target rifles for me and wife ?

[budlight]

NW,
You have been given good suggestions: 6 BR, 6 Dasher, 6 BRA, 6GT, 6XC, 6.5x47 Lapua.
All of these cartridges will work wonderful from 600 to 1000 yards.
The 6 BR, 6GT, 6XC, and 6.5x47 Lapua are not wildcats, so there is no fireforming to be done, which makes things easier for a new reloader. Throat/barrel life is good with all of these cartridges.
None of these have heavy recoil which will make in enjoyable for both of you.
A 1-8 twist barrel will work great for all of these cartridges.
Brux Blake, Bartlein, Krieger, Hart, and Lilja are barrels that I use, and will give you top performance.
Are you going to use a stock, that would use a front rest and rear bags?
If so, I can give you more recommendations.
There are many good actions, out there but a great buy for the money is Kauger Arms. It has a Remington 700 footprint.

I agree with the above. 6mm or .243 diameter is easy to shoot hundreds of rounds a day for both men and women because of the light recoil. From all my research I came up with using a round with more Horse Power and great barrel life. The 6XC beats up on the smaller cases types. I'm also a .243 win person. Very available no matter where you go. Read up on these

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[Paladin300]

You guys can stop posting the positive attributes of the .##3 anytime!

I like a 223 as much as anybody and own 3 at present, but the OP's question was 600 yards and beyond. The 223 would not even be in my top 25 for that intended purpose. The 224 Valkyrie shooting 95 gr. High BC pill struggles at a 1000 yards and in a good wind even the best of us can't hit with it consistently. The 223 and 6mm are great calibers for there intended purposes but shooting beyond a 1000 is not one of them. All the get a 223 post are killing me!

 

[SDPlinker]

I like a 223 as much as anybody and own 3 at present, but the OP's question was 600 yards and beyond. The 223 would not even be in my top 25 for that intended purpose. The 224 Valkyrie shooting 95 gr. High BC pill struggles at a 1000 yards and in a good wind even the best of us can't hit with it consistently. The 223 and 6mm are great calibers for there intended purposes but shooting beyond a 1000 is not one of them. All the get a 223 post are killing me!

I am with you! 1000 is a stretch for most but not out of range by any means for a properly set up .223. I do enjoy them immensely, but completely endorse all the wildcat folks doing their thing, leaves more for me.

 

[BountyHunter]

If you are going to shoot competitively and travel to matches, then stay away from 308 and 6.5 creedmoor. Maybe a few in PRS type matches but that is not even most common anymore. Only matches 308 is even shot in anymore is the FTR but with special 30-32" barrels and custom chambers. You need to start go with a gun built for 600 yard matches in 6BRA or just 6 BR. Quality custom bullets are available along with custom fireformed brass. Just load and shoot. Good starting loads are readily available right off the bat. Pretty easy to start with savage BR rifle in 6BR or buy a good used 600 yard gun that will work at a 1000 too. Accurate shooter is place to watch or call Bob White at Shooters Corner and look at his guns for sale website.

 

[Eric Alexander]

We are looking at building target rifles to sharpen our shooting skills. I currently shoot a 6.5x284 and she shoots a Tika 3006for hunting. Want to build target specific rifles .We have a 600 yard range close to home when we retire next year would like to do some travel to places with longer ranges .Fairly new to reloading but plan on doing for this. Would like some suggestions on what you would build if you could for 600 and beyond. Ideally we would shoot the same caliber. So let's see what you would build.

well, gee - you aiready are shooting a winner with the 6.5x284. Are you wanting more speed for less drop at longer ranges?
for hunting at greater distances? What animals? Are you open to wildcats?

I'm a big fan of 264 Win Mag (cuz I'm old) and 6.5 PRC (cuz it's efficient )
Though you are target shooting, will you load hunting bullets to practice with to keep the experience as close to what will be used come season?
With all that in the hopper, how heavy do you want your bullet weights?
Does your wife like your 6.5x284? what is it about the -06 that she likes?
After all my 6.5 love, I now have a Tikka-06 build going on. It will get a 7.25 twist 25-06 barrel for Hammer Hunters and 131 Blackjacks. I'm finding the need for magnums dissipating unless I 'm throwing out 200+gr bullets. Then the 340 Wby is there. Good luck with your quest.

 

[Nuclear Worker]

well, gee - you aiready are shooting a winner with the 6.5x284. Are you wanting more speed for less drop at longer ranges?
for hunting at greater distances? What animals? Are you open to wildcats?

I'm a big fan of 264 Win Mag (cuz I'm old) and 6.5 PRC (cuz it's efficient )
Though you are target shooting, will you load hunting bullets to practice with to keep the experience as close to what will be used come season?
With all that in the hopper, how heavy do you want your bullet weights?
Does your wife like your 6.5x284? what is it about the -06 that she likes?
After all my 6.5 love, I now have a Tikka-06 build going on. It will get a 7.25 twist 25-06 barrel for Hammer Hunters and 131 Blackjacks. I'm finding the need for magnums dissipating unless I 'm throwing out 200+gr bullets. Then the 340 Wby is there. Good luck with your quest.

I love my 6.5 the wife likes her.06. She shot a great 6x6 scored 320 . Shot it at 353 yards extreme up hill angle. Just wanted to build something to practice our form and less Recoil . Don't want to burn up the barrel on the 6.5. Thought the Dasher would be fun to shoot and a lot less powder used.

 

[Nuclear Worker]

I love my 6.5 the wife likes her.06. She shot a great 6x6 scored 320 . Shot it at 353 yards extreme up hill angle. Just wanted to build something to practice our form and less Recoil . Don't want to burn up the barrel on the 6.5. Thought the Dasher would be fun to shoot and a lot less powder used.View attachment 257287

As far as her 30.06 it was her first rifle and being a woman doesn't want a new gun! I told her that everyone wants a another rifle!! Will be building her a 6.5x284 for hunting anyway. She shot mine once at 600 yards

 

[Ernie]

I love my 6.5 the wife likes her.06. She shot a great 6x6 scored 320 . Shot it at 353 yards extreme up hill angle. Just wanted to build something to practice our form and less Recoil . Don't want to burn up the barrel on the 6.5. Thought the Dasher would be fun to shoot and a lot less powder used.View attachment 257287

Dasher is good of course...It is a wildcat though.
If you don't want to wildcat...6 BR, 6GT, 6XC, 6.5x47 Lapua.
Of course 6 Creed and 6.5 Creed could be listed as well

 

[BEEMAN]

I went Norma dasher. No fire forming but needs a specific reamer. It's a 22" benchmark #4. Sends 105 Berger's at 2910 FPS. Dasher is great fun for practicing. I wanted Zero recoil and basically got that with a MBM brake.

 

[BountyHunter]

6.5-284 is good for maybe 1000 rds target quality and that is it. I have seen the barrel go in as little as 600 rds. IMO not remotely the best "target" round. You can buy now factory Dasher brass from Peterson and others it is no longer just a wildcat. Easy to load, extremely accurate and much better barrel life with zero recoil. You will be much happier with a round like the dasher, 6 br, 6bra etc. FWIW accurate shooter forum always has guys who will sell you hydralically formed brass and even neckturned. They will last a long time. Go with what is winning and easy on the gun and shoulders.

 

[Nuclear Worker]

6.5-284 is good for maybe 1000 rds target quality and that is it. I have seen the barrel go in as little as 600 rds. IMO not remotely the best "target" round. You can buy now factory Dasher brass from Peterson and others it is no longer just a wildcat. Easy to load, extremely accurate and much better barrel life with zero recoil. You will be much happier with a round like the dasher, 6 br, 6bra etc. FWIW accurate shooter forum always has guys who will sell you hydralically formed brass and even neckturned. They will last a long time. Go with what is winning and easy on the gun and shoulders.

Thanks I believe I have it down to the 6br or the dasher. The whole brass issue kind of turned me off for the dasher. But you know can get brass for it. Although 6br brass is way cheaper.

 

[Paladin300]

6.5-284 is good for maybe 1000 rds target quality and that is it. I have seen the barrel go in as little as 600 rds. IMO not remotely the best "target" round. You can buy now factory Dasher brass from Peterson and others it is no longer just a wildcat. Easy to load, extremely accurate and much better barrel life with zero recoil. You will be much happier with a round like the dasher, 6 br, 6bra etc. FWIW accurate shooter forum always has guys who will sell you hydralically formed brass and even neckturned. They will last a long time. Go with what is winning and easy on the gun and shoulders.

I shot 6.5x284 for bench comps and 3x600 running 123s and 130s at 3000fps. I have never seen a 6.5x284 shot out in 600 rounds. Pressures and ballistics are almost Identical to the 6.5 PRC and the 6.5x55 AI which has even better barrel life. Shot 1500 through my last one before selling it 10 years ago. The 26 and 28 noslers are going 800 rounds respectively and they are way hotter. I would say under normal use and with good care the average 6.5x284 Norma is going to go about 1500 rounds before any noticeable difference in accuracy.

Because the OP has stated that this is a practice iron and he has narrowed it down to one of two 6mm s wanting a reduced recoil I agree with the two choices he has presented. My present just go play iron is a 6.5 creedmoor. It will do 1250 plus without breaking a sweat. Shoots and consistently 1/2 moa to 600+. Of the 2 the OP is leaning towards the dasher is the new darling of the 1000 yard world, though I personally prefer a little more gun.

 

[Bang4theBuck]

6mm Dasher, 6GT, or 6x47 lapua.

 

[dxlbaile]

I vote 6.5 x 47 lapua.. I use it for target and then I let my kids shoot deer and Antelope with it...