6 Competition Match (CM)

[Yoshi]

Got the word on this cartridge last week and am extremely interested. From what I understand, you can fire a .243 in a 6CM to fire form the brass? If so, will the .243 shoot well enough to compete?

Also, just looking for someone with real experience with the 6CM and what it'll give me over a .243? Is it good +1000?

Thanks,
Yoshi

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have real experience, my 2 will shoot better then I can. ;D Yoshi, search the forum and you will go blind reading all the info on it.

 

[Tacitus]

Thanks Dgd6mm! My Google-Fu has been weak lately and wasn't turning up much on the web. Didn't think to use the "search" function here. Found lots of info like you said. Thanks again.

 

[284driver]

6cm:accurateshooter

COpy and paste the above into a Google search tab.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Yoshi, enjoyed the conversation.

Don Dunlap

 

[NateG]

Fireforming loads can shoot extremely well. I've shot a 100-9X string at 600 with fireforming loads on the MR target. (6" X-ring, 12" 10 ring) I'm not likely to shoot much better than that with sling-and-irons, so I can't tell you if it's more accurate still, or suitable for more precision-demanding games (F-class, benchrest, etc). But, I'd certainly shoot fireforming loads in a small match. For an important one, I'll keep shooting weighed charges and formed brass.

As to what it offers over a .243: a steeper shoulder and more capacity. The steeper shoulder means (probably) less case length growth and (perhaps) better accuracy. The extra capacity gives you some options; you can run 4350 and have a gun with a bit more performance than the .243 but it remains a barrel burner, or you can use that capacity to stuff it full of enough of a really slow powder like H1000 and still reach operating pressure. If you do that, then you can expect the performance of a .243 (or maybe a hair more), but much, much better barrel life.

There are a few quirks of setting up a 6CM: 4-groove barrels and a .237" bore seem to be very important. Joe Hendricks, the cartridge designer, has said that the only trouble barrels he's had have been .236" bores and/or 5-groove barrels. I had trouble with a .236" bore, and putting on a .237 fixed it. However, if you go with a .237" bore 4-groove, then the guns do not tend to be finicky at all about the loads. (I've had 100-9X or better at 600 with 4 different loads with three different bullets, including the fireforming load mentioned earlier)

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have shot my 2 in Mid and Longrange, Benchrest, and Tactical. They have placed me in the top many a time. I do not think I will ever go without at least 1. My experience has been equal to yours Nate.

 

[Yoshi]

Update: I've talked to both Joe and Don and got tons of info from both. Good stuff and many thanks! Thanks to y'all here as well. I am extremely excited about adopting this round into my repertoire. Still not sure if I want to do that on a Remmy or Savage action, but that'll probably be a coin flip. Wish me luck!

 

[joesr]

I'd go with the Remington action

 

[Yoshi]

Well, I am pretty sure that I have settled on a BAT action (HR). Although Pierce is a close 2nd. Decisions, decisions.