Struggling to see the point of 6.5's

[Darryle]

I have two 6.5 Creedmoor rifles, I have tried a variety of ammo in one and come back to the old tried and true, soft points. I have shot a lot of deer and pigs with everything from 243 to 450 Marlin using good old soft Interlock/CoreLokt style bullets from 40yds to just shy of 400yds. What I did see was a lot of transfer of energy into the game, what I didn't see was a lot of wasted meat.

What the Creedmoor gives anyone is lower recoil, inherent accuracy and plenty of choices on the shelf.

We lose sight of results chasing statistics, statistics are good, results are better.

Sometimes we lose sight of the fun by turning it into work.

Now, get some RL33, 156gr EOLs and one of these 6.5s and have some real fun

 

[hiker270]

As the old saying goes "Only accurate rifle's are interesting" and the 6.5 creedmoor is certainly that. That being said I certainly don't believe it's the ultimate rifle for everything from coyotes to Elk. IMHO my 6.5 creedmoor is an excellent deer/antelope rifle (low recoil, flat shooting and very accurate). For large large game like elk who mostly live high altitude physically challenging terrain I want a bigger bullet with a lot more energy. Love my 6.5 but the 300 mag. comes out of the safe when I have an elk tag in my pocket.

 

[Newtosavage]

It'll send a very high BC bullet faster than a 7-08 or 284 will send a moderate BC bullet.

What load data are you looking at?

 

[Newtosavage]

My Fieldcraft in 6.5 CM runs the 127 LRX at 2970 in a 21” barrel and my 6.5 SAUM runs the 156 Berger at 3013 in a 22” barrel. At those velocities I love them. Mine have been elk slayers. I’ll never not own a 6.5 SAUM. I’ll probably even rebarrel my Montana in 280 AI to a 6.5-280 AI.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How are you getting more than 100 fps above book velocity from a 21” barrel?

 

[Newtosavage]

Yes, in fact it is well proven that any particular case will produce higher velocities with a larger bore. Check the load data if you doubt that.

Your post ^

I believe is true only if Bullet weight is the same. In the lager bore sectional density is less. So it’s not apples to apples. As someone else mentioned, if your trying to compare speed potential of like bullets of 6.5 vs 7 than the 7 will need to be heavier.

I think I mentioned that but you are correct. My point is that bc doesn’t matter that much inside 400 yards but velocity does for proper bullet performance.

 

[Newtosavage]

Are you looking for something that has more availability?
In today's times, availability is the key word.
Anything 7mm is not going to be as plentiful as the 6.5mm. Manufacturers are going to turn out products where the demand is, currently that's in 6.5.
You said you mostly roll your own, if you're wanting to play around with load development and push a 6.5mm bullet to some limits and keep recoil at that of a .30-'06, I will suggest the 6.5x55 swede. The og 6.5. Factory loads are weak due to that fact that most rifles chamber in the round are milsurp 100yr old Mausers. A modern barrel and action can take the pressures of a maxed out 6.5swede. Take a 143gr bullet over 2900 type stuff.

Like Maverick1 said, "the better question is what are you looking for?"

Availability was on my mind when I bought the barrel.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

I wouldn’t try and convince you to shoot monos out of a Creedmoor. Nope! Shoot the 143 ELDX or the 147ELDM If you want results that are anything but anemic. I respect your choice to shoot monos but the Creed is not the cartridge I’d do it from, personally! But I am curious, what exactly didn’t impress you with the 6.5 PRC ballistics? Not arguing, genuinely curious. What did you compare it to?

 

[Newtosavage]

I wouldn’t try and convince you to shoot monos out of a Creedmoor. Nope! Shoot the 143 ELDX or the 147ELDM If you want results that are anything but anemic. I respect your choice to shoot monos but the Creed is not the cartridge I’d do it from, personally! But I am curious, what exactly didn’t impress you with the 6.5 PRC ballistics? Not arguing, genuinely curious. What did you compare it to?

Looking at Hodgdons load data, I’m only seeing 2900 with 140’s. I guess I was expecting more. A lot of guys are pushing that with 140’s from 7-08’s and my .284 Wins did better than that without having to go to a magnum bolt head. That’s why I say I was surprised.

So my decision now is whether to have this barrel rechambered to 6.5 PRC or just build another .284 Win

 

[MTMeatHunter]

Looking at Hodgdons load data, I’m only seeing 2900 with 140’s. I guess I was expecting more. A lot of guys are pushing that with 140’s from 7-08’s and my .284 Wins did better than that without having to go to a magnum bolt head. That’s why I say I was surprised.

So my decision now is whether to have this barrel rechambered to 6.5 PRC or just build another .284 Win

Got ya. Personally, and this is only my opinion, high BC bullets (140+ for 6.5, 175+ for 7mm, etc) at 2900-3000fps represent THE MOST impressive ballistics on paper. But as for your dilemma on the 6.5 PRC or the 284 Win… oh dude, no question. 284 Win 100%. Shoot that 155 Deadblow!

 

[Mule3006Elk]

As the old saying goes "Only accurate rifle's are interesting" and the 6.5 creedmoor is certainly that. That being said I certainly don't believe it's the ultimate rifle for everything from coyotes to Elk. IMHO my 6.5 creedmoor is an excellent deer/antelope rifle (low recoil, flat shooting and very accurate). For large large game like elk who mostly live high altitude physically challenging terrain I want a bigger bullet with a lot more energy. Love my 6.5 but the 300 mag. comes out of the safe when I have an elk tag in my pocket.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Mule3006Elk]

I don't have a CM. No real interest in one based on the ballistics. No advantage over what I have. Not bashing those who like the 6.5 CM. But, if the 6.5 doesn't offer any real advantage over your current offerings what's the point? You state you don't like reloading meaning you know the factory velocities you will get. If that doesn't impress you sell the barrel and get something that does.

I have a gun that I never wonder if it's enough. Get one of those. If you already have one then you're done. I'm not a fan of having tons of different calibers but I like to be really good with the one that I have.

 

[Newtosavage]

I don't have a CM. No real interest in one based on the ballistics. No advantage over what I have. Not bashing those who like the 6.5 CM. But, if the 6.5 doesn't offer any real advantage over your current offerings what's the point? You state you don't like reloading meaning you know the factory velocities you will get. If that doesn't impress you sell the barrel and get something that does.

I have a gun that I never wonder if it's enough. Get one of those. If you already have one then you're done. I'm not a fan of having tons of different calibers but I like to be really good with the one that I have.

I said I didn't like reloading?

I have a .308 that will do anything I need for elk sized game on down. It's also very accurate and 6 lbs. 12 oz. scoped. So if I wanted just one gun, I've found it.

Just looking for something "different" to have as a backup to that. 7mm components clearly seem to be getting less available and less popular. I'd like to be able to go in to my local sporting goods store and pick up a box of bullets like I used to, but these days all they have are 6.5's and .308 bullets on the shelf.

Regardless, something different than my .308 or the 7-08's I've used for years that would fill the role of a backup gun when I travel to hunt. That's what I'm after.

Right now, rechambering to 6.5 PRC is my thought. I really like this barrel but the CM is just meh.

 

[Newtosavage]

If anyone has a smith they would recommend for rechambering a CF Proof barrel from 6.5 CM to 6.5 PRC, I'd love to hear about them. I figure it will cost me about $100-150 but I could be completely off base about that.

 

[BRTreedogs]

I said I didn't like reloading?

I have a .308 that will do anything I need for elk sized game on down. It's also very accurate and 6 lbs. 12 oz. scoped. So if I wanted just one gun, I've found it.

Just looking for something "different" to have as a backup to that. 7mm components clearly seem to be getting less available and less popular. I'd like to be able to go in to my local sporting goods store and pick up a box of bullets like I used to, but these days all they have are 6.5's and .308 bullets on the shelf.

Regardless, something different than my .308 or the 7-08's I've used for years that would fill the role of a backup gun when I travel to hunt. That's what I'm after.

Right now, rechambering to 6.5 PRC is my thought. I really like this barrel but the CM is just meh.

Fyi the 308 is a slow rainbow arc boat to China.
And the 6.5 factory 147 ammo is 2950

A friend has a couple and they are 3050 no problem.

 

[BRTreedogs]

If anyone has a smith they would recommend for rechambering a CF Proof barrel from 6.5 CM to 6.5 PRC, I'd love to hear about them. I figure it will cost me about $100-150 but I could be completely off base about that.

I think it would cost about the same to sell that barrel and just buy another.

 

[Newtosavage]

Fyi the 308 is a slow rainbow arc boat to China.
And the 6.5 factory 147 ammo is 2950

A friend has a couple and they are 3050 no problem.

What 6.5 CM factory 147's are 2950?

I would have thought the same about the .308, until I used CFE 223 under a 150 TTSX. 2960-2970 and consistently 0.6-0.8's. For the distances I'm willing to shoot at game, that's pretty good medicine.

.308's are boring. Accurate. Easy to find components or factory ammo. Not finicky on the loading bench. This most recent supply shortage convinced me that I'll always own one now though. And it packs a bit more punch than my 7mm-08's, which is welcome when I'm after things bigger than deer.

So having that in the safe, I wouldn't mind tinkering with something new or different. .284 Win or 6.5 PRC or maybe a 7 SAUM. Just not quite sure what yet. It will have to go in a short Savage action because that's what I have and what I know.

 

[BRTreedogs]

I would have thought the same about the .308, until I used CFE 223 under a 150 TTSX. 2960-2970 and consistently 0.6-0.8's. For the distances I'm willing to shoot at game, that's pretty good medicine.

.308's are boring. Accurate. Easy to find components or factory ammo. Not finicky on the loading bench. This most recent supply shortage convinced me that I'll always own one now though. And it packs a bit more punch than my 7mm-08's, which is welcome when I'm after things bigger than deer.

Your not from the west?
The bc on monos make them a none player for me. Especially in a 308

That is part of what your "missing" for you your not missing it.

For me and my expected shot distance a 308 with a mono is virtually worthless.

 

[JPeters218]

I think your expectations are skewed by comparing the same bullet weights in 6.5 vs 7mm. The 6.5’s are twisted fast from the factory, and those 140 class bullets are towards the top end of the 6.5mm bullet spectrum. Whereas a 140 class 7mm bullet, which is pretty standard for 7mm, is still pretty low on the bullet weight spectrum for 7mm. So yes you're going to get more speed with a 140 from a 7mm. But in order to get a fair comparison you’d have To have to shoot 160-170 class 7mm bullets.

 

[Newtosavage]

Your not from the west?
The bc on monos make them a none player for me. Especially in a 308

That is part of what your "missing" for you your not missing it.

For me and my expected shot distance a 308 with a mono is virtually worthless.

I hunt the west every year. In fact that's primarily where I use my rifles anymore. Local stuff gets the bow.

BC on that 150 TTSX is 0.42, which at 2960 keeps it above 2200 fps., where I normally hunt, out to over 500 yards. I'm not keen on shots beyond 400, and at that range the bullet is still traveling 2400 fps.

 

[Newtosavage]

I think your expectations are skewed by comparing the same bullet weights in 6.5 vs 7mm. The 6.5’s are twisted fast from the factory, and those 140 class bullets are towards the top end of the 6.5mm bullet spectrum. Whereas a 140 class 7mm bullet, which is pretty standard for 7mm, is still pretty low on the bullet weight spectrum for 7mm. So yes you're going to get more speed with a 140 from a 7mm. But in order to get a fair comparison you’d have To have to shoot 160-170 class 7mm bullets.

Right. which is why I compared the 143 6.5's to the 162 7's above in one of my responses. Practically the same velocity and same BC's out of the CM and 7-08.

I suppose something a bit flatter shooting would interest me more which is why I'm considering the PRC.