6.5 which one?

[katera]

I'm planning on getting a 6.5 Grendel for my AR soon. Since hearing about the cartridge I have become very intrested in 6.5 calibers. I have a 243 and am planning on getting it reabarreled in a 6.5 but not sure which one.

Speed is not a real big deal to me but would also like something that is not really hard on barrels. I would also like a caliber that brass is availabe for and would not have to make. I would like to start shooting at longer ranges 500-1000 yard. Would appericate any thoughts and advice. Thanks,

Rhys

 

[FroggyOne2]

260 Rem, has longer neck than the 6.5x308, or the you can do the 6.5 swede!

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

6.5 x 47 Lapua.

 

[katera]

How is the 260 rem or 65x47 on barrel life?

 

[2644ever]

.260 Ackley Improved or my favorite, the 6,5 Redding http://stevespages.com/jpg/cd65reddingsa.jpg and never look back. With a tube at least 28" long, the proper amount of V V N560 or R-22 and a Berger 140 VLD, you won't need anything bigger.

 

[maestrovert]

i'm curious about the 6.5 Leopard myself,basically a 6.5-.264 on the .270WSM case), and am seeking more complete info/data....
Any assistance in this would be greatly appreciated !
Thanx

 

[CJ6]

6.5x47L,6.5 Creedmoore,6.5 IHMSA their all based on a Savage 250 or 300 case.If you want to go the buy brass and load route get either the 6.5x47 L or 6.5 Creedmoore,if you want something old and different 6.5 IHMSA or Dasher or international et al. I like the 6.5 IHMSA. my 2 bits worth......btw I'm still on the first barrel on a XP 100 built in 78"

 

[Rob01]

I'm having a 6.5 Creedmoor built right now at GA Precision. GAP Templar action, Manners T3 stock, Badger DBM, and 28" 8 twist Kreiger barrel. Should sling them out pretty good. The 6.5 Creedmoor is based off the 30 TC cartridge. Advantages are factory match grade ammo available in 120 AMAX and 140 AMAX as well as excellent brass from Hornady and many 6.5 bullets to choose from. Add to that the round shoots at lower pressures than other 6.5s and barrel life should be pretty good also. Hornady also gives you thier loads on the boxes of ammo to let you load to the same specs as factory if you wanted to. Hopefully it will be done soon as I have a bunch of ammo ready to go.
6.5 Creedmoor on left, .308 on right

 

[FroggyOne2]

Are you going to use this rifle or XTC or just long distance shooting?

Just a note, I would not use the 6.5-284, it is finicky and a real barrel burner.. just as the .243 is.

Your prob looking at about 2500 rounds if you use the 6.5 Creedmoor, 2000 for the 260 Rem. These are my guesses, I may be off a bit, but then YMMV.

 

[cliffe]

i put together a 6.5-284, followed some of the loads on the info page, 142smk, h4350, ccibr, lapua brass. shot a .355 5 shot group just trying out some loads. been real easy to make shoot.finicky???wonder why the 6.5-284 is such a barrel burner? it doesn't burn hardly any more powder than a 260rem or the 6.5x55. no need to ackley or improve. at long range tough to beat. the other rounds are close, but, close don't count.for me second choice would be the 6.5x 55. 6.5 is a nice caliber, good luck on your new gun, whatever you decide. cliffe

 

[Mudcat]

Based on my throat wear at 600 rounds on my 6.5Creedmoor bbl, i am betting we are looking at 2500 rds EASY of great accuracy and then probably to at least 3000 where you aint going to notice it shooting XTC...ie, you might see somethign at 600, but nothing worse than a few less Xs. At 600 rds, I have not had to move my VLD seating depth yet

One note on the Hornady brass, while its good, it aint no Lapua or Winchester so dont try to run hot loads cause all you are going to do is blow out the primer pockets. Keep your loads reasonable and you will get over 20 loads out of em. I have some I have loaded well over 20 times during testing...they grow like mother though, as they are a lot softer than Win or Lapua...which is why the pocket will go but the necks havent been splitting.

Oh, and that lot someone had the pic of, be careful with it as that load is a might hot and has been known to blow primers, especially with a short throated bbl. The original load was better and I suspect Hornady will be going back to the older data. Keep those rounds out of the sun and dry and you shouldnt have any issues. Check your primer pockets after firing and see if they went beyond .208 or .209, if so, well, you know why.

John


John

 

[Rob01]

Thanks for the heads up Mudcat. I'll keep an eye out for pressure. Rounds will be in mags and out of the sun and rain in my pouches so shouldn't be a problem. Throats will be standard chambering and not short throated also.

I have another 1000 of the 140s on the way also. Heard anything about those as far as pressure? Also are you shooting the factory or handloading?

 

[rhino]

I think 6.5x55 se on a modern action and custom chamber is still very very hard to beat.

I get 2950 fps no problems and my gun patterns very good at 1k.

RHINOUT!

 

[Mudcat]

I have another 1000 of the 140s on the way also. Heard anything about those as far as pressure? Also are you shooting the factory or handloading?

I shoot nothing but handloads, but the ammo in question was being shot by Dennis DeMille, the "co-creator", as you know, of the round. We were shooting a team match and his rounds were wet and blew five primers in a row...luckly they called the match due to the rain as he wouldnt have been able to finish out. May have also been an issue with his bbl/chamber, and not totally ammo. I measured the primer pockets and all were .215 or larger! OUch! I may end up firing one of those rounds in my Wilson bbl'd T2k and see if its overpressure or not, as I have a box or so of the left over rounds.

Based on my data and testing, thats just a tad too much powder in some rifles and the cases just cant handle it, so they let the primers go.

The factory 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, in general, is wickly accurate. I am currently loading 100SMK/123SMK/140Berger VLDs for XTC use. Just as accurate or more so than my 6XC chambered T2ks. Recoil isnt noticable to me except offhand, as I use 70SMKs in my 6XC for that, so I do notice a difference.

My 140s are running a leisurely 2800fps. I can get them over 2950fps,6.5x284 class/speed) but the brass is toast after 1 firing, so I scaled it back and when I want 6.5x284 speed, I use my 6.5x284.

Will the round catch on? I think so, and hope so. Its basically a 6.5XC, and of course, being a 6XC addict, I like that.

I do not believe that Hornady upped the charge on the 140s, but check the load data listed on the back of the box.

Going to run my 140VLDs in the 600 stages of the warmup match before the LR regional at Butner....will report back,the load does work very well at 500 here on the home range).

 

[CurtDawson]

When running 140gr,.bullets at 2850-2950fps.What are the chamber pressures for the different 6.5 rounds?

 

[Rob01]

Thanks for the info Mudcat. Good to hear from someone who is already sending rounds down range. We plan to handload also for the rounds but also want to try the factory loadings. We will definitely keep an eye out for pressure and I'll check the primer pockets. How many firings you getting out of your brass with your loads? Also you sticking with the H4350 also?

 

[rhino]

Quickload predicts with VIN N560 and a 140 vld berger at 3.08 56,000 psi.

Thats going 2950 and as people will atest very accurate at 1k.

Sorry thats for a 6.5x55 SE .294 neck and min SAAMI spec chamber.

RHINOUT!

 

[Mudcat]

How many firings you getting out of your brass with your loads? Also you sticking with the H4350 also?

Rob:

Actually, while I tested H4350,use it for full course and LR 6XC loads) I ended up testing and am now using the new Hybrid V100 powder for the 6.5Creedmoor rounds. I seemed to get more velocity with less pressure, so I stuck with it. I did try N560, btw, and was not happy with the results, though I had predicted it would be the ticket...wasnt.

For my sane loads, I am getting 20+ firings but if you go hard on even one shot, say adios to your primer pocket!

John

 

[Rob01]

Thanks John. I have about 25lbs of H4350 so I plan on using it for a while. I use it also with my .243 so it will get used.

 

[RustyPin]

6.5x47L,6.5 Creedmoore,6.5 IHMSA their all based on a Savage 250 or 300 case.If you want to go the buy brass and load route get either the 6.5x47 L or 6.5 Creedmoore,if you want something old and different 6.5 IHMSA or Dasher or international et al. I like the 6.5 IHMSA. my 2 bits worth......btw I'm still on the first barrel on a XP 100 built in 78"

Love this, my RPC is nothing more than the 6.5 IHMSA but on the .35 Remington Case (Browning). "back from the Dead".