243 Win vs 6.5 CM Barrel Life

[marshall]

I have a question or two... First of all I am just a recreational shooter.. not interested in competitions. I am considering buying a Ruger Precision Rifle and am trying to decide if I should go with the 243 Win version or the 6.5 CM version.

My biggest concern is that the barrel life of the 243 Win would be significantly shorter than that of the 6.5 CM ... Is that valid?

I am leaning towards the 243 because I can get Lapua brass for it and it has less recoil therefore my wife might actually want to join me and try some shooting as well. I would probably reload with 100 gr or 105 grain pills... probably with Hornady A-Max most of the time. I am guessing that the price per round to reload would be less with the 243 as compared to the 6.5

I was told that the 6.5 can get 3000 rds of useful bbl life vs only 1200 rds with the 6mm.. Would you agree?

The 243 version has a 26 inch tube with a 1:7.7 inch rate of twist. Will that stabilized 105 grainers? see link below for specs

http://ruger.com/products/precisionRifle/specSheets/18010.html

 

[Grimstod]

Barrel life on a cm would he much longer. But 3000 is overly optimistic. If we judge the 243 by the same standard then expect 1600 from the 243. The 243 though if your a recreational shooter would be a better chouce. More ammo available. I have yet to see CM ammo here locally in any of the shops.
Plus the ballistics are better.

 

[jsthntn247]

Use h-1000 in that 243 and you'll get better life. You can shoot up to the 115 dtacs with that twist rate. Depending on brass and throat between 44-47gr of H-1000.

 

[marshall]

Its a tough decision for me... I like that 243 Win but apparently it will burn up barrels at least twice as fast as the CM...
Since I reload will it be cheaper for me to reload the 243 win as compared to the 6.5 CM, saving enough to offset the shorter barrel life?

 

[DHuffman]

The recoil on the creed is hardly more than a .243 in my experience especially if you are going to shoot the lighter pills. All the creedmoor fans will flame me but the ammo and brass availability is a valid concern. I bought a lot of loaded ammo online then took up reloading to shrink my groups as well as not having to shop for loaded ammo all the time.

That being said I've shot over 1500 rounds with my creed and plan on re barreling this spring. It's a savage LRH and is still shooting .5 MOA or less so it obviously has barrel life left but I'm wanting to upgrade to a match barrel and aftermarket stock to see if I can up my game.

My experience with the brass has been with hornady and winchester. I've trashed about 5-10% of my Hornady cases per cycle to what I feel are too loose primers, but kind of accept it as the "cost of doing business". The winchesters have been better. I'm hoarding nosler brass for the new barrel but I think it will be worth the extra cost from previous nosler brass experience with other calibers.

Nothing wrong with the .243 but I know I'm happier with my creedmoor.

 

[Grimstod]

The recoil on the creed is hardly more than a .243 in my experience especially if you are going to shoot the lighter pills. All the creedmoor fans will flame me but the ammo and brass availability is a valid concern. I bought a lot of loaded ammo online then took up reloading to shrink my groups as well as not having to shop for loaded ammo all the time.

That being said I've shot over 1500 rounds with my creed and plan on re barreling this spring. It's a savage LRH and is still shooting .5 MOA or less so it obviously has barrel life left but I'm wanting to upgrade to a match barrel and aftermarket stock to see if I can up my game.

My experience with the brass has been with hornady and winchester. I've trashed about 5-10% of my Hornady cases per cycle to what I feel are too loose primers, but kind of accept it as the "cost of doing business". The winchesters have been better. I'm hoarding nosler brass for the new barrel but I think it will be worth the extra cost from previous nosler brass experience with other calibers.

Nothing wrong with the .243 but I know I'm happier with my creedmoor.

Switch to 6.5x47 lapua or the 6mm version of it. You will be much happier.
And yes Creedmoor brass is a concern.

 

[DHuffman]

Switch to 6.5x47 lapua or the 6mm version of it. You will be much happier.
And yes Creedmoor brass is a concern.

I really couldn't be happier with the creedmoor but I do have a 6mm-47 Lapua we built this winter that I'm itchin' to shoot.