Why not 6.5 Creedmoor?

[atomd]

I'm deciding what barrel to buy for a new bolt action rifle I'm building. This is going to be used for target shooting at 100-300, and sometimes 600 yards. I'd like to get out there further but I'm still looking for a place to do it. I know going with .308 is a good standby and 6.5cm doesn't really shine until you get far out there...but I'm thinking about something different. This gun will shoot 90%+ reloads so factory ammo availability isn't a big issue. Also, hornady match 6.5cm is cheaper than federal match .308 if I needed to buy some. The reloading components seem about the same price so that won't matter. During any ammo buying frenzy like now...the .308 components get hard to find.

Here's what I'm thinking. Why not 6.5cm? Less recoil than .308 (not that .308 has a ton of recoil though but less isn't a bad thing)....there's plenty of high end components to make ammo from. If I was able to stretch it out past 600 or 800 yards the 6.5cm seems like it's a great choice for that. I'm also considering .260 but leaning towards the 6.5cm even though they are extremely close in performance. I already have a .223 and a .308 so maybe that's why I'm looking to try something new. Any reason not to?

 

[Abel]

Why not a 6mm like 243AI with a barrel twist for high BC bullets?

 

[browningguy]

As I recall the 6.5 CM is really just a .260 perfected. Tighter tolerances for match ammo. It seems a perfect cartridge for long range low recoil shooting.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

Zak is the best long-range shooter I know. He'll pop in here shortly, but for now you can read this article of his from a while back.

(I went .260 Remington personally, but I don't know that the differences are worth arguing over.)

 

[atomd]

I'd guess the barrel life with the .243AI is a good amount less than the others though. The .243 and .243ai have a lot going for it though. I really like the .243 and it's very tempting. The brass choices are really good too and the bullet prices are way cheaper too.

The only little hangup with the 6.5CM is that hornady is almost the only game in town for brass.....although norma makes some too. Lapua makes .243 brass which is a bonus too....and the ai has bonuses going for it too. That's a really good option. I guess I could pretty much flip a coin between the 6.5CM and the .260 if I went that way. I did read Zak's article a while back where he did a good comparison.

 

[taliv]

The real difference is the 30* shoulder and brass availability.

i'd suggest necking down to 6 Creedmoor.

GAP has 6CM brass for sale around 50c ea. Lots of gunsmiths have the reamer now. it is even less recoil and is flatter to 1000 (with the 105g bergers) than the 6.5. and it'd be slightly cheaper as well. barrel life is a consideration

 

[skidooman603]

Personally..In that Cal range I love the 6.5x55 Swede from Dog Towns to Large Deer...Flat shootin and still the large deer caliber of choice "across the pond"...

 

[eastbank]

i have three .260 rem. guns and with a 2-3 inch longer barrel it does not take a back seat to a 6.5CM. i am thinking of turning one into a .260 AI, as brass is easy and cheap to get. a 6mm AI with the right twist and berger bullets interests me and i may build one in the near future. eastbank.

 

[MtnCreek]

I haven't had any problems getting 6.5 creedmoor brass. Nosler is supposed to start making it soon, but as long as Hornady is available, I'll likely stick with it. The weight is pretty consistent, but it does need a little work to the flash hole. If Norma's making it, I would be interested in that.

When I was looking to get a new rifle, I looked at 6mm creedmoor, 6x47 lupua, 260 rem, 6.5x47 lupa and 6.5 creedmoor plus a couple others. My go to rifle was a 300wm launching a 208gr bullet, so it was a little difficult for me to go as light as a 6mm. I liked the creedmoors shorter length mainly because it would give me more flexibility in a detachable mag. I was really interested in the x47 lapua, but I didn't want to put myself in the position where I was dependent on expensive brass.

Looking back, I did gave up a little by passing on the 6mm's because the only blood this rifle has spilt has been a few crows, but it's still a little comforting to know I can load a more substantial bullet.

Edit:

I know going with .308 is a good standby and 6.5cm doesn't really shine until you get far out there

It starts to show up a modest range if the wind is blowing.

 

[j1]

Do not forget all the fun you will have flash hole and primer pocket accurizing. That gun will SHOOT, if you help it just a little.

 

[atomd]

After doing some more research I've been considering the .260. I've been looking hard at the 6mm variations out there but most of them seem to be barrel burners or a little too obscure to where I'd have to send off to get it to a smith with the right reamer. I know barrels are expendable just like ammo but I don't want the hassle and expense of changing a .243 barrel every 1500 rounds. A lot of the other 6mm flavors people seem to say max out around 2000 or so. Some of the others people say they get 1/2 decent barrel life from I don't know that much about like the 6XC, BR, etc. I still can't make up my mind though.

 

[Abel]

After doing some more research I've been considering the .260. I've been looking hard at the 6mm variations out there but most of them seem to be barrel burners or a little too obscure to where I'd have to send off to get it to a smith with the right reamer. I know barrels are expendable just like ammo but I don't want the hassle and expense of changing a .243 barrel every 1500 rounds. A lot of the other 6mm flavors people seem to say max out around 2000 or so. Some of the others people say they get 1/2 decent barrel life from I don't know that much about like the 6XC, BR, etc. I still can't make up my mind though.

Then just go 260 or 7mm-08 and make sure your barrel is twisted to shoot the bullet that you want.

 

[MtnCreek]

I still can't make up my mind though.

And if you're like me, you never will. Pick one and don't look back.

If you're still shopping for smiths, Accurate Ordnance did a good job for me and their turnaround was super fast (weeks not months). IMO, it would be a good idea to make sure the smith you're going to use has the barrel and other parts on hand.

 

[Txhillbilly]

I like the 260 Remington,and the 6.5 Creedmoor. I handload 100% for all my centerfire calibers,and with the 260,good brass is easier to find/make. I use 243 brass and just resize the neck for all my 260 brass.
The Creedmoor brass has gotten better from Hornady,but I've started fire forming 22-250 brass for the Creedmoor,and so far,I don't have anymore primer pocket issues like the Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor brass has.

I shoot the 260 with an AR-10 platform,and the Creedmoor out of a custom bolt action I built. I do really like being able to really stretch out the 140 Breger VLD's to the lands with the 6.5 Creedmoor and still have over .085" left inside the detachable magazine. You can't do that with the 260 Remington in a bolt action.

Both calibers are a toss up when it comes to performance.