I just bought a NIB Sako Hunter Model 75 in 243Win for what I believe to be a good price. I'm going to shoot it for a while as is, but I'd really like a little more edge than the .243 gives me.

I'm thinking of rechambering and/or rebarreling to a different caliber, maybe a 6mm-284 or a 6.5mm-284 or something else. I'd like to use the rifle as a long-range canyon or open country rifle for mule deer and antelope down the road. I've got a 300WinMag that I shoot elk with and it doubles now for my mule deer hunts.

Anyone have suggestions as to the direction they might go in this situation as to caliber, bullet and dollars?

I like a .25 Souper (.308 Winchester necked down to .257 caliber) or the 260 Remington.

bullets must be seated very deep in short action(6.5-284)

Keep it simple and go with the 260 Remington. Better barrel life and in the field, the 6.5x284 will have a hard time proving its advantage in true terminal performance.

What's wrong with the .243 Win, I have used my Tikka T-3 lite in eastern Wyoming on Antelope, and Mule Deer for years, and have had no problem's. Ues a good bullet and hit the spot.

6.5 SWEDE.

quote:

Originally posted by 6.5 SWEDE:
What's wrong with the .243 Win, I have used my Tikka T-3 lite in eastern Wyoming on Antelope, and Mule Deer for years, and have had no problem's. Ues a good bullet and hit the spot.

6.5 SWEDE.

There's nothing wrong with the 243. As I said, I'd just prefer a little more velocity out of a 100 gr 6mm bullet or have a little larger bullet available in the 6.5mm caliber, say.

What caliber is your Tikka?

The .284 case will be somewhat crowded in the Sako magazine, and you will lose one round of magazine capacity. 6mm bullets are short enough that a 6mm/284 works okay, but with the (generally) longer 6.5 bullets you'll find the magazine length very limiting.

I don't think that either the .260 or 7mm08 are particularly better long range calibers than the .243. Your best option might be to simply ream the chamber out to .243 Ackley Improved to add 50 or 75 fps to your current capability. This would also be your cheapest route to higher velocity.

I don't know much about Sako magazines; would a 6mm Remington AI fit? That would give a better boost than the 243 AI.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
The .284 case will be somewhat crowded in the Sako magazine, and you will lose one round of magazine capacity. 6mm bullets are short enough that a 6mm/284 works okay, but with the (generally) longer 6.5 bullets you'll find the magazine length very limiting.

I don't think that either the .260 or 7mm08 are particularly better long range calibers than the .243. Your best option might be to simply ream the chamber out to .243 Ackley Improved to add 50 or 75 fps to your current capability. This would also be your cheapest route to higher velocity.

I was talking to my riflesmith today and he also suggested the 243AI. He thought he could fairly easily modify the Sako magazine for the 284 case. He noted, as you did, the need to seat the 6.5mm bullet deep into the case to fit in the 6.5-284.

For now, I'm going to shoot a mule deer buck next fall with this rifle in 243.

What bullet suggestions are offered? I'm familiar with and like the 180 gr Nosler Partition in my 300WM. What's a good recommendation in 6mm?

R.Walter, that T-3 lite is in .243 Win, and I use a 85gr Speer SPBT bullet, with a max charge of H-414.

6.5 SWEDE.

quote:

Originally posted by R. Walter:

For now, I'm going to shoot a mule deer buck next fall with this rifle in 243.

What bullet suggestions are offered? I'm familiar with and like the 180 gr Nosler Partition in my 300WM. What's a good recommendation in 6mm?

I love the .243. I live on a ranch and use it all the time. Since I started using it a year and a half ago, everything I've shot has dropped right there. Targets from 10 to 300+ yards, 2 pounds to 65+. I've had good results with the 87 gr. VMax. It's been amazing, nothing has taken another step.

My son shot a nice mule deer this year with his .243. Distance was 350 yards, bullet was the 85 gr. Barnes TSX. The bullet went through the heart and completely penetrated. The deer staggered in a 20 foot circle before collapsing. The most blood I've ever seen.

Your gunsmith is right, the .284 case will feed from the factory Sako magazine with very little (or maybe no) modification. Browning used the Sako L579 for their factory .284 Safari. But because the case is fatter, the magazine will hold one less round.

The 6mm AI will "fit" (it is the same case as the .244 which Sako chambered in a few of its L579s). But it is acutally a little longer than the .284 case, so the deep seating problem is exacerbated.

R.Walter: If you like Nosler Partitions, then the 95 or 100 grain 6mm is a good choice. I like the old 100 grain Nosler Solid Base (lead tip) in my .243. A friend I loaned it to took a buck at 375 yards with it. The 6mm Solid Base is available from Shooter's Pro Shop on the web at very attractive prices. It is a little tougher than most cup-and-core bullets and should be a good match for mule deer.

I have a Tikka T3 243 that will shoot 85gr TSX like nobody's business. Thats plenty of bullet for mulies out to 400 yards. If you are planning on taking longer shots I would look at a bonded core lead bullet or maybe a partition because expansion can become an issue with TSX at longer distances.

.260 remington or 257 ROBERTS

Leave it alone. If you want a tad more, go get another gun. It's your patriotic duty for the economy.

The 6 Rem (and any other 7x57 based case) or the 284 are in that odd spot of being a bit too long for short actions, but leave more room then needed in a standard action.

25 Souper is a good suggestion, as would the 25 Hum-dinger which is the same thing, but improved case. You could also do the 243 AI, my smith is doing up one of his personal guns in this cartridge after seeing a friend pop a p-dog at nearly 1000 yards! Or go wildcat, shorten a 376 Steyr case a bit and neck down to 6mm. You'll get an increase in capacity over the rest of the cartridges, but without needed a magnum bolt face.

quote:

Originally posted by wymple:
Leave it alone. If you want a tad more, go get another gun. It's your patriotic duty for the economy.

Thanks for the advice.

A .243Win is a .243Win is a .243 Win!! What were the heads of Remington thinking when the let the the .244 Remington out the door in that 1-12 twist????????? A 243 Win IS NOT a 6mmRemington!! Never was, never will be!! And as of late REMINGTON has let the 260 Remington as well as the 300SAUM "die on the vine" by not promoting them!! The 260 is a FAR SUPERIOR chambering over the 243 in "forgiveness" for young shooters as far as deer go! And the 300SAUM is a much more efficient case design than the WSM!! (If you were wanting to "improve" on it!)((And it fits in a short action instead of a bastardized short action)). Just my thoughts and I'll stir the pot I'm sure! Charlie(GHD)

How is the RSAUM more efficient then the WSM? Its down on poweder and equally down on velocity. The RCM is even more down on capacity and velocity (for the common man, not factory pixie dust loaded ammo) So does that make the RCM even more efficient then the RSAUM, and thus even more so then the WSM? And maybe if we make the case even SMALLER to be even more efficient...oh wait, thats the .308 lol The RSAUM is a smaller case because the R7/700 boxes are smaller then Win boxes. Win/Browning set up that "bastardized" action to function properly with these rounds, Rem did not. I've heard many more problems with Rem (and kimber) short mags then Winchester or Brownings.

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by wymple:
Leave it alone. If you want a tad more, go get another gun. It's your patriotic duty for the economy.


Thanks for the advice.

No problem. One can never have too many rifles.

Keep the .243 as is, get a .270 Win., it will fit in right between the .243 and your .300WM.

Wring the 243 out. Use the 95 grain Ballistic Tip and the 100 grain Nosler Solid Base. I think you will find that the 243 deserves more praise than derogatory comment.

Stick with the 243. I've used one for years of hunting. Inside normal ranges - say 300m I have shot many deer, especially red deer. A big red stag can weigh 400lb + on the hoof and I can honestly say I have never felt undergunned with a 243. A 100 grain sierra prohunter is my bullet of choice - although lots of others are just as good. I use this bullet because it is the most consistently accurate in my rifle.

The 243 is a great cartridge, very soft to shoot and puches above its weight.

Good luck.

. I,m with GHD on this essespecially as the only 30 cal cart I can actually say that I like is the 300 RSAUM , if its in a Stainless Ruger .....

The 260 is a great round and so is the 243 ..... With the 85 gr TSX it kills well by everyones testimony and it is easy to shoot . so is the 260 ....

I have had mine since 74 in a Tikka, loaded it with the 95 gr partitions and never looked back. Its deadly on deer for me.
Lots of fellas locally have them and I never hear anything but praise for them.