Help me pick a 6.5

[Steve_O]

I hate to bring up another 6.5x47 vs 6.5 Creedmoor but I need to order a barrel and keep getting different opinions from my small shooting circle. Iam just shooting local matches at 1000 yards (not f class), one camp tells to go 6.5 Creedmoor and shoot 140-144 grain bullets the other is saying the 6.5x47 will be a more accurate round and need to go that direction. I’ve owned a 6.5 Creedmoor but not a 6.5x47 so Iam at a loss right now on which way to go to have the better 1000 yard cartridge. Thanks.

 

[Bill Norris]

I hate to bring up another 6.5x47 vs 6.5 Creedmoor but I need to order a barrel and keep getting different opinions from my small shooting circle. Iam just shooting local matches at 1000 yards (not f class), one camp tells to go 6.5 Creedmoor and shoot 140-144 grain bullets the other is saying the 6.5x47 will be a more accurate round and need to go that direction. I’ve owned a 6.5 Creedmoor but not a 6.5x47 so Iam at a loss right now on which way to go to have the better 1000 yard cartridge. Thanks.

Its a matter of opinions but I feel the 260AI would be a better choice.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

There's not a lot of difference between the Lapua and the Creedmoor. The Creed has a little more capacity, but real world results are similar. Down here, Creedmoor brass is easier to get hold of. If you need more fuel, then the 260, 260AI and the 6.5/284 offer more horsepower. But the Creedmoor is a capable round out to 1000 yds. There's also the 6.5SLR, if you want to go the wildcat way - which offers 260 performance with a longer case neck.

 

[SVT_Tactical]

Its a matter of opinions but I feel the 260AI would be a better choice.

Even the straight 260 just for the ease of brass. Here's an article that look at all three.... my decision would be based on what components I already had on hand.... if none, 260AI and never look back.

6.5mm Shootout: .260 Remington vs. 6.5x47 Lapua vs. 6.5 Creedmoor

 

[Walt Schmidlin]

I don’t have a 6.5 Creedmoor (I have been using a 260 Rem long before the 6.5 Creedmoor became available) however switching to a different caliber costs an additional $200+/- just for a new die set.
Also I believe there will never be a shortage of 6.5 Creedmoor brass or loaded ammunition

 

[Dave Zander]

I shoot local matches that go out to 1000 yards on KYL targets. I have been shooting 105 thru 112’s in a 6 BRA. Last month I shot a 6.5 creedmoor using 130 Otm tacticals running 2975 fps. Could have been some luck but at 900 and 1000 yards the creedmoor did real well hitting some 4x6” targets. We only get 3 shots at each range, you pick the target size you want to shoot at. It’s always windy there. No experience with the 6.5x47 , some guys use them with good success also. I was a little surprised how the 6.5 shot.

 

[Longrange57]

I have all three, 6.5 x 47, 6.5 x 284, 6.5 Creedmoor. The 6.5 x 47 with any bullet....123 smk or scenar, 130 vld, or 140 long range will out shoot the others to 1,000 yards. 100, 300, 600, 1,000 yd , take your pick. Creedmoor has more over the counter factory ammo by a mile and shoots good but will not shoot with 47. My 6.5 x 284 is a good shooter, but is just simply burning more powder. If you shoot competition, go 47. I've won many local matches at varying distances and shot half moa out to 1,400 yards with mine.

 

[Bill K]

Depending on components in your area a good choice would be either the 6.5CM or 260 route.
Either one, with the fast twist will do what you want, very well. I think of the rule K.I.S.S. when making a choice as you are trying. Pick either one, find the right load for a couple bullet weights and just sit back and enjoy shooting either one.

 

[FeMan]

I have several 6.5x47s and 6.5 CMs. If i had to pick Id say the x47 has an edge in raw accuracy. My x47s have shot under 1" at 1k a time or two and under 0.1 moa at 100 and 200. However, I have a 6.5CM and it shoots 156 Bergers very well and the higher BC makes it a better choice past 600 yards or so. My 156 load with H4831sc gives me 2820 out of a 30" barrel and it shoots under 0.2 moa consistently.

 

[Steve_O]

Forgot to mention it needs to be a short action and mag fed.

 

[Fast14riot]

260AI and never look back. Seriously. 140s at 2950-3000, 150s at 2800-2900 depending on barrel length. 0.300+ G7 BC =/> .284 bullets.

The two you mentioned are maxed out at 1K, but 260AI thrives there.

 

[Belly Benchrester]

All will be dependent on barrel you luck out with . I’ve had creedmoors shoot better than 6.5x47s and some x47s shoot better than creedmoors. If you shoot h4350, 140 hybrids and Lapua or alpha brass you can’t go wrong either way. If you get some 4831SC the 260 rem is a good way to go too.

 

[wboggs]

All will be dependent on barrel you luck out with . I’ve had creedmoors shoot better than 6.5x47s and some x47s shoot better than creedmoors. If you shoot h4350, 140 hybrids and Lapua or alpha brass you can’t go wrong either way. If you get some 4831SC the 260 rem is a good way to go too.

Agree, it depends on the luck of drawing a better barrel for one ot the other. In equal barrels, no practical difference. Biggest plus for the Creed is availability of all the necessary gear to load it.
As an added advantage there are some very good factory loads for it.

 

[Dave Way]

I’m a big fan of the 6.5X47L. It can be extremely accurate at 1K. It’s normally very easy to tune. Brass lasts and lasts. It has low recoil and long barrel life.

A paper target really doesn’t care how fast the bullet that just passed through it was going. With that being said, the little X47 will launch a 140 gr. bullet at 2,800 fps and even more if you feel you need it, but what I love is it’s accuracy.

Dave.

Recent early break in on a 6.5X47 barrel with Varget and 140 Berger LRB’s.





Same barrel at The Rendezvous last week.

 

[Rob01]

I hate to bring up another 6.5x47 vs 6.5 Creedmoor but I need to order a barrel and keep getting different opinions from my small shooting circle. Iam just shooting local matches at 1000 yards (not f class), one camp tells to go 6.5 Creedmoor and shoot 140-144 grain bullets the other is saying the 6.5x47 will be a more accurate round and need to go that direction. I’ve owned a 6.5 Creedmoor but not a 6.5x47 so Iam at a loss right now on which way to go to have the better 1000 yard cartridge. Thanks.

What type of matches? You have had a Creedmoor so you have the gear already so why change? The Creedmoor is plenty accurate and you can load up heavies if you want. I shoot 153 ATips at 2680fps in my Creedmoor now for PRS matches.

Here is 5 shots at 100 of factory Hornady 140 ELD-M with using a 6th bullet hole as the aiming point. Just got done using the ATS tuner to tune this lot of ammo. The following week at a prematch open range I shot a group on steel at 900 yards and the spotter said the shots were almost touching so you can get good accuracy as well with the Creedmoor and factory ammo in a pinch.

 

[7mmmag]

That 6.5 X 47 put on a show for sure !! Good shooting

 

[JLT]

I'll pile on with @Bill Norris and @Fast14riot. The .260 AI has enough boiler room for another gear and that may come in handy at 1K. Six or seven grains more powder for an additional 200 fps or so seems like a good trade in less-than-ideal conditions and the .260 AI shoots the lower nodes just fine for those times when the wind is more calm.

The smaller cases will struggle if you wish to move up in bullet weight to the 150 grain class. The 6.5x47 Lapua and the Creedmoor won't keep up with the .260 AI unless you don't mind pitching your brass after a firing or two. I tried the 150 gr. Sierra in my 6.5x47 Lapua and it just didn't have the capacity to get any benefit out of the heavier bullet without getting silly with pressure.

 

[Rob01]

Depends on what matches he is shooting. He needs to give some more info.

 

[MikeRu]

I think the last two IBS 1k BR Nationals, in 2022 and 2023, were won by 6.5x47 Lapua. If you just want to have fun then 6.5 Creedmoor is fine, very easy to tune and I sure like mine, but seemingly not as competitive as the 47.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

A bit biased because a straight 260 is one of my all time favorites but I wouldn't overlook it. It's a relatively new cartridge, being introduced in the late 90s but it outperforms the newer creedmoor in every way if mag length isn't a problem and an AI is even better.

Hard to go wrong with a x47 too