Too Many 6mm's To Choose From

[guns_and_labs]

Too Many 6mm\'s To Choose From

As I was preparing for the spring varmint shoots, I was shocked to realize that I have no 6mm's in the gun safe. So was my local gunsmith. To fill the gap between the .220 Swift and the 6.5x55 Improved, we both agreed I need a 6mm. Unfortunately, I can't figure out WHICH 6mm to have him build.

Primarily to be used for 600-1200 yard p-dogs, when the wind shuts down the .220 Swift with its 40 grain bullets, but I wouldn't mind something that can be used on antelope with a stronger bullet if I ever draw a tag.

Looking at the options, it seems I have:

6mm PPC: OK, it's accurate, but there's not much oomph,is there?
6mm BR Remington: is this gone, or just hiding?
6mm Norma BR: factory loaded, if you can ever find it, and good write-ups from those paid to write. Maybe the best so far?
.243 WSSM: factory loaded, but not very good brass for handloading, not yet, or so I'm told.
6mm Remington: Still seems the velocity king, and I think I can use a .30-06 action. Factory loaded, but not well, it seems.
6mm-06: Certainly not a trendy shape.
6mm-284: Seems about the same as the 6mm Norma BR?

So, that's what I get from reading. What's the word from the real world. Which should I go with?

 

[davewilson]

Re: Too Many 6mm\'s To Choose From

6-284. good brass. good bullets, good speed. great varmint, small deer round.

really shocking that your smith agreed you need another gun /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[B Jordan]

Re: Too Many 6mm\'s To Choose From

I dont see the 243 win on your list but it makes a very fine varmint cartridge

 

[wildcat]

Re: Too Many 6mm\'s To Choose From

G&L-Go-with-the-6x284-with-a-1&10-twist-barrel.-You-will-out-do-any-of-the-other-6mm's-you-mentioned.-When-I-owned
my-6x284;-I-was-pushing-a-87grn-V-Max-at-3750-out-of-a
30"-pipe.-It-was-deadly-accurate;-I-shot-a-.168-3-shot
group-at-100-yards.-With-the-1&10-twist-you-will-also
be-able-to-shoot-105-and-107grn-VLD-bullets.-The-good
thing-about-the-6x284-is;
1.-Great-Brass
2.-It-will-shoot-any-of-the-6MM-bullets-faster-than-the
other-6mm's-you-have-mentioned.
3.-It-is-real-easy-to-prep-brass;-all-you-do-is-put-the
6.5x284-brass-through-the-full-length-6x284-die-and-that
will-size-the-neck-to-6mm.

The-6BR-is-an-awesome-round-too.-I-wanted-more-speed
that's-why-I-went-with-the-6x284.-I-would-go-with-the
6x284-or-the-6BR-if-I-were-you.-I-know-a-great-gunsmith
too!!!

This-is-how-I-rank-the-6mm's.-Combining-Accuracy-&-Speed
1.-6x284-is-the-VELOCITY-KING-of-all-the-6mm's
2.-6BR
3.-6MM-AI
4.-243AI
5.-6mm-Remington
6.-243

Accuracy-Alone-I-would-say-the-top-three-would-be;
1.-6BR
2.-6PPC
3.-6x284

For-Varminting-Hunting-at-long-ranges;-I-would-say-the-top
three-would-be;
1.-6x284
2.-6MM-AI
3.-6BR
The-top-two-are-going-to-provide-some-awesome-splat-factor.

All-the-6mm's-are-great-rounds;-but-I-would-say-the-6x284
would-be-my-top-choice-for-varmint-hunting.-Good-luck
with-your-choice.

When-I-am-able-to-build-my-rifle-collection-back-up;-I-will
have-the-following-rifles-built-for-my-collection;

1.-220-Swift-100-to-500-yard-rifle
1.-6BR-100-to-700-yard-rifle
2.-300-WSM-Already-in-the-works;-100-to-1000-yard-rifle
3.-338-Allen-Mag-1000-to-2500-yard-rifle

Jake

 

[guns_and_labs]

Re: Too Many 6mm\'s To Choose From

[ QUOTE ]
I dont see the 243 win on your list but it makes a very fine varmint cartridge

[/ QUOTE ]
You're right. I should have included it (though my gunsmith won't make much money on a .243) or maybe .243AI. I couldn't find many numbers on .243AI, though. I assumed from case size it would be somewhere between 6mm-06 and 6mm Remington.

 

[goodgrouper]

Re: Too Many 6mm\'s To Choose From

The 6ppc is a little small to shoot 105 grain bullets but there are a few guys using it with good results but they admit the 6br will do better.

To me, for the ranges you mentioned, there is only one 6mm. The 6mmbr with an 8 twist barrel.

Forget shooting light bullets out of a barrel burning beast like the 6-284. My puny 6br has never been outshot by a 6-284 at 1000 yards and those are the ones shooting high bc bullets. Nevermind the light bullets.

If you must burn more than 32 grains of powder, look at the 6xc or the 6x47 Lapua.

Trust me on this one. The hotrods are fun to brag about, but they are more finicky, more temperamental, and usually less accurate. When someone brags to me about how fast their 6mm fire breathing dragon is, I just shrug and show them a 5" 1000 yard 6br group and the smile on their face fades in a hurry!

 

[Cheyenne19]

Re: Too Many 6mm\'s To Choose From

I just made the decision to get a 6mm BR. I was hooked on velocity to start with, but after more reading I decided the accuracy of the BR was more important the the speed of either the 243AI or 6mmRem AI.

 

[BountyHunter]

Re: Too Many 6mm\'s To Choose From

Suggest you set it up for .272 neck (ie no neck turn) and lapua brass. If being used on antelope, it has got to be the 8 twist.

Go to www.6mmbr.com and look at their recommended reamer specs for just that setup.

BH

 

[Rflshootr]

I'd definately check out the 6x47 lapua. Just as accurate as the 6BR but with added capacity and velocity.

 

[blipelt]

+1 6X47lapua

My 6X47lapua travels 3050fps with 115dtacs. I harvested deer out to 725yds this year with it. It is winning around here in f-class tournaments also(could be that 308 nate and tjonh2001 shoot them). I have a bartlein 1:8 twist on a repeater and a Broughton 1:7.75 twist on my competing rifle. Quite frankly I never looked at the BR or dasher anymore once Richard Schatz told me the 6X47lapua might feed a little better because of the case length. He also said you can get the same results with less powder to burn in the dasher!


Brent

 

[Jaybird00]

725 yards on a deer. That's a heck of a long shot.

 

[Aldon]

I vote 6-284.

I have a 700 LA 6-284 with sporter weight Hart 14 twist. I shoot 55 SBK's motivated by stout charge of Varget (worked up on Quickload). Amazingly accurate and the velocity could make a speed freak out of me. If I let the barrel cool between shots I got 5 shot sub .5 moa at 100. I did get 10 shot group just shy of 1moa but that was rushing the shots a bit. I had picked the rifle up planning to re-barrel to 6.5 and so I was not as concerned with barrel life at the time. The groups and accuracy have me leaning towards keeping it in the stable for a bit. I will have to be more cognizant of time between shots for a while.

 

[Shooter264]

Definitley either the 6x47L or the 243AI.

 

[Trickymissfit]

* if you want the bullet to really go fast then you need a 6mm Vias.
* The 6/284's eat barrels, and a 6/.284 reamed .100 short is virtually as fast & groups better. A .150" short chamber is only about 70fps slower with almost triple the barrel life
* the 6AI done right is about it when it comes to 6mm rounds (the Vias is faster). It is within 50fps of the 6/284, with over double the barrel life. Plus the case handles the long VLD's much better. Also more accurate.
* nobody said anything about the 6XC and the 6/250AI. Both are excellent rounds, and the 6/250AI will push a 105 Amax at 3100fps
* the .243 suffers from poor case design (actually the 6/250 is in that same boat too). Neck is way too short, and the shoulder angle puts the heat right in the throat. The Ackley version fixed about half of the problems, but not the short neck. When fire forming .243AI cases you will see another .03" of case shrinkage in the neck which is already too short as it stands! Most guys I know are now using the basic 6mm remington brass , and pushing the shoulders back. This helps a lot. But if your buying 6mm brass anyway, then why not just shoot a 6mm?
* the 6BR is absolutley the efficientcey king! Barrel life should be almost forever. You can push a 105Amax to about 2900fps in a 1:8 barrel!! See a trend? Then there is the Dasher. It's supposed to be a little faster (kinda like an improved 6BR), but I'm hearing about guys having problems with brass issues. Never owned one so I don't know for sure.
* the next one up from the 6BR is the 6BG. Very well designed case that will push a 105 Amax to about 3200fps. Seems to be very accurate, and has a very long barrel life. Cases can be formed from generic .243 brass with very little shrinkage.

A 6mm anything is about done at the 700 yard mark on a good day. Time to think about a 6.5 something. The 6.5 has everything going for it
gary