.22 and 6mm wildcats for mid range?

R

Rock Knocker

Well-known member
I will be building a new AR soon. I'm at a toss up with what I will go with. I want it set up as a medium range gun, realistically 99% of the time I will be using it for shooting paper or clay pigeons within 600 yards, a bit further at times.

I want some speed with it, I'm thinking something like this new 22 NXS with 65gr SGK and 75gr ELD bullets for a bit more speed or 6-6.8, 6LBC or 6 Hagar with 85gr-95gr bullets for a bit more heft at range. Down range performance is really what matters most but speed is a close second, I know the heavy 6mm bullets has some good down range performance but I would really like to play with more than 2800-2900 fps.

From you guys shooting these 6mm and .22 AR wildcats what would you chose for mostly 300-500 yard shooting?
 
is cost of operation a factor?
if so a 7 twist 22-6.8 with somthing like a 75 bthp would probably be effective and cheap to shoot.

a 6-6.8 may be just as effective but the 6mm projectiles usually cost more.

once hagar brass is more readily available the others may be a great choice.
 
Cost really isn't much of a concern because most time shooting at longer ranges I can't spot my hits so I take 3 shots, walk the 400-1200 yards to see the hits then repeat until I'm tired.

I'm trying to fill the gap between my 16" hunting carbine and my monstrous 30" 260AI fclass rifle. 300 yards with my 4x hunting scope is about max for 2moa groups but 400 yards with a 32x nightforce on a 260AI is a chip shot that isn't even worth dragging the 18lbs gun out for.
 
dude your in minnesota. ummm DTECH!!! I would call up and order a 243 wssm. 600 yards is really too far for anything but a way bigger case. I would run an 80 ish grain bullet as a balance between speed and longer range. up to about 400 yards you could do fast and light, ala a 55 grain btip. if you want 600 yards, go 87 grain vmaxs.
 
That's not outside the realm of possibility. I'm just so dang sold on Aero's enhanced uppers and the new polygonal twist barrels out, that combo is what I had my eyes on.





243 wssm would be pretty cool though...
 
Speed would dictate the 22X6.98 or the NXS if you want to handload. The 22 Nosler for factory. I love the 22X6.8 for reaching out there quick in a 22. The new one is just that new so I can't speak to on target activity yet. The new raft of 22 bullets is pretty amazing but with weight comes slow and my goal unless it's just a pieceof ground up tree is fast not slow.

For 6 MM you would be hard pressed to beat the 243 LBC or a 6X6.8. The LBC will let you shoot up to 105's or so and the 6X6.8 shines with 87's at distance. Bot will shoot the light bullets fast. My favorite for trade off of sped and energy fr a light would be the 70 TNT's. I have shot both with the 87's at 500 extensively and found accuracy was pretty equivalent but settled on the 95 in the LBC for my long range work.

The new polygon barrels that Ritch is using are very fast and I know they are as accurate as anything I've shot in a after-market tube of which I have more than one flavor to choose from. I do know I have seen them shoot various load levels very close with no surprises as the charge weights went up and down. Very forgiving IMHO.

Greg
 
Originally Posted By: steve garrettdude your in minnesota. ummm DTECH!!! I would call up and order a 243 wssm. 600 yards is really too far for anything but a way bigger case. I would run an 80 ish grain bullet as a balance between speed and longer range. up to about 400 yards you could do fast and light, ala a 55 grain btip. if you want 600 yards, go 87 grain vmaxs.
Excellent advice! Mine just shipped from Dtech this morning. Hornady 243wssm brass is now available too. 95gr Sierra HPBT are good to 1k yds and still fit in a mag. For small varmints, I've loaded some 87gr v-max. Will finally get to try them out next weekend.
 
I've got time to see how this NXS works out.

All ammo will be hand loaded and with my amount of distance shooting 100 pieces of brass a year would be enough. I started out with Lapua brass in an AR so I'm no stranger to digging through the snow to find every last piece and I probably wont be out hunting and throwing brass into the weeds with it much.

243 wssm defiantly has me interested.

Does anyone know, if a guy had enough money to burn could they get one of these polygonal barrels custom made for 243 wssm for an AR then have an Aero enhanced upper machined out to fit that barrel???? It seems to me that the enhanced uppers have enough material to mount the barrel to that some of it could be removed, dealing with the gas tube might be the biggest issue.
 
I don't know about a barrel in WSSM but a one off would be a stretch for TO. The BE, reamers and gauges would need to be rounded up. As for the upper massage I have not a clue there.

Greg
 
I could swear I've heard before of a bolt action barrel getting reworked into an AR barrel. Is TO only making AR barrels or could I order a bolt action barrel and have it fitted with a barrel extension and gas port drilled? Or see if TO would sell a .243 blank if they have one in the right diameter.
 
Originally Posted By: Rock KnockerI could swear I've heard before of a bolt action barrel getting reworked into an AR barrel. Is TO only making AR barrels or could I order a bolt action barrel and have it fitted with a barrel extension and gas port drilled? Or see if TO would sell a .243 blank if they have one in the right diameter.

It is possible to go from a bolt action to AR barrel but it is not cheap. The machine work is tedious and it is just as easy to start with a raw blank and would have to be done by a 'smith or a talented amateur. Ritch has done one or two of his bench rest tubes. TO is making Savage barrels that I have put up here that Ritch has shot in 6 and 6.5 CREED.

TO is not in the blank selling business per their owner.

Greg
 
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