CF Junkie
Gold $$ Contributor
I have 3 6.5mm CMs - all Savages - a 24-inch barrel, 26-inch barrel and a re-barrel 28-inch Shilen.
All three shot great from the factory and I had to replace one 26-inch barrel after 4,600 rounds. The new Shilen replacement barrel is incredible - I just broke it in and it is averaging 0.255 for the first 28 5-round groups I have shot with 130, 140 and 147 grain bullets. The factory versions averaged around 0.331, 0.348 and 0.353.
I think the 6.5mm CMs shoot great and the recoil is very manageable. After shooting .308s, .270s and .30-06s, the 6.5mm CM recoil is nothing, especially if you load for target shooting instead of hunting. Targets don't care what the kinetic energy is when the bullet goes through the paper, although KE really matters when you are hunting.
My granddaughter likes the 24-inch barrel version.
I liked both factory 26-inch versions and just love the 28-inch Shilen replacement barrel version.
I also shoot .223, 0.308 and 22LR target rifles and and enjoy them, but there is something about a 6.5mm CM that I really like. It can handle distances well past where I am comfortable shooting.
All three shot great from the factory and I had to replace one 26-inch barrel after 4,600 rounds. The new Shilen replacement barrel is incredible - I just broke it in and it is averaging 0.255 for the first 28 5-round groups I have shot with 130, 140 and 147 grain bullets. The factory versions averaged around 0.331, 0.348 and 0.353.
I think the 6.5mm CMs shoot great and the recoil is very manageable. After shooting .308s, .270s and .30-06s, the 6.5mm CM recoil is nothing, especially if you load for target shooting instead of hunting. Targets don't care what the kinetic energy is when the bullet goes through the paper, although KE really matters when you are hunting.
My granddaughter likes the 24-inch barrel version.
I liked both factory 26-inch versions and just love the 28-inch Shilen replacement barrel version.
I also shoot .223, 0.308 and 22LR target rifles and and enjoy them, but there is something about a 6.5mm CM that I really like. It can handle distances well past where I am comfortable shooting.
