I was always a fan of the 6MM Rem. Never having one I now question if it is as I imagine it to be. I have never been keen on the .243Win but have no reason why. I have a Model Seven Rem and wish to rebarrel it into a 6MM something and now have entertained the .243AI. I believe it has a longer neck closer to that of a 6MM Rem. Give me your thought?????????
I personally wasn't happy with my 6mm Rem. A 243AI would probably equal it and would work better in your short action IMO. Some others have different opinions and I respect that, but I could not get the 2.825" designed COL to feed well in the action. Too long for the box. Ended up trading it off.
"Blessed is the man whose wife is his best friend - especially if she likes to HUNT!"
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."
I've had at least 1 6mm since I got my 1st Remington 660 in 1969. I don't have any OAL trouble loading bullets in the 75 to 100 grain range for my Remington 7, 660, and 700 in 6mm.
The 6mm has a case length of 57mm/2.244" and the 243 has a case length of 51mm/2.008", a difference of 6mm/0.236". I've shot a few deer, coyotes, and 'chucks with both cartridges and couldn't tell the difference in performance, either on the range or in the field. The nice thing about the 243 is that you can buy ammo nearly anywhere ammo is sold, while 6mm ammo isn't nearly as common in many rural areas.
6mm is good stuff...I never had any feed problems or any other problems, and I have had one or two or three around for about twenty years now. Am ordering a new 6mm tube for a 700 in the near future....
I've been without a 6mm Rem for about 20 years. But, I just picked up a Rem Model 722 B Grade in 6mm Rem. I gotta say it is very accurate with 95 grain Nosler Partitions. It's a short action rifle, and there is no problem with magazine length and accuracy. I seat bullets to feed thru the mag, and they shoot. I really don't like the 243 either; never owned one and probably won't own one in the future. The 6mm Rem case is a much better case than the 243.
Edit to add: Just saw this is your first posting. Welcome aboard, come around often, and kabitz with all of us!!!
Ive had 2 6mms,a ruger 77 varmint ,a ruger 77 flat bolt sporter,and a 244AI sako forester heavy barrel,all short action,and never had a problem with OAL,that I can remember.
********************** [the member formerly known as fluffy}
I personally wasn't happy with my 6mm Rem. A 243AI would probably equal it and would work better in your short action IMO. Some others have different opinions and I respect that, but I could not get the 2.825" designed COL to feed well in the action. Too long for the box. Ended up trading it off.
Well, I don't have a 6mm remington in a bolt gun (I've a Ruger No. 1), but I do have a M700 in .257 Roberts. By seating to magazine length contraints, I have zero (0) issues with feeding. Whether that impacts performance, I don't worry about it.
I've had a short-action Rem 700 in 6mm Rem since 1974. Somehow or other that got to be 34 years ago... I remember the day Dad gave me that rifle... Ah... My youngest son hunts with that rifle now.
Meanwhile back to the short action/6mm thing - it works fine. Feeds great. Shoots good. Ground squirrels to mule deer, no problem. Light recoil. Easy to load, easy to shoot. Heaviest bullets I've used from it are 105 grain Speer hunting bullets, soft point, flat base. They shoot well and work fine.
I understand some target shooters are building the 6mm on long actions, in order to seat longer bullets, farther out. That too makes sense, but a short action is fine for a 6mm Remington.
I've got no problem with the .243 and doubt anyone would notice the difference between the two in the field.
Even history is on the side of the 6mm Rem in other than a standard length or "long" action. The 7X57 Mauser originally was intended for an intermediate length action (I have one such in a commercial action), and that case became the .257 Roberts and the 6mm Rem.
My other 6mm is a Ruger No. 1B and of course action length is not germane.
jim
LCDR Jim Dodd, USN (Ret.) "If you're too busy to hunt, you're too busy."
I have three 6mm REM rifles and have never wanted or needed a 243. The 6mm REM is a better case. I have never had a problem running my reloads thru the mags.
I've had a short-action Rem 700 in 6mm Rem since 1974. Somehow or other that got to be 34 years ago... I remember the day Dad gave me that rifle... Ah... My youngest son hunts with that rifle now.
Meanwhile back to the short action/6mm thing - it works fine. Feeds great. Shoots good. Ground squirrels to mule deer, no problem. Light recoil. Easy to load, easy to shoot. Heaviest bullets I've used from it are 105 grain Speer hunting bullets, soft point, flat base. They shoot well and work fine.
I understand some target shooters are building the 6mm on long actions, in order to seat longer bullets, farther out. That too makes sense, but a short action is fine for a 6mm Remington.
I've got no problem with the .243 and doubt anyone would notice the difference between the two in the field.
Regards, Guy
Pretty much sums up my experience and thoughts of the 6mm in a SA Remington and comparison to a 243.
