Mental gymnastics- 95 vs 117 vs 130 TMK

[Jon Boy]

It’s winter and I’m bored- and the likely answer to the questions I’m about to ask is to stick with what I have, but what is the fun in that?

I’m extremely happy with the terminal performance of my 6.5 cm shooting the 130 TMK. The penetration and wound channels have been nothing but extraordinary to me. From bull moose at close range to bull elk at long range it has performed extremely well for me.

However, with fine tuning gear, I’m curious if dropping to a 95 or 117 TMK in 243 or 6 cm in a tikka would produce extremely similar wound channels while having less recoil? All rounds would be fired from suppressed 16” tikkas in Rokstocks. Impact velocities wouldn’t drop below 2000 fps.

Im curious if there could be a noticeable amount of recoil reduction going to the 117 from the 130? I also know there’s very little data on them, but it’s a thought to consider as they come to market.

I’m also curious if the 95 could produce very similar wound channels as the 130. I know that there would certainly be a reduction in recoil, but how much? And how close would the terminal ballistics be?

Shooting a lower recoiling rifle with identical terminal performance seems like a win but I’m skeptical with out being able to directly compare them myself.

Thoughts?

 

[wind gypsy]

107 TMK in a 6 GT sounds like the right amount of stuff for me..

 

[hereinaz]

There are many posts that wounding has nearly indistinguishable. EDIT also meant to add that we don’t know about new bullets until they get put into animals, but expectations are high given other bullets.

Recoil is significantly less.

 

[Speaks]

There are many posts that wounding has nearly indistinguishable.

Recoil is significantly less.

Wanted to get your thoughts on this. I took my 6cm to the range yesterday to sight it. It shot extremely well. I was alternating with my 6.5cm to keep barrels cool. I was quite surprised how little the difference was in felt recoil between the two.

6.5CM - Tikka superlite 24 inch barrel
Rokstock with backfire pad
Mavin Rs 1.2
Factory 140 eldm
Un-suppressed

6CM Tikka with one of your 18ich prefit barrels
Rockstock with standard pad and 2 spacers
SWFA 3-9
Factory 108 eldm
Un-suppressed

The 6CM is lighter but not by much I think it weighed in 5 ounces less this actually confused me since the scope is nearly 5 ounces lighter and the barrel is shorter but I guess the other one is fluted and I am sure the backfire pad weighs less. The pad its self might have contributed as well to difference in felt recoil.

Didnt really test for spotting shots as I was shooting at 100 on 9x to sight in but get the sense that the 6 jumped less even though they felt similar.

Would a shorter barrel produce some additional felt recoil compared to a longer one?

Anyway the barrel shot great and was overall quite happy with performance and happy to have decent velocity out of a shorter barrel so the 6CM is a winner anyway,

 

[KyleR1985]

I’ve built two guns around the 95tmk

6ARC gasser 12” 2500ish fps

6Dasher howa mini 16” 2800fps


If I plug in the 115gr tmk at 2800fps it carries the speed you’re looking for an extra 100 yards over the 95 at same MV.


I wouldn’t trade into that bullet because I don’t need the extended range. And I’d be going from 35gr of powder to 45gr of powder to get there. And The 95tmk wrecks stuff.


I’d agree on the 6GT - I chose dasher for a convenience reason - if starting from scratch I’m choosing the GT and the 95tmk.

 

[hereinaz]

Wanted to get your thoughts on this. I took my 6cm to the range yesterday to sight it. It shot extremely well. I was alternating with my 6.5cm to keep barrels cool. I was quite surprised how little the difference was in felt recoil between the two.

6.5CM - Tikka superlite 24 inch barrel
Rokstock with backfire pad
Mavin Rs 1.2
Factory 140 eldm
Un-suppressed

6CM Tikka with one of your 18ich prefit barrels
Rockstock with standard pad and 2 spacers
SWFA 3-9
Factory 108 eldm
Un-suppressed

The 6CM is lighter but not by much I think it weighed in 5 ounces less this actually confused me since the scope is nearly 5 ounces lighter and the barrel is shorter but I guess the other one is fluted and I am sure the backfire pad weighs less. The pad its self might have contributed as well to difference in felt recoil.

Didnt really test for spotting shots as I was shooting at 100 on 9x to sight in but get the sense that the 6 jumped less even though they felt similar.

Would a shorter barrel produce some additional felt recoil compared to a longer one?

Anyway the barrel shot great and was overall quite happy with performance and happy to have decent velocity out of a shorter barrel so the 6CM is a winner anyway,

The difference is spotting shots, IMO.

Having Rokstocks will make recoil impulse feel similar. Also having the better recoil pad makes it feel different. But—the rifle will be still be moving.

Swap butt pads/stocks and report back.

Edit to add, the compression of the buttpad significantly changes the feel, but doesn’t change how much the rifle is actually moving.

For weight, the spacers and the barrel will be a few ounces heavier.

 

[Speaks]

The difference is spotting shots, IMO.

Having Rokstocks will make recoil impulse feel similar. Also having the better recoil pad makes it feel different. But—the rifle will be still be moving.

Swap butt pads/stocks and report back.

Will do, will also do some shooting at 3 or 4 X and try to gauge for spotting, hard for me to find a place to shoot longer than 100 this time of year without a trip to my cabin.

Either way I was super impressed by the barrel. First 5 shot group was about .7, 2nd was just under .5 and final 10 shot group was 1.2 though 9 of them were within .7 again. I think I was getting tired by the end after 60 rounds through my 6.5 and 20 through my 6.

Regardless of recoil what I was mostly after was higher velocity out of a shorter barrel. The 6cm with an 18 was putting up 2700 vs 2525 (AAC Black Sabre) and 2560 (140 ELDM) out of 24 inch 6.5. Im expecting the 6 will speed up a bit as it gets broken in as well. This might be what also gets me into reloading where I can push it a bit more.

And there was some difference in recoil, it was just closer than I would have guessed.

Cant wait to get my 22CM barrel, Im guessing that will be a much larger difference in terms of recoil and frankly will likely be my main hunting gun anyway. Ordered up some 77 TMKs for it to try along with the 80 ELDMs/Xs

 

[MHWASH]

I performed a test yesterday because I took am considering a 6 CM. I've used the .243 in the past and I'll admit I'm not a fan and I'm hesitant to make the switch because of my bias against the .243.

I shot two very different rifles @490 yards. I was able to spot shots just as easy with both rifles, no noticeable difference in recoil even though the .243 is 1/2# lighter.

Sig Cross 18" 6.5 CM 130 TMK @2750. SWFA 3-9
Win 70 .243 90gr ELDx @3000 4-16 Arken
Both rifles were shot with my Nomad suppressor.

 

[NDHUNTER24]

Im curious to see what you end up doing, I currently am deciding if I should order and spend the extra money for a 6mm creed barrel for my tikka or just keep it a 1in10 twist 243. I say just keep your 6.5 with 130 TMKS. I just have a feeling it might be hard getting these new TMKs, but I hope im wrong.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

 

[hereinaz]

I performed a test yesterday because I took am considering a 6 CM. I've used the .243 in the past and I'll admit I'm not a fan and I'm hesitant to make the switch because of my bias against the .243.

I shot two very different rifles @490 yards. I was able to spot shots just as easy with both rifles, no noticeable difference in recoil even though the .243 is 1/2# lighter.

Sig Cross 18" 6.5 CM 130 TMK @2750. SWFA 3-9
Win 70 .243 90gr ELDx @3000 4-16 Arken
Both rifles were shot with my Nomad suppressor.

Were they field conditions and timed shots?

Off the bench or with time to build a complete position, I can spot shots with my 7 SS. It’s the quick and field expedient positions that make a difference.

Timed testing with Form’s standing, kneeling, seated and prone will show the difference.