6.5 Creed v 260Rem

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gotboostvr

gotboostvr

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I'm just musing, thinking up guns I'd like to build, projects I'd like to work on...

I may be interested in rebarreling a SA Rem700. It's purely a hunting rifle and nothing bigger than a deer.

I'm wondering if there's any practical difference between a 6.5 Creedmoor and a 260Rem (or 260AI) while running 120gr hunting bullets from say a 24" barrel.
 
I knew the creed walked away with heavier bullets and that the 260 was pretty much built around the 120gr.

I figured it'd be pretty close.
 
To me the 260 is much like the 284 in that they both were designed for short actions but do better on a long actions.

Actually one of my 6.5CM's is currently on a Boyd long action stocked Axis. Feeds from a 270 magazine with zero problems.
 
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You're not going to notice a lick of difference with basic deer loads for either (nor will the deer). Ive had a 6.5 CM forever and a buddy started with a 260 around the same time I got my 6.5, I still have mine and he now has 2 or 3 6.5 CMs.

Basically it comes down to components, what can you find easier. But, if you want to play the long game go with the 6.5.
 
As the others said, performance wise on deer, you won't see a difference.

The .260 has a slight capacity advantage, right up until you have to seat a 140 "low drag" bullet deep in the case to make mag length. With 120s you should get more MV out of the .260, but no animal will ever know the difference. I've got a Rem M7 in .260 being re-barreled now in....another .260! I use mine for deer and like the performance of the 120s and I've got a bunch of brass, dies etc. The new barrel will have a 1:8" twist for the longer bullets, but I'll probably never load them. I've got other rifles/cartridges for that application.

I wouldn't sweat the "long game" as .260 is easily formed from .243 or 7-08 and neither seem to be going anywhere any time soon. IF I found a 6.5C I liked, or another .260, I'd be happy with either.
 
Chuck R. said:
As the others said, performance wise on deer, you won't see a difference.

The .260 has a slight capacity advantage, right up until you have to seat a 140 "low drag" bullet deep in the case to make mag length. With 120s you should get more MV out of the .260, but no animal will ever know the difference. I've got a Rem M7 in .260 being re-barreled now in....another .260! I use mine for deer and like the performance of the 120s and I've got a bunch of brass, dies etc. The new barrel will have a 1:8" twist for the longer bullets, but I'll probably never load them. I've got other rifles/cartridges for that application.

I wouldn't sweat the "long game" as .260 is easily formed from .243 or 7-08 and neither seem to be going anywhere any time soon. IF I found a 6.5C I liked, or another .260, I'd be happy with either.
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what he said
 
That's a great point about what you can make 260 brass from. Same reason I bought a 300 WSM, every ammo shortage will wipe most common calibers off the shelves. Almost every single store I've been to in the last year had at least 1 box of 300 WSM on the shelf. Also noticed this during the past few shortages as well.
 
As others have stated with 120 gr bullets the 260 will have a marginal edge, at least on paper. If I already had a 260 and liked it I could understand the reluctance to trade for, or to add a 6.5CM. But if buying new, or in your case re-barreling, I can't think of a single reason I'd choose 260 over 6.5 CM.

They both shoot 120-130 gr bullets equally well and close enough to the same speeds to not matter. But the 6.5 will handle much heavier bullets if you ever decide to go that way. If you choose 260 then you limit your options down the road. While you may not plan to use those heavier bullets today, who knows what you may want to do 10 years from now.

Plus 260 has never really been popular. Brass and loaded 6.5 CM ammo are much easier to find and cheaper. From a practical perspective the edge goes to the 6.5 by a wide margin. I'm the type of person who tends to be pretty practical, but lots of others just like to tinker with stuff and like to take the road less traveled. Nothing wrong with either approach, but I just prefer the easier route.
 
Nothing wrong with either approach, but I just prefer the easier route.
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Yeah. Me too.

A lot of us thought when US SOCOM tested the 260 and 6.5CM for possible adoption as special weapons that the Remington would win out because of possible feeding issues the the sharper shouldered CM. CM prevailed but never saw a particular reason in print.
 
Depending on how often you shoot the difference in brass is the only major difference in cost. The 6.5 has been killing things since forever in 6.5×55 but a shorter package is better for some.
jmr40 said:
As others have stated with 120 gr bullets the 260 will have a marginal edge, at least on paper. If I already had a 260 and liked it I could understand the reluctance to trade for, or to add a 6.5CM. But if buying new, or in your case re-barreling, I can't think of a single reason I'd choose 260 over 6.5 CM.

They both shoot 120-130 gr bullets equally well and close enough to the same speeds to not matter. But the 6.5 will handle much heavier bullets if you ever decide to go that way. If you choose 260 then you limit your options down the road. While you may not plan to use those heavier bullets today, who knows what you may want to do 10 years from now.

Plus 260 has never really been popular. Brass and loaded 6.5 CM ammo are much easier to find and cheaper. From a practical perspective the edge goes to the 6.5 by a wide margin. I'm the type of person who tends to be pretty practical, but lots of others just like to tinker with stuff and like to take the road less traveled. Nothing wrong with either approach, but I just prefer the easier route.
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And for this reason 6.5x55 will handle heavier loads and brass has been available my entire life. It's not on your this or that list but it's what I have and I'm not getting a creed for the same reason.
 
wbm said:
To me the 260 is much like the 284 in that they both were designed for short actions but do better on a long actions.

Actually one of my 6.5CM's is currently on a Boyd long action stocked Axis. Feeds from a 270 magazine with zero problems.
Click to expand...

A 260 AI in a long action would definitely be an interesting proposition! The big limit to this used to be brass quality, but all the usual suspects are making quality brass now.
 
AJC1 said:
Depending on how often you shoot the difference in brass is the only major difference in cost. The 6.5 has been killing things since forever in 6.5×55 but a shorter package is better for some.

And for this reason 6.5x55 will handle heavier loads and brass has been available my entire life. It's not on your this or that list but it's what I have and I'm not getting a creed for the same reason.
Click to expand...

Kaldor said:
A 260 AI in a long action would definitely be an interesting proposition! The big limit to this used to be brass quality, but all the usual suspects are making quality brass now.
Click to expand...

If I were to build a 6.5 on a long action, I'd probably just go with 6.5-05 to be honest. It looks like with a 24"-26" barrel 3000+fps is possible with 14Xgr bullets.
 
I debated the same thing. I went with the 260 because I already had one and figured I'd save on dies by getting another 260. I spent a lot of time trying to find a sub MOA load with 120-130 grain bullets. Barely found one with the lowly Speer 120 Gold Dot and H4895. Lots of money and time spent on this. May have done better with the Creedmoor copying others with slower powders and heavier bullets. Will be trying some heavier bullets in the 260 next.
Best load found was S85 HP with H4895. Amazingly it was the best load in my previous 260 as well. Sierra doesn't make that bullet anymore.
 
MrMagumba said:
I debated the same thing. I went with the 260 because I already had one and figured I'd save on dies by getting another 260. I spent a lot of time trying to find a sub MOA load with 120-130 grain bullets. Barely found one with the lowly Speer 120 Gold Dot and H4895. Lots of money and time spent on this. May have done better with the Creedmoor copying others with slower powders and heavier bullets. Will be trying some heavier bullets in the 260 next.
Best load found was S85 HP with H4895. Amazingly it was the best load in my previous 260 as well. Sierra doesn't make that bullet anymore.
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I run W760 and a 100 AMAX. It has proven to be very accurate and death on Whitetail.

On the OP. I would choose the 6.5 over the 260 if I started over again. But I have a 260 and it's proven itself to be more than capable.
I usually make my brass from 308 do I can neck turn it to fit my chamber.
 
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TEXASJD said:
For just a deer gun in short action and since you are rebarreling anyway might look at 250AI mine is a blast and lightning death to whitetail. I get 3750fps with 75g Vmax and 3500 with 87g Noslers and it shoots little bug hole groups.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/ar...hwhile-wildcat-the-250-savage-ackley-improved

https://sierrabullets.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/little-big-man/
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Now that's an interesting cartridge for sure. Sounds like that'd make a mess of a coyote too.
 
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