6br or .243
- Thread starter themayor
- Start date
with similar length barrel you would be surprised how much speed you can get out of a 6br. my 16in shilen barrel will put 55gr nbt down range in the 3700 fps area and be dead on target when they get there. Don't think you can get much more from a 243 except for more powder usage and burned up barrel. Get lapua cases, neck size and they will last darn near forever. Forget about neck turning and stuff, waste of time if you are not bench rest shooting. RG
Another vote for The 6BR
Great for whistle pigs and paper.
Super easy to find good loads for.
Great for whistle pigs and paper.
Super easy to find good loads for.
Tell us about the type of rifle you want to build...Walk around gun?...Bi-pod rigged stock?...Drop on a portable bench?...Or my famous golf cart for chunk hunting type very heavy rifles & big scopes...The range you expect to kill cleanly at over or under 300 yds..Do you own a rangefinder ??? .Oh & what weight bullet will you be using?...I like the 80 gr berger varmint HP....& the 87 Gr V-Max...I use the 6MMBR w the berger HP...I use the 243 w the V-max..I only use the 6MMBR to about 350 yds now...It will kill cleanly to about any distance with that Berger bullet say 600 yds..But the bullet drop is just silly to deal with in the real world..hence the switch up to the 243...look back on mine & others here complaining about the V-max 87 gr bullet..shoots nice in a one in ten twist BR gun but lacked the "WHOMP" factor...switch up to the 243 & that problem goes away...My best ever 3 shots were 653 with the 87gr V-max plus two more confirmed about 40 yds past that...I've only made one kill past 600 with the 6MMBR & the 80 gr HP..I hope that helps you decide....mike
If is going to be a Mcmillan A5 with a NXS 12-42 I have a range finder and can get anything else i need I would like to be able to count on it for long range 0-at least 8 hundred yards tell me your thoughts and if this is the wrong caliber point me in the direction of the right one thanks
If you are thinking 800 yard range.
6BR probably a little too light for varmints.
I would be thinking 6x47 Lapua or even something in the 6.5x284 class.
Scott
6BR probably a little too light for varmints.
I would be thinking 6x47 Lapua or even something in the 6.5x284 class.
Scott
800 yds eh?? You are lucky to have places in PA. that get you those distances to shoot across...I really think the 243 Win. would be plenty of gun for that kind of shooting...If you take the time to weight sort those 87 grain V-max bullets... The GH's in your neighborhood will hate you..Reloading this cartridge is not difficult..I took the time to carefully sort out about 60 remington cases from a lot of about 100 once fired ....I went so far as to cull out after the second firing any shots that escaped my 100 yd proving groups..An unexplained flier from a group got a red stamp on the case & was then kept separate & not used to hunt with...All the cases will need careful trimming & weight sorting...My 243 brass just seems to grow longer on each firing..You can buy lapua brass & it may not be a bad idea...I use standard redding dies & seater..The necks were checked but not turned down for use in this barrel..As it is cut to standard demensions..You might think it is crazy but I had a muzzle brake installed..& I added a recoil reducer to the butt stock..Not for any other reason but I want to see the hits...All that said, I like the 243 Winchester.. I'm building another Savage target varmint gun.. this time for my buddy Bob...Without boring you to tears with all the details...This one is going to be a 7MM-08 & we plan on using the 120 Gr V-max bullet.[for less wind drift]..Set up similar to the switch barrel thumbhole unit pictured here...Once you find a load the barrel seems to like you will need to get out there & burn up some ammo & record the scope sight settings in a small notebook....Know The 200 300 350 400 450 Etc.& on to 800 YD settings like religion..Learn to use the rangefinder at the range & in the field..Coordinate all that data & keep it with you out in the field...My last great Pa. GH safari I used 3 rifles..The 6MMBR was for shots up to 350 yds...I used my Tac 20 to about 500 yds...& the 243 win for everything beyond 500...I was very pleased with all the first shot hits we could make...Having a spotter helps but is not the end of the world..If you set this rig up & record everything you can do & know what it can do.. you will be connecting to any distance you choose to shoot...Good luck, Good Shooting.. Mike in Ct, Who Hunts In Pa.
Attachments
Mike,
Bore me with the details of the 7mm08. I have always liked the 708 and have two very nice guns in that caliber but if you were to build one for "just" the lighter bullets would a 12,13 or 14 twist make it? The 168 gr Berger VLD is good with 10 twist, one of mine is a 9.5 but I always felt if this gun would shoot a 168 gr match bullet at 2600fps accurately then the 120s that I liked so well must be a bit overspun.
Mark
Bore me with the details of the 7mm08. I have always liked the 708 and have two very nice guns in that caliber but if you were to build one for "just" the lighter bullets would a 12,13 or 14 twist make it? The 168 gr Berger VLD is good with 10 twist, one of mine is a 9.5 but I always felt if this gun would shoot a 168 gr match bullet at 2600fps accurately then the 120s that I liked so well must be a bit overspun.
Mark
As for the new build 7-08...Bob took my 243 barrel because it is proven...In fact he took my whole rig...I need another action to start on..I'll keep looking for a clean short action savage...As for the boring details...I'll have Pac-nor do the barrel...it will be fitted with a basic [removable] Shrewd muzzle brake..I'd like the chamber cut to minimum specs & the rifling set with no freebore matched to that 120gr V-max bullet..regular 1-9 twist unless chris wants to get creative with that part..lands, grooves & twist rate I let him decide...[After I have picked the bullet]...The stock will be That laminated Thumbhole Boyds Bargain I've been sanding forever...Trigger will be Rifle Basic fully adjustable...The base will be a one piece, Burris rings W/inserts..Nightforce scope NP-R2 reticle 32X or 42X depends on what I find at the right price..not like I need another..The fittings will all be SS & polished ....The lug will be carefully checked to mate the action & the stock..The recoil reducer will be from Breako..I got a bargain on these two...After that it is all brass prep & fine tuning the load..mike in ct
i22250, the 6 X 47 is as accurate as the 6br and my chrono reads 105 gr. VLD Bergers at 3060 fps at 100 yds. in 85 degree weather. This is not a hot load.,41 gr. of VV-N560) Bugholes at 100 yds. and .991 group at 500 yds. I'm not a BR shooter so I probably am not capable of squeezing all the suds out it's sponge either. I agree, it would be very difficult to better that with a .243 or a 6br. I have owned many .243s and will own a 6br in the future, so I am not degrading either. Bill
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