I think I scored a good deal......

[flylot]

Just purchased a used RCBS Little Partner press, two die sets, one RCBS .243 FL and a 6mm SB along with some half full cans of all sorts of stuff: 700x, 800x, H110, H450, 4831, and ALCAN AL-7. I'm still not sure what I have exactly but I know about the H110. I also got two really nasty looking RCBS loading blocks that are gonna need some serious cleaning. This all for the princely sum of $40. It looked like leftovers from an estate sale....

My question for starters is about the dies. Being a newbie to all this, I thought that the .243 and 6mm were the same, are they not? And why is one full length while the other is an SB? I'm loading .45acp but would love to load for the .30 carbine (of which die and some brass are already purchased) and wife's .243

Also any feedback to the useability of the powders would be helpful. I'm still getting data overload from reading all the stickies......

Thanks.

[engineer401]

The 6mm Remington and the 243 Winchester are no the same. The 6mm was based upon the 7mm Mauser case and the 243 was based upon the 308 Winchester. The 6mm and the 244 Remington are the same cartridge. The 244 was introduced with a slow barrel twist rate resulting in difficulty in shooting heavier bullets. Remington them opted increase the twist rate for better shooting and reintroduced the 244 as the 6mm Remington. They only use the same bullets.

[Iron Whittler]

The 243 Winchester and 244/6MM Remington Are Not the same Cartridge. The cases are different and do not interchange. Bullet size is same (.243 dia.) for 243win and 244/6MM, but that is all they have in common. The 244Rem and 6MMRem are the same case. Just a name change by Rem when they changed twist rate of barrel. You made an excellent buy.

[flylot]

Well then, since I don't have a .244/6mm rifle, I'll just have to buy one! :-) (Ya think my wife will buy into that argument?)

[engineer401]

I wait until she is at work then sneak it into the house.

[375supermag]

No...She probably won't...

Just guessing about that...personally, when I save up for a new gun, I just go buy it. No discussion with anybody, my wife doesn't really care what I do with my discretionary income.

I sometimes discuss my firearm purchases with my son...but only because some day they will all be his and he likes to think that he should have some input.

Upon further reflection, a set of dies for a caliber you don't currently own is as good a reason to buy a new gun as any.
it works for me.

[MW3840]

Those 6mm SB (Small Base) dies are just another type of FL (Full-Length) sizing die, but are typically used when reloading for semi-autos and lever actions. Brings the brass to closer tolerances.

[HGS]

Nice score, if I had that kind of luck I'd buy a lottery ticket to see if I was really lucky.

HGS

[wv109323]

I looked on the Remington website and could not find a 700 chambered in 6MM Rem. I didn't look at all models but the most popular models were not chambered in 6MM.
The 6MM had a twist rate that favored the heavier .243 bullets. The 6MM was factory loaded 100-200 FPS faster than the .243 Winchester. The heavier bullets were more suited for deer sized game.
IIRC the only semi-auto chambered for the 6MM was the 742/7400. That would be the only application I could think of for the small base die.

[yooper]

"Well then, since I don't have a .244/6mm rifle, I'll just have to buy one!"

Of course you will. Doesn't everybody do that?? ;) Great buy on the loading outfit, by the way. You probably saved enough to pay for that 6mm.
yooper

[Smoke4320]

I would sa7y you got a great deal... just the powders alone .. even if they are 1/4 full each but in good condition..

[Yodogsandman]

Good score! Glad a newbie found that deal!

[Motor]

I looked on the Remington website and could not find a 700 chambered in 6MM Rem. I didn't look at all models but the most popular models were not chambered in 6MM.
The 6MM had a twist rate that favored the heavier .243 bullets. The 6MM was factory loaded 100-200 FPS faster than the .243 Winchester. The heavier bullets were more suited for deer sized game.
IIRC the only semi-auto chambered for the 6MM was the 742/7400. That would be the only application I could think of for the small base die.

Remington also sold the 6mm in their pump action rifles like the 760. The 760 pump guns often require small base dies for reliable operation.

[flylot]

Yeah, I've been reading about the different powders in the Lyman reloading handbook and castpics actually has reloading data for the alcan powder. I can actually use this stuff! Oh this is gonna be so much fun...... :-)

[Three44s]

You are getting ahead of yourself by concentrating on powders.

I'd focus on headspace and pressures and how dies function first.

BTW, you did good on your purchases thus far!

Best regards and good reloading!

Three 44s

[Duckiller]

700X and 800X are shotgun powders that make great plinking loads. H450 and 4831 are rifle powders. You said you know what to do with H110. You may have a long term search for a rifle in 244REM/6mmREM. In addition to the semi-auto and pump Remington also make it the bolt action Model 700. I believe Ruger also made them in Model 77 and No. 1. I don't think there are any 6mm/244 currently made in a mass produced gun. They exist in the used gun market. You just may have to search for a while to find one you want.

[MaLar]

Buy the 6mm gun for that awesome woman of yours. I bought my wife a 6.5mm-308 (before the 260 Rem) I sure killed a lot of dear with her rifle.