Which 6.5 should I try next?

[Jim Tisdale]

About 5 years ago I bought a .260 Savage LRP. It’s been an inconsistent nightmare. One thing after another. One day/session it shoots .5 or better and the next it sprays all over. Won’t keep zero. Chrono shows numbers great one time, crap the next.
I have a few more things I’m going to try before I give up, and I’m almost there....
So, the question for the group: Which 6.5 should I try next? I’d like to keep the platform I have and just make a barrel and mag switch. Just wanting to smash milk jugs at 1000.
Thx

 

[22DASHER]

6.5x47 Lapua

 

[B23]

If you are shooting factory ammo the 6.5 Creedmoor has some really accurate factory ammo available for it. If you're a reloader, the 260 is an excellent cartridge and I'd just stay with that and have a good quality custom barrel installed.

 

[Shinbone]

26 Nosler.

Go big or go home.

 

[Bc'z]

CREEDMOOR!!!
I'm beginning to think the 260 is finicky myself, my wife's gives me fits of rage when it comes to consistency.
6.5x47L is another great round but I believe your only going to be able to get lapua brass.
I might be mistaken as I dont shoot one.
Of course then there's the 6.5x55 Swede, not sure on brass availability for this one either.
As for the 6.5 creedmoor you can find factory ammo just about where ever you go, super easy to load and tune for.

 

[Sandstorm]

6.5x47 Lapua just because.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

6.5 Remington Magnum

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

6.5x47

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I underwent the same thing myself, and gave up on the .260 last year after several years (and barrels) of trying to get it to consistently perform. I agree with others, the 6.5x47L is probably the 'best' option. That said, I transitioned to Creedmoor purely for a logistics reasons.

At some point we're going to find ourselves in a politically-motivated shortage again, and when that happens it can be tough to find less common components due to shifts in production cycles etc. In the 6.5/264 world, 6.5 Creedmoor is clearly the most prolific, and I don't think it's all that far behind the 6.5x47L in terms of tuneability; with all the 'good' brass available today (Lapua, Alpha, ADG, Peterson, etc.) it's actually a great option.

I've been ecstatic with my 6.5CM; almost everything is better than it was with my .260s. Accuracy, Consistency, ES/SD numbers.

The only downside when asked, you have to tell competent shooters you're shooting a Creedmoor; sometimes you can see the utter disdain on their face.

 

[Exercion]

6.5x55 Swede....the original, it's what the others all want to grow up to be.

 

[muleman69]

About 5 years ago I bought a .260 Savage LRP. It’s been an inconsistent nightmare. One thing after another. One day/session it shoots .5 or better and the next it sprays all over. Won’t keep zero. Chrono shows numbers great one time, crap the next.
I have a few more things I’m going to try before I give up, and I’m almost there....
So, the question for the group: Which 6.5 should I try next? I’d like to keep the platform I have and just make a barrel and mag switch. Just wanting to smash milk jugs at 1000.
Thx

I went with 6.5x47 and could not be happier. PM Stan Taylor on this site, he can fix you up with a 47 that will shoot lights out

 

[JASmith]

There are folks who routinely smash milk jugs at 1,000 yards and beyond using the 6.5 Grendel.

Some are using 16” - 18” barrels for those shots too.

The main complication is the smaller bolt face, but you will enjoy the cartridge.

 

[hogpatrol]

A few options, another .260, .260AI, 6.5 CM, and 6.5x47. The 26 Nosler's a great hunting round but a fire breathing, barrel eating dragon.

 

[JSH]

Anyone have a clue on what the issue is with the 260?

Barrel,platform,ammo,scope........shooter

 

[r bose]

6.5x55 Swede....the original, it's what the others all want to grow up to be.

Built a 6.5x55 Swede and it'll easily push a 140g at 2950 out of a 30" barrel very accurately. Had the chance to shoot it at 1000 with electronic targets and at 1000 yards bullet was still going 1640 FPS. Upper node was at 3080 FPS but had no need to push it that hard, but it's there if I want too.

 

[M-61]

I am hooked on BR's. My 6.5BR was the most finicky of all my BR's to get a good load for but the end results are pretty satisfying.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Anyone have a clue on what the issue is with the 260?

Barrel,platform,ammo,scope........shooter

No idea, but this ancient thread (with some very respected members on these forums) seems to indicate it's not an isolated occurrence (or an equipment problem). I believe since 2012 Forum Boss gave up on his .260s too.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/why-is-the-260-so-dificult-to-tune.3794897/

That said, I know .260s have been shot in competition for several years, and lots of guys have had great success with it. For me, it was just inconsistent, and that was after changing more variables than I'd care to admit.

 

[JimT]

6.5x57 Improved

 

[JimT]

No idea, but this ancient thread (with some very respected members on these forums) seems to indicate it's not an isolated occurrence (or an equipment problem). I believe since 2012 Forum Boss gave up on his .260s too.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/why-is-the-260-so-dificult-to-tune.3794897/

That said, I know .260s have been shot in competition for several years, and lots of guys have had great success with it. For me, it was just inconsistent, and that was after changing more variables than I'd care to admit.

Seems Praslick has a different take on the 260.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...uses-260-rem-to-win-national-hp-championship/

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Seems Praslick has a different take on the 260.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...uses-260-rem-to-win-national-hp-championship/

Yes. I would agree there are lots of very accurate .260s out there; some shot by shooters who have forgotten more than I'll ever know. In the post you quoted, I have stated as much. If it works for you and others, that's outstanding. Someone asked a question, and I provided an answer; simple as that.

That said, the concepts of inherent cartridge accuracy and load stability (in aggregate) are fairly established in the shooting world. It's why PPCs rule the BR world. It's why the 6BR and it's derivatives are as popular across multiple disciplines as they are. If we can accept that concept, it would stand to reason the opposite would also be true. i.e. there's a spectrum, and every cartridge falls somewhere on it.

"If you like your .260, you can keep your .260"