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

[mattri]

Seems to be a lot of posts about this general topic lately. Here's mine:

Looking at the next build, informal targets and varmints from about 400 yards +.

The 6br obviously has the accuracy but lacks velocity at the longer ranges.

A 6mm Rem AI has awesome velocity and great accuracy- until you smoke a barrel.

Had a .243 and liked it well enough, may just end up with another.

Would prefer not to spend too much time forming exotic rounds, some basic case forming/ fireforming is fine.

Really looking at a plain 6mm Rem but still a little concerned about barrel life.

Thanks for any suggestions, Matt.

 

[280man]

6XC no fireforming factory norma brass is available

 

[mattri]

Good suggestion, I meant to add that one to the list.

How does it do velocity wise at the longer ranges? I'm not looking just for speed, but wheen shooting very small targets at extended ukds trajectory becomes an issue.

 

[alf]

Since you have the caliber dilemma solved, sometimes it's better to back into it. Pick the bullet you wanna shoot, pick a velocity you wanna run it at, then pick a case that you don't have to steamroll the pressures to get there with.

You can have speed or barrel life, but you can't have both. It's a compromise. Everyone has a favorite, but there just ain't nothing new out there .....

 

[mattri]

Yeah its like the old engine builders used to say- "cheap, fast, reliable, pick two"

May have to look at something like a 6mm Rem AI with a barrrel treatment to prolong it's life.

 

[superlight93]

I have a 6XC 14 twist for sale if you are interested

 

[280man]

Look at the 6XC info page it has a lot of great info. A little dated but not much has changed. Like the other guys have said you can't get speed without barrel life issues its a trade off for sure. I think the XC can get a 105 to 3000 FPS in most barrels and its going to be pretty deadly out to most any reasonable distance.

 

[alf]

The XC can get a 105 to 3000 FPS in most barrels and its going to be pretty deadly out to most any reasonable distance.

But then, I run my Dashers at 3060......

And do it with 34 grains of powder.........

 

[280man]

I'm sure you can push a XC much harder. The Dasher is a great round no doubt but the guy mentioned that he really didn't want to fire form.

 

[bozo699]

Well then if he doesn't want to fireform the 6AI is out! Why not just stop messing around and build a 6*284?,...no fire forming, high quality long lasting Lapua brass,velocity and accuracy past 1K yards> My friend has over 1300 documented rounds through his and hasn't even set it back yet,and it has all been 1K br use.
The big AI's are out because of the fireforming criteria, same with the 6br improved versions, the 6xc should be out, because the brass is expensive, barrel life isn't much if any better then a .243, and if trying to get much over 3000fps out of heavier bullets the primer pockets won't hold up, therefore in my opinion only three great choices left, 6X47L, .243win,or a 6*284, I agree with ALF, you can't have all three, to me it's a no brainer, if long range to you is 600 yards and under, 6br all the way, if its over 600 yds and fireforming isn't wanted then the 6X47L, .243,or the 6*284. The difference between barrel life on the 6AI, .243AI isn't much if any difference then the 6*284, so my thought is don't worry so much about barrel life, worry about being able to accurately hit and kill at the intended distances to be shot,and then just concentrate on having fun
Wayne.

 

[alf]

I'm sure you can push a XC much harder. The Dasher is a great round no doubt but the guy mentioned that he really didn't want to fire form.

Actually, he said:

Would prefer not to spend too much time forming exotic rounds, some basic case forming/ fireforming is fine.

Hardly exotic, neck up, neck down, and fireform.

Not knocking the XC by any stretch, but he's looking at barrel life as well, and the Dasher fits the bill, and doing it with 5 grains less powder.

 

[bozo699]

I'm sure you can push a XC much harder. The Dasher is a great round no doubt but the guy mentioned that he really didn't want to fire form.

Actually, he said:

Would prefer not to spend too much time forming exotic rounds, some basic case forming/ fireforming is fine.

Hardly exotic, neck up, neck down, and fireform.

Not knocking the XC by any stretch, but he's looking at barrel life as well, and the Dasher fits the bill, and doing it with 5 grains less powder.

Thanks ALF, I read the op's first post twice, then after reading everyone's posts I guess I forgot the part about, (quote) Would prefer not to spend too much time forming exotic rounds, some basic case forming/ fireforming is fine. [/quote]
With that being the case 6brx or dasher, if he already owns a 6br or the dies then the 6brx makes sense, either way there a great round with pretty good barrel life.
Wayne

 

[357Mag]

Mattri -

Howdy !


If you are talking varmint shooting, a 6 - 250 or 6HLS would suffice for 400yd.
These are proven performers, and are not "exotic"; as regards case forming.

The 20* shoulder angle of the .243 Win, is a known contirbutor to .243Win lower barrel life.
In addition, the .243 has more case capacity than you probably need.

I shoot a wildcat 6mm, whose chamber is made by running a stock 6mm Rem reamer in " short ".
I use 7 X64 Brenneke brass as the parent case ( has .466" base diameter my chmaber requires ).
It has an easy-to-from 26* shoulder angle, and long neck of the 6mm Rem.

My math shows my 6mm wildcat would be good for 1,000yd kills on a groundhog ( KE and wise ), so is all the case capacity that I myself need. It's in the 6XC - 6 X 47 case capacity range.
My wildcat does not require custom dies, or custom reamer(s).

Best of luck in your endeavors !

Regards,
357Mag

 

[CatShooter]

Mattri -

Howdy !

<snip>"... My math shows my 6mm wildcat would be good for 1,000yd kills on a groundhog ( KE and wise ), so is all the case capacity that I myself need.<snip>"

Did you talk to the Ground Hogs about this math stuff? People have been killing Ground hogs for a loooong time, without the benefit off mathematical determinations.

Kinda like the studies that Bumble Bee studies can't fly, but the aeronautical engineers that did the study, never talked the the flightless bumble bees (who were busy flying around getting nectar )



Meow

 

[bozo699]

Mattri -
The 20* shoulder angle of the .243 Win, is a known contirbutor to .243Win lower barrel life.
Regards,
357Mag

357Mag,
I am glad your wildcat is working good for you and that it doesn't require special dies, it sounds interesting and would like to hear more about it. The statement about the 20* shoulder causing lower barrel life mystifies me though, doesn't the .308win have a 20* shoulder? I have heard of them going several thousand rounds.
Wayne.

 

[coyotehunter]

I have a 6mm super lr. It is based off of a 243 case with a long neck and 30 degree shoulder like a 6br. It shoots great. Is supposed to be better on a barrel and all you have to do is run the 243 brass through the sizing die, load it and shoot it. You can use 6xc sizing dies if you have them with a spacer or you can get redding 6 super dies from 6mmar. I like it because there is no fireforming and it shoots new brass as just as good a fired brass. There is more info on 6mmar and Robert Whitley has info on here alot. He is the one who came up with this round.

 

[alf]

I have a 6mm super lr. It is based off of a 243 case with a long neck and 30 degree shoulder like a 6br. Robert Whitley is the one who came up with this round.

With all due respect to Robert, but I have a case that was done by Seely Masker over 20 years ago that's all but a twin to the SLR. He called it a 6X30 BS. More than likely done before that too.

 

[queen_stick]

Standard 243 Win... you even said that you liked them in your first post. Just load it and shoot it... no playing with fireforming, or any other BS.

What kind of range are talking about? I shoot a 6BR in 1K matches. It's a very capable round at 1K, and offers great barrel life, which are both attributes you're looking for. (it's also a "load and shoot" cartridge... no playing with fireforming, or any other BS).

I'd say go with one of those two... 243win (not improved) or 6mmBR (not improved).

my $.02...

 

[johnmyers]

I agree with bozo699. Do a 6-284 and be done and it will do everything you could want out of a 6mm. You might be real surprised of the bbl life you can get by using a slow burning ball powder. Get a 1:8 twist bbl so you can shoot heavy bullets a long way..
John

 

[mattri]

Great replies, thanks to all who have posted.

What is the difference in barrel life between a 243 and a 6mm Rem?