6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game

Joined
Jan 22, 2021
Messages
337
Here’s my first test with a whitetail using the 95 ballistic silver tips. About 35 yards. He piled up within 20 yards of where he was shot with a pretty nice blood trail
 
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Joined
Dec 6, 2017
Messages
35
Location
MT
20+ years ago I had a 243 I used for coyotes shooting 55gr nbt's @ 4000fps. the aftermath was just gross. bang flop is an understatement.
That got me thinking about deer though. I loaded 95gr Partitions 'cuz that's what you did back then. it killed a couple muley bucks like you'd expect.
In 2015 my wife was struggling to find a deer/antelope rifle. I built a pair of AR-15's in 6x45 shooting 85gr TSX BT's @ 2700 mv.
We killed a PILE of antelope and deer that year between 100 and 420 yds. typical Barnes performance but they all died quick. I was very impressed with the cartridge though.

The next year I killed a big Roosevelt cow from a tree stand. She came right under the stand so it was only about 20 feet. Hit behind the left scapula, the bullet went straight through the heart and exited right lower brisket. she went 40 yds and tipped over.

I'd like to re-visit the 6x45 with Eldm's from a bolt gun.

maybe a 6-204 +P?

pics won't attach...
 

mtnbound

WKR
Joined
Nov 8, 2016
Messages
385
Location
N. Idaho
Exit side scapula continued:
View attachment 789768







After the second chest shot, I put the next one in the neck to stop the bull- he did the rhino slide at that.

Exit:
View attachment 789770

View attachment 789771



Conclusion:


In one bull elk, there is medium, low, and high impact velocity results. One poor “worst case” placement, one “acceptable but not ideal” placement, two “perfect” placements, and one anchor shot. Other than the stomach raking shot, all bullets exited.


Later we found out that this bull had been with a group that had been shot at, and hunters had chased this one, which is why he was running. Heavily stressed animals often take an incredible amount of damage without much sign of injury- and this one did exactly that.


Bullet performance:

6mm 95gr TMK’s cause horrific wounds. The first shot was at medium impact velocity yet caused a massive wound channel and more damage to the stomach than any other bullet or caliber that I have seen- from .22cal to very large .338’s.

The second shot was at the lower side of impact velocity, struck no bone at the very back of the lungs, and created a 2.5 to 3 inch wide hole the entire way through.


The two shots at high impact velocity to both scapulas caused extreme tissue damage and the total destruction of both scapulas. While close examination could distinguish the general outline/separation of each respective bullet path, the wounds were 5-6” wide each.

It is hard to describe the damage caused by the stomach impact and the two scapula shots- pictures in no way show the true measure.
Were you surprised to get bullet exits with those 95 grainers?
 

Formidilosus

Super Moderator
Shoot2HuntU
Joined
Oct 22, 2014
Messages
9,972
Were you surprised to get bullet exits with those 95 grainers?

No, not really. Most of my relatively limited experience with the 95gr has been on deer; however in elk the 77gr .224’s sometimes exit, and the 130gr 6.5mm frequently do.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2024
Messages
15
I've read all these posts until my eyes are bleeding
:p. I want a 6 mm CM but what is the real barrel life? I found one in a Benelli Lupo but found nothing on barrel replacement for one. This will be for hunting and my practice gun. Shooting my 300 win mag is no longer fun for practice.
If barrel life is concern, have you looked into a 6 ARC? Its has a longer barrel life, much cheaper ammo ($1.70/round vs $2.34/round for factory 108 ELDM on Midway), and stays above 1800 fps out to 600+ yards with factory ammo.

Edit: The 6 ARC recoils less as well.
 

RyanT26

WKR
Joined
Apr 8, 2020
Messages
1,305
I've read all these posts until my eyes are bleeding
:p. I want a 6 mm CM but what is the real barrel life? I found one in a Benelli Lupo but found nothing on barrel replacement for one. This will be for hunting and my practice gun. Shooting my 300 win mag is no longer fun for practice.
I don’t actually know anyone that has shot one out but seems like most things point to around 1500 to 2000 rounds. Remember barrels are threaded for a reason, so they can be changed.
 

The Guide

WKR
Joined
Aug 20, 2023
Messages
873
Location
Montana
Thanks, haven't found a rifle in 6 ARC!!!!

The Lupo looks like a sweet gun but really no info on it. I love my Tikka's so maybe buy a 6 cm and rebarrel to 6 ARC.
Different bolt faces. Won't work. 6 ARC bolt face is between 223 and 6CM in size. Get the 6CM and download it to 6 ARC speeds for bulk practice and load it hot for hunting and you'll have the best of both worlds.

Jay
 

Eiden

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Dec 3, 2016
Messages
112
Location
Wyoming
Cow elk at 100 yards. 6-284 shooting Berger 109 LRHT. Impact velocity was roughly 3030. First shot was a lil further back than I would like. Hit center mass about 3rd rib in from the back of the rib cage (shots were free hand and I have no excuse other than I need more practice). Cow humped up and kept moving. Quick follow up hit the front onside shoulder dropping her at the shot.

First shot penetrated through to the offside hide. Second shot destroyed the onside shoulder and turned the chest into a soup and ended up under the shoulder on the opposite side.

IMG_1226.jpg


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