I hope I don't get flamed for asking this. I am getting ready to rebarrel my 260 rem and trying to decide between the Lapua or Creedmoor. I won't be buying any factory ammo at all. It will be mag fed and used mostly for shooting steel from 300 to 600yds, some local 600 f class matches, and occasionally shooting steel out to 1200yds but that isn't very often. The components I currently have a decent supply of are cci 450's, 142 SMK's, Berger 140 lrbt's, Varget and H4350. So I plan on running small primer brass in whichever one I go with. My main objective is the best accuracy at 600yds and ease of tuning. So I guess my question is, does the Lapua have an edge over the Creedmoor as far as ease of tuning and absolute accuracy? Or are they pretty identical in that aspect and it's a flip of a coin which one would be better?
Any advantage of 6.5 Lapua over Creedmoor?
- Thread starter 6.5grendel
- Start date
You already checked a couple of boxes for the Lapua, use of small rifle primers and no factory ammo being bought. Some sure think the Lapua is inherently more accurate. I went the other direction because of a supply of large primers and the thought of passing down the rifle someday to someone who doesn’t reload. My gunsmith doesn’t think there’s a hair bit of difference between the two.
When I built my first 6.5 the Creed was still in its infancy. I went with the Lapua mainly for brass quality. I’ve stuck with it mainly because it’s what I know and have at this point, but if I was to start over today I would go with the Creed. There are now multiple very good brass options, both in large and small primer, and the brass from Lapua is less expensive than the 6.5x47L brass. You get a little more case volume out of the Creed and I don’t think you give up much. The data out there for Creed is probably 2x-3x of what’s out there for 6.5x47L, which should be helpful getting started. There’s talk about the x47L being more “inherently accurate” and I’ve found it is easy to find a good load, but there are plenty of very accurate Creedmoors out there as well.
I like the 260 but I'm wanting something that mag feeds better than the 260. I had my 260 chambered with a long freebore (.166 I believe) for shooting the heavy bullets and seating them out long. I get great velocities with it and can seat most bullets out past the neck/shoulder junction but I can't mag feed with most loads. My Berger 140lrbt load is around 3.050".
dstoenner
Silver $$ Contributor
Better barrel life with the 6.5x47 than the CM. You can really load long but still use mags with the Lapua. A friend of mine is a prs guy and has the CM. He is constrained in how long and it takes powder room away and he can’t go as high as he wants. What good is bigger case if you can’t use it?
I have gone to 1200 meters with my 6x47L. My scope was limiting me. I was still strongly supersonic.
David
I have gone to 1200 meters with my 6x47L. My scope was limiting me. I was still strongly supersonic.
David
Something tells me the Jeep or the sneakers will never ever see a dirt road!
FeMan
Gold $$ Contributor
I have three 6.5x47s and one 6.5 Creedmoore. I also shoot Dasher and 284 (among many others). The 6.5x47 has had the most consistent accuracy of anything I have ever had. The Creedmoore shoots extremely well too though.
For me the difference is the case volume. Shooting mid and long-range F Class, I prefer the Creedmoore shooting 153.5s of 156 Bergers. It has the boiler room to run those heavy, high BC bullets at a good speed and while the 6.5x47 with 130 to 142 grain bullets shoots slightly tighter, the BC of the heavier bullets wins out in total scoring. I haven't tried those heavy bullets in the 6.5x47 though.
For me the difference is the case volume. Shooting mid and long-range F Class, I prefer the Creedmoore shooting 153.5s of 156 Bergers. It has the boiler room to run those heavy, high BC bullets at a good speed and while the 6.5x47 with 130 to 142 grain bullets shoots slightly tighter, the BC of the heavier bullets wins out in total scoring. I haven't tried those heavy bullets in the 6.5x47 though.
And just guessing the vast vast majority of Creedmoor buyers over the last 10 years or so will never shoot at more than 100 yards
Well, why to that? If I am after super-accuracy I am going to single-shot it anyway, as I don't want the nose hitting the feed-ramp, etc., plus there is just no need -- I can lay them in there plenty quick enough.
I recently got a great new .264, 7.5 barrel but I'm thinking of just sticking with 260. Already got the dies!
Well, why to that? If I am after super-accuracy I am going to single-shot it anyway, as I don't want the nose hitting the feed-ramp, etc., plus there is just no need -- I can lay them in there plenty quick enough.
I recently got a great new .264, 7.5 barrel but I'm thinking of just sticking with 260. Already got the dies!
I just want to be able to mag feed for the convenience if I would like to. I have taken the 260 hunting before and was able to mag feed but had to seat the bullets deeper than I normally do. I will still most likely single feed when shooting at paper or at a match no matter what caliber I go with, but would like to be able to mag feed when shooting steel for fun or if i do take it hunting. I like the 260 but would like to try something new that is short enough to not have issues if I do want to mag feed. I could go with a shorter freebore but then it seems like the heavy bullets are seated deep into the case.
For seating long and mag feeding, go with the 6.5x47. I have a 6 Creedmoor in a short action and it didn’t take long until my COALS were too long to mag feed. The only reason I can see to go with the Creedmoor would be if you wanted to shoot factory ammo or as you said, if you needed to use LRPs.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
6.5x47
Have the gunsmith lengthen the mag well for a Wyatt's mag box giving you another .120 in COAL.
Have the gunsmith lengthen the mag well for a Wyatt's mag box giving you another .120 in COAL.
I know you said you had 140’s on hand, but I just noticed your handle here. Assuming you also have some 123’s, I think the 6.5x47L is a little more efficient with that weight class than the Creed. The 123s will do just fine out to 600 and I’m actually starting to prefer them over the 140’s at that distance.
Both are great accuracy-wise... but one costs less to reload. Lets face it, creedmoor is everywhere... even if you aren't buying factory ammo, there is a metric shit ton of creedmoor brass out there, the bullet costs are a wash, and you can find both SRP and LRP brass to suit you reloading needs. Sure, it's fashionable to dog the 6.5 creedmoor... especially on this forum, but that cartridge has hit critical mass in much the same way 308 has. Everyone makes guns for it, everyone makes ammo for it, and the difference in powder charge is negligible.
Either way you can't go wrong but don't let the creedmoor naysayers sway you into choosing 6.5 Lapua just because they are butt hurt that their favorite cartridge didn't win out in the court of public opinion. If all things were equal... it probably doesn't matter either way... but all things aren't equal, and 6.5 Lapua just plain costs more.
Either way you can't go wrong but don't let the creedmoor naysayers sway you into choosing 6.5 Lapua just because they are butt hurt that their favorite cartridge didn't win out in the court of public opinion. If all things were equal... it probably doesn't matter either way... but all things aren't equal, and 6.5 Lapua just plain costs more.
Yes I do have some 123's that I shoot in the Grendel but right now I am saving them for it. Hopefully things will start changing soon and I will be able to stock back up on them. They are hard to find along g with everything else right now.
A creed aint going to anything better than the 260 you got performance wise. Set up correctly, bullets seated out, the 260 needs a long action. Yeah the brass fits in a short action, so does a 284... but when you seat out long bullets they just don't run in short actions. The creed is a hair shorter in the brass, you could pick up alittle room, but not a lot.
Jmo but I'd go 47L on a short action and have plenty room to seat long. Plus it looks cooler, and smaller efficient rounds are more fun.
When my 260 barrel goes I won't get another on my short action rig. I have a 47L barrel I've never shot... need to play with it..
Jmo but I'd go 47L on a short action and have plenty room to seat long. Plus it looks cooler, and smaller efficient rounds are more fun.
When my 260 barrel goes I won't get another on my short action rig. I have a 47L barrel I've never shot... need to play with it..
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