Building a 6.5 Creedmoor. What chamber for target?

[VaniB]

I've chosen a 6.5 Creedmoor in a Rem 700 SA BDL donor rifle. I'm in pursuit of 1/4" MOA. I have also bought the Hornady brass and 130 & 140 Berger VLD bullets to assemble dummy cartridges. I'm going to get a 1-8 twist 26" barrel with MB, but I don't know what kind of chamber reamer to order. It seems guys here have had plenty good accuracy using the Hornady cases with factory Savage 6.5 CM Chambers. Should I just ordera reamer that's based on the Hornady cartridge in the standard 2.820" OAL? Are any of you guys turning your brass? Will a chamber that is reamed to fit the Hornady brass accept Lapua brass later too if I decide to make my own brass? Let me hear whats' worked for you.




EDIT; Ooops. It was late last night and I meant to put this in the "Big Stuff" forum. I'll take your help here just the same! Thanks.

 

[DHD]

I had one built for my son with a Brux 1-8.5, Rem SA, Jewell, MCM, and topped with one of my NF's. The machinist that chambered it used the "standard" Kiff 6.5 Creedmoor reamer, whatever that is. The rifle will shoot very close to your ideal.

As you know, there are machinists and then there are machinists. Can't say if your rifle will shoot better or worse, but this caliber will flat out go.

I do not need to neck turn and I doubt you will either. Resizing other brass I have tried, but as I stated on another forum about this exact same topic, I have not found an advantage in doing so. As long as I can get Hornady Creedmoor cases, I won't go to the trouble again. It isn't that it's hard, just that I didn't find it worth the trouble.

 

[VaniB]

Thanks DHD.

I've been contemplating going with an 8.5 twist myself. It seems like it should handle everything from the 120's to the 140's. While an 8.5 twist should be better suited on the 120 to 130 grain bullets instead of an 8 twist, I'm a little concerned if an 8.5 might be a little shy for the 140 grain bullets, and if the 8 twist might be better for that weight bullet. Maybe I'll call Hornady and ask which of the two twists is the all around best to handle both the 130 and 140's. The 120 bullets are my least focus.

I was hoping too I would not have to revert to neck turning. It seems I won't need to.

 

[howl 1 up]

my dpms 6.5 creedmore is stamped 1in 7.5 twist. it was one of the very first ones out, then they switched to 1 in 8.5 i think, i had pressure problems with mine running factory hornady loose primer pockets , pimers blown, sent back to dpms they blamed hornady, said all was well. i backed off loads and went to the 123 amax, very accurate to 900 yds, as far as i can shoot here. very hard on coyotes as well.