Need help picking encore 6mm cartridge

[cumminsnut76]

Ok so i am wanting to get a new barrel for my encore. I am wanting something in a 6mm bore but also something that is roughly the same power as a 223. I have lots of 223 brass so which wildcat would be best to try. Shooting will be done from 300 yards and closer. Mostly plinking and maybe a coyote or two. Maybe 70-85 GRAIN BULLET?

[fryboy]

Umm power of a 223 ... Going to need a wee bigger case to use the 55 grain noslers at the same speed/energy as a 223 or else I'd suggest the 6 mm tcu ... The ppc or 6mm x39 would do it but different brass would be needed
Personally I went with the 243 ,may turn it into a AI version tho ,both thump pasture pest pretty decent lolz

[Tenbender]

I have one in a 6mm Bench Rest.

[MT Gianni]

I have 2 bbls in 243. I bought the first to make a JES 358 on and it shot too good to let it go. The second one had not been sent out when I found a nice bolt in 358. MidSouth had a sale on 85 gr jacketed that are accurate in my barrel as are the 95 gr Nosler.

[SSGOldfart]

I went the other way, so I could get little more case volume using the 308 cases or you could go to a 6.8spc which is really based on the old m1 30carbine case,I think you could use the 5.56 case necked up to the 270 something to think about just going with a smaller bullet in the 243/6mm like a 46gr GC pushed with a fast burning pistol powder like 3.8 grn of bullseye again it is based on the 308 cases,but should work with a 223/5.56 I think that's what the 6mmx42 is but I'm still working on the 243 light weight myself shoot me a pm if you want to trade or sell that 6mm encore barrel
Good luck please keep us informed.

[reed1911]

Based on the .223 case would be 6mm TCU or 6x45. It certainly will work just fine for most work out to 300yds. The 6mm PPC or 6mm BR are also good for the same just made on a different case sizes. The PPC being the base for the 7.62x39 and the BR being based on a shortened .308 case. The .243 is a winner for sure with more power than the .223 but still based on very available brass and IMHO the best choice. There are a surplus of others that would be suited for 300yds or less, but the .243 is going to be the least expensive option barrel wise, the TCU will be a custom order (and the rest) since T/C only factory chambered the TCU's in the Contender. I cannot recall the custom shop at TC ever did the Encore but it may have. If you opt to go the custom route there are many good companies that can do it, MGM, Bullberry, EABCO, among others. And with a custom shop, the sky is the limit to your choice of actual chamber.

Quick side note, not to sound like a know it all, but the 6.8SPC was based on the old .30 Rem case not the M1 Carbine case.

[leadman]

I have both the 6PPC in a Custom Shop barrel and also in 243 Win. custom shop. These are unmarked as Custom Shop but were purchased by H&H Sports in Minnesota? before S&W moved T/C.
For general plinking and target shooting I like the 6 PPC better. I have shot good groups out to over 475 yards with it. Although the case is similar to the 7.62X39 there are differences like the smaller flash hole. There is the 6 PPC USA made by Norma which my barrel is chambered for or custom 6 PPC chambers that involve neck turning. If I buy Norma brass I just size and load. If I by 22 Russian I have to neck turn and this brass is much heavier then Norma brass.

The 6 TCU would be very easy to load for. Just run thru the 6 TCU sizer die and load. The fireforming loads are normally very accurate so no wasted components. Brass is most often free. The Norma or Lapua brass for the 6 PPC is around $100 per 100.

[fryboy]

I cannot recall the custom shop at TC ever did the Encore but it may have.


aye they did ( i miss those guys :( )

[Doc Highwall]

I have Encore custom shop barrels in 6mmBR, 6.5mmBR, 7mmBR, 223 Remington and 12 gauge rifled barrel.

[tdoyka]

http://matchgrademachine.com/chambers/#6mm

[Nobade]

Hard to beat a 6x45, but it will be a wee bit more powerful than a 223 thanks to the larger bore size. 75gr. bullets at the same speed as 60 gr. bullets in the 223. But close enough and has cheap and plentiful brass, as well as super easy to make.

-Nobade

[Doc Highwall]

I don't think you could go wrong with the 6x45 TCU.

I wanted a little more power and went with the 6mmBR and match brass by Lapua, I also neck the Lapua brass up for my 6.5mmBR.

[cumminsnut76]

Doc, how does your brass do as far as case stretching. I have read that the cases will stretch more in an encore due to the hammer and firing pin driving the brass forward during firing? Do you full lenth size or just neck size your brass.

Also overall how much extra is the 6br going to give over the 6TCU

[Doc Highwall]

If set up properly case stretching with a Encore is no different than a bolt gun. I mostly just neck size using Redding dies, but I also have a full length neck bushing die that I use.

The 6mm PPC has a useful case capacity of 1.99cc., a 6x45 has a useful case capacity of 2.01cc., and a 6mmBR. has a useful case capacity of 2.18cc giving it about 200 fps higher velocity.

6mmBR is used a lot in F Class shooting with 100 grain plus bullets and is very accurate out to 1000 yards.

Here is link for info that will keep you busy for a while reading about the 6mmBR cartridge and what it can do.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/6mmbr/