Better 6mm (not 243W) for hunting? Which one?

[Sid Post]

My 243 Winchester is long gone. I want another 6mm mid-range variant mainly for hunting and pest elimination. I'm thinking about a 6XC but, I'm uncommitted at this time.

I do not want a true wildcat or barrel burner. I'm not a fan of Short Magnums or 'boutique' cartridges from manufacturers (i.e. Ruger, Nosler, etc.). I don't expect to see velocities with heavier options above 3,000FPS in a 24"~26" barrel. Something that won't excessively heat or otherwise lead to short barrel life (throat erosion / cracking) is important to me. I prefer to stick with something with factory brass if not factory loaded ammunition. I can reload so, something with limited support like a 6x47L is a possibility.

For hunting options, deer mainly but, I intend to take a Pronghorn and possibly a Mountain Goat so, I need something with "legs". Pest elimination is mainly Coyotes and 'feral' domestic dogs but, I do see feral hogs occasionally. Reasonable recoil (i.e. not excessive) with weight on the lighter side (6#~7# no scope) is important as my dominant shoulder has had surgery already and is a bit 'soft'. So with a bit more oomph than a 243 Winchester but, not a barrel burner without excessive recoil, what would you recommend? 6XC, 6 Creedmoor, 6x47L, 6mm Remington or, ...?

TIA,
Sid

 

[Skimbleshanks]

6 creedm**r has my attention if I ever get around to building or buying a 6mm. Seems really similar to 6xc and 243. Less brass prep than a 6xc and better suited to a short action with heavy bullets than the 243.

 

[25WSM]

6slr all the way. It's what the 243 should have been. 30 degree shoulder and long neck. No fire forming. Just once through the die and shoot. Very accurate round. Will send 105s 3100
in a 26 in barrel and good barrel life.
The next pick would be 6creed. It's just easy and they shoot great.
Shep

 

[BEEMAN]

It won't get the speed of some that you've listed. But I'm really liking my 6 Dasher. Only taken one pronghorn with it at 298 yds. It's shooting the 103 eld-x at 2910 FPS out of a 22" Benchmark. All that with very little recoil at only 32 grains of varget.

 

[shortgrass]

You're asking a lot, Sid. "Something that's got "legs", but not a barrel burner, but with a bit more 'oomph' than the .243 Winchester?

 

[JMW67]

My 243 Winchester is long gone. I want another 6mm mid-range variant mainly for hunting and pest elimination. I'm thinking about a 6XC but, I'm uncommitted at this time.

I do not want a true wildcat or barrel burner. I'm not a fan of Short Magnums or 'boutique' cartridges from manufacturers (i.e. Ruger, Nosler, etc.). I don't expect to see velocities with heavier options above 3,000FPS in a 24"~26" barrel. Something that won't excessively heat or otherwise lead to short barrel life (throat erosion / cracking) is important to me. I prefer to stick with something with factory brass if not factory loaded ammunition. I can reload so, something with limited support like a 6x47L is a possibility.

For hunting options, deer mainly but, I intend to take a Pronghorn and possibly a Mountain Goat so, I need something with "legs". Pest elimination is mainly Coyotes and 'feral' domestic dogs but, I do see feral hogs occasionally. Reasonable recoil (i.e. not excessive) with weight on the lighter side (6#~7# no scope) is important as my dominant shoulder has had surgery already and is a bit 'soft'. So with a bit more oomph than a 243 Winchester but, not a barrel burner without excessive recoil, what would you recommend? 6XC, 6 Creedmoor, 6x47L, 6mm Remington or, ...?

TIA,
Sid

I am not a big creedmoor fan but I think the 6mm creed would be a very simple option good brass available and the creeds seem to shoot very well my personal choice would be the 6mm-47 lapua but I am a 47 fan

 

[Coldfinger]

6xc is a fine cartridge, 6 creedmoor is too. I have them both and they both shoot great, deer woodchucks coyotes haven't complained yet. I liked the 6XC as it was my first .243 caliber. I only wound up with a 6 creedmoor as a barrel company offered it and not a 6xc. To me their twins. The 6 creedmoor does seem to need to have the necks trimmed a tad more often. Brass seems readily available for both.

 

[Timnterra]

I am not really sure what you are asking for. You said you want more oomph than a 243 but not a barrel burner. The 243 is a barrel burner, so it's not going to be likely to find one that isn't. However, from the cartridges you listed, only the 6mm Remington will exceed the 243 in "oomph" the others will run close if not a little behind the 243. Of the cartridges you listed I'd choose the 6creedmoor it's just a tad larger case than the 6 XC or the 6/47L and it comes with excellent factory ammo offerings from Hornady. I built one on a lilja 3 groove and it puts every load through the same hole.

 

[adam32]

.240 Wby and load it to "just above" .243 Win velocities, and put a brake on it.

 

[Dvldad]

I would do a 6creedmoor. I've been running 2 different 6creeds for a while now and have run 108gr all the way down to 65gr out of them. I'd do an 8twist so you'll be able to shoot everything. My 108's are moving at 3050 and I shoot 80gr bergers out of a 24" 8twist at 3550 for coyotes. I have ran 3 different 6x47 lapua's and they were my favorite round. There is something about that case I could make those 108's move at almost 3200. I would shoot the now discontinued 69gr burgers out of those at just over 3700fps. The only reason I switched was the brass for the 6.5 creed was everywhere and much cheaper. And it was just a pass through the die to turn it into 6mm. Now there are quite a few different factory flavors available.

 

[budlight]

You're asking a lot, Sid. "Something that's got "legs", but not a barrel burner, but with a bit more 'oomph' than the .243 Winchester?

Years ago I looked into the 6XC. Not a barrel burner and very accurate. I was rebarreling rem 700 to a 26 inch. Now I have a ton of 243 cases and this seems like my next adventure.

Super LR

Check out http://6mmar.com!

6mmar.com

 

[mobenzowner]

For me the 6 creed just works. Easiest Caliber I ever loaded for. Easy to find components. It is a bit hard on barrels. But I am a fan of the 6 and 6.5 creeds and I'll admit it. They aren't magical or the end all be all, as I'll always have a spot in the safe for a 30 cal or two of some sort.

 

[25WSM]

The standard 243 burns barrels because of the shallow shoulder angle and short neck. Even a 243ai will have more barrel life shooting more powder at faster speeds. The slr fixes the regular 243.
Shep

 

[jlvandersnick]

my vote would be the XC. Norma annealed brass. No brass prep...not sure what earlier post is referring to. I have three XC's. Super accurate and barrels last for ever. I have a 7 twist that shoots clover leaf 200 yd groups with the berger 115 HVLD (2965fps). The other is a 7.5 twist that shots equally well with the Berger 105 HVLD. The last is a 8 twist that shoots one hole groups with the 105 HVLD at about 3100 fps.
Group below is from the 7 twist. Super lite weight gun. Total weight with scope is just under 8 lbs