Hello and need advice for which 6mm.

[Jacob Hanan]

After much reserch and lots of advice I am still pondering which 6mm cartridge. I will be using the gun for long range prarie dogging and paper shooting with my buddies. I have a rem 700 short action and a hart 1-12 twist rem varmint contour barrel.

I have both a 6mm Remington and a 243 win in factory configurations.

I have been thinking about the 6mm ai and the 243 ai bit still can't make a choice.

All opinions will be taken with great Apreciation.

what do you guys think? This will be a total build with about a 1500$ budget.

Thanks in advance.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Hey Jacob! Read through the all the different 6mm configurations in the cartridge sections of this site! There are many 6mm configurations out there! With a 12 twist barrel, according to Berger bullets quick reference sheet, the heaviest bullet you could shoot would be an 80 grain in their varmint bullets! I'm kind of in the same predicament as you so I will be watching this thread!

Mike

 

[Jacob Hanan]

Yea I've read and read and read. Everything. I've been reserching for the past four months. Spending at least an hour a day reading. I just need some advice from people who have been there done that. This will be my first full build.

 

[RJinTexas]

6mmAI hands down is my favorite long range prairie dog cartridge and as gunamonth pointed out it absolutely shines shooting a 87gr Vmax.

Regards
RJ

 

[Jacob Hanan]

how does the 6ai work in a short action?

 

[MarkS]

Guys,

I have been there. If you have not had a 6BR you need one. I have had 2 6mmAI 10tw and 14tw. Barrel life is not great but, they do the job. The 243AI is about the same. But the accuracy of the 6BR is unmatched. I run a 70gr Sierria Blitzking at 3500 f/s. The BR kills just as well as a 6AI with much better barrel life. I have many 500 yds kills and one at 620 yds kill on VA groundhog. Friend has kills on PD at 910 yds with his setup. There is no need for the extra powder and barrel killing speed. If you want a little more speed then go wih a 6BRX 6BR IMP, it will run the 70gr BK at 3750 f/s, I was only getting 3820 out of the 6AI 14 w.
Check this out for the accuracy of the BR, This is the same gun I am using now. http://www.6mmbr.com/Schronce600.html
Now if you get into the fast twist barrel shooting 105 and 115 bullets. Friend has kills on PD past 1000 yds. 1300 yds with a 6 Dasher (BR IMP) and is hitting target at nearly 1 mile 1700 yds

Mark Schronce

 

[MarkS]

The 87 Vmax is the best 6mm Varmint bullet. In a 6AI runing 3500 to 3600 f/s. I have seen it jerk grondhogs out of the holes and cut them into. You will need a 10tw for the 87 Vmax. The best accuracy I could get was 0.5 moa. That is about all that is needed for varmints.
But I like see more accuracy, the 6BR will run 0.250 moa. I have sold all my big stuff and shoot BR's for everything. Any of the 6MM's will be great.

Mark Schronce

 

[Jacob Hanan]

See, I have heard it both ways. Some say the 6ai is to long for the short action and some say it will work and I had heard thats what remington used for the 6mm. I think i would like the 6ai for sure if it will work well in a short action. i would like to be able to use it as a repeter.

Im not putting all the other 6mms out. I would be open to any that stands above the others for what i need it for. But i already have the 12 twist. i should have reserched more before i purchased it. but its the past and i think the 12 twist will do about what i need. I think.

I thought about the 6x47 lapua very hard for a while. i really want a long maximum point blank range.

And thanks a lot guys for all the info. this is a great site! ive been a long time reader of this site but was always kinda intimidated because of my little knowledge of the subject of precision shooting.

 

[1000yardstare]

I shoot a 6AI in a trued Rem 722 action and have had no problems. Chose the short action because it is stiffer. Mind you that is single loading for F Class. At 1000 yards with 107 MKings at 3250 fps I would put the 6AI against any cartridge. Placed second in the 2009 Ontario F Class Champs. Lost by a single point. My fault, not the cartridge.

You didn`t say if you were going to use a magazine. For magazine loading the 6mm rem and its brother the .257 Roberts are both "tweeners" with heavier bullets - too long for a short action and a ton of room in a long action. But you indicated that you would be using lighter bullets so magazine loading won`t be a problem if you go that route.

But for everyday chuck and coyote shoots, I go with a standard 6mm Rem custom built on a commercial M98 action. Lots of magazine space, longer barrel life and deadly out to 600 yards.

 

[kjcpoint]

Jacob, 243ai for us in south dakota. krieger 12 twist and a 70gr berger have proven to be devastating on coyotes and we like lapua brass. Have a krieger in 11.5 twist in the lathe now, will be ready in the morning. Either way you will be in good shape. Have fun with it.

kyle

 

[Jacob Hanan]

Thanks again guys.

 

[CJ6]

Jacob , A 12 twist will work just fine for the 87 gr V maxs. I have several 6mms , 6-250, 243, 243 AI, Rem 6mm and 3 6-284s all in 12 twist. No issues whatsoever stabilizing the 87 grainer or upto a 95 gr SP such as a Nos Part. The the 95 gr Horn SST,90 + gr Bergers ( the 88gr LTB does), 95 gr Nos BT, and like weighted Barnes will not stabilize tho at least in mine.

 

[Jacob Hanan]

I'm going to take it to my gunsmith soon.

So a 6ai will work fine for a short action and I will be able to use my magazine?

 

[Jacob Hanan]

Ok. Thank you.

 

[LWolken]

Regardless of the action length I'd build a 6mm SLR or a 243AI. The 6MMAI does nothing better except burn out a barrel faster. Very close to the same velocities as a 243AI. The only reasons I'd build a 6mmai is if I was standing on a mountain of brass and had all the dies etc already. The 243AI has better brass selection, its cheaper any brand. Better brass availalability buy it off the shelf! Better barrel life better suited for a short action. Even feeds better than the 6mmai. Cycles faster stores more ammo in a given container cheaper to shoot less powder, stiffer action it goes on and on. The only two negatives I'd have to say about the 243AI is fireforming which you'd have to do with the 6mmai and short neck although I'm not convinced the longer neck is really any better.

Lance

 

[LWolken]

6mm-284 would be a much better choice than the 6mmAI.

Lance

 

[skeetlee]

just do a 6BR and thank yourself later!! There is a reason a web site was built around this cartridge. Lee

 

[LWolken]

Skeet has a good point. After re-reading your post you might want to keep the two big 6's in factory trim and build a 6mmbr. I have two 243AI and a 6mmbr. That way I can rotate between the big boomers and let them both cool while a shoot the BR.

Lance

 

[MarkS]

Jacob,

The 6AI will work on a SA, but feeding a AI round of any kind may be a problem in any action. The AI just don't feed well, and the 6BR is a bad feeder also. If feeding is a must, a round with a 30 degree shoulder, may be the way to go.

A 6AI may feed a loaded round, may not eject a loaded. I had to remove the bolt to get a loaded round out, it will depend how long your bullet is loaded.
The key to accuracy is the brass. The best brass made is for the 6BR. If I were building a bigger 6mm, It would be a 243AI (due to the better brass) twisted to shoot bigger bullets.

Mark Schronce

 

[Jacob Hanan]

Thanks again guys. The action is being trued right now so I still have a while to make my choice.

I still don't know which one to pick.