6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game

[sierracharlie338]

In SAAMI configuration with the same length barrel, it would be hard to compare the two since the 6mm ARC can run heavy bullets. A fast twist 243 has the advantage but a 10 twist does not.

Jay

Sure but why would you shoot a 10 twist 243?

 

[Bluumoon]

Saying the arc is a better cartridge needs to be qualified imo. With all things equal I can’t see the arc outperforming the 243. Keeping up with maybe, but that’s temporary depending on distance.

Both are great cartridges though and for most people’s needs you can’t go wrong with either.

Talked my self into a 6ARC. Wouldn’t say there is anything magic about a 6ARC, but…. it checks a lot of boxes.

Powder that meters well= easy/fast to load. 107TMk hitting 1800fps at 750 yards w 18” barrel. Good barrel life. Factory ammo. 7-8mph wind #. Stupid low recoil.

Cons- brass choices/price. Off the shelf options.

 

[The Guide]

Sure but why would you shoot a 10 twist 243?

95% of all 243 Winchester rifles in existence are a 10 or 9.25 twist. 8 twist or faster 243 rifles in factory form are new in the last 10 years. SAAMI specification is a 10 twist. If I'm going to do a custom barrel or a custom rifle I'm probably not choosing a 243 over a better cartridge with support for factory ammo that doesn't stop at 100 grain soft points.

Jay

 

[sierracharlie338]

Meh, with LeverEvolution last year I had a load touching 2800fps out of my 20” 6ARC. Which was funny bc my two 16” rifles (243 & 6CM) were 2680fps and 2800fps respectively.

So there are instances where it “does the same thing”. You’re right about needing qualification though; there was a 4” difference in those rifles, and I wouldn’t recommend going past 30-30.5gr of Lever bc report increased noticeably for me (just unnerving at the time, it’s suppressed now) and group size trended bigger. Sweet spot has been 28.5-29.5gr for most bullets. For the majority of available powders, the 6ARC runs 150ish fps slower than 243 even with a 4” longer barrel.

Three of my buddies have bought Tikkas for hunting. My advice to all of them? If you reload, get either the 243 (fast twist) or 6.5CM. If not, 6.5CM. Grow with it, practice, move into suppressors, change the stock…whatever.

Once you’re really getting into shooting and practicing a lot, step onto Cloud 9 by bushing the bolt face and ordering a 6ARC barrel. It’s really that amazing. But laying out $2k vs $900 for the rifle BEFORE you’re really burning some rounds and getting serious? Nah. That’s like buying a Staccato XC when you’re just getting into pistols. Yeah it’s great, but you’re better served buying ammo.

Yeah this is what I mean. Apples to apples it prob isn’t as close as some think.

 

[sierracharlie338]

95% of all 243 Winchester rifles in existence are a 10 or 9.25 twist. 8 twist or faster 243 rifles in factory form are new in the last 10 years. SAAMI specification is a 10 twist. If I'm going to do a custom barrel or a custom rifle I'm probably not choosing a 243 over a better cartridge with support for factory ammo that doesn't stop at 100 grain soft points.

Jay

Yep I get that but that’s your preference. I built a 243 with a proper twist and shot nothing smaller than 105s. There’s no ARC that’s keeping up with that. The 243 should have never been built with a 10 twist just like the 260 being to slow of a twist from factory.

All I’m saying is if you take the two cartridges and build the rifles apples to apples, the arc is at the disadvantage.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Talked my self into a 6ARC. Wouldn’t say there is anything magic about a 6ARC, but…. it checks a lot of boxes.

Powder that meters well= easy/fast to load. 107TMk hitting 1800fps at 750 yards w 18” barrel. Good barrel life. Factory ammo. 7-8mph wind #. Stupid low recoil.

Cons- brass choices/price. Off the shelf options.

That’s great and I think it check those boxes for a lot of people. I’m don’t think it’s a bad round by any means.

 

[Hurley88]

Yeah this is what I mean. Apples to apples it prob isn’t as close as some think.

Oh for sure. 6ARC is roughly a 300fps deficit apples-to-apples IIRC. I have both, see the benefits of both. Low recoil & easy quick drops with the 6ARC vs better wind drift with the faster 243…dunno. We’ll see over time.

My personal reasons for the 6ARC were a (hopefully) staggeringly long barrel life and curiosity about the recoil bc I’ve never been a bolt action 223 guy or really shot any rifle with less than 15 ft-lbs of recoil much before these guns. Gotta say, it’s been a year and I still love it.

That said…for hits out to 600yds I haven’t seen a big difference. Get out to 800+ with gusting & variable winds, yes it’s very noticeable.

 

[Hurley88]

Cons- brass choices/price.

Starline. Great brass & price.

 

[The Guide]

Yep I get that but that’s your preference. I built a 243 with a proper twist and shot nothing smaller than 105s. There’s no ARC that’s keeping up with that. The 243 should have never been built with a 10 twist just like the 260 being to slow of a twist from factory.

All I’m saying is if you take the two cartridges and build the rifles apples to apples, the arc is at the disadvantage.

A properly built rifle in any cartridge will beat a factory rifle when done in an apples to apples comparison when one has more displacement than the other. There is no replacement for displacement. In a factory rifle with factory ammo, they are very close. When customized and handloaded, the 243 will walk away from the 6mm ARC at a loss of barrel life and increased cost of powder. I have both cartridges and will continue to use them in factory and custom applications. Lots of great choices in the 6mm realm these days.

Jay

 

[sierracharlie338]

A properly built rifle in any cartridge will beat a factory rifle when done in an apples to apples comparison when one has more displacement than the other. There is no replacement for displacement. In a factory rifle with factory ammo, they are very close. When customized and handloaded, the 243 will walk away from the 6mm ARC at a loss of barrel life and increased cost of powder. I have both cartridges and will continue to use them in factory and custom applications. Lots of great choices in the 6mm realm these days.

Jay

Yes indeed

 

[nm.otter]

The 243 should have never been built with a 10 twist

in 1955?

 

[sierracharlie338]

in 1955?

EVER!