With the increased popularity of the various 6 MM's and the myriad number of rifle choices, sifting the wheat from the chaff has become a confusing mess. I'm not a "precision rife or crack shot" BUT I usually hit what I'm aiming at. I'm finding in my old age that my .300 WIN is just to punishing. I'm looking to buy a decent bolt action sub-$600 platform and am thinking it should be in 260 Remington. The .260 has better BC bullets available, low recoil and better wind performance than the .243, but with the Creedmore's and Grendel's it's information overload. Shots, at max will be in the 600 yard range using a quality optic. Any suggestions and/or comments on your personal rigs or experience is greatly appreciated! Thanks
Which 6 MM Rifle and Cartridge?
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Varminterror
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The Ruger American Predator in 6mm Creedmoor is pretty hard to beat. I’ve also seen 6mm Creed Ruger Precision Rifles on clearance - not the latest Gen of handguard, but still a great rifle - going for $690 here and there over the last year.
For 0-600yrd shooting, there’s nothing a 260 would do for you that a 243win wouldn’t except recoil more. Even with a slow 243win twist, you’ll do fine to 600yrds. So if you find a rifle model you prefer that’s chambered in 243win instead of 6 creed, either will meet your needs.
For 0-600yrd shooting, there’s nothing a 260 would do for you that a 243win wouldn’t except recoil more. Even with a slow 243win twist, you’ll do fine to 600yrds. So if you find a rifle model you prefer that’s chambered in 243win instead of 6 creed, either will meet your needs.
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troy fairweather
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i would go 243, there still is no 6cm ammo around here, for reloading 243 is much cheaper. you can fins 243 ammo for $12 a box at times.
earlthegoat2
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.243.
I’d go 6mm creed because the barrel will have a twist rate to take advantage of the long high bc bullets, if you can post in THR you can buy ammo online or get reloading components
If you’d rather have a 243 win then by all means, with the right twist rate it will shoot the same high bc bullets
If you’d rather have a 243 win then by all means, with the right twist rate it will shoot the same high bc bullets
troy fairweather
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there is no reason for the real high bc for his use, even a 85 gr 6mm is fine for 600 yards.
Varminterror
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In fairness, a 6mm Creed barrel will last longer than a 243win. Almost twice as long.
Thanks for the input folks. When looking at the .260 vs .243, the .260 at 600 yards is delivering 340 lbs of additional "whack" than the .243 at the expense of only 2" of drop with the heaviest comparable bullet weight. Barrel wise the .260 skates all over the .243 for longevity. I do load and with the availability of Lapua brass from Graf and Sons (LU4PH6050 $85.99/100) rolling my own isn't a problem. Decisions, decisions.....
Like most things in ballistics and shooting, these are compromises. As I see it, the .260 Rem. offers the optimum compromises for a mild-shooting, flat-shooting deer rifle. It matches or exceeds the punch of the .308 Win. with flatter trajectory (and less wind deflection) while nearly matching the trajectory of the .243 Win. And it does this with recoil almost anyone can tolerate. Finally, the long 6.5mm bullets it shoots are famous for penetrating deeply.
To reduce recoil even more, you can shoot 120-grain and even 100-grain bullets in the .260 Rem. The 100-grain loads are great for coyotes and chucks. Use a tough, controlled expansion bullet of 140 grains and the little .260 Rem. becomes an effective elk, bear and even moose rifle. Because recoil is so minimal, shooters can aim and fire the .260 Rem. with precision and confidence, and that’s worth all the downrange energy in the world.
Varminterror
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For either 260 or 243, if you’re investing in Lapua brass anyway, I highly recommend you purchase Lapua Palma brass - which is small primer 308 win, then neck down. All of the advantages of typical Lapua brass, but with even better case life.
Well, you could always say screw barrel life, do a fast twist 6-284 on a medium or long action, and launch 6mm pencils at ludicrous speed.
On a more serious note, if you are considering an over the counter rifle, there are more options in the CM than the .260 these days.
On a more serious note, if you are considering an over the counter rifle, there are more options in the CM than the .260 these days.
That's a great point and I'll check it cost to time ratio wise and post what I think. What are you using in the way of 6MM?
Side note "LoonWulf" cuz be one Hilo boy! Where you stay?
Varminterror
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My favorite 6mm likely always will be a 6mm Dasher - I fell in love with it using a specialty pistol, but built my main match rifle this spring in Dasher too. I’m shooting 6 Creedmoor in a precision match rifle, as well as a gas gun (LFAR) I built for coyotes and some matches, have 243win and 243win AI for hunting rifles.
The downsides of the 243win compared to the 6mm Creed are the slow factory twist, brass stretch, LRP’s instead of SRP (unless you make it from Palma brass), poorer barrel life. Brass availability for the two honestly should be irrelevant, because both are readily available - and if you could find 243win brass only, you can still form it to 6 creed.
The downside of 6 Dasher is the fact those of us shooting 6 BR variants swallow it up quickly any time it becomes available.
troy fairweather
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medic68 what about the 7-08
I know the area well!
Recoil has become the main issue. I got hurt in 2000, spent a year in the hospital with TBI and orthopedic injuries and I still want to shoot long range but the old chassis ain't what it used to be.
When fired through a typical 8-pound rifle, the .260 Rem. will generate 12.6 foot pounds of free recoil energy. The .308 will kick with 14.4 f.p. and the .243 Win. just 9 f.p. To put this in perspective, a .30-06 shooting a 150-grain bullet churns up 18 f.p. of recoil energy. Hell, I may have just talked myself into the .243
based on the recoil number
troy fairweather
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sorry to here you good hurt, my dad broke his neck about 6 years ago. after a new kind of fusion the VA did he is not to bad. the 243 is sometime shrugged off or others, i have used it quite a bit, the barrel life is still pretty good, you could just ackley it at gain better throat ware and better caes life among some other tings.the 260 is a good chose to but the 243 has no kick.When fired through a typical 8-pound rifle, the .260 Rem. will generate 12.6 foot pounds of free recoil energy. The .308 will kick with 14.4 f.p. and the .243 Win. just 9 f.p. To put this in perspective, a .30-06 shooting a 150-grain bullet churns up 18 f.p. of recoil energy. Hell, I may have just talked myself into the .243
based on the recoil number
CoalTrain49
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That's what happens when you have too many choices. 
Double the barrel life with only maybe a couple grains less capacity?
I have two 6mm Remingtons that I really like. One is a factory original Ruger M77 22" barrel, the other is a Savage with a 24" stainless pac nor barrel. These are very flat shooting with barely any recoil. I load 100gr. Sierra bullets. I shot a doe from a field rest at 175 yds, slick as you please, and got to see the bullet hit through the scope.
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