6.5 super LR?

[Ian B]

Hello.
I am trying to decide what my next custom should be chambered in and I was leaning toward a 6.5x47 laupa until the other day I can across a new wild cat called a 6.5 super LR for those who are not familiar with the 6.5 SLR go to this website http://www.6mmar.com/65_SuperLR.php.
On paper and from what i understand about ballistics it should be able to throw the heavier 139-140 Gr bullets much better than the 6.5x47 not to mention easier to find and cheaper brass.
So far I have talked to several people about this all had mixed thoughts about it
probably because they have no experience with the new wildcat.
one guy seems to think that the internal ballistics efficiency of the 6.5x47 will be better due to the short fat powder column thus being a more accurate round... that kind of stuff is beyond me but he might be a little bias.
the other two seem to think that the more powder =better long range but they do not know if it would be a better choice because its not a proven round.

My main concern with the 6.5SLR is brass life being that it was originally designed for semi auto rifles and how well it will feed from a short mag fed action.


Any way let me know what you think is a better option for the 800-1000 Yard shooting and those that have a 6.5 SLR a range report would be much appreciated thank you very much.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

If this is for long range hunting I did a 6.5-300 wsm that turned out real nice. Short enough so I could seat the bullets way out and gets very good velocity. It is super accurate. I am not familiar with the one you mentioned other than it appears to be another wildcat off the 308 case and should do the same thing all the others do.

 

[James H]

It's basically a 6.5 Creedmoor with a slightly longer neck. Why go to all the work when you can just shoot the Creedmoor with factory brass. If you want something different than the 6.5 Creedmoor go with a 260 Ackley.

James

 

[Ian B]

Thank you James for your advice but the 260 AI is out of the running for me for several reasons 1 my action is control round feed/ pre 64 win I have heard the AI does not like that and 2 i do not want to fire form.

The creedmoore is a option on the table but i do not really know to much about it yet. other than i would be sacrificing laupa brass.
I know laupa brass is something I would be sacrificing with the 6.5SLR to.
but keep in mind the guy in the link i posted above was getting around 2900 FPS with a 142 Gr MK thats pretty impressive.

note- I might have missed it but I do not see what barrel length he using and I am trying to contact him by phone to confirm more information about the round.


Long Time long ranger thank you for your advice but I can not use wsm because i have a 308 bolt face.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Why not a 6.5-284?

 

[trueblue]

6.5-06AI if it will work with your bolt face.
Mine is shooting the 140 Bergers at 3050 fps. I don't think you will get that with the super LR

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

With a standard bolt face the 6.5-06 AI is a good one. I have it and the 6.5 Gibbs. The short neck on the Gibbs doesn't hurt it in 264 caliber and it is the most you can get out of a blown out '06 case. Mine shoots right at my 264 winchester velocities. About 50 fps difference. The 284 case is the next step down and it is very popular because the short case allows for long vld bullets to be seated way out and still feed well through your action. It is faster than the super LR and probably the most popular target long range 6.5.

 

[James H]

Thank you James for your advice but the 260 AI is out of the running for me for several reasons 1 my action is control round feed/ pre 64 win I have heard the AI does not like that and 2 i do not want to fire form.

The creedmoore is a option on the table but i do not really know to much about it yet. other than i would be sacrificing laupa brass.
I know laupa brass is something I would be sacrificing with the 6.5SLR to.
but keep in mind the guy in the link i posted above was getting around 2900 FPS with a 142 Gr MK thats pretty impressive.

note- I might have missed it but I do not see what barrel length he using and I am trying to contact him by phone to confirm more information about the round.


Long Time long ranger thank you for your advice but I can not use wsm because i have a 308 bolt face.

Ian,
In my opinion the Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor brass gives up nothing to the Lapua brass in fact the 6.5 Creedmoor brass is far superior to the 243 Lapua brass that I have.
I have been shooting a 6mm Creedmoor (6.5 Creedmoor necked down to 6mm) no turn neck for the last 2 years in IBS 1000yd and 600yd matches and I have won a lot of fake wood with it. I also won a little with a 6.5 Creedmoor last year so there is no reason to discount the cartridge because of the brass.
The 6.5 Creedmoor will also push a 140gr bullet 2900fps+ but I have found the accuracy to be around 2800.

James

 

[Ballistic64]

My main concern with the 6.5SLR is brass life being that it was originally designed for semi auto rifles and how well it will feed from a shot mag fed action.

Should work in a bolt gun fine.Its basically a glorified 243 with a 30 degree shoulder.Brass life shouldnt be a problem,its going to be a custom chamber anyway.Im with MontanaRifleman though,a 6.5X284 is what Id choose for a 6.5 if I was after one.

 

[Ian B]

James you make some valid points there about the 6.5 CM thus throwing yet another metaphorical wrench in my gears but this raises the question why have a 6.5x47 at all if the 6.5CM is the same ballistically if not better?

As for the others who commented while I do respect your opinions as they are valid as well. Indeed the long action 6.5s like 6.5x284 are very good In fact they are quite common at my local 1000 yard F class and BR matches and i would go that route if I had a long action to use but I am locked in to a SA so i am trying to get the most out a 6.5 round in a short action.

I should note I will be using a 24 1/2" barrel with a 1/8 twist and this gun will be set up more for hunting and practical shooting.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Why couldn't you put a 6.5-284 in a short action?

 

[trueblue]

Well in that case, go with the 6.5x47 Lapua.
Mine is shooting the 130gr Bergers at just over 3000fps and is a joy to shoot.I have a muzzle break on it. That is out of a 26" barrel, so you would be at about 2950 with your 24 1/2" barrel.
I am not familiar with the CM, so I cant comment, but you would be very happy with the 6.5x47 Lapua.

 

[James H]

Ian,
The 6.5 Creedmoor holds approximately 5 grains more than the 6.5x47L. The Lapua uses small rifle primers, the Creedmoor uses large primers. The large primers will do better if you will be shooting in cold conditions. When David Tubb was developing the 6XC (about 2 grains more capacity than the 6.5x47L) he found the large primers to give more consistent ignition. The Creedmoor is .070" longer than the 6.5x47L. With both cartridges you are looking at one brass supplyer for each. The Hornady brass is however made in the U.S.A. so if you are in the U.S. I believe that is an advantage. If you are not in the US I would pick which ever one is the most consistent at supplying brass in your location. You can make 6.5x47 brass from 22-250 brass. 22-250 brass ends up a little short for the 6.5 Credmoor but you can use 308 or one of its siblings to form brass for it. My reason fro suggesting the 260 Ackley is that with the shoulder angle of the standard 260 the brass tends to grow a lot more, also with the 260 and Creedmoor the case capacity is right on the edge for the 140 grain bullets. That said I have no intention of switching from the 6.5 Creedmoor to the 260 Ackley.

James

 

[CHARLIEDUECE65]

I'd go with the 6.5 SLR in your application. It's a practical, affordable, and efficient for what you're looking for. Like others have stated it's nothing "SpeciaL" however it's not your typical standard round.