help me pick next build (small caliber!)

[huntsd]

Edited after re-reading op

22” barrels will be very fast in any of your cartridge options.
Here’s what I’ve seen:

18”
-22 GT (77gr TMK) 3100fps
-6cm (95gr TMK) 3000fps

16”
-22cm (77tmk) 3100fps

In your case (California? No suppressor?)
I’d go with 243ai (or 6cm). Reload the hopefully soon to be released sierra 117gr TMK. Then your pick of the mono bullets to hunt your home state.

yes commiefornia.

117tmk? yes please! where did you hear about this?

 

[nm.otter]

117tmk? yes please! where did you hear about this?

Thread 'New tipped 6mm bullet'

Aug 30, 2025

@Ryan Avery and @Formidilosus,
Do we have an eta on the new heavy tipped 6mm bullet?

• Schmo
• Replies: 40
• Forum: Long Range Hunting

 

[Gstew1930]

243 terminator!

 

[43.6N]

yes commiefornia.

117tmk? yes please! where did you hear about this?

Word on the s2h podcast and elsewhere on RS is shot show 2026 is the targeted release date.

 

[amassi]

Too many good choices- maximize that tikka bolt and 6-284 Shehane it, if you’re gonna be a bear might as well be a coastal brown bear.

But all- can we put to bed this notion of Fireforming being some insurmountable hurdle? Load and shoot ammo or in his case buy 243 ammo, which admittedly is hard to find, and go shoot it. You can even hunt with it and practice shooting in field conditions and field positions. It’s revolutionary I know but doable.

A hard jam is not required to fire form. This myth originated I believe with F class shooters who would fire form during a match and that community likes a bit o jam for their own reasons

The only caveat is some cartridges (not the 22-250 or 243) might show a slight loss of velocity when fireforming due to chamber design. I believe the X55 and X57 Mauser cases were the most susceptible due case taper it’s been a while since I read po ackleys books

Pictured is 6 Saum/ 108 eld-m loaded to 3250 FPS
.020 from jam with H1000 and the subsequent 6 Saum improved (6UM) ready to load.
They put 10 rounds into about 1.2” and are fun to shoot, can hunt with them etc. surely not a handicap or issue

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[huntsd]

Thanks, ya i agree i dont understand why all the hate for fireforming. hell the first few rounds from the gun i need to use to get on paper. i figure i'll buy 60 rounds of loaded 243. get on paper, have some fun with the rest then do load dev.