6.5 Creedmoor

[RevJim]

  I have nothing against new cartridges, just wondering if there is enough difference between this new 6.5 Creedmoor and a .260 Remington ( with equal barrel lengths) to really notice, especially with 120gr bullets on coyotes? Seems either would do better as a combo varmint/deer rifle than a .243, good as it is. Personally, I like playing with new creations, but considering the state of ammo/components, a .260 seems like the best choice for the use I'm speaking of. Anyone played with either ( I'm leaving out the 6.5x55 Swede as I don't see much ammo or components either, not compared to the ease of necking down .308 cases to .260) For longer range, I'd just as soon use my .270 with lighter bullets on coyotes. I loved the 6.5/284 I had, but components can be iffy for it now. Just wondering.

[Mikey]

Jim:  I would opt for the 260.  Rather I should say that the next rifle I get will be something in the 260.  I like the shorter Remington action but I would want the rifle to be at least as accurate as my 6.5 Swede.  I once necked down 308 brass to make 243s but did not find it a suitable practice.  Some cases were too tight at the nexk, some too loose, so I purchased 100 new, unfired cases and never had another problem. 
 
For either the 260 or the 6.5 Swede I would just go and buy the brass and bullets and not worry about it.  Any slugs you buy for the 260 are the same you would use in weither the Creedmoor or the 6.5 Swede.  I shoot the 6.5 140 and 131 gn from Sellier and Bellot and have kept the brass - I find it manufactured to strict European dimentions and they do not fit my shellholder and they also use metric primers, so I'm just goiong to get some US made brass when I go to start reloading for it - right now the thing is so darned accurate I can't do any better with reloads.
 
I would opine that you can take most anything you want on the North American continent with a 260 and in a nice light short action rifle it would make the perfect mountain rifle, imo.

[D Fischer]

I think as a varmint/deer cartridge it would be hard to beat the 25-06! I think the 260 is a really unappreciated cartridge but I also think it cross's over into the big game class. You could make most any cartridge into a varmint/deer cartridge. And then there's the other thing. You have one cartridge that cover's two class of animals, you lose your need for a second gun! That is just BS!

[RevJim]

 Well, looking at it a bit closer, I find that there is more available brass/ammo for the 6.5 Creedmoor than either the .260 OR the 6.5x55 Swede. Go figure. I feel  that I would enjoy the 6.5 Creedmoor pretty much; it is basically the .250 Savage necked up to 6.5, just about perfect for deer under 150 yds. I really liked the 120/125s in the 6.5/284 and I feel, at least for deer/coyotes, these are the best weight for any .264 bullet. Just me, of course, although I think I could enjoy a 6.5 Swede just as much. The .260, for me, would be pretty much a "rebarrelled job" as opposed to the 6.5 Creedmoor. I had a Mod 7 in .260 that was crap; then an Adams & Bennett barrel in .260 from Midway that was "OK", but I only used the 129 Hornady ( a very hard bullet IME) I killed a Mouflon and an Axis buck with this load and they were not "spectacular kills". I saw much better results from the later 6.5/284 and 120/125s in the converted 6.5/284 chamber in the same rifle.

[burntmuch]

RevJim, I just had a rem 700 rebarreled with a 6.5X47 lapua . I did alot of research on the 6.5s, between the creedmoor, 260 & lapua, they are ballistic twins. Id go with the one you can find brass for. I like the lapua, Everything Ive shot out of it has been at or under an inch at 100 yards. Finally found some 120 grain Amaxes. thats supposed to be the sweet spot for the 6.5s,  We ,ll see. Good luck

[RevJim]

 For the 6.5 Swede guys, I just found bookoo ammo over on www.cheaperthandirt.com  I had a very, very disappointing range day yesterday with my little Mauser 98 in .308. It has a very small dia. "whippy" barrel. The 130 Speer and 125 NBTs did great ( even with the low powered scope I had on it, 5x@100) all the rest, 150s, 165s, 180s went from 2.5 to 6". At first I thought it was maybe keyholing, but they all hit point on. I got great velocities with all the powders I tried ( AA2460, Varget, R15, H4895 and the new 2000MR) but was just disgusted. If I still lived down in SE Texas, I wouldn't sweat it, I could live with 125/130 bullets, even on hogs. But out here, I want a rifle to be elk capable, and I would have to be right on top of one to use any of the 165/180 loads I tried. Bummer. Soooo....I sold that puppy this PM to a guy who liked it, going back to a Remington 700 30.06 and be done with it, ha. I have a like new Mountain rifle spotted, so going from there. I have loaded/used an '06 since I was 16, so its an old friend anyhow, got plenty of brass on hand. I have used that Nosler 125 BT on varmints from an '06 before...awesome results, and seen the 200 Partition used a 300# hog from a rifle of mine ( I loaned it to my buddy, my handloads too) another awesome, meat saving load too. Between another '06 and my 35 Whelen AI I'm set. My Marine SIL has my other keepsakes ( I can still use them!) several dedicated varmint rifles too. Good luck to you guys, I'm done playing with the .308.

[nomosendero]

For the 6.5 Swede guys, I just found bookoo ammo over on www.cheaperthandirt.com  I had a very, very disappointing range day yesterday with my little Mauser 98 in .308. It has a very small dia. "whippy" barrel. The 130 Speer and 125 NBTs did great ( even with the low powered scope I had on it, 5x@100) all the rest, 150s, 165s, 180s went from 2.5 to 6". At first I thought it was maybe keyholing, but they all hit point on. I got great velocities with all the powders I tried ( AA2460, Varget, R15, H4895 and the new 2000MR) but was just disgusted. If I still lived down in SE Texas, I wouldn't sweat it, I could live with 125/130 bullets, even on hogs. But out here, I want a rifle to be elk capable, and I would have to be right on top of one to use any of the 165/180 loads I tried. Bummer. Soooo....I sold that puppy this PM to a guy who liked it, going back to a Remington 700 30.06 and be done with it, ha. I have a like new Mountain rifle spotted, so going from there. I have loaded/used an '06 since I was 16, so its an old friend anyhow, got plenty of brass on hand. I have used that Nosler 125 BT on varmints from an '06 before...awesome results, and seen the 200 Partition used a 300# hog from a rifle of mine ( I loaned it to my buddy, my handloads too) another awesome, meat saving load too. Between another '06 and my 35 Whelen AI I'm set. My Marine SIL has my other keepsakes ( I can still use them!) several dedicated varmint rifles too. Good luck to you guys, I'm done playing with the .308.

I have never had bad results with a 308 but it just goes to show you that it can happen with any cartridge. But the good thing is the 30-06 is a great round anyway.

[RevJim]

 This is the first 308 that did this for me too! I have had several through the years, loaded for friends rifles, all were tack drivers except one. You know how it is, usually a sweetheart to load for. Anyhow, it was a 90's Winchester Mod 70 Featherweight Classic .308 that also had that  whippy barrel. It would put the Nosler 165BT into 2" but vertical, right at zero! Left and right, same way every time. I shot my first Axis buck on Indian Head Ranch in Del Rio Tex with it. It was actually a spare I brought and just wanted to get it "bloody". It worked at about 230 yds. however. This little Mauser had "just enough" comb to use a scope, but was actually stocked for receiver sight use. It was very lightweight also, but I swear I was hunkered down on the bags doing it right. It was a swell rifle, but between that erratic grouping and its tight minimal head spaced chamber, it was too temperamental for me...."ain't nobody got time for that"! lol