Anyone hunt with a 6BR?

[Triggernosis]

I'm considering switching my Savage 12FV from .243 Win. to 6BR for better barrel life. I don't compete,yet) but I do spend lots of time at the range and can easily see going through approx. 1,500 rounds per year. I'd like to hunt with the same rig - deer and antelope out to 500 yds. or so.
How much would I be giving up by letting go of the .243 Win.?
Or should I just stick with the .243 Win. and get me a new barrel every year or so?

 

[mikecr]

With 95vlds, there is barely the energy to take deer with a 6br @ 500yds.

Great for woodchucks, but I wouldn't use it that far for deer.
6Dasher/6xc/6cm/243 are better here.

 

[Triggernosis]

Thanks for the info., Mike.
How are the 6Dasher, 6xc, etc. as far as barrel life?

 

[BoydAllen]

Why don't you switch barrels for different uses? It is not difficult and the tools are not that expensive.

 

[AckleymanII]

Antelope are not hard to kill, and you would do fine with a 6 BR loaded with an 85g Speer BT sp, shot placement is everything, use a range finder and know your equipment.

I would opt for a 6 Dasher or 6 BRX if you wanted to go for deer and use the 95g Nosler partition or the 85g Barnes Tripple shock bullet. Many shots on deer are quartering and you will need the extra bullet penetration since you rarely get the perfect broadside shot.

I have killed a lot of deer and antelope with a 243 and 6 Rem shooting the 95g Partitions @ 3100 fps, and the Dasher and 6BRX should be able to attain close to that velocity if not more.

 

[mikeinct]

Seeing how it is a Savage...You can do the switch over yourself...Keep the 243 for deer...Put the 6MMBR on for Varmints & target shooting...No reason you cant have both.. The barrel wrench is cheap enough..& it is not difficult to do even at the range once you are familar with the process....I like my vise in the workshop but I have swapped at the range afew times...You just need to remember all the set up stuff Headspace correctly...mike in ct

 

[Ackman]

The 6BR is a great cartridge but for what you're wanting to do, I'd stick with a .243.
About the Savage being so easy to switch-barrel....it's not. Just remember that to get a wrench on that barrel nut, the stock has to be removed and the scope has to be taken off. I suppose if you were really determined it could be done at the range, but this isn't a quickie thing and I sure wouldn't bother. When switching barrels a shoulder makes things much more convenient.

 

[chino1969]

The 6BR is a great cartridge but for what you're wanting to do, I'd stick with a .243.
About the Savage being so easy to switch-barrel....it's not. Just remember that to get a wrench on that barrel nut, the stock has to be removed and the scope has to be taken off. I suppose if you were really determined it could be done at the range, but this isn't a quickie thing and I sure wouldn't bother. When switching barrels a shoulder makes things much more convenient.

All of what you say is true, however, it is not that difficult switching barrels. Of course, when I switch to another barrel it generally stays on awhile but once you do it, the second time is easier.
Chino69