6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game

[boom0906]

All that being said i shoot alot bigger gun myself. I wanted my kids to enjoy hunting without the fear of recoil. A 243 with a confident kid is a lot more deadly than a kid scared of recoil with a big gun and make a bad shot.

 

[kswaterfowl]

View attachment 991340
It's easy to see why the 95 NBT is such a killer with it's tapered jacket.

That 70gr nosler is one of my all time favorite bullets for coyotes. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot deer with it either.

 

[longrangelead]

That 70gr nosler is one of my all time favorite bullets for coyotes. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot deer with it either.

After seeing the thick base on the 70, it made me wonder how it would do on deer/antelope.

 

[Taudisio]

After seeing the thick base on the 70, it made me wonder how it would do on deer/antelope.

Also the 80gr. Same base from when I cut them in half (not nearly as well as yours).

 

[HuntInWild88]

I once shot a ground squirrel in Idaho with 243wssm 55gr varmigedon although never chronographed load data said it should have been close to 4200fps.. no photo because there was literally nothing left.

 

[jonnyviceroy]

I would advise against any shot in the shoulder with 95 TMKs… needed a bit more on the wind call which has been my only downfall after transitioning to lighter and smaller projectiles. For those wondering about how they do on the lower end of impact velocity-this was a cow elk at 1925 fps on impact and still more damage than I have seen out of many larger cartridges with “tougher” bullets.

 

[Moose83]

After seeing the thick base on the 70, it made me wonder how it would do on deer/antelope.

I was wondering the same thing after seeing the pic. It looks like it'd be an interesting bullet to try in a 6x45.

 

[Formidilosus]

I would advise against any shot in the shoulder with 95 TMKs… needed a bit more on the wind call which has been my only downfall after transitioning to lighter and smaller projectiles. For those wondering about how they do on the lower end of impact velocity-this was a cow elk at 1925 fps on impact and still more damage than I have seen out of many larger cartridges with “tougher” bullets.

View attachment 992480

I try to tell people that they are nasty monster bullets…. They don’t listen. grin

 

[Castle Rock]

After seeing the thick base on the 70, it made me wonder how it would do on deer/antelope.

They are similar construction to the 6.5 100 grainer which is a monster performer in the creed/260

 

[KyleR1985]

I would advise against any shot in the shoulder with 95 TMKs… needed a bit more on the wind call which has been my only downfall after transitioning to lighter and smaller projectiles. For those wondering about how they do on the lower end of impact velocity-this was a cow elk at 1925 fps on impact and still more damage than I have seen out of many larger cartridges with “tougher” bullets.

View attachment 992480

I don’t even know what part of an elk I’m looking at. Lordy.

What happened in Chest cavity and offside?

 

[8nbait]

Looks like he is removing the shoulder and that is the damage between the shoulder and the ribs?

 

[8nbait]

Speaking to 108 eldm up close…whitetail doe at 40 yards with 3000’ muzzle velocity.
Slight quarter away, hit was tight in the crease. 3”-4” entrance under the hide, 2” into offside shoulder and shrapnel was found in offside shoulder. Nothing came out offside shoulder. Doe stumbled about 25 yards and died.

Couple days later, 2 year old whitetail buck same rifle and bullet. 150 yards, impact in the crease. 2”-3” entrance under hide, 1” slit type exit. Deer ran for about 5-6 seconds which allowed him to make it 75-80 yards.

A few days earlier I had almost the same exact scenarios on two whitetail does. One at 50 yards and one at 150 yards but I used the 105 hybrid at 3030 MV.

Both deer died, both had exits and less entrance damage. Both bullets made it through the ribs before expanding and did most of the damage in the chest cavity.
50 yard deer went about 20 yards and 150 yard deer went 10 yards.

In my opinion I like the 105 hybrid for those scenarios, less meat damage and quicker kills but small samples.

I have a chance for a couple more does next week and I’m going to try the 95 TMK at 2900 MV. I’m expecting more damage then the eldm but I have to see for myself.

 

[SUD1988]

I try to tell people that they are nasty monster bullets…. They don’t listen. grin

Would a guy lose much just building a 6 Dasher and running 95 TMK’s for everything inside 600 yards? That kind of damage is crazy. Or just run the new 88’s out of a 22 ARC or GT?

I am all in on the lighter recoiling cartridges after hunting with a 6 ARC this year. Now I just want even shorter barrels .

 

[Gstew1930]

Would a guy lose much just building a 6 Dasher and running 95 TMK’s for everything inside 600 yards? That kind of damage is crazy. Or just run the new 88’s out of a 22 ARC or GT?

I am all in on the lighter recoiling cartridges after hunting with a 6 ARC this year. Now I just want even shorter barrels .

I did a 16" 6GT for this exact reason. I love it. I probably would have built something around the 88s if I had known about it though

 

[SUD1988]

I did a 16" 6GT for this exact reason. I love it. I probably would have built something around the 88s if I had known about it though

What are you shooting out of the 6 GT? Also what platform and want kind of velocity?

 

[Gettincloser]

Would a guy lose much just building a 6 Dasher and running 95 TMK’s for everything inside 600 yards? That kind of damage is crazy. Or just run the new 88’s out of a 22 ARC or GT?

I am all in on the lighter recoiling cartridges after hunting with a 6 ARC this year. Now I just want even shorter barrels .

I love my 22 ARC. In the 88 gr ELDm and a 20" barrel is getting me to 580 yards at 1800fps.

I have not chronographed or proven the 80gr ELDx projectiles yet... factory loads seem to have same point of impact and it seemed to me to do more damage than the 88gr...

If you are looking for a shorter barrel and 60p yards... as much as I love the 22 ARC, I do not think you will get there with factory ammo. If you hand load, the reloading mannual allows you to far exceed factory pressures if you are loading for a bolt gun. Factory ammo is set for the AR platform at lower pressures.

Eventually I will get into reloading and the 22 ARC will be my 99% rifle unless required to go 6mm by law.

For me, the 22 ARC does everything I need with factory loads.

 

[SUD1988]

I love my 22 ARC. In the 88 gr ELDm and a 20" barrel is getting me to 580 yards at 1800fps.

I have not chronographed or proven the 80gr ELDx projectiles yet... factory loads seem to have same point of impact and it seemed to me to do more damage than the 88gr...

If you are looking for a shorter barrel and 60p yards... as much as I love the 22 ARC, I do not think you will get there with factory ammo. If you hand load, the reloading mannual allows you to far exceed factory pressures if you are loading for a bolt gun. Factory ammo is set for the AR platform at lower pressures.

Eventually I will get into reloading and the 22 ARC will be my 99% rifle unless required to go 6mm by law.

For me, the 22 ARC does everything I need with factory loads.

I currently reload for everything, so I definitely can maximize the ARC. I just want to run a Tikka again. It seems like the ARC’s have been hit and miss feeding reliably out of the Tikka mags. Unless more guys have figured it out since I looked last. I currently run a 6 ARC Howa mini. I really like it, but I still prefer Tikkas.

 

[Gstew1930]

What are you shooting out of the 6 GT? Also what platform and want kind of velocity?

Tikka. I keep it at 2800 to line up with quick drop where I live. Ive gotten it up to 2950

 

[Formidilosus]

Would a guy lose much just building a 6 Dasher and running 95 TMK’s for everything inside 600 yards?

Nope.

 

[Speaks]

Definitely worth trying both, in handloads the 103gr are actually a bit more accurate than the 108gr in my 18" ARC, although they are both plenty accurate.

Turned out both grouped well in my gun but the 103 eldx was noticeably better. Have a couple more boxes of each to confirm but really liking those 103s for now.