6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game

[Schmo]

Def respectable. Similar to 175s in a 308 relationship in my mind.

Except 6mms are way cooler than 308s!

 

[sierracharlie338]

Except 6mms are way cooler than 308s!

I love me some 6mm but the 308 will always be in my stable for several reasons. The 6mms are getting much more love these days if I’m being honest though.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I love me some 6mm but the 308 will always be in my stable for several reasons. The 6mms are getting much more love these days if I’m being honest though.

Yeah man. I killed two big game animals with the 308 before breaking out the 6mm and .224s.

Something feels right about starting off hunting season with the old 308.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Forgot to mention on kill 7 posted above that there were large lung chunks all over the ground at impact location and more chunks along the very short blood trail.

Screenshot of a video of the aforementioned downed tree that he tripped over and died.

 

[SouthPaw]

Mule deer buck, 109gr ELDM, 2190fps impact.

I shot this buck broadside through the shoulders. Front-side knuckle shattered, offside scapula wishbone shattered with front of lungs heavily damaged. The deer dropped and went 0 yards.

No field photos this time, but I did recover the jacket of the bullet in the offside shoulder. Basically the same performance I've seen from the 22cm/88gr at similar distance and impact velocity. Immediate upset with jacket/core frags found within 2" of entrance and fairly consistent wound channel for ~13" of deer. The bullet almost entirely fragmented, I guess due to the bone hit.

 

[Brap01]

Mature Idaho whitetail doe. 375 yards, 6 CM, 108 ELDM 2850 at the muzzle. Slight quartering away. Double lung hut, deer ran 15 yards, fell and did not try to get back up.

Round entered the ribs, breaking 2 ribs, absolutely destroyed the lungs leaving a golf ball sized hole in what was left of the lungs. Exited the ribs, entered the offside shoulder, shattered the shoulder bone and did not exit.

Images show entry and exit of the chest, exit from chest into the shoulder and what was left of the lungs.

Bummer that I destroyed most of the off side shoulder but once again I am very happy with 108 ELDM performance.

 

[bonepoint]

Yesterday my son shot a large bodies mulie doe with our 6 CM and a 103 ELDX. Range was less than 50 yards and impact velocity was around 2,950 FPS.

Shot was slightly quartering, Entered tight behind the shoulder, took out the heard, and exited front side of opposite shoulder. Hit should bone and absolutely destroyed that shoulder. Zero salvageable meat on it. No surprises with a shoulder hit at that velo though.

Was surprised to see an exit at that impact velocity. Bullet stayed together surprisingly well. Far side of rib cage was quarter sized. Far side exit was nickel sized and probably just a part of the bullet after hitting the shoulder.

In the future, I still may load up a harder bullet for the kids taking meat does at close ranges to minimize the mess, but that bullet was tougher than I thought it would be.

 

[Cantharellus]

First kill with my 6arc on a mule deer forky. 108 ELDM around 2675 MV. Range was 50ish yards, shot was a little back, looked like mostly liver and some front stomach. Buck ran around 80 yards.

I didn't fully open the cavity but I pulled some ribs and looked in. The back of the lungs had some damage and there was a lot sloshing around in there. Tons of blood poured out of the exit wound.

 

[bnsafe]

my grandson shot a whitetail doe with his 243 and some light loads we worked up using 95gr tmk's. admitting it was only about 10 yds, but the deer ran 30 yds with a blood trail you could just walk along. bottom part of her heart was just gone.

 

[MEdude]

First kill with my 6arc on a mule deer forky. 108 ELDM around 2675 MV.

Thanks for sharing the data / result.

• Factory or hand load ( if hand…Load Data plz)?
• Barrel length?

Please, and Thank you.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Kill 8. Tikka 6 Creed and 115 Bergers.

Antelope Buck.

Yardage: 623.

Impact Velocity: Roughly 1,850.

Shot Position: Prone off backpack. Bino harness rear rest.

Distance travelled After Hit: 0 yards.

Impact Location: Shoulder/Spine Junction is where I always aim on antelope. Bullet essentially disintegrated on impact. Largest fragment found near base of the skull on off side. Small fragments throughout the broadside lungs/heart, but overall the vitals were mostly in tact.

 

[eoperator]

Kill 8. Tikka 6 Creed and 115 Bergers.

Antelope Buck.

Yardage: 623.

Impact Velocity: Roughly 1,850.

Shot Position: Prone off backpack. Bino harness rear rest.

Distance travelled After Hit: 0 yards.

Impact Location: Shoulder/Spine Junction is where I always aim on antelope. Bullet essentially disintegrated on impact. Largest fragment found near base of the skull on off side. Small fragments throughout the broadside lungs/heart, but overall the vitals were mostly in tact.

What approximate neck length with115 berger?

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

What approximate neck length with115 berger?

It’s varied so far. I’ll go with “not enough information” for now.

It’s been anywhere from roughly an inch up to around 6” or so.

 

[sierracharlie338]

It’s varied so far. I’ll go with “not enough information” for now.

It’s been anywhere from roughly an inch up to around 6” or so.

Dang! That some variance. I’ll prob try the108eh for the wife’s rifle.

 

[Cantharellus]

Thanks for sharing the data / result.

• Factory or hand load ( if hand…Load Data plz)?
• Barrel length?

Please, and Thank you.

Factory loads out of a 22" barrel with a Nomad TiXC can. This rifle only has ~100 rounds through it. I've tracked most of them with a Garmin Xero, 2675 has been the average. Planning on cutting it to 18" after the season.

 

[PoniBoy]

225 yards quartering to shot on a mule deer doe. Pass through shot and broke two ribs on its way out. Lungs were vaporized, doe to one big jump and dropped where she stood.

18” OMR 6cm barrel on a Tikka
103 ELD-X 2,910 MV

First season hunting with this setup and it’s proving to be an extremely accurate and effective setup. Shot a bull elk a few weeks ago at 35 yards and he also dropped where he stood.

 

[bonepoint]

First season hunting with this setup and it’s proving to be an extremely accurate and effective setup. Shot a bull elk a few weeks ago at 35 yards and he also dropped where he stood.

Same bullet? How did it hold together at that range?

 

[Thegman]

my grandson shot a whitetail doe with his 243 and some light loads we worked up using 95gr tmk's. admitting it was only about 10 yds, but the deer ran 30 yds with a blood trail you could just walk along. bottom part of her heart was just gone.

What was the muzzle velocity? Might be interesting to the 6x45 shooters.

 

[PoniBoy]

Same bullet? How did it hold together at that range?

Yes same bullet, clean pass through. I didn’t really have the chance to evaluate much. I was solo and it was shot at last light so I got to working on it quickly.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

View attachment 968042225 yards quartering to shot on a mule deer doe. Pass through shot and broke two ribs on its way out. Lungs were vaporized, doe to one big jump and dropped where she stood.

18” OMR 6cm barrel on a Tikka
103 ELD-X 2,910 MV

First season hunting with this setup and it’s proving to be an extremely accurate and effective setup. Shot a bull elk a few weeks ago at 35 yards and he also dropped where he stood.

103 ELDX is, I think, the most slept on bullet in the 6mm family. It’s been incredibly consistent and effective for me since Hornady introduced it.