6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game

[General RE LEE]

Which model is that and what barrel length?

Looks like a Superlite in a Rok Stok

 

[General RE LEE]

Affirmative.

How accurate and precise are you able to get heavy-for-caliber handloads in the 1:8 243? I've considered just getting a 1:8 243 Tikka vs a 6 CM.

Are there any seating depth issues?

 

[Carl Ross]

How accurate and precise are you able to get heavy-for-caliber handloads in the 1:8 243? I've considered just getting a 1:8 243 Tikka vs a 6 CM.

Are there any seating depth issues?

My first pitch bullet/powder/seating depth try did 10 shots in 1 MOA so I stopped there. 109 ELD - 41 H4350 - .030” off lands. OAL is 2.860”, it fits in M+ mags but not regular M’s.

 

[HighUintas]

My first pitch bullet/powder/seating depth try did 10 shots in 1 MOA so I stopped there. 109 ELD - 41 H4350 - .030” off lands. OAL is 2.860”, it fits in M+ mags but not regular M’s.

I've got the same barrel, although I throated mine to seat further out. I'm only getting 2985 with 108s and 42gr h4350. Starline brass. It seems to be a bit slow for other bullet and powder combos too. What brass are you using?

 

[Carl Ross]

I've got the same barrel, although I throated mine to seat further out. I'm only getting 2985 with 108s and 42gr h4350. Starline brass. It seems to be a bit slow for other bullet and powder combos too. What brass are you using?

Funny enough, it’s some Hornady brass that I borrowed from a friend when I needed to get this rifle going quickly. After this firing I’ll return it, I have Starline on deck.

I would expect extending the throat would reduce speed with all else equal. And, different (individual) barrel, different bullet, different powder lot, along with different brass.

 

[HighUintas]

Funny enough, it’s some Hornady brass that I borrowed from a friend when I needed to get this rifle going quickly. After this firing I’ll return it, I have Starline on deck.

I would expect extending the throat would reduce speed with all else equal. And, different (individual) barrel, different bullet, different powder lot, along with different brass.

Yes I know all the differences will contribute. It just seems mine is oddly slow. I'm right at acceptable pressure at 42. When it's warm, like 75-80, I'll get intermittent swipes. I figured seating further out would allow me more velocity than the factory throat. I'll have to check my notes for col... I know it won't fit in standard m mag.

But I can't complain. It's accurate

 

[General RE LEE]

I've got the same barrel, although I throated mine to seat further out. I'm only getting 2985 with 108s and 42gr h4350. Starline brass. It seems to be a bit slow for other bullet and powder combos too. What brass are you using?

“Only getting 2985 with 108s”

lol dude that’s great ballistics. I get 2650 with my 6 ARC and killed 3 deer deader than snot this season.

 

[HighUintas]

“Only getting 2985 with 108s”

lol dude that’s great ballistics. I get 2650 with my 6 ARC and killed 3 deer deader than snot this season.

I guess it's in line with Hornady's load data.... But 2.700 is much shorter than my col. If I shortened it to that I'd be seeing pressure signs even in cold weather, I think.

I don't think that's particularly great ballistics. The 108 has an SD of .261. it's not exactly a heavy for caliber bullet. In comparison to 6cm case volume and taking into account my longer coal, I should be able to go higher than 42gr at 2985. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying that it is less than I expected.

 

[The Guide]

View attachment 822977View attachment 822978


I guess it's in line with Hornady's load data.... But 2.700 is much shorter than my col. If I shortened it to that I'd be seeing pressure signs even in cold weather, I think.

I don't think that's particularly great ballistics. The 108 has an SD of .261. it's not exactly a heavy for caliber bullet. In comparison to 6cm case volume and taking into account my longer coal, I should be able to go higher than 42gr at 2985. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying that it is less than I expected.

You also have an 8 twist barrel and that data shows it for a 10 twist barrel. Your barrel will build pressure faster and be slower due to more friction from the faster twist. Tikka barrels (in general) are slow but accurate. My 20" barrel is around 2900 with 42 grains @ 2.8" in Starline brass.

Jay

 

[Castle Rock]

I've got the same barrel, although I throated mine to seat further out. I'm only getting 2985 with 108s and 42gr h4350. Starline brass. It seems to be a bit slow for other bullet and powder combos too. What brass are you using?

That is about all you can expect with that combo in 243, but realistically 100 fps more wouldn’t make any difference anyhow
How many rounds on the barrel, mine sped up after a couple of hundred rounds
41.5/ 4350
Note the average velocities below
Now


When new

 

[Tanner]

View attachment 822977View attachment 822978


I guess it's in line with Hornady's load data.... But 2.700 is much shorter than my col. If I shortened it to that I'd be seeing pressure signs even in cold weather, I think.

I don't think that's particularly great ballistics. The 108 has an SD of .261. it's not exactly a heavy for caliber bullet. In comparison to 6cm case volume and taking into account my longer coal, I should be able to go higher than 42gr at 2985. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying that it is less than I expected.

If you’re seeing a bunch of data for higher velocities with 108s out of a 243, I’d be surprised… that is about the top end of where I’d expect to be with that combo. You could punch it AI and sneak it up to 3100-3150 but I probably wouldn’t spend my money on it, after punching out a few factory barrels in the past. Mass produce your load if it’s hammering and get to shootin.

 

[khuber84]

Long throat 243 VS 6cm will be maybe a 30-50fps difference at similar psi levels. Advantage to that old glorious Winchester......

 

[HighUintas]

Next time I see some Lapua 243 brass available, I'm going to try it and load it up hot

 

[General RE LEE]

Next time I see some Lapua 243 brass available, I'm going to try it and load it up hot

Bye bye primer pockets lol

 

[HighUintas]

Bye bye primer pockets lol

Haha, my star line is on four reloads and some of them are feeling really loose. And, scratch that. Comment on loading it up hot with lap of brass. I told myself I was going to drop my load down to 40 or a little less for practice and longer barrel life

 

[General RE LEE]

Haha, my star line is on four reloads and some of them are feeling really loose. And, scratch that. Comment on loading it up hot with lap of brass. I told myself I was going to drop my load down to 40 or a little less for practice and longer barrel life

I will load hot but I almost always go back to a lower node. I'm a grain below a "hot load" with my 6 ARC.

 

[Castle Rock]

Next time I see some Lapua 243 brass available, I'm going to try it and load it up hot

The Lapua brass is really worth the extra
The way to get really good life out of them is to load them a couple of times with a reasonable load which seems t work harden the heads, then go to town.

 

[HighUintas]

The Lapua brass is really worth the extra
The way to get really good life out of them is to load them a couple of times with a reasonable load which seems t work harden the heads, then go to town.

I have heard that, but haven't seen that happen with my brass, at least not with Peterson 284 when I tried it

 

[Elk Chaser]

6 PRC, 108 Elite Hunter, 500 yards, ~2,440 impact velocity. Cow was quartering to maybe a little more than I gave credit for, heavy damage to back of lungs and liver. I did not have a chance at a follow-up shot as she rejoined the herd until she tipped over. I would say she travelled approximately 75 yards and was dead in under a minute.

Something surprising I found while skinning her out yesterday was the gaping hole behind the rib cage...not sure if a piece of shrapnel could have done that or what? I've included a picture of the recovered bullet (61.6 grains) and a picture of the chest cavity. The green circle is where the bullet was recovered...the hole is pretty obvious. There was zero sign of that wound externally so I am perplexed as to what went on inside to cause that. All in all, very happy with the bullet/cartridge performance. At a little over 9lbs all up the rifle is a dream to shoot.

 

[sierracharlie338]

That is some damage. Nice work thanks for posting.

I need to add some of the 108s to my bench for my 6mm that’s one of the few I have not picked up despite shooting the elite hunters in other calibers.