Switching from 308 to 6.5 for long range what's the best 6.5 for 1000 yards thanks for the info
Best 6.5 for 1000 yards
- Thread starter pittbull46
- Start date
There are a number of 6.5's that would be decent long-range cartridges. However, you are asking for THE BEST. I will give you what I think is the best, however, more importantly, I will tell you WHY I believe it is the best. In my opinion, the best 6.5 cartridge for long range is the .260A.I. Now for the WHY...
1.) It is very, very accurate and super easy to tune.
2.) It can drive 140 class bullets to 2975 without any pressure problems.
3.) You can use either Lapua L/R primer brass or Lapua .308 Palma S/R primer brass, which is nearly indestructible. Even the L/R primer brass is very strong!
4.) You can keep up with, speed wise, with a 6.5 x 284 without all the loose primer pocket issues.
5.) You can get a 6.5 SAUM going faster, however, your barrel life is A LOT lower than the 1600+ you will get with a .260A.I.
6.) There is a number of powders that work VERY well with the .260A.I. 1.) H4350, 2.) RL-16, 3.) RL-23, 4.) H4831SC are the best powders and all will produce both HIGH velocity as well as SUPERB accuracy!
7.) I think that the Berger 140gr LRBT is THEE most accurate 6.5 bullet available. What is nice about this bullet is that it has a very short bearing surface and you can drive them faster without pressure signs showing up quickly.
I have been using the .260A.I. for 4 years and have shot my BEST match (3 x 20) at 1000 yards with it. AND I am not the best L/R (1000 yard) shooter going! In the hands of a really skilled 1000 yard F-Open shooter, it would be extremely formidable. As a matter of fact, I think the Benchrest crowd should give it a whirl for 1000 yard Benchrest as I think they would be pleasantly surprised!
Very nice writeup Ben. I have seen a lot of 6.5 cartridges come and go in 1000 yard BR. The 6.5x284 was a pretty popular cartridge a few years ago. It seemed to die I the last few years and I believe barrel life and tunability was the reason. Right now it seems the 6.5x47 is growing. It seems to really want to be accurate. Matt
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Ben, are you using off the shelf dies? Have you posted your reamer print?
What's your purpose? 1000 yard steel, hunting, F-class or BR, it makes a difference in what you want to do. Matt
Hey Bob! I am using Redding Type S F/L sizer die and Competition seater. I have had to have my shellholder milled down 15 thousandths so I could size my brass properly. I just ordered another reamer>>>>my other one went south. I don't have the print number, however, I just spent an hour with Dave Kiff to get the reamer exactly the way I wanted. He is a wealth of information on getting the exact freebore for a particular bullet. I know he will have the print#, just call him and ask him for my print. BUT I had it made with a .140 freebore which is specific for the Berger 140 LRBT. If you were going to use Hybrids, you will need a longer freebore. I am SOLD on the 140 LRBT>>>it just shoots!
SBS
Gold $$ Contributor
Best? 6.5-284. I've had 4 different barrels on 4 different actions and none were hard to tune; H4831sc is the powder. Extra HP means less drift at the target. Use Lapua brass and load at same pressures as smaller cases that give good case life and there is no problem with loose primers. Shorter barrel life? Can be expected with "better" calibers. You should expect to pay for better performance (if not, use a .308 for long barrel life). New barrels are readily available when needed. My 2 cents worth.
Liven The Dream
Gold $$ Contributor
I have done .260 , .260 Ackly
All nice , Fire forming to waste of time and Barrel .
I now shoot a 6.5x55 . Better than .260's
and not as good as 6.5-284 .
But wins and better Barrel life.
140 Burger HB are outstanding.
All nice , Fire forming to waste of time and Barrel .
I now shoot a 6.5x55 . Better than .260's
and not as good as 6.5-284 .
But wins and better Barrel life.
140 Burger HB are outstanding.
JBT47
Silver $$ Contributor
That sounds interesting
Is that essentially a 260 Ackley with a small primer ?
The 6.5-284, period. Nothing else comes close, I've got two of them.
This is why the OP needs to answer the previous questions. In BR 1000, 10 years ago about 50 to 75 percent ot the 17 pound guns were 6.5x284. That means we had 50 to 75 every match. Now I bet there isn't 2 of them. They just don't shoot small enough to place good in the aggregates. Matt
Shooting 850,900,950,1000 at steel thinking 6.5x55 or the creedmoor thanks for the info
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