Thread: What 6.5

I'm with @Seventenths - if you're sticking with a 20" tube then you're about optimal from many angles. You won't gain a lot with an improved 260 (loaded to your mag max) for a fair bit more work prepping cases. Running to similar pressures you'll lose velocity going to a 6.5*47 - despite it being wonderfully efficient, it is still a smaller case. It shines in a longer barrel for sure.

Being all Captain Sensible about it getting a match quality barrel and a precision cut chamber should really make it (the 6.5 Creedmoor) shine.

On the other hand, trying something new just because you can and it makes you happy is the best reason of all!

You already have a good handle on loading the Creedmoor and I assume you have a supply of cases and powder that work well in it?

Assuming your use for the rifle hasn't changed then you could just make it gooderer with a nice barrel. Or you could try a 6mm Creedmoor or 6/6.5*47? With your longer mag box even a 284? Lapua are making 284 brass now...

Edit: Read the responses posted whilst I was typing - scrub the 6mm suggestion! I'm in a similar boat to you - my rifle has fired quite a few more rounds than yours though. I keep coming back to the same conclusion - shiny new match barrel in the same calibre

Originally Posted by Steelisreal

I'm with @Seventenths - if you're sticking with a 20" tube then you're about optimal from many angles. You won't gain a lot with an improved 260 (loaded to your mag max) for a fair bit more work prepping cases. Running to similar pressures you'll lose velocity going to a 6.5*47 - despite it being wonderfully efficient, it is still a smaller case. It shines in a longer barrel for sure.

Being all Captain Sensible about it getting a match quality barrel and a precision cut chamber should really make it (the 6.5 Creedmoor) shine.

On the other hand, trying something new just because you can and it makes you happy is the best reason of all!

You already have a good handle on loading the Creedmoor and I assume you have a supply of cases and powder that work well in it?

Assuming your use for the rifle hasn't changed then you could just make it gooderer with a nice barrel. Or you could try a 6mm Creedmoor or 6/6.5*47? With your longer mag box even a 284? Lapua are making 284 brass now...

Edit: Read the responses posted whilst I was typing - scrub the 6mm suggestion! I'm in a similar boat to you - my rifle has fired quite a few more rounds than yours though. I keep coming back to the same conclusion - shiny new match barrel in the same calibre

I have a pretty good handle on loading for 260 and 55 also
Muz (quadhunter 260) who passed away a couple of weeks ago and a 260
I used to do all his reloading and range work
Plus i was running 260 myself before switching to the cm a couple of years ago (simply because the rifle I wanted didn’t come in 260

I think all 4 popular 6.5’s 47,cm,260 and 55 are all very similar

Yes i do have all the gear for the creedmoor which is a bonus
Brass will be due for replacement betime the rebarrel happens

There's a big outlay of money and range trips to move to a new cartridge:

Mag and feed fix up
Dies
Shell holder possibly
Small primers and tool (if you go that way)
New powder type
New projectile experimenting
If you can just drop in your previous powder, projectiles and primers then likely your new cartridge is pretty much the same as the previous one and why bother changing ?
Load work up with untold ladders, test batches, chronying, trips to the range, trajectory confirmation, terminal ballistics verification (goats), relearning wind and other behaviour.

Stuff you need anyway if you rebarrel in the same cartridge:
Barrel
New brass
New suppressor

People say the Creedmore is pretty good so you're not likely to improve on it unless you've got length to spare in the action (tikka).
You might be able to do minimal work up for a new load and if you can get one shooting to the same velocity and trajectory it will be an easy and good swapover.