New to F Class - 6.5X47 or 260?

[rickf]

I'm putting together my first F Class rifle. I have the pieces, a Barnard model 'S', McMillan A5 and a Krieger #17A with a 1" muzzle. The barrel is a 6.5 cal 8 twist.

I CANNOT decide between these two cartridges. The 6.5X47 is painless with ready to go Lapua brass, but is a bit small in the engine room to run 140-142 grainers. The 260 will breathe easier getting the heavy bullets up to speed, but I need to neck up 243 brass.

I'm new to long range shooting. I can squeeze a trigger pretty well, but know little about reading mirage and wind. I need all the help I can get with an efficient bullet flight. That said, I don't really want to go 6.5-284 and burn out a barrel in 1200 rounds.

The 6.5X47 has been out a while now. What can I expect for barrel life for these two cartridges?

All things considered, which way should I go, and why?

Thank you.

 

[Forum Boss]

If you are shooting mostly 600 yards and less I would do the 6.5x47.

Right now, If I were to build a 6.5 caliber rifle for 1000-yard F-Class I would look hard at the 6.5x55 if you don't mind a long action. It has slightly more case capacity than a .260, with no brass,doughnut) worries. Very good Lapua brass available. I would consider an improved 6.5x55 too.

Also, I know you're concerned about barrel life, but the 6.5-284 is a proven winner.

 

[280man]

Rickf, welcome to the forum. I assume since you are looking at the various 6.5 calibers that you are going to shoot in the open class. I got a some questions for you
1. Do you intend to use a bi bod or a front rest of some type?
2. Is this rifles sole purpose F-class?
3. are you going to shoot mainly mid-range or long-range?

Let us know and maybe myself or another board member can help

 

[sawhornsoff]

Rick,

I own rifles in both calibers and I would go with the 260. With a 30" barrel I am pushing 140 grain range bullets at 2900 fps. My 6.5x47 is pushing around 2800 for the same bullet. That extra 100 fps gives advantage in the wind when I am shooting the local matches.

As for brass I am shooting Remington 260 brass. Recent daily bulletin article on 6mmbr compared weight consistency of 243 brass from various brands and surprisingly found Remington brass to beat the Lapua variety. I have shot my Rem brass without issue for 10 reloads but others have found shorter life. Using Rem brass I may spend more time prepping but the results have been consistent. I am not worrying about donuts as I am not having to neck up.

I had issues with consistency of Lapua 6.5x47 brass in both weight and neck wall consistency that was resulting in very erratic performance. That being said, Lapua has great customer service and addressed these issue for me.

 

[rickf]

Guys, thanks for the welcome and the advice, I do appreciate it.

1. Do you intend to use a bi bod or a front rest of some type?

I intend to use the F Class "ski pod" bipod made by Henry Rempel in Calgary.

2. Is this rifles sole purpose F-class?

Other than a bit of playing, you bet. I have a modest collection of sporters, several set up with custom barrels and stocks. But I didn't have an F Class rifle, and want to get into it. If I can flinch a shot at 200 yards, no reason I can't do it at 900!

3. are you going to shoot mainly mid-range or long-range?

Both. I will run just the one F Class rifle, at least for a while. Shoots in BC run from 300m to 1K, and it will be used for them all. I also believe there is as an advantage to learning and using just one trajectory.

My gunsmith has been building very competitive benchrest and similar rifles for 30 years, and is a competitive F Class shooter himself; I am in good hands there.

Thanks,
Rick

 

[SooStan]

I use a 260 and my friend uses a 6.5x47. He has had some consistancy problems. I don't know if it is the caliber, barrel or his loading technique. He is usely a competive shooter with the rest of us on a club level so I don't think it is him. I like my 260 very much and would highly recommend it. If you had a long action the 6.5x55 appears to be a better choice. I had a short action and stepped up from a 308 and never looked back.

 

[rickf]

Another question...what sort of barrel life can I reasonably expect with the 260 vs the 6.5X47?

Thanks.

 

[280man]

My $.02 worth scrap the A-5 they are a great stocks but not for F-open get a MBR from McMillan or one of the great laminate copy's out there from Bernosky or Shehane. Go with the 6.5x47 shoot the Berger 130 VLD at 2950 fps and don't look back it will work fine mine was very easy to tune and I have had zero problems

 

[rickf]

The A5 - not flat enough?, foreend bottom and rear bottom not parallel enough?, ?? Could you tell me more? I'm asking, not debating. Thanks.

 

[HPMike800]

F-open is really belly benchrest. With the components you have I would get a good 30" Med Palma barrel in .308 and go F-TR. Save the 6.5 for something else. You'll have a great all around target rifle and a solid comp rig. I'm a sling and irons shooter so I won't get into f -class do's and dont's. For my money F/TR looks more fun anyway.

As a match director, even if your shooting off a bi-pod, as a 260 I have to throw you into f-open.,guy's will bitch)

Mike

 

[280man]

I have been there and done that with the A-5 style stock it will work great off the bi pod but as you shoot more and want to become competitive you are going to get a front rest trust me there is no comparison I spent a week shooting our nationals this year and I'm certain none of the top guys in open class shot off a bi pod I have finally learned to quit trying to re invent the wheel and just go along with the top shooters and my scores have come up again just my OP hope it helps

 

[rickf]

Thanks for the input.

Until my wind reading skills develop, I think the 308 is out.

Alright, I'm open to suggestions. Instead of an A5, the other stock I have considered is Ian Robertson's Master Class F-CLass stock, http://www.6mmbr.com/catalog/item/1334860/1111486.htm
Better?

Re a front rest instead of a bipod, which one do you recommend? With the $400+ a Rempel bipod runs, I can go a long ways toward a pretty decent rest.

Thanks for your patience.

 

[280man]

The info on the stock in the link is a bit out dated I think check with Ian and see he builds some fine stocks but for me being here in the states I like McMillan, Manners or one of the quality laminates as far as rest go Farley's are hard to beat he told me on the phone the other day that he is building some alloy bases that should reduce the weight considerably and make them better for our game here are some linksSG&Y F-class---Bernosky Laminate stocks--- McMillan Tooley MBR---Farley rest---Manners stocks Tom has not updated his sight to show his new F-class stock call or email him and he can fill you in

 

[rickf]

Thanks 280! I should have mentioned I'm in Canada so the Robertson stocks are easy to come by. I appreciate the advice.

 

[memilanuk]

The only way to develop those wind reading skills is to quit using them as an excuse, get a .308, and get out there and shoot and learn and shoot some more. A 6.5x47 or .260 isn't some magical laser that automatically exempts you from having to read the wind... and you'll still be at the low end of the scale compared to the 6.5-284/7mmWSM/.300 etc. in terms of drift. Nothing wrong with that if thats what you want,accuracy trumps BC), but don't sit there and use lack of wind reading skills as an excuse not to shoot a .308 winchester. Trust me, your wind 'fu' will grow by leaps and bounds shooting a .308

 

[sawhornsoff]

I own one of Robertson's GBF stocks. Have not shot it yet but it is soon getting a Barnard P action with a 6xc barrel bedded in it. Feels really good place on the rest and bag. I would look at the GBF over the A5 for f-class open. I shoot the A5 in F T/R and it is definitely a nice stock for that application.