Too many 6mm's!!!

Timberbeast7

Timberbeast7

New member
I need info on the differences/pros and cons of the 6mmAI, 6-284, and the 6x47 Lapua. I am building a long-range coyote rifle for windy Montana and planning on shooting either 87 gr. v-max's or the 105 gr. A-max's. Any terminal ballistics experience with the 105 gr. a-max would also be helpful. Or, if anybody has experience with any of these cartidges and different high BC bullets please let me know what you are running.

Thanks,

tb7
 
My 6-06 runs 87gr v-maxes @ 3500fps+. I've never owned any of the other 3, but a lot of guys @my range shoot 6mmAI's. That would be my first choice of the 3 you mentioned.

FWIW, I have actually run 87gr v-maxes so fast that the cores/jackets separated in flight. Unfortunately, the battery died on my chrony. A month ago, a member was shooting 115gr DTACs via 6mmAI and they were going "poof' after about 30yds.......
 
I think the bullet would have better killing power if it arrived at the coyote in one piece!
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Yep
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To be honest with you, plain vanilla 243 will reach out as far as you need and kill really well with the right bullet. If you don't like trimming brass, AI it. The 105 A-max in a 243 AI would be great IMO.....
 
Yeah, nothing wrong with the 243, thats what my calling partner shoots. I just want something different...don't know why. The 6mm wildcats just have the "cool factor" for me. I thought about the 243AI but it sounds like the others will outperform it, maybe?
 
115 dtacs @ about 3100fps......still going around 1600fps at 1k, 6.5mils/22moa drop to 1k, excellent in the wind , plain ole .243 win.
 
Originally Posted By: 2muchgunMy 6-06 runs 87gr v-maxes @ 3500fps+. I've never owned any of the other 3, but a lot of guys @my range shoot 6mmAI's. That would be my first choice of the 3 you mentioned.

FWIW, I have actually run 87gr v-maxes so fast that the cores/jackets separated in flight. Unfortunately, the battery died on my chrony. A month ago, a member was shooting 115gr DTACs via 6mmAI and they were going "poof' after about 30yds.......

Timberbeast7, listen to what he says...

There is a temptation to get a large case with a fast twist, when building a "Long range rifle"... but it is very easy to over do it.

But the bullets can easily come apart in mid flight in a 7 or 8 inch twist when driven in the mid 3500-ish range.

A 243 or 6mm Rem (straight or AI) with a 10" twist and 87 V-Maxs will drop 'yotes to 1,000 yds...

... all day long...

... if you do do your part!
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Meow
 
tb7, you might try 6mmbr.com you will find a lot of info there. But i'm another one for plain ol' vanilla, it will do the job with 90-105gr bullets. blue
 
Are the 105 gr. a-max's less 'explosive' than its lighter cousins? To me the a-max and v-max perform the same (terminally) in .22 caliber but i have heard the heavier a-max's are not as frangible. Also, i'm not really a velocity maniac, more of an accuracy maniac...just looking to drive the bigger bullets a little faster than the non-wildcat cartridges (if I didn't just contradict myself there). The main issue I'm trying to overcome is the wind, but I don't know if I'll gain much with the a-max over the 87 gr. v-max. Would a 1:10 6mmAI stabilize the 105 gr. amax's?
 
Originally Posted By: Timberbeast7 Would a 1:10 6mmAI stabilize the 105 gr. amax's?

As far as I recall, Hornady recommends a 1-9" or faster for the 105 A-max.

I have a 6mm284 and have had success with the 95 grain Bergers at the range. Haven't whacked anything with it yet, so I can't share a terminal ballistics report with you.

I hope to learn from the responses on this thread as well.
 
Originally Posted By: RC2125115 dtacs @ about 3100fps......still going around 1600fps at 1k, 6.5mils/22moa drop to 1k, excellent in the wind , plain ole .243 win.

WORD!
 
I'm a big fan of the 243AI. I'm on my 5th barrel with one and I can say it straight flattens coyotes with a 95 and 105 berger. I just got my new rig done a couple months ago so now I'm starting to put together a 6-284 also. gotta love the 6mm's. I have a factory varmint barrel from a 700 thats reamed to an AI I'd let go or sell it as a barreled action if you are interested
 
Some 1-10's will stabilize 105gr A-maxes, and some will not. I know Hornady recommends 1-9 or faster, but that is to "be safe".
 
Originally Posted By: CatShooter

Timberbeast7, listen to what he says...

There is a temptation to get a large case with a fast twist, when building a "Long range rifle"... but it is very easy to over do it



Yes. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

With todays bullets, cartridges that were considered "marginal" years ago now kill with authority. There are still those who consider 6mm's marginal for deer. All I can say is "it ain't so".

My point being, all the cool wildcats, with their extra velocity, might have an edge in downrange trajectory, but actual killing power is negligible in many, IMO.

AI is nice if you don't like trimming brass. Certain AI cartridges benefit much more than others, however. 243 is a good one, and so is 6mm Rem, IMO.

Don't get me wrong, I still like to "dare to be different" also. But a lot of times it just costs you more money for no apparent reason........
 
A 243 with 75gr v-max is darn hard to beat!!!!! I also have a soft spot for the 6mm offerings. I have several. I have a 6br, 6mm dasher, 243AI, 6x47L, 243. and working on a deal for an 6xc. the 243AI will offer the most speed. Mine had a 8 twist and i never had any trouble with bullets coming apart. I shot the 87, and 75gr v-max in it out to 600 yards. If i had to choose my favorite 6mm chambering it would have to go to the dasher, but you dont need a dasher for a hunting rifle. Hunting rifles need to be plain vanilla. Just imagine you spent 5grand on a trip out west and you left your ammo at home. walmart will have your back!! But i understand that vanilla is not much fun. I would say either the 6mm rem or 243AI. Lee
 
I have also heard of bullets blowing up when you run them to hard, but have never seen it. A buddy says he has seen it many times. Some of the new guys don't beleive it, but who cares.
+++ on the 243AI. Mine just loves 90gr. Bergers.
 
So assuming either 243AI or 6mmAI, would a 1:9 twist be slow enough for the 75-90 gr. bullets and fast enough for the 90-105 gr bullets or would it just be so-so for both. Would it be better to go either 1:10 with lighter bullets or 1:8 with heavier bullets?

Also, does anybody know how much faster the AI versions of these two cartridges shoot over the standard versions given the same bullets?
 
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