47 Lapua, 6x47 Swiss Match and probably another few that I left out!

I think they might be a little late on this concept.

Chris

 

[SDWhirlwind]

Chris
Kinda my thinking. How many variations do they think the market needs or desires. Am assuming with the success of the 17HMR and 204 their reasoning is a factory designed and loaded round will intrigue the masses like those chamberings did. New rifles, new market, etc, etc,. Will be interesting if it indeed materializes and public reaction to it. I am 6mm poor now so I won't be in line!!!

 

[chrisj]

I can understand that line of thought, but I don't think too many competitive shooters buy loaded 6xc ammo or even 6.5x47 Lapua ammo. If Hornady thinks that it will sell good as a hunting round, they gotta be crazy to think that it will ever compete with the 20 Million 243 rifles already out there. I use Hornady bullets in many of my target and hunting rifles and think they make a great bullet, but I can't understand some of their concepts. I think the .450 Marlin was ridiculous. With modern brass, the 450 marlin will do NOTHING more than a hot oaded 45-70 which has been around for well over 100 years and still going strong.


Chris

 

[Gunner75]

.243 it is.

Surgeon SA Repeater
Badger DM
Jewell Trigger
Bartlien 28" 8 twist, Hvy Palma
B&C 2094 Tactical Stock

Should be up and going in a couple days. Will post results. Thanks!

 

[Kabang]

After doing very thurough load analysis, decided on the 6XC as the extra couple of grain capacity over the 6/6.5x47 lets you use some slower powders. Barrel Life was a minor consideration. I also want a cartridge with about a 30 degree shoulder. 20 degrees is great for mag feeding, but not so great for brass flow. I also went with the Bartlein 7.5 twist so I could shoot the 115s and new 117s. Wish I could say "up and running in a couple of days, but the wait time on those outstanding Bartleins is going to be awile... Isn't 6/22-250 about the same as the 6XC? Norma brass and good quality dies being available for the 6XC was another reason for the choice. Don't want to hassle with custom dies.

 

[SDWhirlwind]

The XC has a 30 degree shoulder and is pushed back a bit to give a little longer neck. Also less body taper than the standard 250 case necked up. Mine feeds great via magazine.

Are your plans to buy XC brass from Tubb? That would be my recommendation instead of buying Norma brass and fireforming. Wished Dave's brass would have been available when I did mine. Between myself and twin brother I fire formed 550+ Winny brass. Set back and rechambered a factory 243 takeoff with minimum headspace to fireform. Ran the case over a mandrel to expand the nk then into a 6mm Int form die to push the shoulder back. Worked slick with no lost cases but sure was time consuming. Can only safely get about 2900-2950fps with the Winny and 107SMK nekkid.Did get 3000 with moly so far. Dave assured me I would do 100-150fps faster with his brass but I haven't ordered any yet. Ours are 26" Rock 5R barrels.

 

[Forum Boss]

FYI, you don't need custom dies for the 6-6.5x47. Both Forster and Redding have excellent factory dies now for this caliber, and Wilson has 6-6.5x47 seaters,non-micrometer).

 

[Raptor]

SDWhirlwind,
Norma is making actual 6XC brass that does not need to be fireformed. Its suppose to be even better than Davids. I have some of his first batch an it shoots well for me but I will try Norma in the future.

 

[SDWhirlwind]

Raptor- Wanting to see if we are on the same page. My understanding is the brass that Dave has now was made by Norma for him, correct? This is the '4th' batch of brass he has sold and his claim is "the best brass he has seen"! Are you stating that you can buy XC brass from Norma or just that Dave's current inventory is made by Norma? Last I talked with Dave price was .55 cents but that was about 2 months ago. Need to come up with some coin to buy some but not much call for disabled 50+yr old male prostitutes in northwestern SD

 

[joesr]

The other option in all of this is the 6CM. It is a 243 with a 31 degree shoulder.

You can use any 243 Win brass.

The barrel life from the first chambering is almost double the 6XC when you shoot very slow buring powders like H1000 or N165,3500 rounds per barrel or more)

Furthermore, 3100 fps from the 115 or 107 with uncoated bullets is better than the 6XC.

Joe Hendricks

 

[Raptor]

SDWhirlwind,
It is my understanding that Norma is making or will be making 6XC brass for the public. At least this is what my smith was telling me.

What part of SD do you live in?? I live in Pierre.

 

[mikecr]

Yeah, I've picked up some 6xc Norma. It's out there.

 

[djones]

The 6CX brass is made by Norma and sold in the US,exclusively I think) by David Tubb's company Superior Shooting Systems. Here's a link to the product page
http://www.superiorshootingsystems.com/Reloading-DIES_BRASS_ETC.html