Which one would you choose & why?

[Doug Humbarger]

What can the 6mm Super LR do that the 243 AI can't? Which one would you choose? This is intended for hunting not bench rest.

The 6mm Super LR (center) next to a .243 Win. (left) and a 6XC (right). The 6mm Super LR has the case capacity of a .243 Win. but the long neck and 30 degree shoulder angle of a 6XC - it's the best of both worlds!

 

[.260 james]

I chose a straight .243 , mostly because i like to spend more time shooting then loading and I am Cheap! Cheap brass, cheap dies and pretty much same results. When you shoot an antelope at 350 yds. they arent gonna care what exact chambering the rifle barrel says.

 

[Jayman_10x]

+1 for 243 Win straight. Even if it was for benchrest you'd have access to Lapua brass, great bullets, and no practical difference. Don't know about you but I'd rather spend my time shooting than I would reloading.


Just my $.02

Jason

 

[xdeano]

What's all this reloading bs. The SLR is a 243 win case just ran through a die. No different then the 243 in time. If i go buy a bag of 243win i'm going to run them through a die before my first load up to get the necks straight anyhow. So why not get a little more performance out of it.

The only difference between the 243AI and the SLR is the fact that you won't be wasting barrel life fire forming brass, you'll have better barrel life. You'll be in the same category when it comes down to velocity so why not have that velocity for a little longer without having to mess with forming more brass or cambering up a new barrel.

So my vote is the 6slr.

xdeano

 

[Nomad47]

When I was choosing a 6mm, I chose the 6XC, but in hindsight, I think the SLR would have been just as good a choice.

 

[Gundog64]

For hunting I would use the standard 243. Try to find 6SLR ammo at the local hardware store when you forget your ammo back at home. Don't ask how I know this can happen.

John

 

[K22]

Easy - I choose the standard 243, one of the greatest cartridges of all time. I have three of them and have hunted both deer and varmints with them with outstanding results. If I was limited to only one rifle (what a terrible thought ), it would be the 243. With 100 grain Sierra or 95 grain Noslers, you have an effective deer cartridge. With 80 Sierra Blitz bullets, you have a long range varmint cartridge that will flatten any varmint.

Why - the standard 243 - brass readily available - excellent factory ammo readily avialable - easier on the barrel than the super versions i.e AI. There is no need to go wild cat with this cartridge - the standard will do everything you want it to in a 6mm cartridge for hunting.

 

[mattri]

I would absolutely go with the 243 for hunting. The marginal performance benefits of the other cases will mean nothing to a deer/antelope/coyote/hog etc. When we lived in WY I dropped more mulies with a 243 than anything else. Very acurate, and with 100gr Game Kings or similar it will get the job done. Actually thinking about building another.

 

[Ironworker]

+1 243 I have a 6x284 and even though I have way more velocity ! I still have to be spot on in range estimation for varmints.

 

[.260 james]

What's all this reloading bs. The SLR is a 243 win case just ran through a die. No different then the 243 in time. If i go buy a bag of 243win i'm going to run them through a die before my first load up to get the necks straight anyhow. So why not get a little more performance out of it.

The only difference between the 243AI and the SLR is the fact that you won't be wasting barrel life fire forming brass, you'll have better barrel life. You'll be in the same category when it comes down to velocity so why not have that velocity for a little longer without having to mess with forming more brass or cambering up a new barrel.

So my vote is the 6slr.

xdeano

I am not saying there is anything wrong with other choices, but this gentleman asked our opinions on a hunting gun caliber. I chose the .243 for the afforementioned reasons. The ability to buy formed brass and even , God forbid, shoot factory loaded ammo has its pluses for a hunting gun. Barrel life issues and the like really come up with hunting guns. Unless you wander on to a p-d town while antelope hunting and get carried away..........

 

[xdeano]

What's all this reloading bs. The SLR is a 243 win case just ran through a die. No different then the 243 in time. If i go buy a bag of 243win i'm going to run them through a die before my first load up to get the necks straight anyhow. So why not get a little more performance out of it.

The only difference between the 243AI and the SLR is the fact that you won't be wasting barrel life fire forming brass, you'll have better barrel life. You'll be in the same category when it comes down to velocity so why not have that velocity for a little longer without having to mess with forming more brass or cambering up a new barrel.

So my vote is the 6slr.

xdeano

I am not saying there is anything wrong with other choices, but this gentleman asked our opinions on a hunting gun caliber. I chose the .243 for the afforementioned reasons. The ability to buy formed brass and even , God forbid, shoot factory loaded ammo has its pluses for a hunting gun. Barrel life issues and the like really come up with hunting guns. Unless you wander on to a p-d town while antelope hunting and get carried away..........

Planning and Preparation...
I figure if I'm HUNTING, i should have made enough rounds and carried with me enough rounds or made prior arrangements to have those rounds at my destination to complete the hunt. Why would a guy short side himself if he doesn't have to. I hunt on a daily basis for my job and i've never had to run to walmart to pick up extra ammo. Oh and walmart is 45 miles away, as well as any mom and pop store where i could even find ammo. You're planning ability has to be some what aware if you are planning a hunt. 9 time out of 10, you're going to be reloading for accuracy and if you, god forbid, left it at home you're dope isn't going to be the same anyhow. But if it makes you all warm and fuzzy then go with a standard cartridge 243, it'll shoot just as straight. My father shoots a 243 and there's no way to convince him otherwise either.

xdeano

xdeano

 

[jerrschmitt]

In the spirit of all things rifle, get both. When I go hunting I better have my own ammo because that's what my rifle is sighted in for and what my drop tables are made up for. I hunt in my back yard for deer so if I forget something it just means a trip back to the house. When I go out west for prairie dogs I don't bring enough money to buy all the ammo I would need.

I shoot a 6MM BR Remington 14 twist .265 neck, 6MM BR Norma 8 twist .272 neck, .243AI 13 twist and a ..243 AI 8 twist. All require different loads.

The 6MM SLR sure looks interesting and when I shoot the barrel out of one of my rifles I'll look more closely at it.

 

[ballpowder]

Not too be a jerk and rag on any one particular post I used to think in the whole "if my plane crashes or boat sinks on the way to my hunt I can swim to blah blah blah and get some more ammo". Ah never happened. In fact after setting up my 25-06 AI not only was NOT needing a factory fall back nessecarry but I usually get so excited about the hunt prior that I wear out my hunting brass practicing then make more. I love time at loading bench as much if not more that shooting bench. My point is this, if you are the type of guy who worries about not having ammo on a hunt you haven't even arranged yet then I'm sure when the time comes you will be all Over it even if you are using a 17-378 WBY. Choose based on cartridge merits alone I think.


Tim

 

[Savage99]

Choose the one you like based on both practicality and what's in your heart. If a 'long' neck or a certain shoulder angle are the 'news' then get it. After all its yours and you can always show pictures of it when its good.

Long ago I ordered a new M70 Varmint rifle in 243 and I used it for both competitive target shooting and longer range chucks. The matches were at 200 yds so a full load was not needed and I shot the 75 gr Sierra over 3031 with a light load. It was accurate and kicked a lot less than the 06 ball everyone else shot.

Thus I got a new 40X in 6mm Rem. Int'l. with its small case capacity and 'long' neck it was in. It did well.

However the regular 243 is what I carry the most, year around, for hunting.

 

[maxscm]

A 243 with a 8 twist Kreiger Barrel !!!.

 

[Juma]

Build a 22-243 and use Barnes bullets. It will kill any thing you need with impunity out to 400m.

 

[MarkS]

Doug,

You have not said what you are hunting. I have been there, I have had 243AI 6MMAI 243> I shot 6BR and 6BRX (6BR IMP), better accuracy and barrel life. The 6BRX will run 243 velocities or better. If you need to feed thru a mag. go 243.

Mark Schronce

 

[Phil]

If you want to get all wild and have something different i`d do the SLR...

The AI will give you feeding fits,the SLR`s 30* shoulder is better than the .243`s 20* and the SLR has a longer neck like the 6mmRemington...

Me likey the long neck and 30* shoulder.....

 

[LWolken]

I have a pair of 243AI's These were built before the SLR became popular. I use Lapua brass and believe that you must neck turn the slr because the lapua brass is thicker in the shoulder region. Mine both shoot great in the dog town which is what they were buit for. Not a competitive shooter but have shot some three shot groups at 300yds under 3/4". The bonus is the 243 AI will fire factory ammo in a pinch and mine happended to be just as accurate with fireform loads and full blown loads.