Which 6mm in long action Remington 700? Quality Brass is issue...

[cdherman]

OK, I have posted way too many threads about my project, but each one brings me closer. The last post from a month or two ago brought me to the conclusion that my stable of rifles needs a 6mm of some sort.

Donor: Older 25-06 Rem 700 BDL that my dad gave me, but shoots poor.

I have a couple 6.5x55, a nice 7mm RSAUM, and I intend to invest in a 338 gun for big animals, in tough conditions, but for that, a "plastic stock and stainless" seems more appropriate....

I'd like a 6mm, and I am willing to fireform. But all the hassle of neck turning and messing with lesser quality brass is annoying.... I'd like something that starts with Lapua brass...

6mm Rem AI, or 6mm Crusader (same thing, basically) offers all I want in a LA 700. But no quality brass, except via complicated resizing from 7x57 mauser.

Am I overlooking some other option to get to 6mm using quality brass that will perform well?

I could just go with .243 Win. Great Lapua brass. But does not really use the LA at all, and has a reputation for burning barrels....

Perhaps .243 AI? Great parent brass, and to heck with barrel life...

I should say -- this is not likely to be a high volume gun, so barrel life is not a huge issue. Perhaps then, I have answered my own question. Just go with the standard .243 Win.

Someday my grandson who doesn't reload will be able to pick up a box of .243 for sure and shoot the old girl.....

Other options?

 

[deadidarren]

6mm Rem AI, or 6mm Crusader (same thing, basically) offers all I want in a LA 700. But no quality brass, except via complicated resizing from 7x57 mauser.

there's nothing complicated about it if you can FL resize a case you can do that

cheers D

 

[B23]

This is a no brainer, 6-284. Take Lapua 6.5-284 brass and resize it in the 6-284 full length die that will come with your die set and you are done. The 6-284 case has a pretty decent jump in case capacity over the 243 or 243ai and is nearly identical to the 06 case.

Using a long action, like you're doing, is the better way to go, especially if you want to shoot the 105's. Make sure you get a barrel with enough twist if you plan on shooting the heavy for caliber bullets, like the Berger 105.

 

[Gene]

Using a long action, like you're doing, is the better way to go, especially if you want to shoot the 105's. Make sure you get a barrel with enough twist if you plan on shooting the heavy for caliber bullets, like the Berger 105.

I agree with that part of his answer. But for ease of fire forming, the .243AI is simple. Just take a standard .243 Win case (Lapua brass), load it up so that bullet touches lands, and touch it off in your AI chamber. Instant fireforming, and a great round. For heavy bullets, use 7.5 or 8 twist barrel.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

6-284.

 

[cdherman]

6-284.

I should have mentioned -- I'd like it to be a gun with a factory cartridge as an option, even if its a AI, at least someone can shoot the gun down the road if they are not a handloader. The gun was gift from my father and as such, should not leave the family. Its hard to know who will handload down the road 30 years.....

 

[Edd]

Donor: Older 25-06 Rem 700 BDL

Then why not just keep it simple and build 6mm-06.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

You can't get there from here.

There is no factory ammo for long 6mm.

Who knows what will be the program 30 years from now.

 

[cdherman]

You can't get there from here.

There is no factory ammo for long 6mm.

Who knows what will be the program 30 years from now.

Regular .243 Win will shoot in a .243 AI

Regular 6mm Rem will shoot in a 6mm Rem AI/Crusader/etc...

But you are right that 30 years from now, who knows. By that logic, correctly, I should go with a .243 Win AI. Its VERY unlikely that as long as guns are used for hunting, that factory loaded .243 Win will not be available.......

 

[Edd]

A 243 is a short action cartridge.

 

[Fiftydriver]

If this rifle will be used for light to medium big game hunting or predator hunting where pelt damage is of no concern. I would recommend the 6-06. While its a bit higher performance level then the 6mm-284, it feeds MUCH better and has many more options in brass.

If you want a higher volume shooting rifle, all the ones you list are pretty poor choices for longer barrel life.

I have had three 6-06 rifles and loved all of them. THey are best with at least 90 grain bullets or heavier. I have found the heavier the bullet, the more consistant your velocity levels will be.

For big game hunting I am not a huge fan of the long range match bullets. They are the best ballistically but they are not the best terminally. The 107 gr SMK can be driven to crazy velocity levels and retain great accuracy but they are very inconsistent for expansion on light to medium big game. The berger 105 and 105 gr A-Max are both in my opinion to soft for the velocity potential of the 6-06 for big game hunting at anything short of 400 yards and past that, they start to drop off in retained energy which no 6mm has in reserves anyway.

The newer 90 gr Accubond has been showing some promise in the 6-06 so it would be my first try. The old standby 100 gr Partitions are a decent choice as well but can have issues with rupturing the partition on close range impacts, especially hard impacts such as shoulders.

If you want a long action 6mm rifle however, this would be my choice.

 

[Catfur]

There is no factory ammo for long 6mm.

6mm Rem is long action, and factory ammo.

244 H&H? (for when barrel life is no obstacle at all)

 

[Edd]

6mm Rem is long action, and factory ammo.

244 H&H? (for when barrel life is no obstacle at all)

Every factory 6mm Remington I've seen was a short action. I've owned several of them and the thing I don't like about them is they are too long for a short action and too short for a long action. To me it is one of the least desirable cartridges made.

 

[Fiftydriver]

6mm Rem is long action, and factory ammo.

244 H&H? (for when barrel life is no obstacle at all)

Was factory ammo availability a requirement. I missed that if it was, sorry!