Do fast twist 243's make the 6mm Creedmoor pointless?

[SaffaUK]

In the UK a fast twist 243 makes far more sense for me than a 6 Creed as much as I like the Creed. It’s probably the most common hunting calibre here so ammo and brass is available everywhere. 6 Creed is not even close.

And with some places requiring copper bullets and some requiring factory ammo and some requiring both , being able to buy off the shelf is a win.

 

[BLJ]

being able to buy off the shelf is a win.

This is the one I look at a lot.

DeLeon shows 21 SKU’s of 6 Creed in stock and the cheapest is $25/20 (on sale).

They show 77 SKU’s of 243 Win in stock and the cheapest is $15/20.

I know that the cheapest 6 Creed (Hornady Black) is probably going to be more accurate than the cheapest 243 (S&B), but for practice rounds, that’s a significant difference.

And this is not a knock against the 6 Creed, just an observation.

 

[nm.otter]

That article is from a long time ago, when there was likely only a couple different mags available.

It’s 2025. There’s a mag for everything

There's also 6mm GT.

 

[TaperPin]

That article is from a long time ago, when there was likely only a couple different mags available.

It’s 2025. There’s a mag for everything from multiple companies. Feeding issues are only the fault of the person putting stuff together and not testing. I’m 1500 rounds into a dasher this year with zero failures to feed; one of the historically fussiest cartridges.


Creedmoor isn’t going anywhere and due to saami 243 will largely remain what is has been for a long time. Given the choice I would not buy a 243 even though I reload and could theoretically make the 8 twist work to my favor.

As hunting cartridges the Creedmoors are having their 15 minutes of fame, and that’s fine since people should shoot what they want.

Just looking at the number of creedmoor shooters that are loading pressures on the bleeding edge, goes to show there is a lot of demand for more velocity. Since shooting a 6mm-06 I get a lot of questions about velocity from guys who are thinking 6 creed, and they love how easy the ‘06 is to shoot. I usually suggest it’s just a harder way to get 25-06 performance. Hornady or someone else will probably do to the ‘06 cases what Hornady did to the Creedmoors and proclaim them to be the best hunting cartridges of the 2030’s.

To 500 yards fast twist barrels and heavy for caliber bullets don’t buy much, but trends are what they are, nothing wrong with that.

 

[TaperPin]

There's also 6mm GT.

Gardner is in the business to make money. With everyone buying a different 6mm every 6 months I don’t blame him for jumping in to make a buck. The earlier article shows what he thinks is required, now he wants you to buy his cartridge. The vast number of mediocre 6mms is hilarious, as if tiny differences amount to much of anything other than in competition use where a microscopic improvement will help win matches.

 

[Lawnboi]

As hunting cartridges the Creedmoors are having their 15 minutes of fame, and that’s fine since people should shoot what they want.

Just looking at the number of creedmoor shooters that are loading pressures on the bleeding edge, goes to show there is a lot of demand for more velocity. Since shooting a 6mm-06 I get a lot of questions about velocity from guys who are thinking 6 creed, and they love how easy the ‘06 is to shoot. I usually suggest it’s just a harder way to get 25-06 performance. Hornady or someone else will probably do to the ‘06 cases what Hornady did to the Creedmoors and proclaim them to be the best hunting cartridges of the 2030’s.

To 500 yards fast twist barrels and heavy for caliber bullets don’t buy much, but trends are what they are, nothing wrong with that.

I think if people stopped judging them based on the name on the head stamp and marketing, and instead looked at them as they were designed, both around the brass, bullets and chamber, there would be less animosity.

They do a lot of things well, I’d even argue better for most hunters.

 

[Ajsomp]

Revisiting this topic -
I have my 20” 243 1:8 shooting 95 grain TMKs at 3080. The gun groups well and killed 4 animals in the last week.

I had UM load up 200 of the TMKs and honestly see no reason to stop using them. I have another 1300 TMKs on hand and will likely pick up more as they come in stock.

A few months ago I snagged a PBB 6 creed barrel (18” 1:7 twist). While I could work a load for the 6 creed and it gives me the option to shoot heavier bullets and factory ammo, I feel like I’d be getting rid of a perfectly functional system just to lose two inches and possible not shoot the TMKs as well.

I’m thinking of just keeping the 243 barrel until I shoot it out and just parting with the 6 creed barrel. Would be interested if anyone has anything that would convince me to put the 6 creed on.

 

[Matt5266]

Revisiting this topic -
I have my 20” 243 1:8 shooting 95 grain TMKs at 3080. The gun groups well and killed 4 animals in the last week.

I had UM load up 200 of the TMKs and honestly see no reason to stop using them. I have another 1300 TMKs on hand and will likely pick up more as they come in stock.

A few months ago I snagged a PBB 6 creed barrel (18” 1:7 twist). While I could work a load for the 6 creed and it gives me the option to shoot heavier bullets and factory ammo, I feel like I’d be getting rid of a perfectly functional system just to lose two inches and possible not shoot the TMKs as well.

I’m thinking of just keeping the 243 barrel until I shoot it out and just parting with the 6 creed barrel. Would be interested if anyone has anything that would convince me to put the 6 creed on.

I went through this same debate with my .243 and inquired about people's thoughts on here. I was basically told by everyone since I handload the difference is so minimal to just keep the 243...... that combined with the massive number of DMs I got telling me they would buy the 243 barrel if I decided to pull it all convinced me to just keep and shoot my 243 atleast until its shot out

 

[hickswr]

@TaperPin

Not getting into the 6 CM vs 243 debate. This article has been around a long time. George Gardner is still a huge 243 fan, as am I.

From 6mmbr.com


View attachment 959236

ALOT has changed since then~

 

[peaceful_ruler]

It all depends….

Use case, scenario, situation, intended use…

For a versatile crossover small/medium game cartridge a standard 1/10 twist .243 win is the finger of god with anything from 60-95 grain pills out to further than most people can accurately shoot. I believe Hornady factory loads a 58 grain at nearly 3600 fps that will push your PBR waaay out there and is simply lightning on any predator or pest(or pig). that’s a bunny trail though…

.243 1/8 vs 6 Creed?

The new craze seems to be going down in caliber and shooting long bullets for larger game and longer distances than was previously normal.

If that floats your boat the CM is superior in nearly every regard; particularly, if you don’t hand load.

 

[fshaw]

It all depends….

Use case, scenario, situation, intended use…

For a versatile crossover small/medium game cartridge a standard 1/10 twist .243 win is the finger of god with anything from 60-95 grain pills out to further than most people can accurately shoot. I believe Hornady factory loads a 58 grain at nearly 3600 fps that will push your PBR waaay out there and is simply lightning on any predator or pest(or pig). that’s a bunny trail though…

.243 1/8 vs 6 Creed?

The new craze seems to be going down in caliber and shooting long bullets for larger game and longer distances than was previously normal.

If that floats your boat the CM is superior in nearly every regard; particularly, if you don’t hand load.

I admit that I’m a .243 guy, I have two and no 6 Creedmoors, but in which regards is a 6 Creed superior to an 8 twist .243 for those that hand load? I’m honestly not trying to be difficult, and I am honestly curious. I will admit to some bias in this.

 

[Rockpicker]

I admit that I’m a .243 guy, I have two and no 6 Creedmoors, but in which regards is a 6 Creed superior to an 8 twist .243 for those that hand load? I’m honestly not trying to be difficult, and I am honestly curious. I will admit to some bias in this.

If you’re forced to suffer a small mag box and don’t like trimming brass the 6 is the way to go. I could be wrong though.

 

[fshaw]

If you’re forced to suffer a small mag box and don’t like trimming brass the 6 is the way to go. I could be wrong though.

I don’t believe that you’re wrong about brass trimming, but you’re going to have to trim brass if you shoot cases repeatedly. Many shooters that compete in accuracy shoots trim (and anneal) at every firing. Admittedly, a 6 Creed will require trimming less frequently than a 243. Stock mag boxes in Rem 700
short actions are .1+ longer than max COAL for a 243. Any limitations in COAL beyond that are offset to some extent by greater case capacity of the .243 over the Creed. With the Tikkas so favored here, mag box length is of no concern. If COAL is of prime concern, the 6 Creed should be bypassed in favor of the 6GT.

I’m not saying that the 6 Creed is a bad cartridge in any regard, just that I don’t believe it to be superior to a fast twist 243 in all (or many, real) regards. It is the new shiny thing, and, admittedly, a fine cartridge.