Build a 6cm, Buy 243 1/8 twist or go with a 6.5cm?

[Brandon]

I bought a factory Tikka .243 with a 1/8 twist, then took it to a gunsmith and had him ream it to a 6CM. Have been super happy with it and I can now shoot the factory 108 ELD-M. Cost me about $150, and couldn’t be happier.

I have only read about one other guy doing this. I don't know a lot about gunsmithing, but if it works, it seems like an easy way to go.

 

[PineBrook413]

I went the tikka 1-8" 243 route.

I reload so that helps but it shoots the 108 eld-m's very well at 2800 fps. I figure i'll run this until it needs a barrel and then maybe throw on a 6 creed prefit. Definitely the easy way to shoot 6mm heavies right off the shelf.

 

[Brandon]

I found and bought a 6mm ACE barrel blank just in case I decide to buy and swap a barrel or build. I still haven't ruled out going 6.5cm and shooting 120 eldm suppressed.

Thank you everyone for the info and thoughts! Keep it coming and I will let you know what I end up doing as well.

 

[passinggas33]

I didn't realize a 6cm chamber cleans up a 243 chamber.

Not sure what you mean by “cleans up”, so I’m not sure how to address the statement. When I rechambered it, they do have to cut some of the barrel for the rechamber but it took it from a 22” barrel down to about a 21” barrel.

The reason I didn’t stay with the 243 is that I wanted to shoot the 108s and I didn’t want to have to reload for it. Can’t get the 243 with that load as a factory option but could with the 6CM.

 

[Mountainrancher]

I didn't realize a 6cm chamber cleans up a 243 chamber.

It doesn’t. You have to set the barrel back I believe

 

[passinggas33]

It doesn’t. You have to set the barrel back I believe

This is correct. You must have been answering at the same time I was. Isn’t too difficult for a good gunsmith.

 

[flyfisher117]

I stalked the forum for 7 or 8 years before posting. Not sure how OP went 11. Lol


I have hunted with a .243 since forever. I wanted a new rifle and wanted to try something new so I got a Tikka in 6.5 Creed. I'm enjoying it, shooting 143 ELDx hand loads. Inalso tinker with 123 ELDm but didn't think the recoil was that much less. The muzzle moves around more than my 243 with 85 Nosler Partitions but not enough to make me hate it. I'm personally going to shoot the creed for a couple years, get it out to an NRL Hunter match or 2 them after I get trigger time I'll decide if I want to drop it back to a 6Cm or 243.

 

[PC356]

Just put together a Tikka in 8 twist .243 that Morgan with Class 3 Machining in the Dallas area shortened to 16” and threaded for me. Take off barrel I picked up from J&A. With UM 103 gr ELD X handloads it’s averaging 2850 fps. Quickly becoming my favorite rifle to shoot. Even cheap 100 gr Hornady Interlocks group amazingly well and make predictable hits out to 500. Only taken the ELDs to 800 on steel but they are deadly accurate. Have an 18” Carbon 6 6 CM cf barrel in the works. Will be a while and had to scratch the 6mm itch in the mean time.

 

[Hydra6]

Slight thread drift but I lucked into some takeoff Tikka CTR 260 Remington barrels - one OEM at 20 inch and one OEM but cut and threaded to 16 inch. If you run across a deal on a Tikka 260...................

 

[jpengel]

If you are considering buying a .243 or 6.5 cm, why not just buy a 6cm rifle?

There are options from reputable rifle makers (unless you are set on Tikka), and I have found it very easy to find factory 6cm ammo on the shelf.

 

[Jfjfrye]

6 creedmoor hornady 108 is usually easy to find on the shelf . Makes a great hunting round. I've killed alot of animals past 600rds with it
I also have a 243 shooting 108s at 3150 in a tikka carbon, it's a hammer!

What twist are you running on the .243?

 

[Brandon]

I ended up getting a 1/7.5 ace barrel and going to put it on a Tikka action. I’m waiting for the barrel to come back from getting fluted. I was hoping to put it in a rokstock, but since that’s not gonna happen anytime soon, I got a stocky carbon fiber, vertical grip to drop it in.

 

[White Mamba]

What twist are you running on the .243?

1-8

 

[Timjohnson11]

Wouldn't the Tikka in a 243 1:8 twist be the easy button here, assuming you were reloading or ok to use slightly higher priced ammo such as Copper Creek or UM where I could get a 108 berger or ELDM? Or am I missing something here? Other than maybe 50 - 100fps, would someone be sacrificing anything versus a 6CM prefit conversion? Is the 6CM just that much more intrinsically accurate? Or would the 243 with reloads do just as well?

 

[Jfjfrye]

Wouldn't the Tikka in a 243 1:8 twist be the easy button here, assuming you were reloading or ok to use slightly higher priced ammo such as Copper Creek or UM where I could get a 108 berger or ELDM? Or am I missing something here? Other than maybe 50 - 100fps, would someone be sacrificing anything versus a 6CM prefit conversion? Is the 6CM just that much more intrinsically accurate? Or would the 243 with reloads do just as well?

I agree with you. I think the biggest thing is .243 doesn’t sound as cool as 6creed lol. If you’re shooting the 108s you’ll be just fine with either. Even with a small difference in speed. And barrel length could compensate for that. I love my m77 .243 but hate that it’s a 1:10. But 95s shoot great out of it so far.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Wouldn't the Tikka in a 243 1:8 twist be the easy button here, assuming you were reloading or ok to use slightly higher priced ammo such as Copper Creek or UM where I could get a 108 berger or ELDM? Or am I missing something here? Other than maybe 50 - 100fps, would someone be sacrificing anything versus a 6CM prefit conversion? Is the 6CM just that much more intrinsically accurate? Or would the 243 with reloads do just as well?

If you're getting a new gun its hard to argue with the 1:8 243. If you're getting a new barrel the 6CM seems slightly more tempting being there is more quality brass options readily in stock and 30deg shoulders aren't going to stretch as quick (might have a slightly longer throat life?). This assumes you're reloading, otherwise you'll probably save money with factory 6CM ammo in the long run if you wanted to shoot heavies vs buying "custom" 243 ammo. At least that is where my head is at.

 

[Brandon]

Thank you, everyone, for your input. Here’s how it turned out:

Tikka action with a 2lb spring in the trigger, UM oversized bolt knob, UM rings, Maven scope, 6CM Ace barrel, and a Stocky’s stock. I might throw some paint on the stock when I get some time.

 

[Jsmalls273]

Looks amazing!

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