6mm dilemma

[Shootingspark]

I have a 6mm rem ackley which now causes me more headaches reloading for than is worth the hassle, and the time has come to move it on..

It’s been a great rifle which I inherited when I started shooting. Learned a lot with it and about the reloading process.. Just reloaded a batch of 200 new Winchester brass ready for fireforming to AI.. and the necks have been cracking. Turns out Winchester brass doesn’t take too nicely to the shoulder being filled out.

On my last 20 rounds from my previous brass and I’ve made peace with moving the old brief on.

Looking at going down the 6mm creedmoor route for flatter shooting than my 6.5cm and ease of getting reloading components.
Any one know of any good manufacturers that offer a 6mm cm? I considered custom but tbh I wouldn’t even know where to begin with that

 

[ColinBr]

Barrel life would be my concern with the CM.
Why not go 6mmXC?

Yes I am biased towards the XC, but I looked at all the pros and cons and decided to go with the XC

 

[Andy Mauthe]

What do you plan to use your 6mm for? Intended use will dictate what might fit your needs. Barrel life is a concern with the 6CM. But boy is it a flat shooter. If you’re using it for hunting then barrel life likely won’t be a problem. If competitive shooting is the plan, then get something with a switch barrel. Let us know what you’re thinking.

 

[scotch_egg]

6mm creedmoor Barrel life is the same as .243 with brass made by Lapua, Peterson and Alpha.

I had @Ronin re-barrel a sako 85 for me. Any short action donor in .308 length will work. I would recommend a tikka T3 though due to the availability of aftermarket parts including the excellent PSE evolution stock.

Factory rifles available in 6mm creedmoor from Howa and Remington. But unfortunately it’s not really that popular with 6.5 creedmoor being a little more flexible and .243 being it’s honest equal. Tikka are producing the T3 in 1-8” twist so will shoot heavier bullets and copper. Good luck and have fun.

 

[Shootingspark]

At present, I'm using for 6.5CM for target, deer and just about everything but I'm planning to dedicate this as a nightrifle and get a new 6mm with a longer barrel to become my rifle for target and pushing the distances a little. Maybe shoot around 150- 200 rounds a year once up and running so not too worried about shooting a barrel out any time soon

 

[Shootingspark]

6mm creedmoor Barrel life is the same as .243 with brass made by Lapua, Peterson and Alpha.

I had @Ronin re-barrel a sako 85 for me. Any short action donor in .308 length will work. I would recommend a tikka T3 though due to the availability of aftermarket parts including the excellent PSE evolution stock.

Factory rifles available in 6mm creedmoor from Howa and Remington. But unfortunately it’s not really that popular with 6.5 creedmoor being a little more flexible and .243 being it’s honest equal. Tikka are producing the T3 in 1-8” twist so will shoot heavier bullets and copper. Good luck and have fun.

Whats the rough cost of getting a barrel done? I would be interested in going down this route tbh but its completely new to me

 

[Andy Mauthe]

At present, I'm using for 6.5CM for target, deer and just about everything but I'm planning to dedicate this as a nightrifle and get a new 6mm with a longer barrel to become my rifle for target and pushing the distances a little. Maybe shoot around 150- 200 rounds a year once up and running so not too worried about shooting a barrel out any time soon

I see you’re in Scotland so I’m not sure what rifle availability you have there. Here in the USA where the 6CM was developed there’s probably more rifles readily available. It’s really gained in popularity here both for hunting and competition. The main advantage it has over the .243 is that it’s ready made to handle the longer high B.C. Bullets right out of the gate. Maybe Schultz and Larson will do a 6CM? That way should you burn out a barrel, replacing it isn’t a big deal.

 

[Shootingspark]

I see you’re in Scotland so I’m not sure what rifle availability you have there. Here in the USA where the 6CM was developed there’s probably more rifles readily available. It’s really gained in popularity here both for hunting and competition. The main advantage it has over the .243 is that it’s ready made to handle the longer high B.C. Bullets right out of the gate. Maybe Schultz and Larson will do a 6CM? That way should you burn out a barrel, replacing it isn’t a big deal.

The ability to use the longer BC bullets is a big plus for me. As much as i've loved my 6mm rem over the years bullet choice has been very limited due to the long round/short action.

 

[Andy Mauthe]

The ability to use the longer BC bullets is a big plus for me. As much as i've loved my 6mm rem over the years bullet choice has been very limited due to the long round/short action.

I bought a 6.5CM last year despite all of Creedmoor bashers that say it’s crap or doesn’t do anything that the 6.5 Swede has done for over a century. All I can say is modern cartridge design is able to take advantage of things like Doppler Radar during the design process that allows a true ability to quantify B.C. In real time. They are also designed right from the start with appropriate twist rates for those long high B.C. Bullets. And they have very tight tolerances on the chamber dimensions that just wasn’t possible 100 plus years ago. So are the new breed of chamberings necessary? If you’re shooting game inside of 300 yards then no. But if you want to take advantage of what modern design can offer then why not? I’ve got rifles in really old classics like 45-70, .303 Savage, and 30-06 to name a few. And I love them. But I also love my 6.5CM for what it offers. I wish you good luck on your quest for a new 6CM. Let us know what you decide on.

 

[scotch_egg]

Whats the rough cost of getting a barrel done? I would be interested in going down this route tbh but its completely new to me

Rough cost of having a barrel on a don’t action is between £800 and £1200 depending on who you go to. @BE Precision has various donor actions in stock and would be worth sending a private message to and discuss what he can do for you. His prices are very competitive.

 

[Shootingspark]

Rough cost of having a barrel on a don’t action is between £800 and £1200 depending on who you go to. @BE Precision has various donor actions in stock and would be worth sending a private message to and discuss what he can do for you. His prices are very competitive.

Thanks mate, I will do

 

[BE Precision]

I’ve got 1:7 Bartelins sendero profile, and 1:7.5 Phoenix varmint in stock, and Phoenix tikka and rem sporter 1:7.5 due in with Novembers delivery.

.243, 6xc, 6cm and 6br reamers here

Actions
T3 blued
T3 blued fluted bolt
T3 stainless
Rem 700 parkerised
New Gunwerks GRB customs

Message if you want more info about prices, turnaround times etc

 

[plumber01]

Sorry to through this in, but why not just get a 243 with a fast twist, there is very little difference other than not being quite so fashionable, and brass etc would be easier (and a lot cheaper) and if reloading , negligible difference in performance . Ive seen 243's at a 1000 yards with long ballistically efficient bullets keeping up with big 7mm rifles.
good luck

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Barrel life would be my concern with the CM.
Why not go 6mmXC?

Yes I am biased towards the XC, but I looked at all the pros and cons and decided to go with the XC

The 6xc and the 6cm are identical in more than just calibre
The chamber spec is virtually the same

Not enough case volume difference to make one a barrel burner and one not
Consequence of load, firings/strings and barrel spec


Fast twist .243 is arguably no worse and significantly cheaper to feed, build, shoot

 

[Eric the Red]

At present, I'm using for 6.5CM for target, deer and just about everything but I'm planning to dedicate this as a nightrifle and get a new 6mm with a longer barrel to become my rifle for target and pushing the distances a little. Maybe shoot around 150- 200 rounds a year once up and running so not too worried about shooting a barrel out any time soon

If you're planning a night rifle, I highly recommend jumping straight to 22 Creedmoor. It knocks most of the 6mm into the weeds and is frankly epic on vermin, with its combination of bullet weight, BC and speed. Leave the 6.5 for target, deer etc.

 

[swagger700]

I thought same as ed says above, I've 6xc which has done everything I needed on all British deer species. My pals have just ordered 6 prc reamer he's telling me already it's the future . Time will tell

 

[scotch_egg]

I thought same as ed says above, I've 6xc which has done everything I needed on all British deer species. My pals have just ordered 6 prc reamer he's telling me already it's the future . Time will tell

A chap on ukv has a 6mm PRC runs at warp speed. There is a rate of diminishing returns though when that much powder.

6mm creedmoor, 6XC, 6-6.5X47 and 6mmGT really are all in the same ball park. Pick one that you can get brass for and go shoot.

I went with 6mm creedmoor because I can use my 6.5 creedmoor bushing FL with the correct 6mm bush and I use the same seating die. I haven’t even needed to change the seating stem. Brass is lapua 6mm head stamped and I can re-size 6.5 creedmoor brass.

Some how the 6mmbr punches well above its station. With 30gr of powder and a 26” barrel it will push a 105gr bullet at 2900fps which is the same as the rest.

What I want is a short barrel and optimal performance. It’s always a compromise though. I’m looking into 6mm ARC and a 16” barrel.

 

[swagger700]

I can see where my mates are thinking as work tools the sacrifice for cost and barrel life, when only firing odd shots is maybe worth it performance wise . There forever chasing the holy grail caliber wise

 

[trucraft]

A chap on ukv has a 6mm PRC runs at warp speed. There is a rate of diminishing returns though when that much powder.

6mm creedmoor, 6XC, 6-6.5X47 and 6mmGT really are all in the same ball park. Pick one that you can get brass for and go shoot.

I went with 6mm creedmoor because I can use my 6.5 creedmoor bushing FL with the correct 6mm bush and I use the same seating die. I haven’t even needed to change the seating stem. Brass is lapua 6mm head stamped and I can re-size 6.5 creedmoor brass.

Some how the 6mmbr punches well above its station. With 30gr of powder and a 26” barrel it will push a 105gr bullet at 2900fps which is the same as the rest.

What I want is a short barrel and optimal performance. It’s always a compromise though. I’m looking into 6mm ARC and a 16” barrel.

What will the ARC give you over the 6 CM?
Genuine question.
Massive fan of 6mm’s. I’ve had a 6x47L for years now and find it a breeze to shoot and easier to reload for than any other rifle I’ve owned.

 

[Shootingspark]

If you're planning a night rifle, I highly recommend jumping straight to 22 Creedmoor. It knocks most of the 6mm into the weeds and is frankly epic on vermin, with its combination of bullet weight, BC and speed. Leave the 6.5 for target, deer etc.

planning to move my 6.5 CM to become my dedicated Night rifle, with the a new 6mm my all rounder for target and everything else. Occasionally shooting deer under a night license so the .22 CM wouldn't cut it unfortunately.