My 6mm cartridge choice

[normmatzen]

A couple years ago, I did a lot of research to pick the 'right' cartridge to build a home built rifle. What I chose was a Savage precision RBLP single shot action, Shilen bull select match stainless barrel and I re-worked a BVSS stock with piller and skim bedding. The caliber,,,,243 Win.

I built this rifle, and it shoots great. and I have developed a load that works great with 105 A-MAX moly..

My question; it seems every other day, some one comes up with an improved 6mm case. I'll be darned if I can figure what is the real value in these combinations. I chose 243 WIN as it was a demonstrated varmit, hunting and long distance winner. I have only used two powders, H4350 and H1000, but I am of the opinion I can load this case with many bullets for different purposes with equal high performance. Also, I'm an engineer and have a questioning eye on unsubstantiated claims, called anecdotal evidence. I read how one guy's powder choice doesn't work for another guy. I have also done a lot of ladder testing and found it is an almost never ending chore as there are so many second order effects. Pick a charge by ladder then pick a bullet set-back and the setback changes muzzle velocity, ad infinitum! My engineering side refuses to believe that a rifle, built to the state of the art by the best barrel makers and action makers and assembled with care can vary so much! I also think too much time is spent trying the latest fad. I have tweeked my favorite load to the point where my ultimate results are primarily controlled by my shooting skills!!!

So far, I am not a very skilled marksman! I haven't learned the wind reading skills, the mirage reading skills or even the firing skills. I have tried free recoil and that seems to help my firing skills a lot. I am also getting much better at reloading.

Back to my question, Do we really need all these case perturbations? I have observed enough problems in attaining good scores based on my personal skills to completely over power the capabilities of my rifle! What am I missing here?

 

[1shot]

normmatzen,
Quite simply put, a lot of us like to tinker with established cartridges and “improve” them if you will, either for our own satisfaction or we thing that we have indeed stumbled across the coveted “better mouse trap”. If what you have is working for you, then by all means go shoot the daylights out of it and enjoy every round down the tube. Having said that, there are some of us that simply can’t follow the beaten path and want to experiment, even when it doesn’t work out.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd

 

[1000yardstare]

Took first place in Factory F Class with a stock .243 Savage 12FV in the Friday Aggregate,300, 500, 900, 1000) at the 2008 Ontario Fullbore Champs. Load was 107 MKing and RX25. Chronod at 3050 fps.

Figured I could do even better with another barrel-eating 200 fps so had MacLennon build me a 30 inch 8 twist 6AI barrel on a 722 action, Fajen prone stock, Anschutz fittings, Bushnell 4200 Tactical scope. Got second place in the tougher F,O) in the Friday Agg at the 2009 Ontario Fullbores, 107 MKing, RX22, 3250 fps.

I am a freak for gut-wrenching velocities even though it means shorter barrel life. Plus I just had to have an Ackley Improved at some point in my 50 year competitive shooting carreer. So the decision to blow a 40 degree shoulder on a perfectly good 6mm Rem case was based on desire and fascination. And my 6AI does shoot tighter groups at 1000 yards compared to my .243. But then the .243 is a factory barrel, not custom.

 

[JRinCo]

Normmatzen
It sounds to me like you have just about worn out the barrel on that .243 Winch, with all of the ladder tests and so on. So what caliber are you going to re barrel it with LOL.

To answer your question as to why for all of the experimenting with all of the new variations. In the last several years, we have seen a huge advancement of modernized shooting components. Secondly many of us are experimenters at heart, and were just having a ball with all of the new toys. Too name a few, custom actions, stocks, barrels, cartridge design, powders, bullets and testing equipment. You name it, everything is new and improved.

Your .243 Winch is obsolete, next try a 6XC or a 6-6X47 Lapua, which you will give you equal or better performance, in a modernized case that will fit much better in your magi zine using modern bullets.

 

[watercam]

Bearing in mind that the 'obsolete' .243 is winning national long range competitions regularly,ask John Whidden)

 

[BRhunter]

Bearing in mind that the 'obsolete' .243 is winning national long range competitions regularly,ask John Whidden)

Yes John is a great shooter!I think there is no accuracy difference between 6XC and 243.You can't go wrong with the 243.

 

[normmatzen]

Well, I think this little exercise has shown me the 'Light!'

We are all experimenters! Most of you guys have been at this much longer than I and have already gone through the exercises to improve your shooting skills and tweak your loads. At that point, you must still experiment, so comes the newest case for your chosen caliber!!

Once I learn the intricacies of reading the wind and mirage and improving my shooting skills, I will probably try another case/caliber. I am already thinking about the 6.5 Creedmors! Or, if I haven't shot out my 243 barrel, re-chambering it for a different case.

Thanks to you all!!!!

Norm