6UM vs 22CM

[rbutcher1234]

My goal is to have an identical tikka to my 223, except with greater terminal range. I reload, so that’s not an issue. I would be looking for a barrel between 16”-18” and suppressed with my TBAC Dominus cb. My existing tikka is a 20”, but I would like to move shorter since moving up in cartridge horsepower will afford me that.

Which one of these would be better suited for extending my terminal range? Barrel life is not an issue for me. I use my 223’s and self limit to 450 yard shots and under due to velocity. I have hunted with my 300NM out significantly further, but those were very focused situations. I have minimal interest in packing my AI up and down western mountains.

Pros of the 6UM: mainly not limited by states who restrict big game hunting to bullets .24 and higher

Pros of the 22cm: less recoil and better spotting of shots from all positions.

I generally shoot 10k shots a year in just center fire rifle, with a large majority from field positions. I’m interested in the technical comparison of these cartridges. I have played around in JBM and compared to cartridges I am familiar with shooting (5.56, 308, 300NM, 6BR), but I am interested in real world experience from people who have used either or both of these.

 

[Speaks]

Cant comment but have been debating similar rounds for similar reasons so curious to see what others have to say.

 

[huntnful]

With a muzzle device, I’d go fast 6mm. The recoil is plenty manageable.

 

[rbutcher1234]

With a muzzle device, I’d go fast 6mm. The recoil is plenty manageable.

Either option would be 100% suppressed with my TBAC Dominus cb (~6.3” suppressor). Tbac confirms that 16” barrel with the 6UM is good to go, so all options are open.

 

[gotlag1789]

Following as well.

 

[sololearn9]

22 creed all the way. I have both, and the 22 creedmoor was by far the favorite using varmint weight bullets. Bullets. Also remember unless you get custom reamer, the throat is going to be way too long for 6 mm varmint bullets to be accurate. I have a custom reamer with a shorter throat so I can run the 58s and 65s. The 22 creedmoor off the shelf is ready to go, just be sure to keep the carbon ring away

 

[hereinaz]

I have looked at the numbers, and the 22 creed does it for me out to 800ish. I am building one out this summer.

But, in fairness to really reach, as in 1000ish yards I have a 25 SST which is not far off the 6 um.

How far are you shooting?

I am adding 22 creed brass and dies, along with Tikka prefits to our online store this week.

I am going to look at adding Tikka prefits in 6 UM, if possible…

 

[The Fish Box]

Isn’t this kinda comparing a Ferrari to a Miata? Although the 22 creed is no slouch I think if you want top performance with minimal recoil go with the 6UM but if you are limiting the distance and don’t want peak performance go with the creed.

Oooor do what I did and build both even though I don’t really need either of them.

 

[gotlag1789]

^hahaha

 

[wind gypsy]

Easy, 6 PRC.

 

[huntsd]

My goal is to have an identical tikka to my 223, except with greater terminal range. I reload, so that’s not an issue. I would be looking for a barrel between 16”-18” and suppressed with my TBAC Dominus cb. My existing tikka is a 20”, but I would like to move shorter since moving up in cartridge horsepower will afford me that.

Which one of these would be better suited for extending my terminal range? Barrel life is not an issue for me. I use my 223’s and self limit to 450 yard shots and under due to velocity. I have hunted with my 300NM out significantly further, but those were very focused situations. I have minimal interest in packing my AI up and down western mountains.

Pros of the 6UM: mainly not limited by states who restrict big game hunting to bullets .24 and higher

Pros of the 22cm: less recoil and better spotting of shots from all positions.

I generally shoot 10k shots a year in just center fire rifle, with a large majority from field positions. I’m interested in the technical comparison of these cartridges. I have played around in JBM and compared to cartridges I am familiar with shooting (5.56, 308, 300NM, 6BR), but I am interested in real world experience from people who have used either or both of these.

correct me if am wrong here, but isnt colorado the only western state that won't allow for a .22 caliber?

 

[PathFinder]

I've been running this same debate through the WEZ for a couple weeks now. What it seems to come down to is that the 6 UM will have ~5% hit advantage over the 22 CM at 1k yards. If it's a light rifle (~6.5lbs), the 6 UM has about double the recoil. It's extremely close to the 6.5 PRC as far as that goes, but with a significant ballistic advantage over the 6.5 PRC.
Hopefully someone who has shot a 6 UM in a sub-7lb gun will chime in. Mine is 11.5 lbs with a brake, so it's very similar to a 22 CM in a 6.5 lb gun. I'm gearing up to build an ultralight rifle, and the original plan was another 6 UM. It's probably going to be a 6 CM now; there's a lot of work and $$ to get a couple hundred yards and slightly higher hit percentage out of the 6 UM. If you are dead set on pushing it to ~1200 yards, that's where the 6 UM does what the CM cases can't.

 

[199p]

Im looking to do both a 22cm and a 6prc because i can't decide, think ill go

20" 223 77tmk / 75eldm
18" 22cm 88eldm
16" 6prc 108eldm

im working way too much and hunting way to less so I might as-well have some new builds

 

[SloppyJ]

Tough call but the easier button is the 22cm. But there's something to be said for having something more custom.

I you go 6UM, source your brass now. The 6prc is a great call because of brass and die availability that splits the difference.

 

[justin davis]

What about the 6 creedmoor?

 

[hereinaz]

Im looking to do both a 22cm and a 6prc because i can't decide, think ill go

20" 223 77tmk / 75eldm
18" 22cm 88eldm
16" 6prc 108eldm

im working way too much and hunting way to less so I might as-well have some new builds

I have 22 Creedmoor Tika Barrels right now and I have Preferred Barrel making my first prototype 6 PRC to release later this year.

I am right there with you. I can’t give up my high BC short magnum, to go only 22 Creedmoor.

 

[hereinaz]

What about the 6 creedmoor?

Slower than 22 creed and 6 UM so it’s technically a shorter range rifle, but it still is enough for 95% of the hunters and 99% of the shots that kill game.

 

[hereinaz]

I've been running this same debate through the WEZ for a couple weeks now. What it seems to come down to is that the 6 UM will have ~5% hit advantage over the 22 CM at 1k yards. If it's a light rifle (~6.5lbs), the 6 UM has about double the recoil. It's extremely close to the 6.5 PRC as far as that goes, but with a significant ballistic advantage over the 6.5 PRC.
Hopefully someone who has shot a 6 UM in a sub-7lb gun will chime in. Mine is 11.5 lbs with a brake, so it's very similar to a 22 CM in a 6.5 lb gun. I'm gearing up to build an ultralight rifle, and the original plan was another 6 UM. It's probably going to be a 6 CM now; there's a lot of work and $$ to get a couple hundred yards and slightly higher hit percentage out of the 6 UM. If you are dead set on pushing it to ~1200 yards, that's where the 6 UM does what the CM cases can't.

Solid work here, and spot on with this premise, the short magnums shine between the 800 and 1000 yard ranges. A 22 or 6 creed can get you into range that will kill the vast majority of shots.

While my gun has killed out beyond 1000, annd I feel the need to be prepared, all my personal shots have basically been inside 600 yards.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Shoot what you want, but a 22 Creed shooting 80 ELDXs will reliably kill big game past 800 yards at most hunting DAs with 18-20” barrels.

If you have a local “caliber restriction” or are able to reliably and regularly kill further than 800 yards (no offense but not likely on that one) then there isn’t a “need” to go up to a 6mm; especially a hard to get cartridge like 6UM.

The benefits of “going larger” are extending terminal range as you mentioned and potentially less wind drift. If you suck at reading and calling wind, a larger diameter bullet can, in some instances, allow you to simply hold on the wind side of vitals and let it rip to get kills, even at fairly long ranges.

Also for practicing, especially practicing solo, smaller bullets can be difficult to confirm hits at long ranges due to lack of target feedback and/or ground “splash” feedback for spotting misses and making corrections.

For that application, 6.5s sort of hit a sweet spot on recoil management combined with reliable high BC bullets around 150ish grains that generally have enough “splash” on targets and the ground to give you decent feedback for learning.

 

[justin davis]

Slower than 22 creed and 6 UM so it’s technically a shorter range rifle, but it still is enough for 95% of the hunters and 99% of the shots that kill game.

Gotcha. Yea that’s kind of crazy to think about. Hard for me to wrap my head around?

In my mind my 108 grain 6mm bullet going 3100 fps will kill further out than my 80 grain .224 bullet going 3300. But that is interesting to know I might have it backwards