6br for Texas whitetail instead of 243

[aixenmemphis]

I cut my hunting teeth shooting a 243 win from the age of 6 to 15 when I switched to a bevy of larger calibers,270, 280AI, 7mmrem mag, and 264 win mag to name a few). I am in my 30's now and I find myself picking up that old 243 more than all of the others combined when I head out hunting. My 243 with 100 grain sierra gamekings and my rebarreled win 70 in 6.5/284 with 120 lost river ballistics are my two favorites.

I am now considering a 6br for hunting just to have another rifle. I heard they are fun to shoot, not to difficult to work up loads and would allow my daughter to shoot the same gun i am shooting.
What do you guys think??

I am new to this forum so any help is appreciated.

 

[Forum Boss]

Cullen,

A 6BR won't approach the velocity of a .243 or .243 AI with the heavy bullets, but it can be a VERY effective game rifle if you stay within its limits. With the 87-grain V-Max you should be able to top 3000 fps. Run the ballistics and you'll find that packs plenty of energy.

Yes, it is very easy to work up loads with the 6BR. Inherently accurate, I've found that the cartridge wants to deliver under 1/2-moa with just about any powder I try. The advantage vs. a .243 or Rem 260 is less powder and less recoil. I shot a 260 Rem for a couple years before swapping in a PacNor 6BR barrel. The first thing I noticed was consistency. Also, with a little down pressure on the stock, I could see my hits, even with the 105 grain bullets and no muzzle brake. I could not see hits with the unbraked Rem 260. To me, that makes a big difference in the field.

I'm not one to tout the 6BR as the "ultimate cartridge", but I think it would find a happy place in your stable along with the .243 and the 6.5-284. You might also consider a 22BR if varminting is your primary interest.

 

[steveyrock]

I killed many Pennsylvania whitetails with a 223 Remington and a 60 grain bullet.I am sure the 6 BR with a 107 grain running 2800 to 3000 fps would dispatch a whitetail very efficiently.

 

[Preacher]

If I was going to hunt deer with any of my 6br's I would most certainly use the 105 A-max for that chore and never think twice about it.
If for whatever reason that bullet was not available I would use the 95gr Ballistic Tip
and accomplish about the same thing, and the list goes on, and on.......

 

[aixenmemphis]

Thanks for the info.

One more question???

I have always loved hunting with 6.5mm cartridges. Is there a name for a 6br necked up to 6.5.

 

[ghermitage]

It is not a neck up of the 6BR, but it is sounding like the 6.5x47 Lapua was made for you.

 

[Rustystud]

6mmBR for Bambi:

If you pick your shots and make well placed shots bambi will not know the difference. I would recomend you shoot Scirroco, Accubonds, or Partition bullets. Shots out to 200 yards will be fine. Texas whitetails are not a big as their northern cousins.

Hunter responsibility will go a long ways using this cartridge, no "Texas heart shots". A behind the shoulder heart lung shot will quickly dispatch a 100-200 pound deer.

I know of several deer management programs where BR quality rifles are used. All deer are shot just below the ear. They drop like hit between the eyes with 12 pound hammer.
Rustystud

 

[MarkS]

I killed a nice 8 Pointer with a 6BRX,6BR IMP) using a 100 gr Nosler Par. at about 3000 f/s shot thru the lungs, all the way thru. At 80 yds. It ran about 30 yds. The BR would run it 2900f/s. Just use a good bullet.

Mark

 

[NeilNE]

I have a 6 BR necked up to 6.5. Most people call it the 6.5 BR I call mine the 6.5 BS