Choosing a 6.5 CM. 2k budget.

[Maddog58]

Weatherby Vanguard Obsedian 22” already threaded. These rifles shoot great. Can grab one for around $525

 

[Kaleb]

22” threaded doesn’t help much. Maybe if you’re into brakes but I would not want a suppressor on a 22” barrel. The longest I have is factory threaded 20’s and that’s longer than I’d like. Just not bad enough to change.

 

[Maddog58]

22” threaded doesn’t help much. Maybe if you’re into brakes but I would not want a suppressor on a 22” barrel. The longest I have is factory threaded 20’s and that’s longer than I’d like. Just not bad enough to change.

22” doesnt bother me with the suppressor, but then again I have quite a few 26
barrels on other guns

 

[Kaleb]

Probably what a guy gets used to and maybe where he hunts too I suppose. I really appreciate a shorter length being a little more handy. I guess you can always take some off but can’t add to it.

 

[Mountainrancher]

Thank you for this. This is the information I was looking for. I’m going to grab a tikka 6.5cm with a 20” barrel. I’ll probably grab the roughtech because it is threaded and I’ll upgrade the chassis sometime next year.

Great choice. If you’re looking for practice ammo this stuff shoots 1-1.2 moa 10 shot groups out of my stainless super lite.

Freedom Munitions 6.5 Creedmoor 123gr HPBT Match New

Loaded by Freedom Munitions using a Nosler Custom Competition HPBT Projectile.

freedommunitions.com

 

[nm.otter]

Hornady American Gunner (140 BTHP) sells for the same price -- shoots a lot like their 140/143 tipped stuff.

 

[Silviuswolf]

Great choice. If you’re looking for practice ammo this stuff shoots 1-1.2 moa 10 shot groups out of my stainless super lite.

Freedom Munitions 6.5 Creedmoor 123gr HPBT Match New

Loaded by Freedom Munitions using a Nosler Custom Competition HPBT Projectile.

freedommunitions.com

What do you suggest using for hunting purposes?

 

[Silviuswolf]

Hornady American Gunner (140 BTHP) sells for the same price -- shoots a lot like their 140/143 tipped stuff.

What about for hunting?

 

[Hnthrdr]

Tikka roughtech from @EuroOptic then you have enough left over for a trijicon, Swfa, and almost enough for a maven, but a very, very easy button set up

 

[Hnthrdr]

I’m in the same boat as the OP and settled on a 6.5cm Tikka to replace my big boomers that I’ve never shot well. Going to 18” or 20” and already have a suppressor and a SWFA.

Is the Roughtech superlite linked above from Euro for $950 the easy button instead of getting a normal superlite and cutting down locally? 20” and cerakote with superlite barrel and fluted bolt and oversized handle. Will keep stock and add vertical grip

This is the easy button man! Seriously. I own 4 tikkas, all of them just flat out shoot. It’s nice when you don’t have to cut and thread, my 6.5cm tikka is maybe my favorite rifle 16” barrel, I own a 20” 6.5 that wears a suppressor and is a great rifle as well I do not feel like it is too long

 

[Hnthrdr]

What about for hunting?

140/ 147 eld-m or 143 eld-X whatever groups best for your rifle, my tikka liked 140’s so much i haven’t bothered to try the other loads

 

[Schmo]

@Silviuswolf
I strongly recommend the UM Tikka rings. They are done very nicely, and hold zero really well.

For a scope, a SWFA 3-15 Gen2 for $749, or a Maven RS1.2 are really good options for the money.

 

[Elkslut]

I'll second the Tikka idea. Spend the money on good optics and worthy mounts.

If your budget is strictly for the rifle (without optics or anything else) I'd give a serious look at Seekins. Has all the upgrades people do already.

 

[Silviuswolf]

Tikka roughtech from @EuroOptic then you have enough left over for a trijicon, Swfa, and almost enough for a maven, but a very, very easy button set up

I ordered that one last night. =)

 

[Isildur]

Gotcha. I like my X-Bolt. I have a 6.5 Creedmoor and it shoots very well. The only modification I’ve done is putting in different trigger spring, which was about $20.

I know the Cross is very popular too. I haven’t shot one so I can’t weigh in on it.

 

[plebe]

FYI, the Tikka’s with Coyote Cerakote allegedly have/had an issue with the Cerakote application that caused the flat top surface of the action to not be flat (a meniscus effect). This isn’t ideal for scope mounting.

That said, the EO Coyote Roughtech Superlite I handled was far smoother and had a lighter bolt lift than the Tungston one. Not a Cerakote problem, manufacturing variability I suppose.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I ordered that one last night. =)

I think you will be very pleased, really don’t need to do anything to the rifle, you can swap the butt pad and add a vertical grip if you like but they are great as is, you can lighten the trigger spring a tad ( backing out the trigger spring retaining screw, till it touches the trigger retaining bolt) if you want but stick with the oem trigger spring

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Thank you for this. This is the information I was looking for. I’m going to grab a tikka 6.5cm with a 20” barrel. I’ll probably grab the roughtech because it is threaded and I’ll upgrade the chassis sometime next year.

Good choice, 6.5 creedmoor is much better than the PRC in pretty much every meaningful way.

My tikka 6.5cm is cut back to 18” and it’s an amazing shooter.

 

[Mountainrancher]

What do you suggest using for hunting purposes?

Hornady precision match 140 eldm or Hornady precision hunter 143 eldx

 

[Castle Rock]

Good choice, 6.5 creedmoor is much better than the PRC in pretty much every meaningful way.

My tikka 6.5cm is cut back to 18” and it’s an amazing shooter.

I really don’t concur with that, I think there are better options than the CM on either side.
The short barrel knobles what is already a slow round, and the tendency to use heavier bullets just makes the situation worse.
For hunting, the ridiculously high midrange trajectory makes the CM with heavies a 200 yard point and shoot gun at best , the 6CM , 243 on the lower side and PRC and the 270 on the higher all offer so much more for a hunting rifle.