6.5X55 vs the 260 Rem

[Greebe]

So would the 6.5 Creedmoor be a better alternative to these?

I was originally interested in that cartridge, but I was unable to find anyone that does barrel work for it. All the barrel makers that I contacted did not chamber for it, albeit that was about 6 months ago.

It seems like brass for the 6.5 Creedmoor was a decent price last I checked. Not as easy to find though. Maybe if it ever gets popular before it goes bust I might think about going that route.

Greebe

 

[gvnwst]

Really, if you are willing to get stuck with just one brass source, the 6.5x47 lapua is the way to go, their brass is a good bit better then Hornadys IMO.

 

[Zak Smith]

6.5x47 has less capacity than .260 or 6.5CM and it has to be driven to higher pressures to achieve the same velocities.

6.5 CM is essentially the same capacity as .260 but you only have one source for brass.

 

[gvnwst]

Hmm....okay. A question i have, what would be the "ideal" length for a 1k yd or so target rifle in any of these .260'ish cartridges? 26", 28", or 30"?

 

[Zak Smith]

I wouldn't go longer than 26" if you want to suppress it. In any case, I like the 26" length. You'd gain a bit more with 28 or 30, but it's your call.

-z

 

[USSR]

I'm very happy with my 28" Obermeyer in 6.5x55 for F Class competition. Much longer than that, and you have trouble finding a case that it fits in.

Don

 

[Greebe]

Why couldn't 6.5 Creedmoor be made from a .243, .260, or any other .308 derived case?

The dimensions appear to be that the 6.5 Creedmoor is made from the .308 case.

I always see people saying you can't form the 6.5 Creedmoor from the .308 case.

Here are the dimensions:
6.5 Creedmoor:

And the .260:


Greebe

 

[Zak Smith]

Look at the base to shoulder distance. That's the main problem.

 

[Greebe]

I'm sorry, but I fail to see how you could not form the 6.5 CM out of a .260 Rem.

Base to shoulder for .260 is - 1.5598"
Base to shoulder for 6.5 CM - 1.5202"

Running the .260 into a 6.5 CM size die should bump that back. Then fireform to get crisp shoulder dimensions.

Is there something that I am missing?

Greebe

 

[Zak Smith]

I'm not sure you could bump a shoulder almost 0.040" without smushing it. I haven't tried. Anyone?

If we're talking about 6.5CM vs. .260-- the effort to convert a "08" case to 6.5CM is much more than the effort to convert any of them in the family to .260. So why bother when the .260 has identical performance?

 

[Greebe]

.040" is nothing

I form .350 Rem Mag out of .300 Win Mags without any problems. That is pushing the shoulder back half an inch.

I used to form .308 out of 30-06 as well and they shot better than some of the match .308 brass I had. The rim of the .30-06 is a hair thinner but that does nothing to effect accuracy.

Greebe

 

[Greebe]

Oh, I forgot to mention the shoulder would be a bit rounded but as I stated above it will get ironed out first time you fire it. Basically it would be like when you fireform a .260 AI out of .260 Rem brass.

Greebe

 

[Greebe]

Zak--

Yeah .260 seems like it would be easier. OK, so 6.5 Creedmoor is back out of the picture.

Seems like the 40 degree shoulder angle on the .260 might feed more reliable in a field gun as well.

Greebe

 

[Greebe]

dead?

 

[gvnwst]

A small update, i just recieved midwayusa's april flyer, and they listed NORMA .260 brass! This must be new, i haven't heard about it anywhere else. IIRC (can't find the flyer right now) it was pretty good price too.

dead?

Mostly


What more do you want to know?

 

[jkingrph]

The greatest competition to the .260 has been the 7-08 not the 6.5x55. I think in due time the .260 will do to the 6.5x55 what the 7-08 has done to the 7x57.

Maybe so, but in the meantime I shall keep my 6.5x55's and 7x57 and pass on the other two upstarts.

 

[Gewehr98]

Split the difference.

6.5x57.

Make it from damned near any of the x57 brass, be it 7x57, 8x57, or .257 Roberts.

I've seen guys make it from .30-06 brass, although I'd recommend neck-turning.

More zip than a .260, less wear than a 6.5x285 or 6.5-06.

When in Europe, I found it to be very popular.