6.5 mm LR/ELR Cartridge Advise

[Wildcats]

Well, after 40 years of turning wrenches and 20 of shooting large magnums,my rt shoulder has
finally started to call it quits.2 surgeries inside of 8 years and the most resent one last week with
a rotator cuff repair,bone spur and torn ligament,it's time to hang up the (big Magnums) for awhile or suffer
the consequences in my later years according to my orthopedic surgeon.

That being said....
I've been looking closely at the 6.5 mm cartridge lineup for LR/ELR shooting.mostly 1k-1.5k

My choices so-far based on std bolt face LA and SA actions,don't want magnums
Taking under consideration,ease of reloading,premium brass choices and availability ,(Lapua/Norma/Nosler)for the particular caliber.

Also considered ,barrel life... who cares.

6.5/06 AI. easy,just necking up 25/06 brass and fire forming
6.5 wsm..to much work
6.5/284 win.. known favorite Lapua brass
260AI Lapua brass,easy no guessing.fire forming
6.5 Creedmore well not sure how it will stand up to any of the above with heavy bullets,but very popular.

Anyway,6.5 Gurus chime in please.

 

[JORTZ]

Love 6.5 stuff but only to 1200 yards.
6.5 creed 6.5x284 and a grendel is what i own. They are great to shoot and accurate but im sure start to fall apart after 1600 yards or so.
I always thought about a 264 win mag. Recoil is nothing and able to get a 142gr bullet up to 3200 to 3300 fps. Or a 147gr up around 3100fps.
Good luck with search.
Ps buy one of every caliber and try them all lol

 

[r bose]

6.5x55. 30 inch tube will get you about 3000FPS

 

[jbpmidas]

I am looking at a similar deal. I decided on 6.5 SAUM and am currently researching the Flatline bullets from Warner Tool. If what I'm looking at is correct, should be supersonic past 2k. Same bullet in 6.5 Creed should be super past 1800 yards.

 

[Wildcats]

I am looking at a similar deal. I decided on 6.5 SAUM and am currently researching the Flatline bullets from Warner Tool. If what I'm looking at is correct, should be supersonic past 2k. Same bullet in 6.5 Creed should be super past 1800 yards.

I hear the 6.5 Gap 4s cartridge does really well.based off the 300rsam.
however, i want to stay with a std boltface.
Something to consider.
John Pierce has built quite a few of them.

 

[EBaker]

I have shot the 6.5x284, 6.5 Creedmoor, and the Grendel.....I also have the 6.5 RSAUM....but the 6.5x284 the most. If I were to do it again, I would get the barrel melonited to extend barrel life and start shooting. I found it very easy to tune a load. Plus, there is a lot of great data on it......You mentioned your shoulder...any thoughts on a brake or suppressor on the rifle? The 6.5 x284 will reach 1.5 k easily. Mr. Tubb has shot it out to a mile. Best of luck!
Ed

 

[jbpmidas]

Get the data from Warner Tool's website and run it through your ballistics app at 3100 or the Creedmoor. 6.5x47 and 260 would be similar I'd guess.

My current Creedmoor load should be supersonic to 1400ish with the 140 Hybrids.

 

[ebb]

6.5-06 and 6.5-284 have almost identical case capacity. Either one of these, if ELR is on the plate. I have 260s and don't think they have enough speed and a Creedmore has less capacity than a 260. I like my 6.5-284 a lot. I think to make it work good a really long range it needs a bullet with more BC and length than a 140.

 

[Wildcats]

I have shot the 6.5x284, 6.5 Creedmoor, and the Grendel.....I also have the 6.5 RSAUM....but the 6.5x284 the most. If I were to do it again, I would get the barrel melonited to extend barrel life and start shooting. I found it very easy to tune a load. Plus, there is a lot of great data on it......You mentioned your shoulder...any thoughts on a brake or suppressor on the rifle? The 6.5 x284 will reach 1.5 k easily. Mr. Tubb has shot it out to a mile. Best of luck!
Ed

I've tried numerous brakes on my magnums with similar results.
Suppressors out of the question in my state.
I heard somewhere on the site about the Beast Brakes from Muzzle Brakes are really effective.

 

[Wildcats]

At this point i've narrowed down to the 6.5/06 and the 6.5/284.
I belive that the 6.5/06 edges the 6.5/284 a bit.

 

[264WM70]

To get to elr with a 6.5 mm you will need 3100 fps or faster at the muzzle. No magnum eliminates several great choices. How fast can the 6.5/06 go?

 

[seymour fish]

To get to elr with a 6.5 mm you will need 3100 fps or faster at the muzzle. No magnum eliminates several great choices. How fast can the 6.5/06 go?

6.5-06 Ackley is the correct answer. 140 JLK at 3070-3200 depending on your case life/bbl life preference. N-165. Laser to 1600, looks good on paper to 2K. Recoil is negligible

 

[mysticplayer]

From your list, I would go with the 260AI or 6.5 Mystic which was my version. 140gr class bullet easily to 2900fps so mimics many of the larger cases with less powder and a bit better bore life. Think 1500rds as best life sliding to the high teens where minute of big rock is about it.

The furthest I have taken this was a GPS measured 2340yds... it made the trip but elevation becomes your biggest hurdle... wind drift was hilariously huge.

For even more bore life and a bit less speed, the 6.5 Creedmoor would get the nod.... 2800fps

BUT if distances beyond 1000yds is desired, consider the 284. Way better real world ballistics (yes, I have shot both side by side way out there)

Better bore life, not that much more recoil which can be offset with heavier rifle or muzzle brake.

Set up and running costs are very similar.

If true ELR shooting is the goal, choose bullets that will go subsonic .... it does sooner or later regardless of how fast you start and 200fps gains you at most 150yds further before you hit the wall. So cutting bore life a lot to gain another 150yds is not ideal.

Good luck with your build... from another shooter with a bad shoulder.

Jerry

 

[264WM70]

6.5-06 Ackley is the correct answer. 140 JLK at 3070-3200 depending on your case life/bbl life preference. N-165. Laser to 1600, looks good on paper to 2K. Recoil is negligible

If you want 6.5 then I would agree with fish!

 

[Wildcats]

If you want 6.5 then I would agree with fish!

That was my first choice.

 

[Kiwi Greg]

A decent muzzle brake like a Terminator will sort all your recoil problems, just make sure you wear earmuffs

 

[Willie]

Wildcats, you are overlooking a 6.5 with great potential. The 6.5 Sherman will run 3,200 fps with 140 Berger's, 3,100 with 150 Matrix and 3,000 with 160 Matrix. I run a 26" Bartlein on mine with 140s, my warm weather load is running 3170 with no pressure.

Standard bolt face, 270 or 280 brass in a long action. There is also a short mag version that has similar numbers. Google 6.5 Sherman or 6.5 Sherman SS. Whidden has the dies in stock.

 

[Zero333]

6.5x55 AI. 30" bbl will push 140's at 3,100-3,150 fps. Decent barrel life too.

 

[Danny1788]

I have often thought about a 280ackley necked down to 6.5mm. You can get Nosler brass and neck it down in two steps .296 and then .291ish and have a 6.5-06ackely with no fire forming. It would be equal to the above mentioned 6.5sherman in terms of capacity. but no fire forming to get your capacity to the max in the 06 size case.

 

[tvaught]

6.5 SAUM

Why: 100% case capacity fill with a Hodgon Extreme Powder (H1000) and 58000-60000 PSI gets 3150 fps with 140-147 grain bullets with a 26" Bartlein barrel. Buy preformed NECK TURNED brass from Sendero Ammo or Copper Creek. Buy Redding Competition Series dies from GA Precision.

Look at wind drift at 1k with a 3150 fps 147 ELD-M. You have to push a 7mm 180 Hybrid to 3050 fps or a 30 cal 230 Hybrid to 2950 fps to shoot inside it. What do you think the barrel life/recoil would be on those rigs?