To follow the entire series on my custom rifle build, click here. (The most recent will at the top of the page.)
Choosing the cartridge is one critical step in building a rifle – and which one you choose depends on what type of shooting you plan on doing. I have really been digging for info, weighing the pros and cons of various cartridges, and realized there is A LOT of debate on this issue. What I have come to realize, is – there is no perfect round. Otherwise, as one of my friends says, “Everyone would be using it.” I have not decided which case I am going to use, I have not even decided if I am going to make it a 6mm. So, this post will cover some of my 6mm options, and I will discuss 6.5mm and 7mm options in different future articles.
You will find the chart below, but click on the chart, or click HERE for a .pdf version.
I have included some 6mm rounds in my comparison that are not typically used for tactical long range shooting. I did this for myself and for those who are learning about various cartridge sizes and types. This way, if you hear someone talk about a 6BR, for instance, you will know what they are talking about.
I also added some cost info, take all of this with a grain of salt. For instance, Lapua brass is very expensive, but people say you should be able to reload it twice as many times as any other brass, so maybe it all works out.
Some assumptions I am making for my rifle is that I will be using a short action and plan on using 105, 107 or 115 gr 6mm bullets.
I am sure that many of my comments in this spreadsheet are debatable, so let’s talk! What are your experiences with these cartridges? Which ones do you recommend and why?
