I fancy trying something 6.5...

[CamTheBam]

Hi Guys,

I already have a .233REM and a .308WIN, and I fancy trying something 6.5mm.

I've ruled out 6.5x55 because I want to be able to shoot the heavier weight bullets and I've been told the COAL can become an issue.

I like what I'm hearing about 6.5 Creedmoor, but I wonder if a lot of it is down to marketing.

I've heard very good things about 6.5x47 Lapua, but I wonder if it's dead in the water now that 6.5CM is the hot topic?

All I'm interested in is outright accuracy.

Any thoughts?

Cam.

 

[Kurz]

All I'm interested in is outright accuracy.

That pretty much answers the question, 6.5x47 Lapua. A superb cartridge with all the best components from the best manufacturers when coupled with the best platform available from a custom gunsmith.

There is certainly nothing wrong with the 6.5 Creedmoor, it is known in general for its accuracy potential but the accuracy edge is usually with the 6.5x47L.

Regards.

 

[CamTheBam]

Great. Many thanks!

Cam.

 

[effendude]

6.5-284 still has a spot in my heart. I'll never be without at least one.
Scott

 

[jr600yd]

260 and never look back.

 

[rardoin]

the 6.5 Creed/ 6.5 x47 and the .260 are ALL excellent choices and accurate as you want them to be. If you want the option of factory ammunition then you are limited to the Creedmoor or the .260 with the Creed having more options. I also have a soft spot for the 6.5 x55 but mine is improved and in a single shot action so a magazine does not influence that decision.

 

[hogpatrol]

Pure accuracy? Votes here for the 6.5x47 and the 6.5-284.

 

[slm9s]

I've now had 3 6.5x47L's, none have been as accurate as previous 260s. They're very accurate, just not quite AS accurate. My vote is 260 or CM.

 

[Barlow]

the 6.5 Creed/ 6.5 x47 and the .260 are ALL excellent choices and accurate as you want them to be. If you want the option of factory ammunition then you are limited to the Creedmoor or the .260 with the Creed having more options. I also have a soft spot for the 6.5 x55 but mine is improved and in a single shot action so a magazine does not influence that decision.

6.5x55 factory ammo is readily available in my area. Barlow

 

[rardoin]

6.5x55 factory ammo is readily available in my area. Barlow

Here too...I was commenting on the other three cases as it appeared the OP was kinda ruling it out. I would think that if using a LA the COAL would not be an issue with some of the heavier 6.5's. My father built a 6.5 x55 on a Mauser milsurp action back in the '60's...on a friggin Mannlicher stock of all things and it groups well under an inch at 100yds with a couple of different 140gr class bullets with a jump of over 0.100"! My mother felled many Texas Hill Country deer with that rifle. It explains my soft spot for the cartridge and my eccentric choice of the 6.5 x55 BJAI for F-open work.

 

[swd]

All I'm interested in is outright accuracy.

What kind of action and build is this going to be, and how far are you going to shoot it?

 

[CharlieNC]

I shoot with guys using 260, 6.5 Creed, and 6.5x47. I use the later, and all shoot great. The differences are more shooter than anything intrinsic. Besides tactical steel matches, my 6.5 also shot well at one mile with 140gr bullets. You can't go wrong with any of these choices.

 

[Barlow]

Here too...I was commenting on the other three cases as it appeared the OP was kinda ruling it out. I would think that if using a LA the COAL would not be an issue with some of the heavier 6.5's. My father built a 6.5 x55 on a Mauser milsurp action back in the '60's...on a friggin Mannlicher stock of all things and it groups well under an inch at 100yds with a couple of different 140gr class bullets with a jump of over 0.100"! My mother felled many Texas Hill Country deer with that rifle. It explains my soft spot for the cartridge and my eccentric choice of the 6.5 x55 BJAI for F-open work.

Seems like every year I grab my 94 Swede more and more. It's not original, but is full stocked and loves the old 160 gr Hornady rn. It's light and short and I use it in thick timber where a 100 yard shot is long. I also use my 96 that's been sporterized, with 120 nosler bt's. Both are fatal on Whitetails. Barlow

 

[rardoin]

That 160 RN is like getting hit by a crossbow bolt....at 2500fps! Old school but gets the job done for sure.

 

[Liven The Dream]

6.5x55 ? I think you have been feed Fake News...
I have been shooting a 6.5x55 prone rifle for more than a few years.
I have Won 1000 State Champoin ships with it .
142gr. Seirra and 140 gr. Berger HB. With average Vol. of 2914 what is wrong with this ??

 

[jnm300ultra]

The best 6.5 is the 6.5x 47 lapua. Accuracy, barrel life, brass, target shooting,hunting, the best all round cartridge. I have a 6.5x47 for my F class rifle and love it. PS. Please don't tell everyone I still like to find brass when ever I need it. Ha,Ha.

 

[Barlow]

That 160 RN is like getting hit by a crossbow bolt....at 2500fps! Old school but gets the job done for sure.

Mine chrono's at 2250 fps mv. Barlow

 

[rpierce]

You never stated what you will be using the rifle for. Ive had several 6.5x47's and they all shot superb. Even managed a 2nd place at Mid range Fclass nationals with one. If using for fclass then the 47 is a great cartridge. If your going to use the rifle for hunting and plinking then the 6.5 saum is a better round. It will push a 140 over 3000 fps in a 24" barrel and it not being a hot load. Works in a short action detachable mag system as well. I built myself a saum a few months ago and absolutely love it. It will shoot in the .1&.2s@100 yards off a bipod no problem. The barrel just broke in/sped up a couple weeks ago with 200 rounds on it. The 140's are now going 3095 fps in my 24.5" barrel w 61.5 gr of H1000. I shot 3 groups at 1000 yards with it a couple weeks ago. Managed a 2.5" group @1000 that day. That was shot rapid fire to get all 3 down before the wind changed. I shot 2 other groups but slowly and the vertical was less than 2", however the wind opened them up to 5-6" wide. That was all done with virgin Hornady brass which guys are getting roughly 10 firings out of before the pockets are shot. I cleaned the barrel for the first time after 200 rounds going down and there was zero copper and minimal carbon buildup. Cleaned up in under 10 patches. The throat looked brand new as well looking through the borescope. Ive used the saum on game out to 1200 yards with the 140 hybrids and 75% have dropped dead in their tracks with the other 25% going less than 100 yards. Fiance dropped an antelope in its tracks, first shot, at 725 yards as well. There is a huge difference in terminal performance between the 47 and saum. Using 140 hybrids at 2750fps in the 47 the exit holes on deer were golf ball size. With the saum and 140 hybrids it was baseball size exit holes. Since I no longer have time to shoot Fclass due to an extremely heavy workload building rifles I will never have another 47.

 

[Kurz]

"I've been following a thread on Sniper's Hide about the 6.5 RSAUM made by GA Precision.

Basically, what George wanted was a lightweight hunting rifle that could do everything, with using these guidelines:

24" barrel
9 pounds or under with scope and sling and mag
Short Action
Low recoil
Keep at 58,000 PSI or less
at or under 6 mils to 1000 yards
1000 ft lbs energy left at 1000 Yards

By using very slow-burning H-1000 powder, they achieved this goal. He's also getting insane barrel life with it, as in over 3000 rounds easy, up to 4400 in his personal rifle, which he won Sniper's Hide Cup with BTW.

Here's a group George shot at 1137yds."

"George also had Bushnell build him a spec'd lightweight, all-round long-range scope for both hunting and competition, to keep the rifle lightweight.

He just shot a doe antelope at 1268yds with the 6.5 RSAUM/Bushnell with the first shot through that scope after zeroing."

This is from 2012.

There is a long thread on Snipershide regarding the development and loading for this cartridge.

 

[Grimstod]

If you want accuracy the 6.5x47 is the way to go. Take a look at these numbers. There are a lot of 6.5creedmoors that go to PRS competitions and the 47L is probably the least often used yet it won all TEN of the top Ten shooters lists last year.