6mm-250AI- reality check needed

[wolfman]

I'm thinking about building a sporter weight walking rifle in 6mm-250 AI. Barrel will be held at 22". 105 Hornady amax are the prime attration, with 85 TSX likly to see some use as well. Given a 1-9" barrel, at 22", what sort of performance should I expect? Easy load development, or finicky? Any guess at barrel life? this thing will get carried, as much as it will get shot, so sustained fire, and the heat associated with that are a non issue. Your experiences would be appreciated.

 

[kyreloader]

Look at numbers for the 6mm Creedmore. The 6mm-250AI and the 6CM are one in the same.

 

[areaone]

why not a 6 mm remington

 

[wolfman]

The choice is between the .22-250 AI, or the 6mm-250AI. I have a 'smith friend with both reamers. I'm looking for really good longer range performace out of 75-90 gr. .224, or 105 6mm bullets in a hunting/walking rifle. I don't want to use up tons of barrel life in load development, but I'm not too concerned with the rifle being a barrel burner per se- once load development is done, the thing will get carried more than it'll get shot. My thinking is the 6mm version will probably be a bit more mild mannered, while still performing well.

 

[KMart]

For me, I would look at the 6XC. In realilty it is just a 6-250 AI with a little longerneck and a 30* degree shoulder that should make feeding a little easier.

 

[wolfman]

I have access to the two reamers mentioned. Other chamberings are not being considered.

 

[Larryh128]

While I don't have one, the 6-250 is going to have better barrel life without a doubt just from the fact that it's not overbore. Velocity should be right with a 243 or in this case a 243 AI.

 

[wolfman]

that's what I'm thinking Larry, but thought I'd check first.

 

[Larryh128]

Should be a fun gun especially as a 6/250. You buddies probably won't have one.

 

[Rtheurer]

I have to ask if the 1:9 will stabalize the 105 class bullets? Might also think about the 87gr VLD Hunting bullet from Berger. Or the 95gr VLD for that matter.
Just have to ask in case you get it all done and you end up being mad becuse you didnt choose a 1:8 twist.

Russ T

 

[wolfman]

I wouldn't think there would be any problem with a 1-9" stabilizing the 105, but I've been wrong before.

 

[4xforfun]

I wouldn't think there would be any problem with a 1-9" stabilizing the 105, but I've been wrong before.

I have never seen a 1-9 twist 6mm on the 1000 yard line.....there are a ZILLION of them, and they pretty much all shoot 105/107 class bullets, and all are 1-8 or 1-7.5 twist.

 

[Flybuster]

I think 1-9" is marginal for some 105 bullets, especially the vld type. My 1-9.2" 6mm Rem. does stabilize bullets like the 105 A-Max and other non-vld type boatails in the 105 range; of course velocity may help in my case. If I were buying a barrel I would choose the 1-8", the 1-9" should work for some bullets.

I built a fast twist 22-250 AI and am struggling with load development with this particular barrel, but plenty of people have had a lot of success with the cartridge and heavier bullets. If bullet costs are a consideration you'll have to factor in barrel wear per shot to get a true comparison between the 6-250AI and 22-250AI.

I would just run the numbers on JBM Ballistics to find out which combination has less wind drift and which has more ft.lbs. and decide which is better for your application. I thought the speed of the 22-250AI would help on moving targets such as coyotes to reduce holdover and lead; there's probably little benefit over the 6-250AI in reality though.

 

[Bulseyetom]

My 10 twist 6x47 Lapua should be about the same as the cartridge your looking at and it shoots the old Speer 105 grain fb bullet lights out with the groups every bit as good as the 85 grain hunting bullets. The main question would be is what you want to shoot with this rifle. If it is going to be a 600-1000 yard target rifle, then the 8 twist is the way to go. If you are going to hunt varmints, the 9 or 10 twist would probably be better as you will probably want a bullet lighter than 105 grains. One thing about the 6mm guns of that size is that they don't kick much and there are a ton of bullets out there. My 2 cents. Tom

 

[Rtheurer]

Wofman

Sounds like a great rifle, nice little carry rifle. I had one in 223 and 18" barrel that stayed inthe Farm truck.

I wouldnt be suprised if that 105 A max does not work do to the twist, Like Fly buster says your right on the edge possably especially with a 22" barrel so your velocity may be down from the long Target barrels of 26" to 30" you see posing here. If you have the barrel on hand already than it is what it is. Pleny of good bullets beside the Amax 105. Coyotes take a beatin from a 95gr Berger at the Farm. 243AI scoots them out at 3400fps and its a laser. Drops those Dogs like a bolt of lighting.

Then again it might work just fine?
RussT

 

[wolfman]

No reason for me not to go 1-8", as I don't have the barrel yet. The idea is to build an off season twin to my 7mm Rsaum.

 

[Savage99]

A significant part of the enjoyment of guns is thinking over what cartridge, bullet, twist etc. are optimum.

I bought a new 243 in 1957 for both long range chucks and position target shooting at 200 yds. Most of us used the 30-06 then as the ammo was free and so many rifles were available. I noticed the recoil of the big 06 and the butt plates then were hard also.

I loaded the varmint weight 26" barreled 243 down some using the 75 gr Sierra and 3031. I did very well with it and it was accurate.

Back then the 40X Remington had come out and the 6mm Rem. Int'l. cartridge was then news. Its a 250 Savage case with the shoulder pushed back and a long neck. I got one with the 1-10" twist to shoot those Sierras.

It went well and of course I had something 'special' with that odd cartridge. When the bore wore out I got a new Douglas with the same dimensions. Since then I have retired from competition.

For a walking sporter I have a Kimber Montana in 243. That cartridge is just fine for all such purposes. Having "been there and done that" with the wildcats and so called improved chambers I am quite happy with the standard 243.

To each his own on cartridge selection.

Whats changed here in the North East is the lack of woodchucks. Chuck hunting called for a cartridge that would be low ricochet. Now the chucks are gone and there is a lot less shooting. Most big game rifles will cover 'coyote' hunting for me.