Light Weight 6mm bullets

[Carolina Man]

Hi Folks,
First let me say that I am fairly new to this list. But having shot varmit rifles for a good many years in various calibers. I need to ask here. Why, all the interest in shooting light weight 6mm bullets in large capacity cases?

In my opinion that defeats the very reason for the larger capacity cases. What are you hoping to gain by this. The 22 centerfires will already achieve that purpose with a good 55 gr. bullet up too about 500 yds. The only advantage in the 6mm is to achieve the goal of shooting at the longer distances and will need to have a heavier, higher ballastic shape bullet then any of the light weight bullets can do. Yes, I see references to higher volocity bullets but at what cost, shorter barrel life, increased cost of componets, etc: A good 6BR will to this with much better accuracy then any 243 or 6mmRem. With longer barrel life and smaller powder charges.

Would like to see other opinions on this.

Thanks,
Aaron

 

[UltraBR30]

Advantage of shooting 55's from a .243 verses a 22-250 = none.
The advantage is you can shoot 55's all the way up to +100's from a .243.
A rule of thumb for ya!!! = The bigger the pipe, the better barrel life.

 

[MrMajestic]

I didn't build it, just bought it! .243 AI with a 1in14" twist tube. I'm stuck with the light weights but it sends five 60 grain Berger's at 4168 fps (chronographed) into .315 at 100 yards. I load the 66's for a better BC at 3950 fps (calculated by JBM to 600 yds.) with similar accuracy. When I shoot it out I will opt for a 1in8" and maybe even step up to 6.5 diameter.

 

[Carolina Man]

I hope you folks don't take me wrong on this. I am not questioning anyones decision to do this, I would just like to know the reasons for doing it. A new rifle project is an expensive project today and I am just curious as to why someone would build a custom rifle in 243 and then limit it's use too light weight bullets.

BTW: I am having a new 6mmBR built on a Farley action for use as 600 yd bench gun. Already shooting 6mm PPC. All my varmint rifles are 22's except a new 204 Ruger and a 25-06 LR rifle.

Aaron

 

[357Mag]

Carolina -

Howdy !

Bullet wt aside, one reason I went to 6mm was my in-ability to see .224" cal bullet holes on paper @ 300yd.... when using a 36X boosted scope !!

If one has a 6mm with a quality barrel/twist that can shoot both light-weight and heavier wt 6mm
bulets well, then nothing is given up to the .224s. Certainly, 6mm bullet choices rival those avilable in .224" cal. And hyper precision disciplines like short range bench rest shooting demonstrate the inherent accuracy capabilities of comparatively light ( 65 -69gr ) 6mm bullets.

Just some thoughts.

With regards,
357Mag

 

[swampshooter]

Rule of thumb: The bigger the caliber the longer the barrel life. This rule holds true when powder charges remain the same. The .243 burns somewhere around 20% more powder than a .22-250 so that cancels that out. I've shot .22-250's, .243's, and 6mm's for about 45 years now and if there is any difference in barrel life I believe the .22-250 would come out on top, but not by much. You can't have high performance and long barrel life.

 

[okie]

I bought nosler "kangaroo" bullets (6mm 55 gr. ) by the thousand at less than half the cost of .22s----they outta shoot minute of crow out to 200-250 yards---and that barrel will also stabilize 75 and 80 grns-----I know that it will not shoot with a .22 but they were cheap!! If I were gonna build one I would definetly make a .22---but if I had a barrel and a buddy with a cabinet full of reamers and some of those cheap bullets ...well you get the point --- my 2 cents

 

[fdshuster]

One of the reasons I have 6mm's with slow twist barrels, for lightweight bullets is because of the vast number of choices of extremely accurate match bullets in 6mm caliber. Just look at the list of Bergers, Sierra MatchKings, Bart's, etc. etc. At our local benchrest g'hog match's, fired at distances from 100 yds. to 500 meters, ( and everything in between), the vast majority of competitors are using 6mm's of one cartridge ( 6ppc, 6BR, 6BRX, 6 Dasher, etc) or another. I seldom see competitors using 22 caliber. That's not to say 6mm with 8 twist barrels and shooting heavier weight bullets are not being used, but in many cases kept for the longer distances of 300 yds. and further. Check the most popular caliber cartridge used at the Super Shoot each year, and try to find 22 caliber. Maybe a couple out of hundreds. Everyone wants to go with the winner, and the winner will be shooting a 6mm.

 

[Carolina Man]

You are correct in all you said in regards to benchrest type shootinig. I shoot a 6PPC w/Bart's Ultra bullet built by Mike Bryant now. The 6PPC replaced all the 22 cal bench guns a long time ago. And even then the 22 PPC or 22BR never replaced the triple deuce. I believe the triple deuce still holds the record for the smallest group set by Pat McMillian way back in the 70's.
But my question was only directed to reasons for light weight bullets in large cases. like 55-65 gr bullets in a 243 or 6mmRem. Where they have no advantage over a good 22 cal rifle.

BTW: Will a 1-8 twist barrel stablize a 70-80 gr bullet in a 6BR?

Aaron

 

[6BRinNZ]

BTW: Will a 1-8 twist barrel stablize a 70-80 gr bullet in a 6BR?

Aaron

1-8 twist yes - I throated my 1-8 for 75 V-maxes for varminting and use the 95 Berger for competing with...excellent compromise

 

[skeetlee]

I may be wrong but i dont think Pat holds the smallest group record, and i do believe it was shot with a 6mm bullet. I cant remember the guys name but there is some controversy pertaining to that record group. this is the way i understand it anyway. I have been wrong before! Lee

 

[bheadboy]

Carolina,

to the point of yourquestion, why light weight bullets in a big case,

my 2cts,no reason at all, some fancy the velocity they get, but bbl life is short in 243/ai etc.

if you shoot lite bullets, out to 500, the 22-250 etc will do just fine thank you

if you want to go beyond 500 the 6mm and bullets in the 70's smk etc,

you gain the bc and the case will push them almost as fast as a 22-250 55grainer

consider yourshoulder, the noise, dogs dont like noise,and cost of bullets/powder/bbls.

22's to 500 and 6mm beyond

Bob