Want a 6mm long range varminter that doesn't burn barrels.

[CatShooter]

I read a study done by I believe Barnes Bullets on the use of slow burning ball powder and bbl heat. The test found that ball powder heats the entire bbl instead of the throat like stick powder does. I am working on loads in a 6-284 using Ramshot Magnum and getting some very good groups with it. I know a person who has shot 1000yd competition using a 6-284 and ball powder and has gotten 3000 rounds out of each bbl. While testing loads I am finding the bbl heat is much lower using Magnum as it is with H4931, H1000, or Retumbo. I have a 1:8 twist bbl shooting heavy bullets. This is different than all the bad stories on bbl life on the 6-284.

Any of these ball powders double based?

ALL Ball powder is double based, and they all have the known drawbacks of temperature sensitivity.

 

[HPMike800]

That's what I thought. I have always assumed that doubble based powders would burn hotter than single based powders and thus be harder on barrels.

 

[turbokeen]

i reckon a 243 short throat min spec chamber that suits Lapua brass . is mighty hard to beat. my 26" 12 twist pushes 55 noslers up to 4120fps
58 vmax`s up to 4075
and 65 vmax`s up to 3760
got my reamer from pacific tool

am VERY happy with it

Cheers Dave

 

[mattri]

Dave- those are some great #s. How many rounds do you have through the barrel? Are the 65s the heaviest bullets you've tried in that 12 twist?

 

[turbokeen]

Mattri, ihav shot close to 200 rnds so far. tried 75 vmax`s but they wernt showing any potential. grouping i just wanted to replace my 220 swift brl with what i think creams it . as a varminter to 500yds.
A no fuss round. that i expect to see 1500-2000 accurate rnds or more
im trying to compete with a 22/250 ackley for flat shooting between 200 to 350 yds. and .4 to .5 moa groups.
ps. i like to see velocity with 55`s in a 243 ackley and or a 243 slr short throat

cheers dave

 

[Dgd6mm]

No free lunch, that's why I built a 6CM. It gives me the most for my money. For info search for it and you'll find it. Most of the rounds down my barrels are 10-20+ strings quick fast and in a hurry, with accuracy. F-Class, IBS, Tactical, and practice.

 

[johnmyers]

I read a study done by I believe Barnes Bullets on the use of slow burning ball powder and bbl heat. The test found that ball powder heats the entire bbl instead of the throat like stick powder does. I am working on loads in a 6-284 using Ramshot Magnum and getting some very good groups with it. I know a person who has shot 1000yd competition using a 6-284 and ball powder and has gotten 3000 rounds out of each bbl. While testing loads I am finding the bbl heat is much lower using Magnum as it is with H4931, H1000, or Retumbo. I have a 1:8 twist bbl shooting heavy bullets. This is different than all the bad stories on bbl life on the 6-284.

Any of these ball powders double based?

ALL Ball powder is double based, and they all have the known drawbacks of temperature sensitivity.

Read the July 2010 Barnes newsletter about the testing of different powders and different cartridges on temp sensitivity testing. This is very interesting.

 

[Ackman]

You can't have it all. The 6BR is very efficient and pushes lighter bullets at velocity all out of proportion to how much powder it uses. With heavier bullets it slows down pretty quick. Easy on barrels. But if shooting flatter at longer distance is what you want, you'll need more powder and it's gonna wear faster. Yes.....no free lunch.

If you go with a .243, no reason to not do a 243AI. That case is semi-improved anyway and there's not much taper. Making it AI changes the shoulder angle a lot but it remains the same diameter. Fireforming is no more than just to work up a load and then go shoot it......load and velocity will be real close to what it is with formed brass, accuracy will be just as good. For accuracy and trajectory it's pretty hard to beat one of these shooting a 70gr bullet.

The 6mm case has a lot more taper so making it an AI gives a bigger velocity boost. Like the other AI's, fireforming just isn't a big deal. If you want a 6mm that shoots even flatter and hits harder at longer distances, use that one. It'll push a 70 very fast. Fireforming load is about 2gr more than fireforming the 243AI.

Realize that there's nothing sacred about a barrel. You could nitpick back and forth forever. Just get something that'll do what you want. Enjoy the heck out of it and when barrel life comes to an end, replace it. They make new barrels every day.

 

[bozo699]

Realize that there's nothing sacred about a barrel. You could nitpick back and forth forever. Just get something that'll do what you want. Enjoy the heck out of it and when barrel life comes to an end, replace it. They make new barrels every day.

Absolutely spot on.

 

[kochie]

do a 6x47 lapua i shoot 95vld bergers for coyote 3400 fps and good for deer also with less powder & less kick than a .243

 

[Rustystud]

Don't get me wrong I love the .243 but it is a 1300 to 1600 round cartridge. The 6mm XC has about a 100 round more life.
The 6mm BR, BRX and Dasher will give you 3000 rounds of barrel life and have a slight edge on accuracy.

Nat Lambeth

 

[9sigman45]

Don't get me wrong I love the .243 but it is a 1300 to 1600 round cartridge. The 6mm XC has about a 100 round more life.
The 6mm BR, BRX and Dasher will give you 3000 rounds of barrel life and have a slight edge on accuracy.

Nat Lambeth

I'm guessing you meant the barrel life of the 6xc to be 2300 - 2600 rounds, not 1400 - 1700????

 

[bozo699]

Here calculate the barrel life out for yourself.
Wayne.

 

[Dave T]

Did you ever decide what 6MM to buy? I have a Remington 700, in just a plain 6MM Remington, spec'd out action, lapped lugs, Lilja 26" match grade barrel, McMillan Hunter stock done by Tom Merideth and with 65 grn V-Max bullets I get over 3800 fps and trust me I have been shooting this gun for over 20 years and the barrel isn't even close to being burnt out. Very simple to load, simple to shoot and a 243 can't keep up with it. This talk about barrel life just kills me, these aren't bench guns. The 6MM Remington fell out of favor to the 243 but it is a great varmint round for the distance you want to shoot. Personally I'd have to witness proof that a 243 can shoot a 65 grain V-Max over 3700 fps.
Don't worry yourself with barrel life, get a plain 6MM Remington and don't look back.
Dave T

 

[CatShooter]

Did you ever decide what 6MM to buy? I have a Remington 700, in just a plain 6MM Remington, spec'd out action, lapped lugs, Lilja 26" match grade barrel, McMillan Hunter stock done by Tom Merideth and with 65 grn V-Max bullets I get over 3800 fps and trust me I have been shooting this gun for over 20 years and the barrel isn't even close to being burnt out. Very simple to load, simple to shoot and a 243 can't keep up with it. This talk about barrel life just kills me, these aren't bench guns. The 6MM Remington fell out of favor to the 243 but it is a great varmint round for the distance you want to shoot. Personally I'd have to witness proof that a 243 can shoot a 65 grain V-Max over 3700 fps.
Don't worry yourself with barrel life, get a plain 6MM Remington and don't look back.
Dave T

Yeah... what he said!!

Last year, I rebarreled a 40XB varmint rifle for the 4th time - it had been a 22-250 for all of it's previous barrels, but this time, I decided to go with a 6mm. I had through about a 6mm AI, but decided that I didn't want to fire form 500 cases

... so I went with a straight 6mm Rem. It is as good as you can get in the 6mm varmint world.

 

[mattri]

Thanks for all the replies. Have been working with the 20 Practical project I just put together. It has really surprised me as far as accuracy goes, will need to see how it performs at longer distances before I settle on the next build. If this stretches farther than anticipated I may build the next one a little bigger.