6.0 or 6.5 CM for longish range medium game

[Richard Coody]

6 & 6.5 Creedmoor were designed for long range target shooting

if i were to pick a 6.5 round for.long.range hunting it would be the SAUM

 

[JBT47]

6.5 SAUM using the Berger Elite Hunter 140 for "longish range"... in my opinion up to about 700 yds. Anything over that, especially out West I would choose larger caliber and heavy bullets...I use a .300 Win Mag with 215 and 230 Hybrids. However, there are many caliber and bullet combos which would work.

 

[long40shot]

300 Winchester Magnum running 185 Bergers.

 

[hogpatrol]

Some good picks so far. I'll add 28 and 30 Nosler for LR. Don't take a knife to a gunfight.

 

[ratbuster]

This thread has morphed into some folks ideas of what cartridge is the best choice for medium to medium long range shots. I am well aware of the merits of magnums, heavier bullets, etc. My question was more specific to the 6 CM vs. the 6.5 CM. Is there enough difference to even make a real difference between the two? The 6.0 has flatter trajectory and less recoil. The 6.5 has less wind drift and more downrange energy. Barrel life is not a consideration for a hunting rifle.

I had a 6.5 CM barrel and sold it a few days ago because it was a varmint contour and wanted something lighter. I am going to order a 22" heavy sporter contour once I decide.

 

[Milo 2.0]

 

[hogpatrol]

This thread has morphed into some folks ideas of what cartridge is the best choice for medium to medium long range shots. I am well aware of the merits of magnums, heavier bullets, etc. My question was more specific to the 6 CM vs. the 6.5 CM. Is there enough difference to even make a real difference between the two? The 6.0 has flatter trajectory and less recoil. The 6.5 has less wind drift and more downrange energy. Barrel life is not a consideration for a hunting rifle.

I had a 6.5 CM barrel and sold it a few days ago because it was a varmint contour and wanted something lighter. I am going to order a 22" heavy sporter contour once I decide.

In that case, I'd go with whatever shoots the heaviest bullet accurately, the 6.5 CM.

 

[284winner]

I distinctly remember the first shot I took at a west Texas pd. Wind was around 20 to 30. Pulled the trigger on a 40 gr. Vmax at one about 400 yards out and saw the dust fly about ten feet to the left. I got educated on western wind real fast. It was three days of nothing but unrelenting. My kill ratio was View attachment 1019181View attachment 1019181

I'll bet you were well educated with the 40 grain bullets in wind. That was my experience with whatever I took out west on PD shoots. You do get a great education on wind hold. Especially sustained wind. Sorry off topic. Given those two choices and being based on recoil, it will be real close on recoil. Better to choose for that mid range performance based on ballistics than which kicks more.

 

[alf]

This thread has morphed into some folks ideas of what cartridge is the best choice for medium to medium long range shots. I am well aware of the merits of magnums, heavier bullets, etc. My question was more specific to the 6 CM vs. the 6.5 CM. Is there enough difference to even make a real difference between the two? The 6.0 has flatter trajectory and less recoil. The 6.5 has less wind drift and more downrange energy. Barrel life is not a consideration for a hunting rifle.

I had a 6.5 CM barrel and sold it a few days ago because it was a varmint contour and wanted something lighter. I am going to order a 22" heavy sporter contour once I decide.

If you again look at my post comparing the two you're asking about, albeit Lapua based, it's a horse apiece. Recoil is a non-event with either. I prefer the heavier bullets of the 6.5, but put the cap at 123/130 grain for my Lapuas.

I don't go over a #3 contour for a packing, carrying rifle......

 

[jdh47]

My choice between the two would be the 6.5 CM though it has taken a beating on this forum it remains a great medium to longish range cartridge with good support and bullet selection.

here is a discussion on the long range hunting forum;

http://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/wanting-some-opinions.188778/

Joe

 

[284winner]

This thread has morphed into some folks ideas of what cartridge is the best choice for medium to medium long range shots. I am well aware of the merits of magnums, heavier bullets, etc. My question was more specific to the 6 CM vs. the 6.5 CM. Is there enough difference to even make a real difference between the two? The 6.0 has flatter trajectory and less recoil. The 6.5 has less wind drift and more downrange energy. Barrel life is not a consideration for a hunting rifle.

I had a 6.5 CM barrel and sold it a few days ago because it was a varmint contour and wanted something lighter. I am going to order a 22" heavy sporter contour once I decide.

Is there any reason why you haven't considered the 115 hunting bullet for 6 mm ? Brings all the numbers closer.

 

[DirtySteve]

Truth be known hp, long range hunting repulses me personally, but I'm a live and let live sort of guy. More for the fact that dues aren't anted up for a lot involved.
That said, I'm around a lot that do, and I'm hearing 6mm's doing superb jobs on deer and antelope to 600 yrds, way better than what 7's and 6.5's did a few yrs back. Boils down to they can shoot the 6's better, coupled with good bullets, 105 hybrids and Amax's.

I am with you on this. I don't shoot any game animals over 300ish yards... I don't want to track and that will be longer distance I need to pack the animal out. I think 1000 Ft/lbs of energy should be the minimum for a clean kill. But that is just an opinion.

 

[hogpatrol]

6.5 CM...

Because if you forget to pack your handloads you can always get some good accurate hunting ammo at the store.

Not to mention more terminal energy.

Good point but if hunting outside the U.S. would advise another caliber.

 

[ratbuster]

Thanks for all the inputs which have helped me decide. I looked at the ballistic data again last night and have decided on the 6.5. It has the same energy at 800 yds as the 6.0 does at 600

 

[jsthntn247]

Looks like Berger is coming out with a 155 Hybrid hunting bullet. Your 6.5cm should be able to get 2775 out of that pretty easily which would put you at 1000ft/lb of energy at 900 yards and with a 717 BC less wind than a 284 Win.

 

[STOMP442]

Here in Arizona, Coues deer hunting at 400-800 yards is pretty normal. Lots of folks subscribe to the "needs to be a magnum if you're going to shoot that far" mentality and that's fine, it works. There has been however a huge surge in people opting for the 6.5 Creedmoor, 260 Remington and the 6mmXC and killing deer just as well and just as easily at that range. I have personally seen Deer killed at well over 700 yards with 6mms and 6.5s that dropped right in their tracks. The amount of terminal performance has been incredible with the 105 and 140 Bergers. I can't honestly say that a magnum cartridge of any kind would have killed them any better or any quicker.

 

[Jtate]

If you don't like recoil, and medium game = north american deer, long range = ? Go with the 6 creedmoor, mine is still above 1800 fps at 1000 yards shooting 105 bergers. Elmer Keith a side, most folks that think you need a big gun to kill bullet proof deer haven't killed very much big game, and have very limited hunting experience, oh they may have hunted for over 40 years but all in the same state, for the same deer. This is my experience over 60 heads bagged not counting hogs, six states, 4 countries over the last 20 years. In that time I have wounded one Deer that needed to be tracked a long ways and finished. ( 300 win mag 190 gr mexico ) And lost one Kudu that I hit solid (30 06 180gr eastern cape ) That's it ! I have killed them with everything, bow and arrow, bowie knife (hog) 6mm, 6.5 mm .277, 30 cal ect. from point blank to over 600 yards. Shot placement is everything. Distance is not the enemy, Wind is.

 

[284winner]

Looks like Berger is coming out with a 155 Hybrid hunting bullet. Your 6.5cm should be able to get 2775 out of that pretty easily which would put you at 1000ft/lb of energy at 900 yards and with a 717 BC less wind than a 284 Win.

I started putting the horse before the buggy as well. That's assuming a .717 BC average. Also with the newest 180 ELD-M, the 284 also has another high BC option that if it's published number is even close to accurate will surpass that 155. Lots of assuming. Don't sell a 7mm to buy a 6.5 just yet.

 

[ranger3]

If you are shooting long range, the 6.5 x 284 is absolute minimum. 7mag,300 Win Mag, My favorite is 270 or 7 WSM. I hate tracking an animal that didn't get killed. I used 25-06 on my Antelope last year had a great standing shot that was to go into the ribcage. At the same time I pulled the trigger he swung his head to flick something off his rib cage. Only shot off his jaw. I was sick. I did finish him off, but it's not worth shooting something less than lethal to fire one or two shots on a once a year or less hunt for the recoil. I also think even 243 is less than adequate for deer. My 2 cents IMHO.. I used to hunt with a group of about thirty hunters on deer. 270 made short work of them compared to 243. 223's or 22-250's were not allowed until one year, lost three deer, they were banned after that. I have a 6.5 Creed and a 260, they are strictly target rifles for my use. I would use one for antelope, deer only if a closer than 400 yd shot. again my 2 cents.

 

[Frankr]

well I have used a 6.5 creed and still use a 6mm 105 for whitetail I try to stay under 750 Yards max I would take a 1K shot if it were a once in a lifetime buck and I had to make it work. A well built 6.5 Creed can launch a 140 VLD at 2,950 FPS and I would bet a well built 6 Creed would launch a 105 at 3,250 FPS as I get that from a 6XC. So the speed level's the playing field some but I do believe a fudged shot the 6.5 140 is the way to go..a long way out there.