Is there a fur friendly 6 mm?

[Leveraction35]

I won a coyote contest which awards me a custom rifle. I’ve been looking at 6 Creed and 6 ARC but I have no experience with 6mm. How many of you guys hunt coyotes with a 6mm? Currently, I’m a factory ammo shooter, but I’m going to be getting into hand loading this year as well.

I will never shoot more than 300 yards in my area

I’m trying to tow the line of dropping them like a sack of yams and keeping nice pelts.

 

[5spd]

A pal used a 6mm creed, 105g bullets tear em up pretty nastily at 2900fps
His 6arc w 65-70g bullets do a great job and not blown out like the creed.
My own rigs are a 6x45, @ 3000 fps and 6x6.8 spc @ 3569fps with 65g vmax loads. Don't blown out unless it's a low gut hit.
My own choice of the 2 calibers would be the 6arc for coyote.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

in 6MM Creed, USE the Lightest, 58 or, 65 Grain, V-Max Bullet that, shoots ACCURATELY and Push them,. FAST !!
Aim for, the Front,.. Shoulder Bone to, initiate Violent,.. Expansion !
Thin Jacketed, "Tipped" Bullets Like, the V-Max cause, "Splodies" ,.. on Sage Rats.
Should Be NO "issues" with, Deep Penetration and "Off Side",.. Messes,.. on Yotes !
With "Frangible" Bullets,.. SPEED is,.. your "Friend" ! ( Think,.. 6 Creed, 6 XC, .243 Win, 6 mm Rem, 6 SLR, etc. )
Always Test, to Be SURE that, whatever Bullet, you Choose,.."Works"

 

[B23]

How fur friendly something is, IMO, has more to do with the type and construction of bullet/s used then it does the cartridge it is shot from. Generally speaking though something shooting the same exact bullet at a lower velocity will have less fur damage so between those two, if fur damage is a concern, the 6 ARC would be the better choice for you.

 

[SD guy]

I love the 6mm Arc as a deer rifle & fear, your current factory ammo options will leave you with a rather high percentage of blown up pelts. If factory ammo is your approach I feel a 204 ruger or 223 may serve you better. As a reloader I would feel rather confident in any of these cartridges with the right projectile at the right velocity.

Personally I would opt to reload & shoot my 17 Fireball if saving pelts was a high priority. In my case a 30 gr berger projectile no longer offered would be my bullet of choice.

 

[Leveraction35]

Personally I would opt to reload & shoot my 17 Fireball if saving pelts was a high priority. In my case a 30 gr berger projectile no longer offered would be my bullet of choice.

17Rem is HIGH on my interest list but didn’t want to bring it up in the “wrong forum”… some guys get funny about that. I think the 17rem with 30gr HPs would be a killer coyote gun

 

[SD guy]

Op's task at hand is valid & if another option is up to the task perhaps even better, then no reason not to entertain other options IMHO. Trouble today, is I do not know where a guy would source proper 17 cal projectiles for the task at hand.

 

[Ccrider]

Why not a zero freebore 6br to shoot 50-70gr bullets?

 

[X Count]

Sierra 55gr blitzking won't get pass throughs. 6br would be my pick but between 6 creed and 6 arc I'd choose the creed. I think components will more supported in the future AND the bolt face will be .308 not PPC if you want to do something else on that action.

 

[Leveraction35]

Sierra 55gr blitzking won't get pass throughs. 6br would be my pick but between 6 creed and 6 arc I'd choose the creed. I think components will more supported in the future AND the bolt face will be .308 not PPC if you want to do something else on that action.

Good information. I appreciate it. Are you talking about handloads with the blitz or factory loads?

 

[SD guy]

If you are going to opt for the 6 ARC or 6 creed & load the lighter bullets, a slower barrel twist for lighter bullets may be desirable. Standard 7.5 twist may over stabilize / cause bullets to blow up on way to target due to centrifugal force of the faster lighter bullet.

If you are going to reload the 6BR would likely put a smile on your face in terms of easy accuracy experience.

 

[JSH]

Had a buddy that has now passed, he used the equivalent of the 6ARC with a Speer FMJ. Dunno if they make them anymore though.
Sorry I am more of a boom splat fellow, leave them where they fall. If I wanted a nice pelt I would get one from a trapper.

 

[Clancy]

Just build a 6mm BR. 12 or 13.5 twist, 68 grain Bart’s avengers. 70 varmageddon if you want a factory bullet.

Stone dead at impact, no holes.

 

[30378]

Inside your range of 300yds I would look real hard at the 6x45 whick uses necked up 223 brass.

 

[Clancy]

Inside your range of 300yds I would look real hard at the 6x45 whick uses necked up 223 brass.

That’s another great idea!

 

[mike243]

If 300y was my max I would probably go 22arc if wanting a gas gun. I may end up with 1 this fall after I shoot my 6arc some.

 

[Leveraction35]

If 300y was my max I would probably go 22arc if wanting a gas gun. I may end up with 1 this fall after I shoot my 6arc some.

I’m a bolt action guy.

 

[Clancy]

I’m a bolt action guy.

And also a lever action guy it seems

 

[Leveraction35]

And also a lever action guy it seems

I love me a lever

 

[muleystalker]

17Rem is HIGH on my interest list but didn’t want to bring it up in the “wrong forum”… some guys get funny about that. I think the 17rem with 30gr HPs would be a killer coyote gun

I'm with SD Guy, the .17 Rem is great with 30gr bullets but it's hard to find them. I would probably go with a .204 Ruger over the .17 Rem for that reason. The .204 is a solid 400 yard gun on yotes. The 6x45 & 6x45 ai are another great choice as is a 6x204 like I went, we throated it for the 95gr SMK's and they shoot great but it just so happens due to the long bearing surface of the 87gr VMAX they shoot great out of it too. The .204 Ruger you have factory ammo available until you start reloading.