Help with Caliber choice...

J

Jackson~in~GA

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Guys I have a 700 short action I pulled off of an old 243win that I am wanting to build a new rifle on. This will primarily be a hunting style rifle as it will be used for coyotes, hogs, and plinking around a bit. Most of my rifles now are hotter cartridges with a larger case capacity. I would like to go with something smaller, that won't take so much powder per load, and will be a little easier on barrels. I had thought about ordering a new bolt and building a 222, but I'm concerned feeding is gonna be an issue trying to feed out of the magazine of a 243 action. After doing some reading I have been considering a 6br. Will the shorter case of the 6br feed ok thru the magazine? Any opinions on the 6br or any other calibers are appreciated. Thanks in advance. ~Jackson
 
Go right back to the 243 and load it down with H4895. You can go down to as low as 24gr of H4895 according to Hodgdon. Kenny
 
How about a 300 Savage, or a 6mmX45?? Both good shooters, and both accurate...and easy on the barrels.
 
Jackson~in~GA said:
Guys I have a 700 short action I pulled off of an old 243win that I am wanting to build a new rifle on. This will primarily be a hunting style rifle as it will be used for coyotes, hogs, and plinking around a bit. Most of my rifles now are hotter cartridges with a larger case capacity. I would like to go with something smaller, that won't take so much powder per load, and will be a little easier on barrels. I had thought about ordering a new bolt and building a 222, but I'm concerned feeding is gonna be an issue trying to feed out of the magazine of a 243 action. After doing some reading I have been considering a 6br. Will the shorter case of the 6br feed ok thru the magazine? Any opinions on the 6br or any other calibers are appreciated. Thanks in advance. ~Jackson
Click to expand...

A 6br will not feed, put in a single shot follower and go for it!
 
I recently had my Mod. 70 HV set back and chambered in 6 BR, and I really like it. My decision was influenced by it's little brother the 22 BR. Both rounds shoot exceptionally well and are fun to shoot. Most people will agree the 6 BR is one of the best rounds avaialble today, primarily because of its versitility and accuracy...
 
I've considered the 243, but I already have a rifle chambered in that already so I was wanting to go with something I don't have. That is what prompted me to start thinking about the 6br.
 
FWIW - If you should decide to go with 6BR I suspect that they will feed from a magazine. The reason I am saying this is that I shoot high power rifle silhouette, when they legalized non factory chambered cartrididges for hunter class (hunter class must feed from a magazine, and at that time the mags had to be loaded to capacity) I built a hunter class silhouette rifle in 7BR, the same parent case as the 6BR, I found that by replacing the follower that looks to be a milled follower with the one that appears to be a stamped shiny, sort of chrome plated look to it, and the feed ramps on it are sort of rounded rather than sharp, the 7BR fed just fine. I believe that the one I replaced the original with was from a 22/250, it has been a few years since I did this so the memory is a little fuzzy. I told a friend about it and he did the same thing and it worked for him also - lucky or good?? - who knows.

Also, at one time one of the smiths posted a modification that could be done to make a BR cartridge reliably feed, I believe that it was on Benchrest Central but it was probably at least 3 or 4 years ago when it posted. I may have saved it, I just don't know exactly where, if you get serious about building a 6BR repeater contact me and I will see if I can find it. Or maybe you too will be lucky like me and not have to do a thing.
 
Drover, I would appreciate the info on making the BR case feed if it's not to much trouble. I've pretty much decided on going with the 6br. A friend already has a reamer for the round, and I'm gonna find a barrel the next few weeks. This action does have the stamped steel follower, and as soon as I can get some brass ordered I will load a round and see how it feeds thru the action. Another quick question. What twist rate will I need to stabilize 95gr bullets. Will the lighter 55gr-70gr bullets come apart if I go with a twist that is fast enough to stabilize the heavier 95 grain bullets?
 
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Well, I have looked through all of my saved items for the magazine modification and am unable to find it. I am 99% sure that it was posted either here or on 6mmbr.com, at this point all I can say is that you may have to spend some time doing a search for it on both sites and hopefully you will find it.

I apologize for getting your hopes up and being unable to deliver.

take care and safe shooting.

drover
 
FOUND IT!!!!

I sent you an e-mail with an attachment showing the modification needed to a Rem mag in order to make it feed 6BR. I used the e-mail address linked to your name hopefully it will come through. Just in case here is a link to the site where it is posted -

http://www.6mmbr.com/Rem700magfix.html

Hope it works for you - I would like to hear how you like the 6BR as compared to the 243 since I have a 243 that is getting a little worn and am considering the same thing as you are looking at.

drover
 
I did get the email. Thanks for taking the time to find that for me. I'll definitely let ya know what I think of it as soon as i get it together. Thanks again. ~Jackson
 
Doesn't Mike Bryant offer a repeater system for the 6br??

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Go with a 260 remington

I rebarreled my short action 22-250 into a 260 Remington (PAC-NOR barrel). No feed problems. Get some 123 scenars and hold on, good times downrange!
 
some less popular but great rounds,,,,

How about a medium weight barrel in .358 Winchester? I have a Ruger .308 that I'm strongly considering building a heavy barrel .358 Win. I've owned a Ruger 77 in .358 and always wondered what the round would do in a match quality heavier barrel. Gonna have to scratch this itch.
 
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