Comparison of 6.5 calibers.

[zanemoseley]

I'm thinking of either rebarreling my Tikka in a 6.5 or building another rifle. I've done some reading but was curious what the best comparison article or site is of the 6.5 caliber cartridges.

I like that the 260 can be easily made from 243 brass. Can go AI for more velocity but have to fireform.

6.5 Creedmoor looks good but sticks me with new and sometimes hard to get brass.

Don't know a lot about 6.5x47 but seems like I read Lapua brass is all there is.

I'm interested in seeing comparisons of ballistics and accuracy.

 

[hogpatrol]

What is the mission? Hunting, target, both? Long range, mid-range?

 

[joshb]

Don't forget Zombies . Welcome to the forum! There is a good long read on them, here. Go to the bulletin page. On the left side is a cartridge guide info. Hit 6.5x47. Scroll down(or read down) towards the end. There's a good article on the comparisons. Good luck!

 

[zanemoseley]

Sorry guess that would help. Mainly long range 600-1000 target practice, both steel and paper(f class). I don't hunt at all.

 

[ShootDots]

Are you "fixed" om a 6.5 caliber? If you are not, then there are the 7mm's that need to be looked at for 1000 yard Target / F-Open shooting..

 

[zanemoseley]

Well the problem I see with 7mm options is recoil. I'm already at my recoil max with 168 grain loads in my 12 pound 308. I'd prefer less recoil, not more. Is there are any 7mm options low on recoil I would consider them.

 

[ShootDots]

Well the problem I see with 7mm options is recoil. I'm already at my recoil max with 168 grain loads in my 12 pound 308. I'd prefer less recoil, not more. Is there are any 7mm options low on recoil I would consider them.

Not as low as a 6.5.. In this case, my 2 FAV 6.5's are the .260A.I. and the 6.5 x 47 Lapua. They are both superbly accurate and will work at 1000 yards.. If you have to choose between the 2, I would opt for the .260A.I. It will comfortably drive 140 class bullets to 2875+.. If you neck down the .308 Palma brass (small rifle primer) you can easily run those 140 pills up past 2900 and you are now in 6.5 x 284 territory. But as they say, performance has a price, if you run up towards the 6.5 x 284 then you will also be lowering the accurate life span of your barrel.. So, I run "regular" (Large Rifle Primer) Lapua .260 brass and my .260A.I. can run the Berger 140 LRBT's at 2930 or the Berger Hybrid at 2870.. The Berger 140 LRBT's have a VERY short bearing surface and can run a little faster than the longer bearing surface of the Hybrid.. But both are excellent bullets, and both would work at 1000>>> Not as good as a bigger 7, but "competitive" nonetheless!

 

[hogpatrol]

Well the problem I see with 7mm options is recoil. I'm already at my recoil max with 168 grain loads in my 12 pound 308. I'd prefer less recoil, not more. Is there are any 7mm options low on recoil I would consider them.

You can tame the 7mms with a heavy barrel and a GOOD brake. I'm shooting 168s out of 28 Nosler with a Harrel's brake and it's not that bad.

 

[ShootDots]

You can tame the 7mms with a heavy barrel and a GOOD brake. I'm shooting 168s out of 28 Nosler with a Harrel's brake and it's not that bad.

There is one minor problem>>>you can't use brakes in F-Class at all..

 

[hogpatrol]

There is one minor problem>>>you can't use brakes in F-Class at all..

Well that's not good. I vote for the 6.5x47 then.

 

[Spike A]

Not too long ago I was going round and round on which one... I was set on 6.5 but not cartridge.. For a long time I was running with 260 ai.. Than after talking to a few gents and reading I jumped to the 47l ... So than I started searching for brass .. After a couple months of searching with my email in for alerts... I decided that if I'm already having issues finding even 100 to get started it wasn't worth it so I went to the creedmoor.. Been very happy ..off the bat for break in I went down to the sport shop and picked up a couple of boxes of ammo than went to my reloading supplier and he had 500 new brass sitting right on the shelf .. Idk if this will help but just thought I would share

 

[ARshuter]

6.5 SLR is another option. Love mine

 

[JRS]

Nothing wrong with the 6.5x55

 

[MislMan]

6.5 Creedmoor. Ammo isn't that hard to come by and brass can be made from .243 and .308 brass.

 

[DogBuster]

6.5x55.........oldest one and most proven.......

Lapua & Norma brass on the shelf........

 

[mac86951]

Long action or short action? Mag fed for PRS, or just single feed prone?

Long action, if suggest 6.5x55, or AI version; 260 will do it too. If you need mag fed, 260 or 6.5 creedmoor will give you just a touch more velocity over 6.5x47 which is also excellent.

Any velocity concerns can be made up with barrel length.

All are good cartridges.

-Mac

 

[BOB LEE SWAGGER]

There is a reason that 6.5X47 brass is scarce.

 

[zanemoseley]

Well the rifle is modified for bottom metal which accepts AICS magazines however I usually end up single feeding with a "Bob Sled". I don't plan on PRS events, not really my thing. I would be nice if it fit in an AICS magazine if I ever decided to shoot from a magazine.

 

[JRS]

There is a reason that 6.5X47 brass is scarce.

Yes there is.

 

[billlarson]

I'm thinking of either rebarreling my Tikka in a 6.5 or building another rifle. I've done some reading but was curious what the best comparison article or site is of the 6.5 caliber cartridges.

I like that the 260 can be easily made from 243 brass. Can go AI for more velocity but have to fireform.

6.5 Creedmoor looks good but sticks me with new and sometimes hard to get brass.

Don't know a lot about 6.5x47 but seems like I read Lapua brass is all there is.

I'm interested in seeing comparisons of ballistics and accuracy.

the 6.5x55 will do what the .260 will not.......
the creedmoor and 6.5x47 are great catriges....
instead of spending a bunch of money....... since you got all the stuff.........stay with 6.5x55

omho
bill