Thread: 6mm Creedmoor vs 243

Originally Posted by Rated M for Magnum

I'll start getting some components together once I've got dies sorted, that may not be for a week or two though. Once I pay for the barrel and then later it arrives, I'll get some photos of the process and put it in the home projects section.

Greetings Rated M for Magnum,
Just out of interest, what twist did you go for? My not particularly recent but persistant scottish heritage generally prevents me from spending moon money on my rifle projects so have considerable sympathy with your approach. I also have a set of .243 dies here I could lend if needed.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings Rated M for Magnum,
Just out of interest, what twist did you go for? My not particularly recent but persistant scottish heritage generally prevents me from spending moon money on my rifle projects so have considerable sympathy with your approach. I also have a set of .243 dies here I could lend if needed.
Regards Grandpamac.

1 in 10 twist was what I went for, should be optimal for the 90 ELD-X and 95 berger classic I'm hoping.

I'll see how I go tracking down dies once the barrel is on and will be in touch if needed thank you

so here is a question out of left field for you (or should that be right field if I am as been told a right wing red neck??) you asked about heavier projectiles...was this for bigger whallop on animals at bush ranges out to say 150 yards??? or were you hopeing for slightly heavier to try to stretch the range out a bit more????

because if its the first....there are actually some very very effective 100grn offerings out there in round nose form.... Tony Orman was a EBRG fan and his theory was smash the shoulders to anchor animal and allow that little pill to dump all its energy inside animal.....nearly 40 years of shooting stuff I cannot in anyway fault his logic.
I dont use an EBRG but do use the mighty .270winchester......using 130grn loadings the ONLY time animals have moved after being shot is when Ive failed to take out the front wheels...... we live and learn,and hopefully dont repeat same mistake twice...other learned folks will slip explosive projectile in tight to shoulder into "the crease" area pulping lungs and damaging less meat....great when angle of animal is slightly away from you and you have patience to make it happen right or let animal walk....same as using .223 pick your shots if using fragile projectile....or neck shoot.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

so here is a question out of left field for you (or should that be right field if I am as been told a right wing red neck??) you asked about heavier projectiles...was this for bigger whallop on animals at bush ranges out to say 150 yards??? or were you hopeing for slightly heavier to try to stretch the range out a bit more????

because if its the first....there are actually some very very effective 100grn offerings out there in round nose form.... Tony Orman was a EBRG fan and his theory was smash the shoulders to anchor animal and allow that little pill to dump all its energy inside animal.....nearly 40 years of shooting stuff I cannot in anyway fault his logic.
I dont use an EBRG but do use the mighty .270winchester......using 130grn loadings the ONLY time animals have moved after being shot is when Ive failed to take out the front wheels...... we live and learn,and hopefully dont repeat same mistake twice...other learned folks will slip explosive projectile in tight to shoulder into "the crease" area pulping lungs and damaging less meat....great when angle of animal is slightly away from you and you have patience to make it happen right or let animal walk....same as using .223 pick your shots if using fragile projectile....or neck shoot.

Hoping for more whallop slightly further out and better sd but I see your point, may end up dual loading yet.

Yes shot placement is key, I'm more in favor of the more forward shoulder shot, has served me well with the rem mag and 162 ELD-X bullet penetrates to off side skin on deer, dumping all energy and turning out the lights. Will see what shoots the best and go from there

Originally Posted by Rated M for Magnum

Hoping for more whallop slightly further out

Why not just keep the 7mm08 you have for sale and use that instead of a 6mm anything?

Originally Posted by GWH

Why not just keep the 7mm08 you have for sale and use that instead of a 6mm anything?

More wallop than the lighter bullets

I've still got the barrel, rifle is off the market now as the 243 barrel will go on it. I've got the big 7mm mag for way out long and this will be for 0-300, probably.

I guess because why not?

Originally Posted by Rated M for Magnum

More wallop than the lighter bullets

I've still got the barrel, rifle is off the market now as the 243 barrel will go on it. I've got the big 7mm mag for way out long and this will be for 0-300, probably.

I guess because why not?

So is the goal of the exercise of swapping from 7mm08 to 243 just to reduce recoil? You handload dont you? You could have just used a 120gr in the 7mm08 and used lighter powder charges, to reduce the recoil to a similar level to the 243.

For example, ive just finalised a lighter load for my 8 year old boy to shoot my bitsa Model 7 6.5CM. I used 123 gr eldm's (left over from when i briefly owned a 6.5 Grendel) Ive downloaded them to Grendel speeds essentially. 30gr of powder pushing them at 2570 fps. It has seriously mild recoil, prints a 3 shot group at 100 measuring .35 inch and should hold more energy to 300 yards than your average 243 win load, and once he grows and can tollerate more recoil i can increase the loads.

6XC for the win.

Originally Posted by Proudkiwi

6XC for the win.

One at my local interesting for sure

Originally Posted by Proudkiwi

6XC for the win.

Naah, 6mm RemAi for the easy win......

Hi there
The 243 is a great calibre, I have owned two and they both collected game very efficiently. My current 243 is a TC Icon and is 1:10 twist, however shoots Sierra 100 gn Prohunters into 10mm consistently and is devastating on reds, sika, and fallow. I have an old box of Speer 105 gn RN which I have first up for bush hunting, and the mag full of Sierra 100's for longer shots. This system of loading works really well for hunting in bushy environments, and use the same process with my 284 with Hornady 154 RN for bush operations etc. The 243 is made for handloading with a large selection of projectiles to suit what ever game and range you are hunting, and generally are easy to load for. I see you are Manawatu, if you need some cases or projectiles to try let me know and we can have some fun.
Cheers
Ruger7mm

Originally Posted by Ruger7mm

Hi there
The 243 is a great calibre, I have owned two and they both collected game very efficiently. My current 243 is a TC Icon and is 1:10 twist, however shoots Sierra 100 gn Prohunters into 10mm consistently and is devastating on reds, sika, and fallow. I have an old box of Speer 105 gn RN which I have first up for bush hunting, and the mag full of Sierra 100's for longer shots. This system of loading works really well for hunting in bushy environments, and use the same process with my 284 with Hornady 154 RN for bush operations etc. The 243 is made for handloading with a large selection of projectiles to suit what ever game and range you are hunting, and generally are easy to load for. I see you are Manawatu, if you need some cases or projectiles to try let me know and we can have some fun.
Cheers
Ruger7mm

Thanks @Ruger7mm I'll keep that in mind, I'll see how the next couple of weeks progress getting barrel on etc

It’s all in the twist.

I have both .243 Win and 6mm Creedmoor… One hits a whole lot harder than the other. You can see it, hear it, feel it. THWOP!

If you want to kill a good sized red deer at 300ish, I’d pick the 6mm CM every time… no question, hesitation or ummmming and aaahhhing.

6mm CM: 108gr ELD-M at 300m: hits at 2,450 ft./sec with 1450 ft-lbs thump
243 Win: 95gr Nosler BT at 300m: hits at 2,240 ft./sec with 1050 ft-lbs thump (30% less)

As the range increases, the thump delta just increases. The flight of the 108gr is just that much better. Less drop, less windage, more thump.

The 7½” twist makes a big difference to the 6mm bore. That 30% extra thump on a longer shot is well worth having.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

6mm CM: 108gr ELD-M at 300m: hits at 2,450 ft./sec with 1450 ft-lbs thump
243 Win: 95gr Nosler BT at 300m: hits at 2,240 ft./sec with 1050 ft-lbs thump (30% less)

A fast twist 6CM with high BC bullet outperforms a slow twist 243 with a lower BC bullet, no question, especially when the range stretches out.

But I doubt that a big red hind hit in the hilar zone would notice the difference in the scenario above. She would be dead right there, either way

Originally Posted by 7.62

A fast twist 6CM with high BC bullet outperforms a slow twist 243 with a lower BC bullet, no question, especially when the range stretches out.

But I doubt that a big red hind hit in the hilar zone would notice the difference in the scenario above. She would be dead right there, either way

And when the range stretches out with the lower BC, speed shedding bullet, your chances of missing the hilar zone increase, especially in those pesky fickle gully winds blowing around the faces.

I’ve done heaps of drop tests at 200, 250, 300m with the .243 Win, to nail down my drops as well as I can. Various traditional hunting bullets, 85-100gr. Once I’ve got the ES down to acceptable levels and the drop from the point of aim is reasonably consistent, it’s the horizontal dispersion that raises big questions. Like… crikey… that was off to the left /right, enough to put the bullet slightly too far back on the deer, no problem. Picking those annoying downrange breezes you can’t really see is so hard, especially in our CNI winter conditions.

The >100gr 6mm bullets that have come along in the last few years shoot tighter at that range. They just handle the conditions that bit better, and for me have improved confidence no end at the ranges at which I wouldn’t take the shot with my .243… you’ve probably seen this before but seeing as how we’ve here… Gotta make some new vids.