Ideal African battery on BRNO ZKK actions

[Hunter-Habib]

NO to slot in where?

Well, you could maybe convert the .243 Winchester to use it. And use it in place of the .300 Holland & Holland Magnum.

 

[Desperatezulu]

I would think long and hard about the 260 Rem in SA - it's already disappearing quickly into obsolescence here so getting cases will get increasingly tough. Sure you can resize 243 or 308 but it's a hassle and you have ammo with the wrong headstamp, which is a potential complication with our uninformed police officers.
Then the next challenge is getting the throat reamed for the longer bullets. While I don't think it's a real world problem, the neck on the 260 is shorter than desirable for most accuracy gurus.
I think the barrel twist rate won't be a problem because most 6.5 barrels here seem to come in 1 in 8" twist anyway.

I do second the suggestion for the 6.5 Swede even if it means a longer action. You're building a custom gun, so it's going to take time and effort so choose wisely first time ha ha.

Rhino bullets make a controlled expansion bullet in 150gr and that is what I want to use target velocity will be 2700 to max 2750fps

I would caution you against this bullet. My 6.5 Swede is a tack driver with virtually any bullet from 125gr to 156gr. But the bloody Rhino defeated it (me!) - most inaccurate, inconsistent bullet I have used in any calibre. I also tried the 140gr Rhino with equally pathetic results.
I've been waiting to meet a 6.5 owner that I don't like to donate these bullets to! The obvious targets are the Creedmore shooters but they seem to buy their ammo rather than reload, and the Swede owners have proven to be a more superior type of individual that I could not do this to.

 

[Nkawu]

@IvW who do you use for rebarrelling in SA?

 

[mark-hunter]

Helo me decide...thx

If you tend to go classic in 243 range, have you considered 6.5x55, 6.5 x 57, or 6.5 CM?
(In this dilemma, personally I would choose swede, most classic of them all!)

 

[SLG]

6.5C does not fit the short action...

It fits every short action I have. Is the Brno shorter than normal?

 

[shark_za]

If I was building a dedicated Springbok Blesbok rifle I would look long and hard at the .270 and or .25-06.
I do use my 6.5x55 for this now but if I had a 7x57 setup for Bushveld I would go a little bit more to the Karoo style plains rifle.

 

[fourfive8]

Another advantage of the 260 is either 243 or 308 brass can be re-formed into 260. With some cartridges, availability of brass, even "parent" brass, can become an issue.

 

[IvW]

Why 260 Remington? As you know 6,5 x55 has been doing it better for over 100 years. Then the 265 Winchester or 6.5 PRC comes to mind for old and new flavor. And the new tomato stake would be 6 5 creedmore.

Simple dies not fit in a ZKK601 action....read above

 

[IvW]

Good battery. The 260 Rem is a great cartridge and has it all over the 6.5 Crudmore because of more capacity. But to take advantage of that, the chamber throat needs to be long enough so those 140 gr and heavier bullets don't impinge too far into the case thus negating the greater powder capacity. And the longer bullets will likely require a faster twist than for the standard 260 which is usually about 9 or 10".

Long throughting the chamber is not an issue....

 

[IvW]

If I was building a dedicated Springbok Blesbok rifle I would look long and hard at the .270 and or .25-06.
I do use my 6.5x55 for this now but if I had a 7x57 setup for Bushveld I would go a little bit more to the Karoo style plains rifle.

Neither of which will fit into the short action rifle I want to convert...so not an option.....
ZKK601 short action....nothing else...

 

[IvW]

Well, you could maybe convert the .243 Winchester to use it. And use it in place of the .300 Holland & Holland Magnum.

As a small game longer range cartridge??? You lost me somewhere....

 

[IvW]

If you tend to go classic in 243 range, have you considered 6.5x55, 6.5 x 57, or 6.5 CM?
(In this dilemma, personally I would choose swede, most classic of them all!)

They dont fit a ZKK601 short action.....

 

[PeteG]

Bit of an interesting question over the 243win.
not many short action calibers that would be an alternative to the 260rem other than maybe the 308win.
but then with the 7x57 it’s pretty much a duplication.
Would you consider pushing the 30-06 up to an 8mm (8x68s?) and then the 243 to the 308?
Cool collection of rifles and calibers.

 

[IvW]

It fits every short action I have. Is the Brno shorter than normal?

I am not into man buns....

 

[SLG]

I am not into man buns....

I have no idea what that means, sorry. Good luck.

 

[IvW]

Bit of an interesting question over the 243win.
not many short action calibers that would be an alternative to the 260rem other than maybe the 308win.
but then with the 7x57 it’s pretty much a duplication.
Would you consider pushing the 30-06 up to an 8mm (8x68s?) and then the 243 to the 308?
Cool collection of rifles and calibers.

No and no
8x68s and 300 H&H will clash
308 Win cannot be compared to or fit in as a small game long range cartridge

 

[PeteG]

No and no
8x68s and 300 H&H will clash
308 Win cannot be compared to or fit in as a small game long range cartridge

Seems your first thought with the 260 is the best fit.

 

[mark-hunter]

They dont fit a ZKK601 short action.....

After I wrote my post, I got to think that.
The longest short action cartridge, is 308 win. What about, 7-08? A bit slower and heavier then 243?
so far, it seams we are on 260 rem, or 7-08.
And, I think, draw back of this , is possible lack of factory ammo, so will require reloading.

 

[Nevada Mike]

New barrel

And, possibly, a magazine spacer.

Personally, I would keep the 30-'06 - a very useful and capable cartridge. I have both - an '06 and a 7X57 both useful, but the '06 delivers a heavier bullet faster than the 7 X 57.

I shot a 6.5 X 55 for many years. The 6.5 mm cartridges are very useful, but do not match up to my .257 Roberts or 25-'06 for my applications. They also overlap the 7 X 57 in performance and I would choose the 7mm over a 6.5 mm for general PG at moderate ranges.

Have you considered a 338-'06 or 318 WR - both fit the 'medium' range quite well. Better, maybe, than the 300 H&H.

In any case, you are building a fine stable of rifles.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

As a small game longer range cartridge??? You lost me somewhere....

On second thought, you're right. I read your post again. You don't just want something which can fit the .243 Winchester BRNO ZKK-601 action. You want something which takes the place of the .243 Winchester.