It's a heavy bastard. right at 12lbs with the Vortex scope (not included). I have around 470 BN coated 115 grain DTAC's, 100+ Berger 115 grain Hunting VLD's, and 500 Nosler Custom Competition 107 grain, and a few Sierra 107 grain MK's I'd throw in for $1200 cash price.
Both the 115 VLD and DTAC bullets like to be seated .130 off the lands. They also feed from the magazine at 2.8 COAL which was set up to be about .010 off the lands for the VLD when I had the barrel throated. All in all a great shooting rig, just not what I want in the end.
Here is a target shot at 2 hundred yards by my self built Savage model 10 in 243 Win with a McGowan 1 in 8 twist shooting Nosler 105 custom competition bullets. It shoots the Berger 105 vld hunting bullets just as well. Its in a HS precision tactical stock with AI bottom metal and detachable mags.
If I give an opinion on it, I have used or owned it.
I went through this exact debate a few years back. I decided that I wanted to shoot more, not spend more, so I went with the 243 over the 6br. Brass is pretty well available and cheap, the dies are cheap, and no feeding problems. I ordered a 1 in 8 Shilen prefit and it shoots very well. I doubt I would be happier with the br.
I have the exact same rifle built on the 6mm br Norma but it cannot be relied on to feed from the mag. It is pleasant to shoot and is a one holer at 200 on a calm day but I hunt and rely on the 243. I will post a pic of some of the BR groups later.
If I give an opinion on it, I have used or owned it.
I have built 3 rifles on the Savage model 10. I am attaching 2 3shot groups fired at 200 with my 6mm br Norma with a McGowan prefit barrel. The other group is from my 308 Win with an EABCO prefit barrell which is a 5 shot group from 100 yards. I have been realy lucky, as all my home built Savage rifles have been tack drivers. I call them GAS rifles (Gnats Ass Savages);)
If I give an opinion on it, I have used or owned it.
I've owned a bunch of 6mm rifles in my time and now only have two and they're both 243 Winchester chambered Remington rifles and that's because I could never see any advantage to the 6mmBR, 6mm Remington, etc. cartridges except all that extra time and expense fiddling with them not to mention finding or fireforming brass for some of the crazy "imitations" of the 243.
Make mine a 243 and my next barrel for both if I ever cook the throats of these barrels will be an 8 twist. They're both 9 1/8" now which is Remington's standard twist for 243's.
Nobody can tell you what will be best for you. The 6mmBR is probably the only one I'd consider if I had an an unlimited budget and time but the advantage is so slight it STILL might not be worth it.
Last edited by LDHunter; 05/08/14.
Many who have freedom have no idea where they got it....
Or, if there's not much wind in your area, a 6ppc with a no turn neck should be pretty accurate. I won a 600 yard benchrest match with mine on a calm morning with 68gr Bart's Ultras.
I've used a plain 243 for years for exactly what you are suggesting. Hands down, over the counter ammo, brass all over the place, bullets are available from 55 to 105, high BC, decent SD, good for a lot of critters bigger than it should, no doubt, 243 is the best and easiest way to go and will do everything you want.
"Suppose you were an idiot And suppose you were a member of Congress... But I repeat myself." -Mark Twain
"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." -Thomas Jefferson
Popularity trends don't matter so much as what the winner of the comp was using
The link I shared above about George's success with the SAAMI .243 is a pretty good indication that the .243 CAN win competitions. The winner depends a lot more on the shooter than the cartridge when comparing anything in that list.