Suitability of 6XC for a Varmint Rifle

C

Cow Town Bill

Regular
Uber Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
65   0   0
Location
Calgary
It seems that most shooters using the 6xc are using bullets in the 105, 107 and 115 range.
I like shooting prairie dogs and prefer lighter bullets and higher velocities---like 70 to 75 grains, maximum 87 grains. Maximum range would be about 500 yards, not the much longer ranges requiring heavier bullets with better bc.
At first I was thinking of a 243 Win with a 10 twist barrel. But, maybe I can come close to the 243 Win velocities with the 6xc---I would certainly use less powder and maybe get a little more life out of my barrel without sacrificing much velocity. I strongly suspect the 6xc would give better accuracy than the 243 Win.
Anyway, what comments can you offer?
Thanks everyone
Bill
 
Go for it! Shouldn't be any different than a .243 Win and I know lots of guys using them for coyotes. I was seriously considering one but then remembered I still want to be able to take deer with mine so I went 6.5 Creedmoor. If I do a 6mm build at some point it will likely be an XC
 
I would talk to a Smith with a selection of reamers as the only issue I can think of is the length of the throat.
Like you say that cartridge is mainly for heavier 6mm bullets so there might be a big jump to the lands.
Obviously twist rate will matter.
Other than that I say have at er
 
With the 6XC you efficiently will have a reduced barre life, but it wont be much off of that of the 243. The barrel life has to be the biggest let don on the 6 mm's, but it also all depends on how you run it and what accuracy you're after. The other big, red flag for the XC for me is the cost/availability of brass. If you're fine with shopping around and paying $100+ for 50 pieces, then go ahead lol. Other than that, it is an amazing cartridge, but I personally like the 243, 6 Creedmoor, 6 Comp Match or even the 6x47 before the XC.
 
6 SLR, another version of the same thing.
Anything that will launch 6mm bullets at good speeds will be great on small game. The heavier 6mm bullets are still big enough to take deer with. Speed Kills.
The SLR uses 243 brass. just stuff it through a reamer, it pushes the neck/ shoulder junction down, lengthening the neck and making a steeper shoulder. (30degrees??)
Would be a cool caliber.
 
I totally agree that barrel life in all the 6mm stuff is a downside to that caliber in general, I will say that the Norma 6XC brass has been amazing for me though. Easily 10 reloads on most of mine and they seem bulletproof. Once I got thru the initial prep and trim on them, they have been very consistent as well. Way outlast lots of my other brass, so in the long run, brass is not more expensive then other calibers, as it holds up fantastic. (I run my 6xc hot too, and still not an issue).
The bigger question maybe should be, how many rounds a year will you shoot? If it’s 300-500, that’s 3-4 years between barrel swaps for most 6mms and a little loss of accuracy in a Varmint rig is still acceptable, so then it’s a non issue going to any 6mm caliber. If you say you shoot 1000-1500/year, then it’s gets to be a yearly barrel burner and costs go way up, especially if you need it to shoot sub 1/2 MOA after1500 rounds as well? In that case, 6mm might not be the best fit? Then, for me, the 223 would be a much better choice for a gopher gun, inmo.
 
I have a 6XC and really like it... I made my brass from 22-250 cases. With the appropriate throat, it would work superbly with the mid range bullet weights. You do not need to run at epic pressures and speed. Powders like H4895 in reduced loads would likely increase bore life at least 50% You would give up a couple hundred fps which is still plenty fast enough to get the job done.

But the 6XC has never really caught on so the supplies are more expensive. Given the popularity of the 6.5 Creedmoor and now, 6mm Creedmoor, this is the route I would go. The amount of supplies grows constantly and brass is far less expensive with really good quality.

I no longer use 22-250 cases as I will just use creedmoor brass and form as needed and when my 6XC goes, I will get a 6 Creedmoor if I want a 6mm in a mag fed rifle.

Now if you want to muck with magazines, you can run a 6BR or Dasher from a mag. That will certainly give you more bore life and superb accuracy. Cases will be more then Creedmoor stuff but I doubt you will wear them out.

For me, if willing to wildcat AND I want a 6mm AND I need to mag feed, 6mm TCU or 6-223 Rem. Powder capacity is not far off the BR case and accuracy is very well documented. Would work superbly with the light to mid weight varmint bullets and very easy to set up with dirt cheap brass.

But then wouldn't the 223 Rem and 75gr bullets do all that you need?

Jerry
 
Yes the 6XC makes a fine gopher gun.
I wound even bother with the 87s...I would go 1:8 and to shoot the 105s and shoot 87s if you want but you will be blown away by how good the 105-115 bullets shoot in it.

Brass is easy to obtain and said above you can reload it 10+ times
 
Hi Bill,

You have received some superb suggestions regarding caliber but what platform are you thinking of shooting from?
Do you have an "off the shelf" rifle or are you thinking about a custom/semi-custom build?
 
I have a 6mmBR, a 6xc, a 6 Creedmore and a pair of .243's - yes i like 6mm's. The 6xc brass from norma is ecceptional and works out to be 1.39 per case which is the same as Lapua in a number of other calibers that I shoot. I use the Berger 108's and find that 6xc accuracy to equal the 6mmbr and magazine feeding is as reliable as the 243.
 
I used my 6xc with the standard chamber and 75 grain vmax without issues. 1:8 twist. 5 round groups averaging in the .4 Moa range, which is a little bigger than with 105 hybrid or 115 dtac.
No drama with accelerated throat erosion or anything.
 
6mmBR or 6mm Dasher.....stupidly accurate and easy to tune. I've got a 6mmBR with a 13.5 twist barrel that will shoots 55-70gr very well (I'm sure that I'm the limiting factor on the accuracy side of things).
 
3000 is just a light load
Have run the 115 past 3250 and still about 3/8 moa. 243 ack will dust em at 3300. Plenty enough to drop a yote
 
redrams9 said:
I totally agree that barrel life in all the 6mm stuff is a downside to that caliber in general, I will say that the Norma 6XC brass has been amazing for me though. Easily 10 reloads on most of mine and they seem bulletproof. Once I got thru the initial prep and trim on them, they have been very consistent as well. Way outlast lots of my other brass, so in the long run, brass is not more expensive then other calibers, as it holds up fantastic. (I run my 6xc hot too, and still not an issue).
The bigger question maybe should be, how many rounds a year will you shoot? If it’s 300-500, that’s 3-4 years between barrel swaps for most 6mms and a little loss of accuracy in a Varmint rig is still acceptable, so then it’s a non issue going to any 6mm caliber. If you say you shoot 1000-1500/year, then it’s gets to be a yearly barrel burner and costs go way up, especially if you need it to shoot sub 1/2 MOA after1500 rounds as well? In that case, 6mm might not be the best fit? Then, for me, the 223 would be a much better choice for a gopher gun, inmo.
Click to expand...

I'm shooting prairie dogs in Montana---not the gophers we have in AB and SK--- prairie dogs are clever little critters---after a few shots anything under 300 yds is down the hole and rarely come up until gunfire stops---so most shooting is 300-400 yds and further if you got the equipment for the job.
I do take a 223 with 50 or 55 gn bullets and a 22-250 with 55 gn bullets.
If there is a strong wind the 22 cal light bullets don't work so hot. Therefore I would like a "hot" 6 cal rifle. I have a real good 6BR and have tried 105 gr bullets and they are very accurate but on the slow side---lately I have been using 87 Vmax bullets with good success and am experimenting with 75 Vmax.
It's important to realize that range measurement is often out by 25 yds and often more---there are zillions of mounds in a good prairie dog town and it is real easy to range the wrong mound---hence the need for a flat shooting rifle.
I normally shoot at least 500 rounds of 6 cal per year, maybe more---therefore barrel life might be 3 yrs or so---occupational hazard I guess, just like competition shooting.
I'll comment further on separate posts.
Thanks
Bill
 
Matrix said:
Hi Bill,

You have received some superb suggestions regarding caliber but what platform are you thinking of shooting from?
Do you have an "off the shelf" rifle or are you thinking about a custom/semi-custom build?
Click to expand...

It would most likely be based on a custom action that I already have---maybe a Defiance. Could use an accurized M700 action also but I prefer a custom action.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom