MJR Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 All the above really highlights the answer to the original op question. For his needs the .243 is the most versatile shoot and go solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elwood Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 Biggest limiting factor for the 6mm rem AI is the availability of quality brass, my mate is using 6mm rem fireformed but only gets 3 firings before primer pockets are loose, he tried resized brass but couldnt get accuracy, perhaps resizing technique no good? But when your shooting for meat/money whats in the cost of a case? The ultimate brass for the 6mm AI is RWS 7x57 necked down to 6mm, but neck turning is a must, I'm on 16 firings with mine. Norma also make 7x57 brass. Winchester 6mm Rem brass is also pretty good, I use the Win brass for practice and it's on 8 firings without any problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbal Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 I like shooting too - and I love reloading. For me it's an integral part of the sport, hitting small varmints at long range using ammo I've crafted myself. I was studying books on reloading even before I got my first FAC... One of the things I like about my 20 Tac is that there ain't any factory ammo! To shoot it, you have to make your own. I'd take the same approach to a 6mm chambering, and one of my criteria in choosing which particular 6mm would be the reloading options open to me. I've always known lots of shooters like the .243 Win; I just think there are more stimulating, interesting, useful 6mm rounds out there, especially if one enjoys reloading. And I suspect one big reason for the alleged super popularity of .243 is just that so many dealers have a lot of them, and they prefer the relatively easy job of flogging someone a .243 rather than keeping themselves up to date with alternatives that might be better for particular customers. And they can then flog lots of factory .243 ammo as well... Tony Yes Tony,I rather agree in the sense that those who are interested will know what they fancy-but usually the 243 is close enough to offset all the other considerations,and when it isn't the customer should know.Good luck to him keepeing up with them all-and he'll need the latest improved whizzer in a couple of years.'Better' just begs the question-better in what way-eg fastest-it's the lazzeroni,'accross the range'-in USA it was the 243,then Tubb'sxc,maybe the 6lr will nudge ahead until... I don't find the dealers I patronise actually give away components for reloading-but as to whether they make more profit I wouldn't know.243 popularity is fact-not alleged,availability is a factor,just as relative unavailability for exotics is for some a deterent (one reason I'd keep an 243,as well).And reloading the 243 can be just as demanding/precise etc as any wildcat-I've done many thousands,though the pure ecstacy of case forming, might not be available,though you can get a flavour if you must by starting with any others in the 308w based family,and strengthen your thumbs tight neck turning,if you indulge in the extra expenses,chambering and tools tools.What joy,if you then persuade yourself that you have a better end result than the might of winchester,remington,lapua and dozens of others can produce.But you get than starting with the standard 243 too.I do admire your ability to make your own primers though,and not just buy them in. Seriously,I reload almost everything I shoot,except rim fire,and enjoy it-but wildcats have no advantages over domesticats for many shooters/reloaders.And are by no means always better-especially in the development phase.Good luck in bettering the lazzeroni spitfire.I hankered after a 22 middlestead for several decades-and then along came 55g bullets for the standard 243! george Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offroad Gary Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 The ultimate brass for the 6mm AI is RWS 7x57 necked down to 6mm, but neck turning is a must, I'm on 16 firings with mine. Norma also make 7x57 brass. Winchester 6mm Rem brass is also pretty good, I use the Win brass for practice and it's on 8 firings without any problems. interesting, i'll pass this info on. couldnt pm me more info could you? (so as not to hijack thread) thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyH Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 ... those who are interested will know what they fancy... I tend to assume - maybe mistakenly, I admit - that a site such as this one is aimed at those more interested in specialist requirements, riflemen who "know what they fancy" - ? ...243 popularity is fact-not alleged,availability is a factor,just as relative unavailability for exotics is for some a deterent ... Yes it's popular - but to what extent is this a deliberate, rational choice after examining the alternatives? On this site at least, people are keen to try out those alternatives, and though bog-standard .243 is a fine calibre it's got where it is to a large extent by being all things to all men in the 6mm dep't, not by being especially wonderful in itself. Unavailability? Personally, I don't give a toss about availability! I have enough 20 Tac brass to keep me going, regardless of the possibility that not a single dealer between Bristol and Land's End has either a rifle or dies in 20 Tac in stock... What joy,if you then persuade yourself that you have a better end result than the might of winchester,remington,lapua and dozens of others can produce... I thought that was the whole point both of handloading, and using wildcat calibres....? I do admire your ability to make your own primers though,and not just buy them in. Believe me, if I could, I would. ...wildcats have no advantages over domesticats for many shooters/reloaders. Of course - but to repeat, I never thought UKV was aimed at the majority of ordinary shooters who take no interest in less usual chamberings or handloading. If I go down to my nearest dealer I might see on the racks a couple of Hornets, one or two .222s or .223s, a couple of .243s.... That's why I hardly ever go to my nearest dealer - it's just too boring. OTOH when I'm free I visit UKV practically daily... Regards, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted September 15, 2012 Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 One of the 6mm cartridges that always gets missed in such discussions is the 6mmRem. I feel that anything that was based on the excellent 7x57 (7mm Mauser) case, merits a mention as the ballistics and general performance are noteworthy. It is not the barrel burner that the .243 (reputedly) is, it has great potential as an AI and can handle any bullet weight in the 6mm range and it is inherently accurate. I know, long action and all that, but, with today's rifles, I don't think that this should be a factor. Call me traditional, but sometimes, if something ain't broke, there isn't much need to try and fix it...I feel that is the case with the 7x57 and all its derivatives. best wishes Finman ' Agreed, 244 ( aka 6mm Rem) is a somewhat superior round to the 243. A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sussexsteve Posted September 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 Thanks chaps food for thought. Had 243 and ai variants so just wondered what else was out there. Bought a 243 t3 which is donor for a bit of work not sure about the chambering. One thing I do like is a nice short barrel. I reload so would this narrow things down ??? Atb Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbal Posted September 16, 2012 Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 Thanks chaps food for thought. Had 243 and ai variants so just wondered what else was out there. Bought a 243 t3 which is donor for a bit of work not sure about the chambering. One thing I do like is a nice short barrel. I reload so would this narrow things down ??? Atb Steve Short barrel will of course reduce velocity-a little-may not matter-one of my 243s is 18.5 inches,for easy carry etc,does not seem to matter much-at a coupkle of hundred yards,anyhow.I doubt that you could effectively compensate for the short barrel velocity loss by upping the powder via an 'improved' cartridge,as there probably isn't enough barrel length to get full burn anyhow.I have been glad of the compactness far more often than I have thought that another 150 fps would have made any difference.Same for full length 243 barrel-never ever thought with any conviction(ok-possibly 'excuse' on a very windy day-but then I'd not want a 6mm at all) the standard chamber had let me down,when another 'better' 6mm cartridge would have made a measurable difference...but that would only arise on longer shots which probably should not be taken anyhow,and I have no experience,I'm glad to say. Reloading per se just widens your options generally-sometimes affictionados seem to overlook that standard cartridges can be reloaded with all the care,precision, worthwhile tools and gizmos of the wildcats,and you can make the 243 from any of the 308W family...The 243 eg is the longest lasting, most successful 'wildcat' (22/250 not excepted,and any other contenders welcomed-243 is certainly in the mix-but hey!discussion is fun)) if you realise it's essentially Warren Page's 240 page pooper from 1965 - just that it was so good the big companies wanted it too.It nearly 'fills' a big niche,but does not exclude others-nothing does,so we can all be happy. george Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sussexsteve Posted October 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 thanks for all the input. having spoke to my chosen smith I have opted to go 6x47 ATB Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokin Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 6-284 all the way ! case prep aside it's an absolute peach of a calibre 105 amax @ 3480 , shocking performance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris-NZ Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Sure it is and the barrel makers wouldn't disagree. Personally, I'd prefer more than 800 full-throttle rnds before the tube went West. Chris-NZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.jpg.0972b4e2bdf0b5a4109eb96f2b1b62ad.jpg)
(200x135).jpg.0fd0a94f065c6cb243fdff1b40e0819a.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.