Why no 123gr 6.5CM factory offerings ?

[juju]

A) It’s only marketing hype at close range.
B) to be fair, the 260 rem didnt sell well in ANY size.

People “fell for” the cm because it had all the attributes for longer range shooting (close chamber tolerances, easily reloadable case dimensions, standard spec in high-bc bullet weights, standard fast-twist barrel specifically to shoot heavier bullets), in a easy and cheap to shoot factory offering. I’ll take that “hype” 8 days a week. If you never shoot past 300 yards, it wasnt designed for you—so of course it seems like hype.

Most people don't, but it's marketed to them as superior for purposes they don't have while being inferior for what they actually use it for. Your use of the round was attended to in the years of target usage and development. Later it was hyped to the majority of hunters with advertising campaigns and free trips for magazine writers. Your part of the market isn't even involved.

 

[Southern Lights]

A hunting mate of mine that guides a lot uses a .260 with 123 SSTs and thinks it's the best killing combo he's used for clients. Soft recoil and drops animals immediately.