Which Caliber should I get??? Here is some info, you decide
This question is very common and understandable given that you are going to spend a bunch of cash on the build, then a bunch more in ammo or reloading components.
So, I was buying bullets for my match guns a few months ago 2k worth of 308 pills, 2k worth of 6.5 pills and 4k worth of 6mm and notice a huge difference in how many bullets I could buy for the $$$. I noticed one thing; 6mm bullets are a lot less expensive than 30 cal bullets.
If you are looking to get into competitive shooting and don’t reload you should. You will save an enormous amount of money reloading. You will have top of the line reloading equipment paid off in 6000 rounds. You will also become a more educated well rounded rifleman.
Why are the 6mm and 6.5s dominant? Bottom line up front
They cost about the same to shoot as 308 even with barrel changes and you will hit more targets (blasphemy!!!!). Stay with me just for a second
The information below was taken from multiple sources including 6mmBr, SH and from conversations with industry gurus.
308, 260 and most 6mm are within a few cents of each other per round fired including barrel changes.
6mm 105 Berger hybrids $.31 ea,
6.5mm 140 Berger hybrids $.39 ea,
308 185 Berger hybrids $.45 ea,
With powder, brass and primers all being relatively equal the only variables are the cost of the bullet and the cost of barrel changes. (cost of bullet was taken from the powder valley web site)(barrel cost is $500 installed)
6mm 6000 x .31 + 2 barrels @ $500 = $2860 47 cents per shot in bullet and barrel
6.5mm 6000 x .39 + 1.5 barrels @ $500 = $2590 43 cents per shot in bullet and barrel
308 6000 x .45 + 0 barrels = $2700 45 cents per shot in bullet and barrel
I know a lot of guys that get way more than 2000 rounds per barrel on their 6mm.
If you factor in brass to 10 firings, powder and primer per shot you are looking at about .70 cents per shot.
You can switch bullets around and change these numbers quite a bit. I took one bullet manufacturer and took the same bullet class in each caliber to make a point. You can get 308 175 SMKs for under 30 cents ea. You can also get 6mm 105 BTHP for 19 cents each.
Pick your poison, have fun and roll with it. Try not to agonize over your caliber selection, because you will eventually shoot out the one you have and can switch calibers as fast as your gun smith can spin on a new barrel. If you plan on shooting one of the calibers that burn out barrels quickly order 2-3 barrels at a time. You may wait up to 6 months for a barrel manufactures usually run barrels in batches. If you all ready have the barrels on hand it significantly reduces the wait time.
I smart guy told me once “buy every point you can afford, practice will make up the difference”
This question is very common and understandable given that you are going to spend a bunch of cash on the build, then a bunch more in ammo or reloading components.
So, I was buying bullets for my match guns a few months ago 2k worth of 308 pills, 2k worth of 6.5 pills and 4k worth of 6mm and notice a huge difference in how many bullets I could buy for the $$$. I noticed one thing; 6mm bullets are a lot less expensive than 30 cal bullets.
If you are looking to get into competitive shooting and don’t reload you should. You will save an enormous amount of money reloading. You will have top of the line reloading equipment paid off in 6000 rounds. You will also become a more educated well rounded rifleman.
Why are the 6mm and 6.5s dominant? Bottom line up front
They cost about the same to shoot as 308 even with barrel changes and you will hit more targets (blasphemy!!!!). Stay with me just for a second
The information below was taken from multiple sources including 6mmBr, SH and from conversations with industry gurus.
308, 260 and most 6mm are within a few cents of each other per round fired including barrel changes.
6mm 105 Berger hybrids $.31 ea,
6.5mm 140 Berger hybrids $.39 ea,
308 185 Berger hybrids $.45 ea,
With powder, brass and primers all being relatively equal the only variables are the cost of the bullet and the cost of barrel changes. (cost of bullet was taken from the powder valley web site)(barrel cost is $500 installed)
6mm 6000 x .31 + 2 barrels @ $500 = $2860 47 cents per shot in bullet and barrel
6.5mm 6000 x .39 + 1.5 barrels @ $500 = $2590 43 cents per shot in bullet and barrel
308 6000 x .45 + 0 barrels = $2700 45 cents per shot in bullet and barrel
I know a lot of guys that get way more than 2000 rounds per barrel on their 6mm.
If you factor in brass to 10 firings, powder and primer per shot you are looking at about .70 cents per shot.
You can switch bullets around and change these numbers quite a bit. I took one bullet manufacturer and took the same bullet class in each caliber to make a point. You can get 308 175 SMKs for under 30 cents ea. You can also get 6mm 105 BTHP for 19 cents each.
Pick your poison, have fun and roll with it. Try not to agonize over your caliber selection, because you will eventually shoot out the one you have and can switch calibers as fast as your gun smith can spin on a new barrel. If you plan on shooting one of the calibers that burn out barrels quickly order 2-3 barrels at a time. You may wait up to 6 months for a barrel manufactures usually run barrels in batches. If you all ready have the barrels on hand it significantly reduces the wait time.
I smart guy told me once “buy every point you can afford, practice will make up the difference”
