.243 Win, 6mm Remington, Other???

[rauchman]

Target Rifle questions??????

Greetings all,

I mostly shoot handguns and .22lr rifles, but for the last few years have had a growing itch to shoot rifle at distance. 3 things that stop me doing so are a place to shoot long distance (living in Northeast NJ has it's detractors), knowledge of what to shoot, and finally cost. So......

First off, does anyone know of any long distance ranges in NJ or near enough to NJ to shoot at. I know of a couple of 300 yard ranges but would really like to shoot at 600 yards or better.

Secondly, KNOWLEDGE. I learn a huge amout of info here, however it's all academic and not from my own experience. I already have various 22lr rifles and a Bushmaster AR carbine. While they are very fun, I like the idea of shooting a very accurate rifel/ammo combo and ranges up to and past 600 yards. I'm not into hunting so this gun setup would be for target/fun only. From what I have gathered, rifles chambered in .308, .243 win, 6mm Rem would be ideal for what I want. Again, this would be for target. Also, from what I have gathered, especially .308 would be great since there is so much surplus military ammo around to plink with. Do military surplus rounds reload well? Also, call me a whimp, but I would assume the .243 and 6mm would have less recoil than .308. I also understand that .243 burns out barrels relatively quickly. Is this also the case with the 6mm Rem? I am not into high maitnenance. My setup would have to a somewhat economical cartridge to reload for. Have a limited recoil enough to shoot all day. Have range and power enough to get reasonably "out there". Not have the gun burning out barrels every 3 or 4 thousand rounds. Suggestions??????????????????????

Lastly, cost. I understand getting into the reloading thing is paramount to shooting rifle. Out of the 3 rounds listed, are there any advantages/disadvantages to reloading. I'm figuring the rifle will be somewhere close to $700 (give or take a few dollars)(probably a Remington VS), and then an additional chunk of change up to $1000 for a kick but scope. Another $200-$300 for case, bipod, etc.

Thoughts, opinions??????????????

 

[Mike Irwin]

.243's not any worse on barrels than a .308 as long as you don't firewall all of your loads.

The 6mm Remington and .243 are pretty much identical performance wise. Either would be a good choice, either is easy to reload.

 

[rauchman]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what does "firewall" mean????

 

[Jim Watson]

I am not a highpower expert, but until Steve or other comes along, I will tell you what my friend shoots.

He shoots .223 "across the course" at 200, 300, 600 yards with a Remington 700 with Hart barrel and custom stock, a National Match configured AR service rifle, and an AR-based "space gun."

He particularly likes Palma which is shot at 800, 900, and 1000 yards with a .308. He has a .30-.338 for dedicated 1000 yard shooting.

The trend is toward smaller calibers for less recoil to reduce fatigue in long matches at long range. He has recently bought a full custom rifle in 6mm Remington. The previous owner has gone to a wildcat 6mm with powder capacity precisely calculated for even less kick while maintaining supersonic bullet velocity to his longest range.

All of this stuff is very specialized and non-cheap. Barrel life is less in small calibers and magnums, but there is a limit to even a .308. He does not plink with his match rifles; every shot in their barrel life is fired seriously for score. That new 6mm has been shot but has the advantage of coming with known accurate load data. He will put a scope and peep sights on it - the previous owner kept his accessories - sight it in, and go to a match, period.

I don't know of a source of match ammo for 6mm or .243. They and the wildcat 6mms are normally shot with the 107 grain Sierra boattail or similar custom bullet, which requires a 7" or 8" twist; much faster than furnished on any factory rifle in those calibers that I know of. Best figure them as strict handloading propositions unless somebody more up to date knows a source. No doubt GOOD varmint loads would do ok to 300 yards or so, but 600 and up calls for the heavy metal.

You can buy .308 factory match from Federal and Black Hills, maybe others; but my guy can still handload better for HIS gun. And for much less cost.

Military surplus ammo and its brass has nothing to do with mid and long range target shooting. The ammo isn't good enough, the brass isn't good enough. First class commercial or maybe military match is just good enough to get by. Serious target shooters shoot best they can buy or handload. Good brass is still sorted and prepped before loading for accurate shooting.

I recommend that Remington in .308 and either a large budget for good ammo or a course in precision handloading.

 

[Mike Irwin]

"Please excuse my ignorance, but what does "firewall" mean????"

Full throttle. Loading hot in an attempt to get every possible fps velocity out of the cartridge.

That can be hard on the barrel, especially the throat and lede.

 

[Jim Watson]

Rauchman,

I saw a post on another board about your *other* problem:

"Try the range in Millville, NJ. They are shooting 600 yards. It's a fun range, and they were starting some BPCR matches when I moved away a few years back. Membership there is really reasonable too."