.243 or 6mm remington

243 or 6mm remington

  • Total voters
    64
  • Poll closed .
B

bungiex88

New member
Which caliber would you choose for accuracy and shorter range deer hunting if buying ammo was no concern money wise.
 
I'm only picking the 6mm because I have a 6mm and .243win but I reload for both. Realistically though, .243 is a lot easier to find factory ammo for. Its so close that these two are pretty much a toss up.
 
the 6mm/244 Remington originally came out w/ a slow [12] twist which would not stabilize the heavier bullets that the faster 243 [10] twist could.
Later 244/6mm Rem incarnations used the faster twist, but by then the 243 had taken over the market -- big time.

The 244/6mmRem has slightly more case capacity/a few 10's of fps faster.
The 243 Win is everywhere, and effectively does what the 244/6mmRem does anyway.

As far as range/game goes, back when I was a real person in California (when that was a real state) and New Mexico (where Billy the-Kid would still feel at home), my 243Win regularly took mule deer out to 150-300 yards -- no problem
 
I have a 243 & sold my 6mm... ( that decision had more to do with the package than the caliber, though )

if they had been in equal guns... I prefer the slightly longer neck of the 6mm from a reloading perspective...
 
. 243 Win because even if ammunition cost wasn't a concern, the .243 Win is far more available everywhere. If f you reload .243 brass is far more common as well. For me it's all about availability and the .243 has it in spades over the 6mm Rem.
 
I voted 243 but not because it's a "better cartridge". The 6mm outperforms the 243 by a smidgeon at every test but only if you handload for it. With a suitable barrel twist, the 6mm will show increased performance with heavier bullets due to it's greater capacity for slower powders.
I've used and loaded for both and honestly, there's not that much difference. With factory loads, the 243 has a considerable edge simply due to the ammo selections available.
 
If I already had a 6mm that I liked I'd not trade it for a 243 if I handloaded. But I'd not go out and buy one either
 
Once upon a time, back when the gunzines were more than just a collection of puff pieces for new products, somebody got together a number of rifles in .243 and 6mm. As I recall, they were Remingtons, that being the only make available in both calibers. The .243s averaged a bit more accurate. The author concluded it was the chamber throat design, the .243 having a more gradual throat angle into the rifling.

It is interesting that every time the subject comes up, we have to hear the story of the slow twist .244. It has been over 50 years since the change to 6mm 9 twist was made and there were actually some 10 twist .244s before that. I think it must be carried over from gunzine articles which are paid for by the word.
 
Only reason I'd ever get a 6mm Rem., is if one came along in a package that I just fell in love with - rifle, lock, stock, barrel, scope, sling, dies, brass, case, etc. Aside from that scenario, I'd just get a 243, they're great. jd
 
I have the chance to buy a basically brand new (never been fired) 240 Bee for $300. Would you call it a 243 on steroids or a 6 on steroids? :D
 
Starting from scratch, I would take a 243
Easier to find loaded ammo, brass for.

But that said, I have both,
6 mm brass is scarce, it seems to be made from unicorn tears.
243 is common,
 
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I picked the 243 because of it's popularity, there is a reason it's still going strong after 60 years. I own one it is a really fun rifle, accurate, easy on the shoulder, and reloading components/ammo are pretty easy to come by.
 
Careful handloading and a decently long barrel, and you can get about 100fps more from the 6mm than the .243 at peak pressures.

Less than that, in a shorter barrel hunting rifle (not a varmint gun) there is no practical difference and the commercial popularity of the .243 makes it the better choice for those who are not handloading enthusiasts.

The only "shortage" in 6mm Rem is factory made brass. There is plenty of formable brass around, so don't worry about ever running out, IF you handload.

My 6mm Rem is a Rem Model 600. My .243 Win is a Rem Mohawk 600. In these rifles, there is no practical difference between the rounds. one just wastes a few more grains of powder at top end, :rolleyes:
 
I made the choice many, many years ago....6MM Remington.
But it was for a heavy barreled varmint rifle I was building.
For deer, in my opinion, 28 is the magic number! 280, 284, 7MM, etc.
 
I went with the 243ack so I could get the availability of the 243 brass and all but duplicate the ballistics of the 6mm.
 
I voted 6mm because I have experience with one. What has been said about ammo is true, however, the op said price being no problem.

My 6mm is extremely accurate with the right ammo and faster than a 243.
 
I voted for the .243 Win. Reason is- I put together a 6mm Remington on a 1903A3 receiver, 1:13 twist, no contour 1.25" 27" bbl. I think the mere act of me hitting the "Place Order" button on the Lilja website instantaneously caused all 6mm and .257Bob brass to disappear- unless I buy pre-loaded Hornady.
 
Both are long range hunting cartridges in my opinion. They're effective for pronghorn antelope way out there beyond 250 yards. For shorter distances commonly found in forests and foothills, I'd opt for 30-30.

Jack
 
Difference is about 100 fps with like bullet weights, regardless of barrel length. So ammo/brass availability becomes the only consideration.
A 1:13 twist would be poor. Limits bullet weights.
 
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