6mm vs. 243
- Thread starter Mara5
- Start date
Sidewinder
New member
I have been pondering that same question. It looks like the 6mm Remington is a little faster, unless you go with the 243 WSSM and they are about the same. I'm thinking the 243 WSSM may be the better round. It would be nice to hear from some of the guys that have both.
hitman2565
New member
I have a 6mm that I have been shooting and really like it. I had also been looking into the WSSM rounds. I ended up trying out my buddies 243 WSSM. It is a nice gun but I am no longer interested in the WSSM rifle options after shooting his. My 6mm will shoot just as good as his 243 WSSM, actually a little better. I also don't have the headache trying to find a bullet combination that it likes. I guess I ended up deciding for less money and headaches I would put my money somewhere else. If I were you I would get the 6mm or you could buy my 243 I have for sale. LOL Just my thoughts.
Linefinder
New member
I shoot a 6mm Rem at long range pdogs, with a lot of success. That said, I don't know that it offers any significant advantage over the .243 Win. When both are loaded to top velocities, there isn't much over 100 fps difference between the two. In my experience, 100 fps just doesn't make a noticible difference in the field. And, in my experience, I've never owned a rifle that shot it's best when pushed to the max.
I load my 6mm with 75 grain VMaxes to 3050 fps, almost "walking speed" for this chambering. But it's deadly accurate, and has accounted for a lot of pdogs past the 700 yard mark.
An accurate .243 can easily accomplish the same.
Mike
I load my 6mm with 75 grain VMaxes to 3050 fps, almost "walking speed" for this chambering. But it's deadly accurate, and has accounted for a lot of pdogs past the 700 yard mark.
An accurate .243 can easily accomplish the same.
Mike
Jay Johnson
New member
I have both a .243 walking rifle and a 6MM bench/PD rifle. Ballistic wise they are near even. The .243 is a little more efficient with the lighter bullets the 6MM slightly better with the heavier bullets. It’s a push. But when it comes to getting brass the .243 is much more available in once fired cases which are near impossible to find in 6MM. I’d go with the .243 unless you’re thinking AI.
I have been owned and shot both for over 25 years. Unless you are looking at ballistic tables, manufactured by Remington and Winchester, they are both so close to equal that a comparison can't be made.
The 243 got quite a jump in popularity in the beginning due to Remington producing the 244(the original name of the 6 m/m) with a slow twist thinking it would be a good varmint cartridge. Winchester made theirs with a faster twist and could shoot both light and heavy bullets with equal accuracy. Remington went back to the drawing board and sped up the twist and named the cartridge 6 m/m.
When both of my boys were too young to hunt, I bought 2 Model 788's. One in a 6m/m and the other in a 243. I designated the 243 for the oldest and the 6m/m for the youngest. Both boys took their first deer with their own rifles. Both were shooting 95 grain Nosler Partitions. In all cases of them shooting deer with the two rifles, I don't think the deer knew which one they were shot with. Both are equally accurate and both spit the bullets out within 50fps of each other. The 6m/m getting the nod on the velocity edge.
Now to answer the question: With the introduction of the 260 Rem, Remington has scaled back the 6m/m production. I would choose the 243 due to the availability of ammo. The 243 falls in with the 270/30-06/308/7 rem mag and 300 win mag. All ammo carrying store have ammo for them. The 6m/m is a little harder to find. The 243 is accurate due to it being a child of the 308. The 6m/m is a child of the 7m/m mauser. If it comes down to needing to make your own brass from the parent cartridge, again the 243 would get the nod.
I have never used either of the 243/6m/m for varmints. That is what I have my 22-250 and swift for.
I hope this rambling has helped in some way. Chose either and you will have a fine long range varmint cartridge with more knock down than the 22-250.
The 243 got quite a jump in popularity in the beginning due to Remington producing the 244(the original name of the 6 m/m) with a slow twist thinking it would be a good varmint cartridge. Winchester made theirs with a faster twist and could shoot both light and heavy bullets with equal accuracy. Remington went back to the drawing board and sped up the twist and named the cartridge 6 m/m.
When both of my boys were too young to hunt, I bought 2 Model 788's. One in a 6m/m and the other in a 243. I designated the 243 for the oldest and the 6m/m for the youngest. Both boys took their first deer with their own rifles. Both were shooting 95 grain Nosler Partitions. In all cases of them shooting deer with the two rifles, I don't think the deer knew which one they were shot with. Both are equally accurate and both spit the bullets out within 50fps of each other. The 6m/m getting the nod on the velocity edge.
Now to answer the question: With the introduction of the 260 Rem, Remington has scaled back the 6m/m production. I would choose the 243 due to the availability of ammo. The 243 falls in with the 270/30-06/308/7 rem mag and 300 win mag. All ammo carrying store have ammo for them. The 6m/m is a little harder to find. The 243 is accurate due to it being a child of the 308. The 6m/m is a child of the 7m/m mauser. If it comes down to needing to make your own brass from the parent cartridge, again the 243 would get the nod.
I have never used either of the 243/6m/m for varmints. That is what I have my 22-250 and swift for.
I hope this rambling has helped in some way. Chose either and you will have a fine long range varmint cartridge with more knock down than the 22-250.
the 6mm is the better of the 2 [243 ]just look at the ballistics and you will see the difference. for big game
deer sized animals my friend uses hornady light magnum
ammo. It is superior to standard factory loads and gives
that extra punch in the energy dept. at longer ranges.
with in reason that is, you can't equal this by reloading
so why take a chance on a shot of a lifetime I wanted to
get the 260 rem which is a step above the 6mm & the 243
but it seems to be fading away. I think only remmington
is producing a gun in this caliber
check them out on hornady's web site
hornady.com
deer sized animals my friend uses hornady light magnum
ammo. It is superior to standard factory loads and gives
that extra punch in the energy dept. at longer ranges.
with in reason that is, you can't equal this by reloading
so why take a chance on a shot of a lifetime I wanted to
get the 260 rem which is a step above the 6mm & the 243
but it seems to be fading away. I think only remmington
is producing a gun in this caliber
check them out on hornady's web site
hornady.com
i was looking for a something a little different, and i bought a browning varmint stalker in 243 wssm. it is one great shooting gun. i handloaded some ammo for it, and it can shoot more accurate than i can. as far as velocity and range, i don't think you could go wrong with one.
AmmoHouse
New member
I love my 6mm. It shoots great and I'm just now trying to get way out there on prairie dogs. My buddy has a 243 Handi Rifle and that thing shoots! I went with the 6mm because we had one while I was growing up and I hated when the old man got rid of it. For practical purposes you'd probably be better off with the 243 because of availability of ammo and brass. If you prefer something a little different get the 6mm, thats what I did. You can't go wrong with either.
I'm shooting 87grn VMaxs right now, haven't had them over the chrony yet.
Linefinder: whats your powder and your charge? I just got a box of those and was gonna start trying some loads this week-end.
I'm shooting 87grn VMaxs right now, haven't had them over the chrony yet.
Linefinder: whats your powder and your charge? I just got a box of those and was gonna start trying some loads this week-end.
Bob Addy
New member
I have a 6mm that I had rebuilt back in the 80's with a Shilen Barrel. It is a Remington 600. I push 70gr BT's at 3600 out with amazing accuracy. Very explosive round on PD's. The powder I use gets best performance when loaded to the max. The load is straight out of the Nosler book.
WICOYOTE
New member
The 6mm and the 243 wssm are very similar with one small problem that I had when chambering the wssm in a hurry I had it jam by cocking the cartrage in the chamber it may have only happened 1 time but that is 1 time to many for me my 6mm shoots as well or better than the wssm and ammo isnt that hard to fine mine loves the 100gr Rem core locks for a factory load
7mnRM
New member
I personally would rather have the 6mmREM over ther 243win. I have both by the way. My 6mmREM is my "goto" gun for long range yotes, chucks, prarie dogs. The 6mmREM has an undeniable advantage in the ballistics dept due to larger case cap. Not that the 6mmREM is that much "better" than the 243win it is just different than what EVERBODY else has. IIt depends alot on what you intentions are with this rifle. Are you going to handload and use heavy bullets ie- 87grs-107s for long range use? If thats the case I would definatly pick the 6mmRem. If you are primarily going to use FACTORY ammo of any weight then the 243win is the better choice. In any instance you would be greatly served by either one. As far as the 243wssm I would steer clear of them- I have heard of and seen them to be VERY hard to get to shoot. Also dont go with a short bbl with either of thes rounds- a 22" bbl just dosent do these cartriges any justice.
Hope this helps!
Thanks
Isaac
Hope this helps!
Thanks
Isaac
Ridge Runner
New member
Mara, if you rebarrel your 22-250 with a 1-7 or 1-8 twist it can be a viable 1000 yd varmint rifle, never understood why the makers crippled the 22-250 with a 12 or 14 twist, the 223 does wonders at 1k with a 7 or 8 twist so the 250 would be awesome. BTW I have both of the 6mm cartridges and they are about dead even, but my preference is the 6mm rem.
RR
RR
Linefinder
New member
I'm using 36.7 grains of Varget under 75 grain VMax Moly at this time. They clock between 3050-3070 fps at 5500 feet ASL from my 26" tubed Rem 700 VLS.
FWIW, I figure I have about 300-400 more rounds of barrel life with the factory tube. I've got a Krieger in the safe, awaiting the demise of the factory barrel. When that happens, I'm going to quit using moly rounds altogether. I only used them in the factory barrel simply because it was rough as a cob, even when new.
When I first bought this 6mm, I lived in Louisiana. Loading 75 grain naked VMaxes, I used 37.5 grains of Varget, and got 3050 at about 34' above sea level. When I moved here to Colorado, and clocked some of the loads I'd loaded in Louisiana, they were clocking almost 150 fps faster. Even changing to moly rounds required a .8 grain charge reduction to get back to the speed this rifle likes.
That, for me, is an anomoly, because every single other load I've tested shoots slower with moly rounds, given the same powder charge.
I've had extremely good results with Varget and 55 grain NBT's pushed around 3900 fps, also. Super accurate in my rifle, but I just don't like punishing the throat that much.
Mike
FWIW, I figure I have about 300-400 more rounds of barrel life with the factory tube. I've got a Krieger in the safe, awaiting the demise of the factory barrel. When that happens, I'm going to quit using moly rounds altogether. I only used them in the factory barrel simply because it was rough as a cob, even when new.
When I first bought this 6mm, I lived in Louisiana. Loading 75 grain naked VMaxes, I used 37.5 grains of Varget, and got 3050 at about 34' above sea level. When I moved here to Colorado, and clocked some of the loads I'd loaded in Louisiana, they were clocking almost 150 fps faster. Even changing to moly rounds required a .8 grain charge reduction to get back to the speed this rifle likes.
That, for me, is an anomoly, because every single other load I've tested shoots slower with moly rounds, given the same powder charge.
I've had extremely good results with Varget and 55 grain NBT's pushed around 3900 fps, also. Super accurate in my rifle, but I just don't like punishing the throat that much.
Mike
Squeeze
New member
Funny you should ask. I just purchased a 6mm Rem. barrel,
for my Model 16 Savage, in .22-250Rem. The .22-250 is
exceptionally accurate, but I really wanted something
with a little more punch for northern forest coyote
hunting. I have had some hits with .22 centerfires
that should have been "Bang Flops", that ended up
"Bang Run Track, and find in some morass", which has
had me creating some new versions of profanity. So
I decided I needed a 6mm/243 barrel, that I can put on the
Model 16 action when it is coyote hunting time, and the
.22-250Rem barrel goes on in ground hog, garden varmint
season. So once I decided to do the barrel swap thing, I
had to decide what 6mm/.243 cartridge it would be. After
much investigation of 6mm Rem, .243 Win, their AI varients,
.243 WSSM, and 6mm-284, I decided to go with 6mm Remington.
The AI's, and the 6mm-284, had the extra work of forming
cases, and the return on ballistics, just didn't justify
the extra effort. So down to the 6mm Rem., and the
.243 Win, I looked at ballistics, and their reputation
for accuracy, and ease of load development. I ran into
a number of creditable sources, that felt the .243 Win,
in some rifles could be fussier to find accurate loads,
and my limited experience with this cartridge, agreed
with that perspective. Add that to 100 to 200 fps
less than the 6mm Remington, and my choice cleared up
for me. I went with a 24" ss barrel, in a magnum contour,
and could not be happier. My first load attempts have a
Varget load, und a 65 gr. VMax bullet, putting bullets
into small groups. I need to inlet the stock a bit more,
to get the barrel floating, because the magnum contour,
is touching the synthetic stock in a couple of places,
which explains why the first 2 or 3 rounds in a group,
go into the same hole, and the last couple of rounds
swell the group out to around .5 MOA.
I do agree with those that have posted, if you don't
reload, then the .243 Win. is probably a better choice,
for ammo availability. If you reload, and you want
to strike a medium for good velocities, and low effort,
then the 6mm Rem. is the better choice. If you want to
get everything you can out of the 6mm, and work is no
object, then either a 6mmAI, or a 6mm-284, would be
good choices.
For me personally, I am wondering what took me so long,
to find the 6mm Remington. I am now in love with
this new, to me, cartridge. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Squeeze
for my Model 16 Savage, in .22-250Rem. The .22-250 is
exceptionally accurate, but I really wanted something
with a little more punch for northern forest coyote
hunting. I have had some hits with .22 centerfires
that should have been "Bang Flops", that ended up
"Bang Run Track, and find in some morass", which has
had me creating some new versions of profanity. So
I decided I needed a 6mm/243 barrel, that I can put on the
Model 16 action when it is coyote hunting time, and the
.22-250Rem barrel goes on in ground hog, garden varmint
season. So once I decided to do the barrel swap thing, I
had to decide what 6mm/.243 cartridge it would be. After
much investigation of 6mm Rem, .243 Win, their AI varients,
.243 WSSM, and 6mm-284, I decided to go with 6mm Remington.
The AI's, and the 6mm-284, had the extra work of forming
cases, and the return on ballistics, just didn't justify
the extra effort. So down to the 6mm Rem., and the
.243 Win, I looked at ballistics, and their reputation
for accuracy, and ease of load development. I ran into
a number of creditable sources, that felt the .243 Win,
in some rifles could be fussier to find accurate loads,
and my limited experience with this cartridge, agreed
with that perspective. Add that to 100 to 200 fps
less than the 6mm Remington, and my choice cleared up
for me. I went with a 24" ss barrel, in a magnum contour,
and could not be happier. My first load attempts have a
Varget load, und a 65 gr. VMax bullet, putting bullets
into small groups. I need to inlet the stock a bit more,
to get the barrel floating, because the magnum contour,
is touching the synthetic stock in a couple of places,
which explains why the first 2 or 3 rounds in a group,
go into the same hole, and the last couple of rounds
swell the group out to around .5 MOA.
I do agree with those that have posted, if you don't
reload, then the .243 Win. is probably a better choice,
for ammo availability. If you reload, and you want
to strike a medium for good velocities, and low effort,
then the 6mm Rem. is the better choice. If you want to
get everything you can out of the 6mm, and work is no
object, then either a 6mmAI, or a 6mm-284, would be
good choices.
For me personally, I am wondering what took me so long,
to find the 6mm Remington. I am now in love with
this new, to me, cartridge. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Squeeze