How to build first project? (med range target/varmint)

[mattri]

Tried a search, I'm sure this topic has been flogged to death if I missed some links please let me know.

Looking to build a decent med range target/varmint rifle.

6mm, 6br, .243, .243ai have all been considered and for simplicity sake I'll probably go with a .243. The ai moves less, the 6mm holds a little more powder but how much of a real world difference would I see?

With hand loads in a 26-28" barrel with a 8 twist will a .243 perform accurately out to 600 yards?

Is the extra time/effort/expense worth the while to go with an ai or br round?

Looking at Savages Target or Varmint chamber, a Shilen or Lilja barrel and a SSS or simmilar stock.

I have a 6-24 Nikon that will go on it for now.

Any suggestions welcome, Matt.

 

[Travelor]

The 6mmBR will be a real great cartridge for you. It seems to be THE cartridge around our area for up to 600 yards. I have three 6mmBR's and love all three. I believe they will out shoot the 243 and certainly outlast it as far as barrel wear is concerned.

George

 

[Dgd6mm]

With what your wanting to do the 6br fits the bill.

 

[mattri]

Thanks for the replies. What kind of equipment do I need to get the most out of a 6br?

Right now I'm using a Lee Aniversary kit to load with. Lee press, dies and beam scale. I have a set of calipers that I use to check COL with.

I know this isn't the kind of set-up the br guys are using but its loaded .243 ammo that has shot in the .3s and .270 that has shot .5 @ 100, .7 @ 200 and 1.5 @ 350.


I'm shooting hunting rifles. Want to build something as described above, what kind of loading equipment will I need to make it worth my while?

Thanks, Matt.

 

[johnmyers]

Matt,
Sounds like you're doing well with your Lee equip. That's what I started with and had alot of fun loading and shooting very good groups as you are. Sounds like your groups are very good and upgrading eguip may or may not help you. 6br would be a good choice, but a 243 wouldn't be bad either. Sounds like you're doing well & having fun the way you're reloading so I wouldn't change much unless you just want to upgrade. Good luck.

John

 

[mattri]

Good to know thanks. Can I reload the 6br with the set-up i have now?

 

[johnmyers]

Matt,

I think you could load 6br just fine with the setup you have.

John

 

[Thorbird]

I would go with the 6br for that distance and have better barrel life. Great thing about the Savage rig is that you can change your own barrel with the prefits being offered by barrel makers.

 

[lpreddick]

mattri: i faced the same situation and have all of the above guns. my 6br is GREAT. one hole IF the wind isn"t blowing! easy to correct for targets but very difficult when shooting at ghogs, esp with heavy bullets. my 243 ai slow twist and 80 gr bergers with rel 17 at 3400+ fps gets there quickly. a 6-284 with 105 bergers and rel 22 at 3450 fps+ gets there yesterday and seems easier to control in mild-mod wind. i hollow point these 105 vlds and the terminal ballistics are lethal(DRT), even at 532 yards...my personal best. i know a 6-284 is said to have a short life(1000 or so rounds). i worked up an accurate load in 400 shots so that leaves me 600 ghogs..i can live with that. don"t overlook the 223 ai where you push 52 bergers to 3600+fps, 60 bergers at 3400fps, long barrel life and a pound of powder goes a long way. if i can see you, i can touch you.BANG!

 

[bheadboy]

i agree with ipreddick,the 6br is great if the wind is low, seldom is the wind low in wy, etc.

I find the 22-250 with 55 sierra blitzking at 3725 very effective out to 600, it beats the heck of 6br vs drop, 21" vs30in. and mine shoots in the .200'

flight time is very important

Bob

 

[Dgd6mm]

Matt, out where you live do you shoot farther then 600? If so you may want to stay with the .243 or something off that case. I have 1700+ rounds down my 6CM and it still has 2500 rounds of accurate barrel life left. Also you can stretch it out over 1000 yards. Joe Hendricks dad got 5500 out of his barrel shooting XTC, shooting in the mid 190's with a good x count out to 600 yards. It cost more to get into the 6CM, but how many .243 barrels will you use to get the same round count not to mention the 6CM will out perform it.

 

[mattri]

Thanks to all for the great replies. The wind is a pretty big factor here. We do shoot beyond 600 from time to time but usually stay around 6-700.

 

[lpreddick]

matt: a follow up on your situation...yesterday i "harvested" a 9+ lb ghog at 497yds with my 6-284 shooting the 105 bergers hollowpointed and held into the wind about 4.5 inches with the animal standing...DRT(dead right there)! there was no exit wound and no obvious blood. i found the entrance exactly where it should be. the bullet exploded internally stopping all functions(no external bleeding). i had my 6br and 22-250 but have a better feel for judging the wind with the 6-284. i have noted that a higher b.c. bullet drifts less in wind than a lower one at the same velocity. i don't get follow up shots when the grass is 20+ ins high...one shot, one,you know.

if i can see you, i can touch you.BANG!

 

[mattri]

Thanks again for the replies. Looks like its down to the following:

.243 Win

6mm BR

6.5-284

22-250

Pros, cons?

 

[johnmyers]

I had a 22-250 with a 1:8 twist bbl. Shot 80gr SMK's @ 3230fps and 75AMax's @ 3325fps. This makes a very good varmint round in wind that really hammers varmints. Compare the ballistics with any 6mm and you'll see. Low recoil, however bbl life is not good I had to set mine back at around 1000 rounds. If you go this way I would go with Lapua brass.

 

[mattri]

Ok thanks. Guess I need to read up a little more. If the .22-250 shoots well and is better in the wind what is the advantage of the 6br? Not trying to play devil's advocate just new to this. Thanks, Matt.

 

[k80skeet]

6.5 X 284 is a great caliber shoots very well. The problem is VERY VERY SHORT BARREL LIFE. The ( 4) I have had were all shot out at 700 rounds or less one under 500. The barrel I have now has 300 rounds through it and it is pretty well fire cracked so a couple hunderd more and it will be gone too.

 

[mattri]

Thanks for the reply. What do you think of the .243 6br or .22-250?

 

[johnmyers]

Matt,
If wind is a factor when comparing the 3 you mention I would go with a fast twist bbl so you can shoot the high BC bullets. The 243 and 22-250 shooting heavy bullets would be better in wind although the 6br may be a little more accurate. I've shot prarie dogs in strong wind and the more velocity you get the better you are at long range hits that you don't know exact yardage. Tough choice but any of the 3 I think you'll be happy with. Good luck.

John

 

[Dgd6mm]

I ran the ballistics of the 22-250 75 gr. amax at 3325 against my 6CM with a 115 DTAC at 3200. Out to 1000 yards my drop is 17.5 inches less, windage 18.7 inches less. This is not a stout load. Very accurate, barrel life outstanding and easy to load for. Thanks Joe Hendricks for the fine caliber.