6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

This is a great thread, I'm watching and hoping it helps me with rebarreling a 30/06 to a 6mm or 6.5mm cartridge and having a heck of a time deciding.
I have a lifetime supply of 30/06 brass that I could neck down to 6mm/06 or 6.5mm/06, but I have no problem going to a 6mm CM or 243 either. Those would be brand new calibers for me though, so completely new dies/brass/bullets.
Looking for reduced recoil, enjoyable to shoot, fast and flat which all of this group does well enough for me. Also of the cartridges would handle deer and occasional elk I know. Leaning heavily to a 6mm, but just not sure the pros and cons of 243 vs 6mm CM vs 6mm/06. All would be custom barrel with twist to my spec for high BC bullets. Any thoughts?

I'm in a similar situation. I have a mountain of once-fired .30-06 and .25-06 dies. I could "easily" form 6mm cases with the purchase of a set of 6mm neck dies to create the 6-06--> first running the brass through the FL .25-06 sizing die and another pass with the 6mm neck die or a FL 6-06 sizing die.

However, I'm presently back into paralysis mode now that Hornady announced they will be producing a .25 caliber 134 grain ELD-M in '23. This will improve availability of heavy for caliber high BC bullets for the quarter bore platform, a caliber that has been sorely underserved. I also wouldn't be suprised to see Hornady come out with new .25-06 loads in their precision hunter line with the heavy bullets.

So... If I go the fast-twist .25-06 route, I can put together a semi-custom on a Tikka T3x LA and custom barrel. With a 1:7 twist, it will provide awesome versatility; shooting the hell out of 90 grain and above existing factory ammo, while I reload the heavy Bergers and Hornadys. This would save me time and money on the 6-06, as it is a handloading only platform. Decisions, decisions...

 

[ktmkaratechips]

Ah… the 243… early on I despised it as a big game round. Watched my wife shoot several deer with it with 100 gr Hornady interlocks and they ran off with no blood and a lost deer. Switched to using the 75 gr VMAX that I was using for coyotes and that changed my mind on a 243 for big game. Since we’ve killed numerous deer and antelope with the 243. The down side is no exit hole and a small entrance which leads to little blood but they don’t go far, less then 50 usually.
The 75 gr VMAX have a muzzle velocity about 3300 fps out of my Howa 1500. Furthest kill was 650 yrds on a mule deer buck. Here’s a few pictures.

200 yard shot.

135 yards

650 yards

225 yards

Speed and Energy


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What’s your call on why the 100 grainers didn’t prove as lethal? Shot placement? Penciling through? Lack of tissue disruption?

 

[Jake Leibke]

What’s your call on why the 100 grainers didn’t prove as lethal? Shot placement? Penciling through? Lack of tissue disruption?

My thoughts on bullets are this, for the animals I hunt, mainly deer sized game. I’ve become a believer in a bullet that dump a lot of its energy in the critter causing lots of internal damage. I think with the 100 gr interlock type bullet it wasn’t dumping energy to cause that rapid expansion. I might be way off on that thought but I’m sticking to it. Haha.

Also the 100 grainers were handloads from my wife’s dad so I’m not sure the speed/ energy data on those.


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[Alex Genereux]

My first rifle was a .243 and for the last 18 years I have taken a bunch of whitetail deer with one shot.

 

[bbell]

Was looking at the tikka website today and it appears the .243 twist is now 1:8. Don’t think I’ve heard it mentioned elsewhere. Anyone get one yet or is this a brand new thing or a typo?

 

[ARK_Ginger]

Was looking at the tikka website today and it appears the .243 twist is now 1:8. Don’t think I’ve heard it mentioned elsewhere. Anyone get one yet or is this a brand new thing or a typo?
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I see the same thing. I might need one in the future

 

[BjornF16]

Was looking at the tikka website today and it appears the .243 twist is now 1:8. Don’t think I’ve heard it mentioned elsewhere. Anyone get one yet or is this a brand new thing or a typo?
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I'm guessing typo...but hoping it's true!

Sportsman Warehouse shows it as 1:10 twist on their website.

 

[Rooggvc]

Was looking at the tikka website today and it appears the .243 twist is now 1:8. Don’t think I’ve heard it mentioned elsewhere. Anyone get one yet or is this a brand new thing or a typo?
View attachment 482322

If that is true, which I hope, would it be possible to ream it to a 6CM some how?

 

[SouthPaw]

Was looking at the tikka website today and it appears the .243 twist is now 1:8. Don’t think I’ve heard it mentioned elsewhere. Anyone get one yet or is this a brand new thing or a typo?
View attachment 482322

That would be lame. Just got my wife a T3x compact .243 a year ago with the 10tw...would love for it to be an 8.

 

[Rooggvc]

I just went through ever model of .243 that shows up on the "Tikka Selector". Every single model shows a 1:8 Twist. Maybe dreams do come true.

 

[Trapperkid]

Didn’t take pictures but my dad killed a large doe the other night with a 243 and 95 grain sst at 150-ish yards. That makes three this year. Through both shoulders and ran maybe 40 yards which is the farthest I’ve known of a deer we’ve shot especially through the shoulders running. usually it’s just bang flop. I love that projectile.

 

[Tx270WT]

Hope it’s 1:8, the new roughteck just happened to follow me home. Sweet gun. Hope to break it in this weekend.

 

[MuleyFever]

Less than 500 yards on game- 95gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. I would also try the 95gr Sierra TMK as it might stabilize in your gun and conditions.

I only see the 90gn NBT in factory form. Would you say they are adequate for deer/elk to ranges out to maybe 400 yards?

 

[CBB1]

Just curious what you would gain in a 8 twist over a 10?


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[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Faster twist stabilizes the heavy bullets (ex. 115 Berger) more effectively.

 

[Formidilosus]

I only see the 90gn NBT in factory form. Would you say they are adequate for deer/elk to ranges out to maybe 400 yards?

Yes, however Winchester Ballistic Silver Tip 95gr is the 95gr NBT.

 

[Formidilosus]

.

Do you happen to know what bullet Winchester uses in the 95gn XP round?

It’s their own. Creates wide wounds, lacks some penetration- most likely won’t exit big deer or an elk.

 

[Shadow Illude]

Two white tails so far with 6CM 115 DTAC’s moving out at 2920fps. One was a bang flop and pass through. The other was a pencil pass through and ran about 60 yards before piling up. Since then they came out with the nosering version and I plan to try them next. This is out of my backup PRS rifle. For a hunting carry rifle, I’m loading the 95 Berger Classic Hunter but it hasn’t been carried afield yet.

 

[Formidilosus]

Two white tails so far with 6CM 115 DTAC’s moving out at 2920fps. One was a bang flop and pass through. The other was a pencil pass through and ran about 60 yards before piling up. Since then they came out with the nosering version and I plan to try them next. This is out of my backup PRS rifle. For a hunting carry rifle, I’m loading the 95 Berger Classic Hunter but it hasn’t been carried afield yet.

The nose rings still do not upset consistently below 2,400fps impact. They tumble around 6 inches in, and do create enough damage. On deer they are at best ok. On elk they have done very well.

 

[Shadow Illude]

The nose rings still do not upset consistently below 2,400fps impact. They tumble around 6 inches in, and do create enough damage. On deer they are at best ok. On elk they have done very well.

Thanks for the insight. There is only one location I use this particular combo due to longer range opportunities. Definitely not lugging it around in the hills.