I have a 243 that I bought as a beater / or project rifle. It was beat up bad. I have refinished the stock, cleaned up the action, but the barrel is rough. It still shoots the old Barnes Varminator 58 and 72 grain bullets inside an inch but I can't get the rebarrel out of my head. To start with, whats wrong with another 243? then there is the 6mm, 6-6.5x47L, 6mm Ackley, 6mm Swiss match, 6-284, and I am sure there are several others that would fit nicely into a Rem ADL short action. What do you think and why. I am leaning toward the 6mm Ackley. I won't shoot anything longer than the Barnes 80 grain Tipped TSX or the 85 grain TSX. I have bigger calibers for that. DW

I've got a 243AI. Very accurate, said to have longer barrel life(?) than the other 6mm.

m

quote:

6-284,

260rem. 100gr BT's at 3250fps and 120gr BT's at 2900fps.

Covers a lot of ground.

Second vote for 260 The only problem with mine is getting to use it,Girlfriend and kids are always hi-jacking it.



SSR

Then there is always the 257Roberts or 257AI.

Another vote for the .260. The 6-284 is not a very good choice in an M700 SA, the bullets have to be seated quite deep.


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quote:

Originally posted by dwheels:
It still shoots the old Barnes Varminator 58 and 72 grain bullets inside an inch but I can't get the rebarrel out of my head.

There was an article in Precision Shooting awhile back, comparing a 6mm Ackley with a 6mm-284, and it didn't look half bad.

I bought a heavy-barreled 243 and had it rechambered 6mm-284, have been real pleased with it after putting it in a better stock. Bullets are 85-grain Noslers, much of the time I single-load, the magazine is okay but not real smooth.

6mm Benchrest is another off-the-wall possibility...something a little different with no changes to the bolt.

I still like my 6.5 Swede.

Will a Swede fit in a SA 700 action??
I vote for the .260 also however I find it hard to reconcile in my mind a .5" rifle being rebarreled.

"Barrel is rough" ---- "inside an inch accuracy" and your problem is ?????? --- John303.

There's nothing wrong with the 243, I have three of them.

quote:

Will a Swede fit in a SA 700 action??

NO

Didn't think so.

If it aint broke don't fix it.

How about a 250-3000 in standard Savage or the A.I. if you were to want something a little more different yet not to extreme?
I started using a 250 Sav. a year ago and love it for coyotes and hogs. You have a little wider range of bullet weights on the top end.
Just a thought.

I have 1250 of the old Barnes 58 grain Varminators in 6 mm and 1500 of the 72 grain bullets in the same caliber. I bought them so I could wear out a 6mm barrel so It's got to be one of the 6mm's or a 243. I would also like to be able to shoot the 80 grain tipped TSX in it every now and then. I have dies and brass in 243 but it wouldn't be too hard to trade them off for another set of dies.

Keep it until you have shot it say 2750 times. If the looks bother you dipp the rifle and stock.

actually the 243 is about all the powder capacity that can be really well used in 6mm. if you look at the table for bigger rounds, they really don't gain much but use a hellovalot more powder. last 6mm i build was for the 250/6mm improved which does what the 243 does but less powder. 243 just ain't so bad as is

quote:

Originally posted by TX Nimrod:
Another vote for the .260. The 6-284 is not a very good choice in an M700 SA, the bullets have to be seated quite deep.

Yep - Go with the 260 Rem!

Another vote for 260 Rem. You can hunt varmints and deer antelope. Mild accurate. Some use it for high power silhouette Very useful round

I'd just keep the .243 -- its accuracy is more than adequate, unless your competition shooting. The way it looks doesn't effect how it shoots, but if it really bothers you, have the barrel and action refinished at a reputable shop. I was just over at the Precision Bluing website and their before and after photos are pretty amazing (I'm not making a recommendation for them--I don't know anything about them personally).

This wouldn't cost as much as having a re-barrel job and you could use what you save towards a purchase of an additional gun, say, a .260 or whatever.

Standard .243 would be fine.

.243 AI with barrel length and twist to your scpecs could also be interesting. Not a big deal if you are shooting light bullets, but a pretty big deal if you are wanting to push heavies fast and far.

I talked to my gunsmith today. Between the conversation with him, re-sale value, the availability of a minimum spec. reamer, brass, bullets, dies etc. It's going to be a 243 again. He is going to true the action, lap the lugs, chase the threads to trade me for some stock work I did for him. I'm going to order a 1-10 twist Shilin #5 contour from the Barrel Man, Select Match Barrel because it has to be able to stabilize the Barnes 80 grain tipped. They are quite long. I believe I'll cut the barrel back to 24 inches. That should make the muzzle dia. a little over 3/4 of an inch. I have the trigger down to 3 pounds now so It may get a little lighter, may not. Any way I'll keep everyone posted. If I can get someone to post groups for me, I'll do some before and after stuff. Thanks everybody. Your opinions are appreciated. DW

I doubt you will regret it. Good luck

I have 2-243's, 2-6x45's, 1-6x47, 1-6BR,2-6/284's and 2-240 Weatherbys. They are all good.

My favorite is the 6/284. They are interchangeable with the 240 WM (and the wildcat 6-06. I have found that they are slightly more accurate because you can bench rest prep the cases. Their performance on long range varmints is outstanding. Yes, they are not as efficient as the smaller rounds, but they do outperform them. The issue with them is not efficiency, it is absolue performance.

The 243 was my first rifle oh so many years ago, and I have a sentimental attachment to it. I will say, however, that it is more finicky than any of the others in load development, so when you find a good one, write it down and keep it. It is also commonly reported that it is erratic as to powder charges, and this may be true, but I have never seen it. Several of my friends say the AI does away with this trait.

One of my 6/284s is on a 700 SA, and it will work with the bullets you intend to use. However, it won't work well with the long bullets. That is exactly where these big cases excel; throwing 105-107 gr Boat Tail bullets way down range. If you wanted a light recoiling long range rifle, it would be hard to beat a 6/284 using Lapua 6.5-284 cases as a base. Get a tight necked chamber and a fast twist barrel, neck down and turn the necks to fit the neck of the chamber, ream the primer pockets and flash hole and have at it. This is where the small cases just can't beat the big ones.

another one for the .260 Remington. i also like the 7MM-08..

I concur with Vapodog~!! 6-284.
Aloha, Mark

Just ordered a Shillin 1-10 #5 contour Stainless Match from The Barrel Man today. I have been shooting the old barrel some with mixed results. Cleaning it is tough. If you shoot more than 15-20 rounds through it without cleaning it, the groups open up. For some reason it likes the little short varminator 58 grainers better than the 72 grain bullets. I thought it would be the other way around. I think I'll think on this at least until the barrel gets here. I have a new A.R. to sight in and play with, then there's the mauser project thats been put off, oh, theres the new 30 grain varmint grenades I bought for my hornet to get a load worked up for and I really need to shoot something, Pot guts beware.

I'd say 243 AI, and even though you say you plan to stick to 85gr and ligther bullets, I'd go with a 1-8 twist barrel to launch the 105 gr hornady a-max. The long range performance of that combo is hard to believe, and in a package taht won't beat you up shooting it all day.

Im partial to my 6mm Rem, very accurate.

quote:

Originally posted by Jay Gorski:
Im partial to my 6mm Rem, very accurate.

I really like my 244.

I really need to shoot my 6MM Remington more. Great shooter with most bullets. May take it out and play with it soon.

If it is not broke.... just go shooting.

If you gave me that project...I like the 6mm Rem Ackley for the .243 caliber. I currently have a 6mm Rem, and love it.

The only other 6mm I'd consider would be the 6mm-284. Keep the short action, and get '06 case capacity. Not to start a flame, but I'd take the 6mm-284 on muzzle specs over the 243 WSSM any day.

But...I also have a .260 Rem that is very hard to not like taking into the field....