6mm hunting gun

[Rope2horns]

If a good ole 243 is just too vanilla...how about a 6SLR...brass is easy to make and all your friend will think it's cool.

 

[Beeman]

Thanks for the replies. Not getting my alerts. No one will get run off for recommending the good old 243. It crossed my mind as well as the XC and Creed. My reason for thinking of going with the 6SST is that I’m also having a barrel chambered in either a 7SS or 7SST at the same time. This way I wouldn’t need to buy another bolt. Probably going with a PTG trued 700 action to keep costs down. Was wanting a TL3 but they’re $1900 here in Canada. To much for a hunting gun.

 

[AlNyhus]

243 Ackley and rule the World.

 

[STOMP442]

I am a big fan of the 6mmXC for deer hunting. I have built a handful of them here in Southern Az where long range Coues deer is the norm. Out here 400 yards plus shots are the norm and anything 300 and closer is really pretty rare just because of the country these little deer inhabit. I have a group of clients who have since become really good friends of mine that are pretty die-hard Coues deer hunters. When I first met them they were all shooting big 7 or 30 magnums. One day one of them came to me with a Tikka action in hand and asked me what I thought would be the perfect lightweight Coues deer rifle. This was years ago back when Tubb was making waves with this cartridge and everything I was reading about it seemed like it was tailor-made for Coues deer hunting. So I put a Shilen #4 barrel on it finished at 24" and put it back into the existing composite stock and gave it a nice paint job. I topped it off with a Leupold VXII 6-18x40 target and developed a load with 105 Bergers. With a full mag it tipped the scales at just over 7 pounds. That hunting season he went hunting with the rest of his buddies that kept giving him grief for bringing such a small caliber rifle to hunt deer with. That is until he dropped a nice buck at over 700 yards without a problem. Since that hunt, I have built three other 6mmXCs for the rest of that group and they have been extremely happy and very deadly with them out to some pretty incredible ranges and have even taken some very nice Mule deer with them. Long story short The 6mmXC loaded with 105 Vlds or the Hybrids kills deer dead.

 

[Racebannon3855]

Glad to hear the 115 Berger hunting performs good on game. I’m leaning towards going with the 6SST with a 22” barrel. 3200 fps shouldn’t be a problem with the 115 or 105 gr bullets. Strictly a hunting gun and don’t want a long barrel on this one. Be used in tree stands and blinds. Some walking.

It will be interesting to know what you decide on and how it works out.

Some folks are suggesting that you go with a 243. I like the 243 as much as anybody and with the 85 gr Sierra Game King HPBT it is a wicked lightweight rifle. With a 100 gr Partition it will do wonders.

In my experience the problem comes when trying to use VLD style bullets in a factory rifle. Either the overall length or the twist (I run a 1:8 and Berger says that is marginal) or both just don't work out. My Ruger 77 Varmint has PT&G Bottom Metal with AI Mags. As sweet as this setup is, the overall length does not work for 105 or 115 VLD bullets. And that is Ok, it is a hammer without them. It likes the Sierra Game Kings and the 100 gr Speer. Very affordable and great on target results. My Remington 700 (Late 60s production) really likes the Sierra 85 gr and dislikes any of the modern projectiles. Nosler shows a max of 3160 fps with a 100 gr Bullet in a 24" barrel 243. My Ruger and Remington both chronograph slower than that. Of course experience has shown that a given barrel could be faster or slower.

If you want 3200 with a 115 from a 22" barrel I don't think a 243 Win repeater will get you there.

Good Luck!

 

[Beeman]

Yeah I think the 6SST will get me 3200 fps out of a 22” 7 twist. I’m going with a Wyatt extended box BDL/hinged floor plate. Gets me to 2.995” I believe. That’s the beauty of the Sherman shorts. Every one of them runs under 3”. Even the 7SS with a 180 Berger. I’ll loose a little performance going SST instead of SS but only about 50 fps. I’ve heard varying reports on the Berger 115 being not accurate but think I’ll give them a try. Would like to try the 110 Sierra but am worried it won’t expand on game. Great BC though.

 

[Racebannon3855]

Should be a hammer. With a 1:7 you should be able to run any of the heavies. I used Berger's twist calculator quite a few times when I was deciding what to do. If I remember correctly the 115 in a 1:8 has issues above 3250. I have not used the SST, have heard good things. Enjoy the process, data is your friend.

 

[painter]

Can some one describe the 6SST, may be interested, not as if i need another project. Thanks Painter

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I am a big fan of the 6mmXC for deer hunting. I have built a handful of them here in Southern Az where long range Coues deer is the norm. Out here 400 yards plus shots are the norm and anything 300 and closer is really pretty rare just because of the country these little deer inhabit. I have a group of clients who have since become really good friends of mine that are pretty die-hard Coues deer hunters. When I first met them they were all shooting big 7 or 30 magnums. One day one of them came to me with a Tikka action in hand and asked me what I thought would be the perfect lightweight Coues deer rifle. This was years ago back when Tubb was making waves with this cartridge and everything I was reading about it seemed like it was tailor-made for Coues deer hunting. So I put a Shilen #4 barrel on it finished at 24" and put it back into the existing composite stock and gave it a nice paint job. I topped it off with a Leupold VXII 6-18x40 target and developed a load with 105 Bergers. With a full mag it tipped the scales at just over 7 pounds. That hunting season he went hunting with the rest of his buddies that kept giving him grief for bringing such a small caliber rifle to hunt deer with. That is until he dropped a nice buck at over 700 yards without a problem. Since that hunt, I have built three other 6mmXCs for the rest of that group and they have been extremely happy and very deadly with them out to some pretty incredible ranges and have even taken some very nice Mule deer with them. Long story short The 6mmXC loaded with 105 Vlds or the Hybrids kills deer dead.

Stomp442
Did you use 8-twist barrels on those 6XC rifles? Would a 6x47 Lapua get close to the XC performance wise with the 105 hybrids.

 

[Beeman]

I believe the 6SST as is with all the Sherman shorts started out as a RSAUM case. I believe Rich then shortened it a bit. The Sherman short or SS has a 40 degree shoulder and most of the body taper blown out. The 6SST (Sherman Short Tactical) I think is basically the same as the SS but has a 30 degree shoulder and more body taper. Suppose to feed better than the SS in certain applications. Guys are getting incredible performance out of these small cases. There is also head stamped brass available from ADG. Not available in all calibers, so some may need to be necked up or down. Then they will also not have correct head stamp. If you go to the Sherman Wildcat website there is some info over there as well as lots of guys using the Shermans over on Long Range Hunting Forum. Rich will also answer any and all questions over the phone. Really good to deal with.

 

[4xforfun]

6-47L Great brass. Good balistics, and just short enough to work in a SA and still fit the longest bullets in the mag!! It is my favorite of all of my hunting, plinking, and steel shooting guns!!

Never had a 6 Creed, but I vaguely remember hearing ....somewhere...that they were OK also.

Tod

 

[STOMP442]

Stomp442
Did you use 8-twist barrels on those 6XC rifles? Would a 6x47 Lapua get close to the XC performance wise with the 105 hybrids.

Most have been 8 twist barrels but I have done a couple with 7.5s as well. We haven't had any problem with the 8 twists but our hunting starts at about 3000ft elevation and goes up from there. I would imagine the 6x47L would be very close and work just fine.

 

[steve123]

Stomp442
Did you use 8-twist barrels on those 6XC rifles? Would a 6x47 Lapua get close to the XC performance wise with the 105 hybrids.

My go to load in my last 6x47L barrel was going 3172 fps, in a 8 twist at 28" with 105 hybrids. BTW, I have 37 cycles on my brass and I haven't ever been nice to it.

If you wanted to push the brass a little, and use R17, you can add 100 fps to that figure.

But my chamber has a long freebore - .208.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Thanks for answering my question Stomp442, and steve123!
I’m getting parts together for the 6x47 build in May. I was going to try a .275 neck no turn with a .090 freebore, but not set in stone yet. Will talk with Smith after first of year.
Looking at the one at the bottom of this article.

 

[alf]

I don’t have any 6mm and want to build one for deer hunting. Need recommendations for which 6mm to go with. Want a 22” plus brake on the barrel. Needs to feed good and shoot a 105-115 at 3000 fps minimum. Will a Dasher do this? Also thought of going 6x47 or going with the new 6SST from Rich Sherman. The 6SST will run up to 3300-3500 fps. Will be used to shoot/practice on steel out to 700 yds. But main use will be hunting Whitetails. Looking for low recoil, accurate and decent barrel life.

I've done a couple Dashers with 22" barrels and their accuracy loads were 2940 with 105's. Great coyote set ups.

While I never had a Dasher, 22 or 6mm versions, not feed out of a short action, a 6x47 Lapua will alleviate any potential feeding issues, and give an easy 100 fps over a Dasher with the same 105's. My #1 and #2 coyote guns are 6x47 Lapuas. No brass issues, no custom dies, no fireforming, decent barrel life, and a perfect fit in a 2.800 mag box with the heavies loaded out of the powder column.

I just re-did my #2 gun with a new lightweight McMillan stock and a VX-2 2-7x33 for a lighter weight truck grab-n-go gun...... 7 pound even:

 

[K redden]

Sounds like a regular old .243 Win would do great.

243 for me