Thread: 6.5CM craze

Just how special is the 6.5CM? Seems like a disease here in NZ....is it really better than the plain jane 260 Rem or trusty 6.5x55???

Its just the latest fashion caliber it probably goes 20fps faster than something already developed so must be good

Is it better than a 260 rem or 6.5x55 - not that I can see.
It was designed as a better cartridge for the AR10 platform I believe, and it definitely has better characteristic for long range shooting than the 7.62x51.

It's a compromise between 5.5mm and 7.5mm

Prolly easier to load long 140s in a short action than 260

Well over rated IMO. They don't have the SD to knock down an animal as quick as a 308. From what I have seen it always takes more than one shot to kill a red.
The flip side is that they are nice to shoot, very accurate and low recoil. That said so is my 308.

Originally Posted by Gkp

Well over rated IMO. They don't have the SD to knock down an animal as quick as a 308. From what I have seen it always takes more than one shot to kill a red.
The flip side is that they are nice to shoot, very accurate and low recoil. That said so is my 308.

Not in my experience, I shoot both .308win, 6.5 Creedmore and 6.5x47 Lapua on game and can say confidently that the 6.5s have performed better on deer and goats on all accounts. Projectile choice and shot placement is always more important. Ive never had to send a second finishing shot with the 6.5 due to lack of knock down.
They carry higher velocities out further than the .308 so with lighter jacket projectiles such as Amax or TMKs they are great at dumping high energy even out past 500y.

Originally Posted by Gkp

Well over rated IMO. They don't have the SD to knock down an animal as quick as a 308. From what I have seen it always takes more than one shot to kill a red.
The flip side is that they are nice to shoot, very accurate and low recoil. That said so is my 308.

I've had no problem going from a 7mmdown to a .260 on reds shot a nice big stag at 500yards with it no problem.

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Originally Posted by Gkp

Well over rated IMO. They don't have the SD to knock down an animal as quick as a 308. From what I have seen it always takes more than one shot to kill a red.
The flip side is that they are nice to shoot, very accurate and low recoil. That said so is my 308.

You need to gen up on what SD is and how calculate it, then run the numbers.

Actually, I'll do it for you.

.308 175gr ELD-X.... SD = 0.264
.308 150gr GameKing.... SD = 0.226

.264 143gr ELD-X.... SD = 0.293
.263 130gr GameKing SD = 0.266

As for needing second shots to kill a red, maybe your hunting with the blind?

Sorry, courier has let me down (again) this morning, so I'm picking on you.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

You need to gen up on what SD is and how calculate it, then run the numbers.

Actually, I'll do it for you.

.308 175gr ELD-X.... SD = 0.264
.308 150gr GameKing.... SD = 0.226

.264 143gr ELD-X.... SD = 0.293
.263 130gr GameKing SD = 0.266

As for needing second shots to kill a red, maybe your hunting with the blind?

Sorry, courier has let me down (again) this morning, so I'm picking on you.

I thought that might spice it up a bit.

Originally Posted by Gkp

Well over rated IMO. They don't have the SD to knock down an animal as quick as a 308. From what I have seen it always takes more than one shot to kill a red.
The flip side is that they are nice to shoot, very accurate and low recoil. That said so is my 308.

I dont own one but saying stuff like that is so stupid. If its taking more than one shot with pretty much any of the 308 based cases inside 300 yards in NZ you are picking the wrong projectile, dont know where to aim, or suck at shooting. The only other option is the odd shot were things dont go to plan (which happens but shouldn't every shot). A 140 class 6.5 projectile is plenty for anything in NZ if you know your limits.

Originally Posted by LJP

Just how special is the 6.5CM? Seems like a disease here in NZ....is it really better than the plain jane 260 Rem or trusty 6.5x55???

No

It was a craze about 5 years ago but now its just a well respected, capable and trusted cartridge.
I just chambered two barrels in 6.5 Creed yesterday, one for myself and one for a mate.
I rechambered a 20" trueflite from 260Rem which gave me a max of 2700fps with 139gr Lapua scenars and 42.5gr of RL16 which is as hot as I will load it without compromising brass , now as a 6.5 Creedmoor it runs 43gr of RL16 at 2880fps with the same projectile and 5mm less barrel length. Its just more efficient than .260 with its shorter straighter walled case which is also better for long seated projectiles and feeding from magazines. The small primed brass can take a hiding too.
It is much shorter than 6.5X55 which runs a long action and gets its best performance from longer barrels and slower burning powders. 6.5 Creedmore is an inherently accurate cartridge with target shooting roots but makes for a superb hunters cartridge with shorter barrels and the right projectiles.

Im quite happy with my 6.5x55s performance the sl longer cartridge doesn't worry me at all.
It would be interesting to see side by side performance and accuracy figures for the 2. A 22 inch barrel is not that much of a disadvantage

It isnt a military cartridge, which carry restrictions in some jurisdictions. Not an issue in NZ though.