KHornet
Well-Known Member
I have often wondered why the 243/6MM etc has all but disappeared from the cast loading manuals. Lyman no longer lists any molds in 6MM. Guess I am lucky to have an 85 gr Saeco, a double cav 245496, and a single cav 496 PB. Am just starting to work up loads for the PB, and started with 6 gr. of Bullseye, which is not where I want to be. Will try a little lower, and try tight group, and a couple others, looking for 1000-1200 fps for 50 yd shooting. 21 gr of Rx7 with the Saeco GC w/dac fill shoots tolerably well at 50, staying around an inch at 50 for 5 shots, and an inch and a half for 10. (10 to 12 K wind pretty much sustained, but fishtailing) The 496 over the same load does not near as well. Shot yesterday (unseasonably warm for Ne this time of year 52 degrees), but with CanRed lube, not known for good cold weather shooting. Will load some with LARS 2500 next go around which is supposed to be far better for cold weather.
Think the 243 got a bad rep with cast because of the short neck, but the 2 85 grainers that I have do not go below the neck when loaded, and I am careful to start them straight down. That, and like 224's, 6mm bullets have to be inspected closely, and weighed to exacts (after sizing/checking/lubing). Any how, my feeling has always been that all cartridges have a cast bullet accuracy potential. Not necessarily MOA maybe, but a potential that is satisfactory to the caster/shooter. Hasn't been all that long ago in my memory that I recall few rifles other than custom varmint rigs were capable of MOA. Well maybe it has been that long ago now that I think about it. Oh well, getting old just ain't for sissies.
Think the 243 got a bad rep with cast because of the short neck, but the 2 85 grainers that I have do not go below the neck when loaded, and I am careful to start them straight down. That, and like 224's, 6mm bullets have to be inspected closely, and weighed to exacts (after sizing/checking/lubing). Any how, my feeling has always been that all cartridges have a cast bullet accuracy potential. Not necessarily MOA maybe, but a potential that is satisfactory to the caster/shooter. Hasn't been all that long ago in my memory that I recall few rifles other than custom varmint rigs were capable of MOA. Well maybe it has been that long ago now that I think about it. Oh well, getting old just ain't for sissies.
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