I'm off to a 800yd match this morning yes in the rain and 40*f.  Take a look at the attaches chart.  A ballistics chart should make your decision for you.   Let's talk.  Some calibers are easier to load for than others.  Some are inherently more accurate.  How much do you want to shoot? Concerned about barrel life?  Yep like Bully says my 243 is a laser beam.  It's done well in matches.  But I save it for special purposes because it is a barrel burner. It's probably a 1500 rd rifle.

The 6mmAR is a little better.

Glass and mounts and rings will cost you as much or more than the rifle. 

Savage family in moderately heavy barrel configuration with stock bedded will shoot almost as good as any rifle and better than most shooters.

Hand loading is critical.

As Bully says: " How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?"

| Caliber: 0.243 inches  | Temperature:  75 degrees | Sight Height: 2,3 inches |
| Weight: 107 grains     | Pressure: 29.92 inHg     | Zero Range: 600 yards    |
| G7 BC: 0.260 lb/in^2   | Humidity:   0 %          | Look Angle:   0 degrees  |
| G7 Form Factor: 0.996  | Density: 0.07418 lb/ft^3 +-------- Stability -------+
| MZL Velocity:  2815 fps| Wind Speed:  0 mph       | Twist Rate:    8 in/turn |
|                        | Wind Direction: 3 O'clock| Blt Length:  1.22 inches |
+------------------------+--------------------------+--------------------------+

+----------------------------- Program Output ---------------------------------+
       Range    Velocity    Energy     Trajectory         TOF          Drift
      (yards)     (fps)     (ft-lb)        (MOA)         (sec)          (MOA)
          0      2815        1883           0.00         0.0000         0.00
        100      2640        1656          12.67         0.1100         0.00
        200      2471        1451          11.38         0.2275         0.00
        300      2309        1266           9.14         0.3531         0.00
        400      2152        1101           6.46         0.4876         0.00
        500      2002         952           3.41         0.6321         0.00
        600      1857         820           0.00         0.7877         0.00
        700      1718         701          -3.82         0.9556         0.00
        800      1583         595          -8.09         1.1375         0.00
        900      1453         502         -12.88         1.3353         0.00
       1000      1329         419         -18.30         1.5513         0.00

 

 

6mmAR 600zero.txt

There is no discussion on precision rifle without @Old School sneaking in a 6mmAR mention. .  I can’t srgue with him it is really terrific, accurate and crazy soft shooting. 

1 hour ago, Rob0115 said:

There is no discussion on precision rifle without @Old School sneaking in a 6mmAR mention. .  I can’t srgue with him it is really terrific, accurate and crazy soft shooting. 

Oh and don't forget he's an Asshat!   Shot a match this morning and besides shooting poorly I only shot 19 of 20 rounds on the last string.  Next time I'll take off my shoes for counting.

29 minutes ago, Old School said:

Oh and don't forget he's an Asshat!   Shot a match this morning and besides shooting poorly I only shot 19 of 20 rounds on the last string.  Next time I'll take off my shoes for counting.

Always another match.

44 minutes ago, Old School said:

  Next time I'll take off my shoes for counting.

Hopefully there is never a 21 round string

57 minutes ago, Old School said:

Oh and don't forget he's an Asshat!   Shot a match this morning and besides shooting poorly I only shot 19 of 20 rounds on the last string.  Next time I'll take off my shoes for counting.

Are you using the AR or a .243 bolt gun?

20 minutes ago, T Bill said:

Hopefully there is never a 21 round string

I guess a 23 would rilly be a frozen nuts shoot . Lol

14 minutes ago, Zeke said:

I guess a 23 would rilly be a frozen nuts shoot . Lol

He'll be here all week folks! (rimshot)

3 hours ago, Rob0115 said:

Are you using the AR or a .243 bolt gun?

Shot the AR because of the ability to shoot 107 SMK's

Shooting 600 next month and may shoot the Savage with 95's Have to see If I can get enough elevation w/ no +20 on the Sightron.

Believe it or not... I have a +20 MOA base on the 6mmAR and ran out of elevation adjustment on the Nightforce.

OP:

No matter what you end up buying, as long as it doesn't have a compensator or muzzle brake on it (against NRA rules), come shoot the 3x600yd matches at Cumberland Riflemen (Millville, Cumberland County) this season. Matches begin on April 8 on the only 600yd range in this G-d forsaken state of NJ, and this year IT IS CONFIRMED the 3x600 prone matches will be shot on Sundays beginning at 0900.

Check the 2018 schedule at http://www.cumberlandmatches.com when it gets updated. The matches are always open to non-members and the entrance gate is locked open on match mornings.

Edited December 16, 20178 yr by njJoniGuy
Confirmation of prone matches on SUNDAYS this season

I'm pretty curious what the OP has decided.

On 12/12/2017 at 10:12 AM, Bully said:

I'm pretty curious what the OP has decided.

 

nothing for sure yet... but appreciate all the info..