.243-'06

[Hicks]

I have an old Enfield that belonged to my Grandpa chambered in .30-'06. I have several rifles that fill the 7mm - .30 niche much better than a .30-'06 but I'd sure like to get some good use out of this rifle. I did some reading on the 6.5 Gibbs but I'm wondering if there's a round with similar case dimensions as the Gibbs but in .24 caliber. Berger has some great bullets in that caliber. Anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks

Hicks

 

[Matt_G]

6mm-06.
My 9th edition of "Cartridges of the World" list loads for this from "QuickLoad," saying it can attain velocities of 3300 fps with the Berger 115gr. VLD.

An interesting note from that book follows:

"Comparison of ballistics between this and the smaller capacity 6mm Ackley Improved is very interesting. That shorter-cased number hold significantly less powder, and yet when equal-pressure loads are fired from the same-length barrel, ballistics are quite similar." (Emphasis is mine)

Hope this helps a bit.

Matt

 

[Matt_G]

I also just noticed in that same book the 243 Catbird.
It is the .270 Win necked down to 6mm and then fireformed into a Ackley Improved configuration.
So basically a 6mm-06 Ackley Improved, or perhaps to be a bit more precise, a 6mm-270 Ackley Improved.
They say it can get 3400 fps on the Berger 115 gr. VLD, a 100 fps improvement over the 6mm-06.

They do warn that this chambering is very hard on barrels. 1500 rounds at best, even when the shooter does not overheat the barrel.
It also requires a very long barrel to reach it's potential. They don't say how long, but I would guess 28" plus.

 

[boomtube]

"I'm wondering if there's a round with similar case dimensions as the Gibbs but in .24 caliber"

Yeah. The .240 Gibbs.

Personally, I'd go for the .240 Weatherby. About the same velocities but with factory brass as a possiblity.

 

[Matt_G]

"I'm wondering if there's a round with similar case dimensions as the Gibbs but in .24 caliber"

Yeah. The .240 Gibbs.

Leave it to me to not see the obvious.

 

[Hicks]

Right. Duh. .240 Gibbs it is!

Thanks,

Hicks

 

[redbone]

Hicks

It is your Rifle , But sence it was your " grandpa " I would make it an Safe Queen .


If I did rebarrel it I would keep all of the Parts .


Why I am telling you Is That I would Give all of my rifles up for One Of my Grandpa Rifles .

All of my Grandpa Rifles was Lost To some one that stold them
.
Just Think about it before you start working on it .


Redbone

 

[Wild_Bill]

calibre and twist

Hi you will never have any luck with the 115gr Bergers. Walt Berger will agrea not many people can get them to shoot reliably in any cartridge.

Now there is also the 6mm/284win that will give you similar ballistics in a shorter case.

All off the larger 6mm,s only require a 1 in 9 twist. If you go for a 1 in 8 twist you will blow up a lot off projectiles.

Cheers Bill
Australia

 

[britz]

+1 for Redbones' thoughts. There is just something about an old family owned rifle that is irreplaceable.

 

[Hicks]

Redbone,

I have had the same thought you brought up, that I should not change the rifle because to do so would maybe make it something less than what it is now; grandpa's rifle. It is a safe queen and it's been one for years. I feel a little guilty that I never use it. It just won't do with as much authority what my other rifles will do. I've often though that I should do something with it, change it in some way, so that I can use it for something that my other rifles aren't made for.

Grandpa could shoot tiny little groups with that rifle. The last elk he killed was a little spike. He laid over a stump, and using the little 1 - 4 Weaver he ranged it at something over 500 yards. One shot. Not much longer after that ('76) he went in for a 3 way by-pass and never made it off the table. I was 4 years old. When he was making the decision whether to have the operation or not, he told my Grandma and my parents that he wanted me to have his rifle if he didn't make it.

So maybe the point is not to have this rifle be the fastest or hardest hitting. I think the point should be to make a point to use the rifle as it is because it was my grandpa's rifle. So I'll take your advice.

Hicks

 

[Matt_G]

So maybe the point is not to have this rifle be the fastest or hardest hitting. I think the point should be to make a point to use the rifle as it is because it was my grandpa's rifle. So I'll take your advice.

Hicks

I'm really happy to read this. No doubt you're making the right decision here. If you had changed this gun, there would have come a day when you would have sorely regretted it.
Some things are just meant to be left alone. Grandpa's rifle is one of them.

 

[boomtube]

Hicks, keep it as is, that is the best idea of all. There are NO flys on the old -06 at all and grandpa liked the idea of you using it.

 

[Wild_Bill]

history

as others have said keep you're family rifle as some history to you're lids and grandkids.

We lost most off our inherited guns with gun bans the the history cabt be replaced.

get another rifle to make a fast 6mm on mabe a bit more modern action.

Cheers Bill
Australia

 

[blackco]

I have to agree with the previous posts; there will be something special about passing down "Grandpa's Rifle" to the person of your choice one day. I don't think it would be nearly as "special" to hand down the gun previously known as grandpa's gun. I agree the -06 isn't too sexy, but you can't complain about its usefulness either.

I have a similar but different situation. I inherited and old single-shot bolt action 11mm Mauser from my wife's grandfather (it was a lamp post when I got it). I cleaned it up and was looking for some ammo, I thought it would be fun to shoot a deer with this old gun. But then I remembered grandpa was a non-hunter (not anti) just didn't want to kill the preaty animals himself. Since I figure he may not have wanted to be involved in hunting I decided to shelf the hunting idea and will some day see about busting rocks with it. SHould be interesting using the old ladder sight way out there.