Tikka 6cm vs factory 243

[huntsd]

Looking to buy a tikka while rebates are going on. I reload and want to shoot the heavy for cal bullets. The factory 243s have a 1-8 twist and will be much cheaper than buying an after market barrel and going 6cm. Is there any advantage to the 6cm with an after market barrel? I assume I’ll be limited by mag length either way

 

[wyosam]

Looking to buy a tikka while rebates are going on. I reload and want to shoot the heavy for cal bullets. The factory 243s have a 1-8 twist and will be much cheaper than buying an after market barrel and going 6cm. Is there any advantage to the 6cm with an after market barrel? I assume I’ll be limited by mag length either way

Limit will be throat length on the 243, but my understanding is the Tikka’s have pretty long throats anyway. Magazines length is a non issue for short action cartridges in Tikkas, because if you do manage to run out of room you just go to the next longer magazine/bolt stop. Cheap and easy.


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[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Limit will be throat length on the 243, but my understanding is the Tikka’s have pretty long throats anyway. Magazines length is a non issue for short action cartridges in Tikkas, because if you do manage to run out of room you just go to the next longer magazine/bolt stop. Cheap and easy.


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That and if you want more throat a smith can length the throat on the 243 fairly inexpensively.

After market 6cm barrel pros: you get exactly the length/twist/etc. you want. You can use quality factory ammo, which heavy bullets, if you care. Cons: it costs more.

 

[wind gypsy]

Somewhat luck of the draw dependent but I'd bet on a solid aftermarket 6 CM barrel being less finicky to shoot tight than a factory 243 tube. Could certainly work out in the reverse.

 

[BLJ]

Somewhat luck of the draw dependent but I'd bet on a solid aftermarket 6 CM barrel being less finicky to shoot tight than a factory 243 tube. Could certainly work out in the reverse.

What do you think the accuracy difference would be between a factory 243 1/8 Tikka with a good handloads compared to an aftermarket barrel shooting good handloads?

 

[passinggas33]

Another option is buy the 243 and then have a smith rechamber it to 6CM. Cheaper than buying a new barrel. This is what I did with my tikka and it’s now my favorite gun.

 

[willfrye027]

I would probably start with the factory tube. Try a couple bullets/powders and see where you end up.

If it’s not giving you the results you need, which I think is unlikely if you try a couple bullets, then worry about screwing on a new barrel.

You could get some cheaper hornady or whatever 243 brass and cheap dies and it’ll still tell you how the barrel is going to do.

With how many good 243 bullets are out there and with tikkas in general it would be hard to imagine not finding a great shooting combo that equals or exceeds what you can do with a 6cm.

Only caveat is if you’re expecting super duper premium one hole type groups..maybe you’ll get that with a tikka but odds might be better with a premium quality new barrel. Even then it’s always a risk you get a crap barrel.

 

[SloppyJ]

Sample size of two but both of the tikkas i have shoot on par with most of my custom barrels. Just gotta find what it likes.

Get the 243 and if the throat is an issue have a smith fix it or you could rechamber to a 243ai or 6cm.

Spend the money you were going to use for a barrel on a good stock and then spend even more on a good scope n

 

[Marbles]

Get the 243, shoot it out, then get a 6cm barrel. My Tikka 243 shoots fine.

 

[satchamo]

Id buy the 243 and work up a load for it. I’d bet a large sum of money it shoots 108s over 4350 pretty damn well.

If it doesn’t you’re not out much. If it does shoot, you’re saving alot and getting pretty much the same performance of the 6 creed.

 

[swavescatter]

243 8 twist owner here.

It would NOT shoot 109's better than 1.3ish MOA for 10 rounds for me. Certainly good enough for hunting, but if I can't brag about it on the internet I don't want it.

108's shot well with very little load workup.

95gr Nosler BT's shot really good at the only charge weight I tried.

Walmart Federal Fusion freakin hammered.

I'd buy another 243 in a heartbeat. Probably get a little more speed than the CM if you wanted to push it also.

 

[MT_Fin]

Another option is buy the 243 and then have a smith rechamber it to 243. Cheaper than buying a new barrel. This is what I did with my tikka and it’s now my favorite gun.

I presume you mean re-chamber to 6cm? So they just set it back a bit and ream it?

 

[HighUintas]

If you want an easy button without messing with barrels etc, just get the factory 243. Hog the barrel channel out, vertical grip, degrease, nail polish and crank action screws to 65. Good to go.

If you're inclined to do so, rent or borrow a 6mm uni throater. It can be rented for like .. $40-70? I did mine, never used one, bore scope pictures looked like ass after I did it, but got the throat length right and it hammers. Concerned about factory ammo? Maybe that matters if you really want to shoot 108s. But there's lots of 90-100gr options.

First rounds through barrel. Throated it before shooting at all.


Just getting it broke in


Probably 300ish rounds in.

 

[mtnbound]

Looking to buy a tikka while rebates are going on. I reload and want to shoot the heavy for cal bullets. The factory 243s have a 1-8 twist and will be much cheaper than buying an after market barrel and going 6cm. Is there any advantage to the 6cm with an after market barrel? I assume I’ll be limited by mag length either way

With you reloading, I would buy the 243. If it doesn't shoot to your liking, then get a 6CM barrel.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

243 8 twist owner here.

It would NOT shoot 109's better than 1.3ish MOA for 10 rounds for me. Certainly good enough for hunting, but if I can't brag about it on the internet I don't want it.

Your stability was probably fairly low with the 109 and the 8 twist, may have had some affect.

 

[passinggas33]

I presume you mean re-chamber to 6cm? So they just set it back a bit and ream it?

Oh my gosh. Yea. I’m an idiot. Re-chamber to a 6CM. I’ll change my post so it makes sense.