6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game

[nm.otter]

Seems like the 6creed is a no brainer cartridge.

Mostly, at least as far as factory Tikkas go.

To be fair: 6mm ARC, Dasher, GT, and XC arguably make better (though not simpler/easier) fits for the way many of us actually hunt.

 

[nuffgun]

This is true, my .243 has killed 5 critters so far and the furthest was 400 yards, all within striking distance of the 6 ARC.

Edit: spelling

 

[4phw]

For me, with my guns and using my ammunition, I see those 3 cartridges as the following.

6.5 Creedmoor is 600 to 700 yard maximum velocity threshold.
6mm Creedmoor is 700 to 800 yard maximum velocity threshold.
6.5 PRC is 800 to 950 yard maximum velocity threshold.

But, if you are going to add in shootability to the mix, I would rate them as follows.

1. 6mm Creedmoor
2. 6.5CM
3. 6.5 PRC

If you add in barrel life and cost of factory ammo I would rate them as follows.

1. 6.5CM
2. 6mm Creedmoor
3. 6.5 PRC

Each cartridge has a place where they win out over the other 2 cartridges. You have to decide which metric is most important to you the shooter.

Jay

Ah, that’s very helpful to see. I hunt solo so watching impacts is #1 for me.

 

[ckt3]

To be fair: 6mm ARC, Dasher, GT, and XC arguably make better (though not simpler/easier) fits for the way many of us actually hunt.

Cool thing about 6 ARC is you can buy Frontier FMJ practice ammo, and in a pinch could grab ELDX or ELDM factory hunting ammo. They'd be a bit slow at gas gun pressures (somewhat of a benefit for practice actually), but still lethal past where almost all hunting shots happen. Lots of barrel life to practice with also.

Handloads remain very soft shooting with sufficient velocity to match quick drop and be lethal quite far out. Also a slight bonus if you want to have a common caliber with a gas gun, but that's a pretty marginal benefit.

You could have a 6 Creed hunter and .223 practice rifle or a 6 ARC one gun solution (though the practice ammo is more expensive than .223). I see it as the softest shooting, factory ammo having, long(ish) range killing, 6mm cartridge with enough barrel life to not worry about volume shooting. Quite a goldilocks cartridge in my view

 

[The Guide]

To be fair: 6mm ARC, Dasher, GT, and XC arguably make better (though not simpler/easier) fits for the way many of us actually hunt.

I'm really considering getting a 20" 6XC barrel and replacing my 20" 243 barrel with that. Buy a couple hundred 6XC loaded with the 115 DTAC from Mr. Tubb and break the barrel in them then load the 116 TMK in the fired brass. But then again, I should probably just shoot more and work less...

Jay

 

[nm.otter]

6 ARC
...
I see it as the softest shooting, factory ammo having, long(ish) range killing, 6mm cartridge with enough barrel life to not worry about volume shooting. Quite a goldilocks cartridge in my view

...and high pressure cases are about to make it do a lot more.

 

[ckt3]

...and high pressure cases are about to make it do a lot more.

Don’t tease me!!!

I’d like to even just see some factory loads at typical bolt gun pressures, but I don’t know if that’s reasonable to expect? Someone is going to blow their AR up and try to sue…

 

[The Guide]

Ah, that’s very helpful to see. I hunt solo so watching impacts is #1 for me.

The 6mm and 6.5 Creedmoor will be better for that metric. 6.5CM is "generally" cheaper to practice with but the 6mm Creedmoor will give you more potential range. Neither is a bad choice. Get what you want and try and shoot the barrel out. Barrels are like tires on a car on a car. They were made to be used up and replaced.

Jay

 

[Bluumoon]

Cool thing about 6 ARC is you can buy Frontier FMJ practice ammo, and in a pinch could grab ELDX or ELDM factory hunting ammo. They'd be a bit slow at gas gun pressures (somewhat of a benefit for practice actually), but still lethal past where almost all hunting shots happen. Lots of barrel life to practice with also.

Handloads remain very soft shooting with sufficient velocity to match quick drop and be lethal quite far out. Also a slight bonus if you want to have a common caliber with a gas gun, but that's a pretty marginal benefit.

You could have a 6 Creed hunter and .223 practice rifle or a 6 ARC one gun solution (though the practice ammo is more expensive than .223). I see it as the softest shooting, factory ammo having, long(ish) range killing, 6mm cartridge with enough barrel life to not worry about volume shooting. Quite a goldilocks cartridge in my view

I have 500ish rounds on mine in a month. If anyone man/women/or child needs to borrow a rifle this year 100% that's what I'd hand them.

 

[nm.otter]

I'm really considering getting a 20" 6XC barrel and replacing my 20" 243 barrel with that

I'm lobbying NMDGF to experiment with limited rifle hunts (similar to what Utah tried last year). If that comes to pass, and requires single-shot rifles, I'll pull the lever on a Blaser K95 in 6mm XC.

 

[nm.otter]

I’d like to even just see some factory loads at typical bolt gun pressures, but I don’t know if that’s reasonable to expect? Someone is going to blow their AR up and try to sue…

Steel/hybrid cases at 80k PSI don't necessarily increase bolt thrust.

 

[4phw]

Mostly, at least as far as factory Tikkas go.

To be fair: 6mm ARC, Dasher, GT, and XC arguably make better (though not simpler/easier) fits for the way many of us actually hunt.

Should’ve mentioned that. Out of a Tikka factory rifle is what I was going to do!

 

[SBR Sarge]

...and high pressure cases are about to make it do a lot more.

I’m kind of excited about the NAS3 cases. I’ve used them in 556 and 300 blackout.

BlackArc was supposed to be loading them in 6arc but that seems to have stalled. I think case availability might be a road block for now, but it’ll be interesting to see what ends up being loaded.