Choosing a 6.5

[jschroed]

I think I have read almost every thing out there. I just can't decide between a 260, 6.5X47 or 6.5 Creedmoore. There isn't anyone I can talk to around here with either of those calibers. So I thought I'd check here.

I know it's been asked many times but, I'd like to hear the pros and cons from those of you who have one of those rifles.

I keep leaning 260 and then read something about the other two that sounds good. Then I question my decision.

 

[Nodak7mm]

Jschroed,

Welcome, btw.. 8) Hah, you havent read everything out there, cause its all here...... ;D

The subject matter you request info on is covered almost daily, so there is an over-flowing well of data here, yours for the perusing at your leisure. I would suggest you do what I do from time to time. Just start on the sub forum your interested in and start "paging" backwards.

My reply certainly is not meant as smart aleck answer, insinuating that you just look yourself. I am telling you that because it is that easy and it works for me. Easy = Good.. Lol.

If you do find a specific topic or member comments you aspire to learn more about, give the "poster" a pm. They will get back to you shortly 99.9% of the time.

This site is full of good info and good guys..

And for what its worth, I shoot a 6.5/06 Imp for LR and have all but decided on a 6.547L for my next build, specific to Mid Range.

If you can t find what your looking for, give me a holler and I'll do my best to help ya out.

Rod

 

[fm1947]

You know I been through same choice, so 5 months ago got a 260, its fine no problem, but I still wanted to try a 6.5x47L just because I dont have one I guess , so in the process for one of them barrel on order.

 

[kyreloader]

I think I have read almost every thing out there. I just can't decide between a 260, 6.5X47 or 6.5 Creedmoore. There isn't anyone I can talk to around here with either of those calibers. So I thought I'd check here.

I know it's been asked many times but, I'd like to hear the pros and cons from those of you who have one of those rifles.

I keep leaning 260 and then read something about the other two that sounds good. Then I question my decision.

What are you planning with the rifle? Hunting rifle, target rifle, BR, F-class, etc? What bullets are you looking to shoot?

I think that will help us all give you specific recs.

 

[Dan Hall]

I'm about to build my second 6.5 Creedmoor. The cartridge was designed from the ground up to be accurate and easy to load for. It seems to meet both those criteria for me. That and the factory A Max ammunition is shooting 1/4" to 1/2" and the Hornady brass is redily available and extremely uniform.

 

[wwbrown]

I was at the same crossroads maybe 4 years back whether to go with a 6.5 Lapua or a 6.5 Creedmore and I went with the 6.5 Lapua because I couod get Lapua brass. Three barrels later and a lot of lead powder and primers I could not be happier. Load development has been amazingly easy as it is an inherently accurate cartridge, in fact all three barrels I have used so far have shot the same load like a laser.

You probably can't go wrong with either cartridge as I have seen great shooting guns in both, but Lapua brass is hard to argue with.

My two cents,

 

[fm1947]

I am having a 6.5x47L built now on a Rem 700 having action trued, shilen said 6 to 8 wks so about middle to end of June.

 

[spclark]

I keep leaning 260 and then read something about the other two that sounds good. Then I question my decision.

Go with a 260 to start. By the time you'll need to order a new barrel you'll know a lot more about the other 6.5 options & can choose which new cartridge based on personal experience.

 

[Chuckhunter]

I decided on a 6.5X47 Lapua built on an old Rem 700 trued action with a Dave Kiff bolt and Kreiger 8 twist barrel. Very easy to load for (not finicky at all) . I built mine strictly for hunting purposes but the thing shoots almost as good as my Bench guns. With 130 Berger hunting VLD's your set for everything from P-Doggities to Large Mule deer, at ranges from 10yds to 1000yds. Balllisticly not much difference between the 260 & 6.5X47. I think the 260 will give you a little velocity edge with 140 gr. bullets but the 130's shoot so well I decided to go with the 47. The Lapua brass is tough as nails and holds up extremely well not to mention it's great uniformity.

 

[Britto87]

Was having the same problem until reading some of the forums here and decided on a 6.5x47L. Truing up a brand new rem short action amd placing a bartlein 1-8 twist light palma contoured barrel on it. Also had Dave Kiff make me a reamer with a .294 neck and a .128 freeware to shoot Berger 130 grain bullets. He is also sending me a PT&G single piece bolt I had ordered for it with a small firing pin hole and a Sako extractor. Can't wait to shoot it.

 

[Britto87]

Sorry meant freebore not freeware trying to type this from Android phone and it likes to put its own words in sometimes.

 

[joejo]

well i guess i will toss in my 2 pennies.
i built a 260 (well actually Dave bruno did) and a friend of mine did a 6.5x47. both 8 twist kriegers.
i think mine has the edge at longer ranges because i can shoot the 130's at 3100 fps, (actually faster but accuracy dropped off).
neither gun seems to have an edge accuracy wise.
dies are cheaper as well as brass for the 260 also.
all in all its apples to oranges but its 260 for me.

we both tried the 139 lapuas at the same time and he was loaded 3 grains over max, i was also 3 over suggested max and they flew 2875 from the 6.5x47 and 3010 from my 260. neither gun showed excessive pressure signs but obviously these are not suggested loads.
we arrived at the listed speed by shooting through my chrony and his ced front to back.

this all being said, i still want a 6.5x47. i just don't want to spend the coin right now to buy all the dies and brass...oh and the barrel and action.

 

[fm1947]

got to tell you about this, I bought a 260 and as I said in another post I am building a 6.5x47 lapua, the 260 is a factory savage LRP I spent allot of time finding the right load and money bullets powders etc. but I bought it to prove a point, last year I was shooting at a range that only shoots factory guns in their competition it was hunter class 100 yard 6x scope, so i was shooting my Rem 700 308, Mil Spec SS R5 it s weight is 9 lbs and muzzle of .830 , I won, a couple guys really had a fit over that, they have no weight limit and according to all benchrest rules hunter class is 10lbs, so I wanted to prove this year in 200 yard varmit for score that i could take a odd caliber that no one would use in 200 yard competition and do well, well I won by one x against cooper 6ppc and some guns that were 6mmbr, so my point was its not the gun or caliber so much as it is the reloader and the shooter, now I am done with the 260 I really have no real use for it and will sell it soon, I really not sure what I will do with the 6.5x47L probably shoot it one match and sell it to, being retired can be allot of fun.

 

[.260 james]

I built a .260 and could not be happier. It was built to shoot 130 gr. bergers. I have not shot anything else out of it. I really do not tinker much when something works. It shoots one hole at 100yd. I use clay pidgeons for practice and they are so easy to hit at any reasonable hunting range. 6 - 700 yds. it almost gets boring. ALMOST I am strictly a hunter and not a competitive shooter so my shooting is always from a harris bipod at various ranges and positions of varying comfort. I like the cheap price of components and have used nothing but remington brass with no complaints. I dont think you could go wrong with any of the middle 6.5s. It is just amazing what they do in real world conditions.

 

[flatlander]

I built my 1st 6.5x47 on a set of DPMS AR10 receivers, contouring & chambering a 29" Krieger blank that started out as a 1.25" dia straight cylinder that weighed over 9lbs. I finished it at 28" and a weight of 4.5lbs, making a lot of chips in the process. It's shot so well that I decided to stick with the 6.5x47 when I put together an Eliseo RTS tubegun for XC HP, as well as a LR prone rifle built around a BAT 3L action.

I've thoroughly enjoyed shooting all of these 6.5x47s - the AR10 is easily the most accurate of the four AR10s I've owned, and the RTS is very competitive in XC HP matches, as is the BAT 3L prone rifle in 1000yd any/any prone matches. I've also got a couple of 6.5x55 AI bbls. on other rifles, which of course give more velocity with 139-142gr bullets, but the 6.5x47s are much more pleasant to shoot, which can be an important factor over a long day of shooting.

Only drawback IMHO is the price & availability of Lapua brass - but then, that's also one of the key factors that attracted me to this cartridge in the first place.

 

[boltman13]

When I decided to get into long range high power the 6.5 Creedmoor was just being introduced. Everything I read seemed positive. I do not have the money to keep a 6.5X284 in barrels and the seating of long 140 gr bullets in the 260 Rem seamed like it might be an issue. I had a trued Rem 40X short action and jewell trigger. I finally decided on a Creedmoor and 3 years later I am pleased with my choice. The CM is an easy round to load and fine tune. Velocity to 1K yds. is more than adequate. Barrel life so far is great after 1,600+ rounds No accuracy change. I have always used Hornady brass and have no issues with it's quality. It was hard to get for a while but now I have had no problems. There are ways to form it from 243 or 308 brass and other cases as well if you want to take the time. It is more expensive than Rem or Win but has good case life if you don't push it hard. Recoil is very mild in my heavy target rifle. The Hornady dies are high quality and I also use a RCBS neck die. Will soon be getting a Redding shoulder bump die as well. If or when my barrel goes south I will stay with the CM and would recomend it to anyone. That being said, the same things could be said of the Rem 260 now that Lapua makes brass for it. Either choice will not disapoint. Best of luck.

 

[model 12 toby]

i just got done putting a 6.5x47 lapua on a savage target action. I will have this gun forever and haven't owned a more accurates and easy to shoot gun. I shot a .75 group at 265 yards. thought ohh that's pretty good but that happens. very next one was .71. Tues morning shot 3 shot group at 340 and it was 1". I don't have some of the experience these other guys do. I've only been shooting 3 years but this thing has blown my mind. It's a #8 contour pac nor 1 in 8 twist with a brake. I'm pretty sure a 4 year old could handle it with a little training. I fired probably 500 rounds through a 7mm mag year before last and that might have something to do with it but it just seems easy like sunday morning. no recoil. no event but still so much energy down range. just my 2 cents.

 

[22BRGUY]

I'm also looking at these choices for a hopefully soon build. The CM looks really good to me as does the 260 30degree improved as advertised on 6mmar.com. I appreciate this post and all the guys who are contributing.

 

[effendude]

Two pages of posts and no one recommending the Swede? Lapua brass cheaper than any other reasonable caliber, 6.5mm bullets as far as the eye can see, and 6.5x284 velocity IF you want it. If you have a long action, don't dismiiss the Swede's capabilities.

I feel better now, my ancestors honor has been defended. ;D
Scott

 

[TheSnake]

Barrel life guys. Can we get some comments on barrel life? If I am not mistaken, the 6.5x47L barrel longevity will far outlast the other two choice shooting at or just below max recommended.