6.5 CM or 260 Rem

Dude, if your trying to push a 150+ grain bullet at 2900fps your going to need to go to some 6.5 magnum or 6.5 x.284, your not going to do it out of a 22" barrel with a CM or 260rem. The 260 will give you about 100fps more than the CM. You should just build something in .284 and quit trying to max out a short action 6.5.
 
So let's get back on track here.

We are discussing the 6.5 creedmoor and the 260 as my choices. I have read where people are getting 3050 with a 140 out of the 6.5 creedmoor and 3100 out of the 260.

I wanna do that with a 22" barrel. Is the 260 the way to go? Will the 6.5 creedmoor be more accurate?

It seems as if a lot of people want to express their opinions on something I didn't ask about.
Everybody is super man on the interweb,"I'm getting 4000fps out a 20" barrel with 142gr bullet in my CM" it's not going to happen. Maybe out of a 26" barrel with a 260. I've loaded hot for my son's 22" barrel 260 with 142 and I've got up to 2700fps. That's at 8000ft elevation. Maybe you could play with some powders and get 2800, but they may not be stable in changing weather conditions.
 
wanting to build a hunting rifle for out west and the occasional pig. Ranges will vary from 100 yards to 800ish.

Thinking about using the hammer bullets or Berger target VLDs but not sure yet.

What the are the pros and cons of the 6.5 creedmoor vs 260 rem?

Thanks.

I have both but like the Creed a little better in a short action magazine, especially with VLD type bullets. Performance wise, there's not enough difference to matter. The shoulder angle in the Creed supposedly makes it a little easier on throats. For me, the Creed has been a little less finicky to find accurate loads for. Plentiful quality factory ammo comes in handy some times too.

John
 
So let's get back on track here.

We are discussing the 6.5 creedmoor and the 260 as my choices. I have read where people are getting 3050 with a 140 out of the 6.5 creedmoor and 3100 out of the 260.

I wanna do that with a 22" barrel. Is the 260 the way to go? Will the 6.5 creedmoor be more accurate?

It seems as if a lot of people want to express their opinions on something I didn't ask about.

You have been provided some sound advice from members with real world experience, what you do with it entirely up to you. If you insist that your friend can load them at those velocities safely out of a 22" barrel, please use a remote trigger system. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
 
Bstick, I think your best bet is a 6.5CM with RL26 in a Hornady case with a 140 Berger. You can get to 2900 for sure with a 24" barrel and probably with a 22 as well. If you can put it in the right spot, could probably take an elk at 600 with it.
 
wanting to build a hunting rifle for out west and the occasional pig. Ranges will vary from 100 yards to 800ish.

Thinking about using the hammer bullets or Berger target VLDs but not sure yet.

What the are the pros and cons of the 6.5 creedmoor vs 260 rem?

Thanks.

I live 'out west ' have all my life. If I was building a 6.5 and I didn't hand load I would build a 6.5 prc. If I did hand load I would build a 260 ai. This way you can run rl 26 and a 140 about 3050 and have lapua brass.
And I wouldn't worry about anything bigger than that.
 
Depending on what you want to hunt out west, those calibers mentioned may be in the light side for the larger game. Just my opinion.

I use a 6.5-284 for everything out west. My buddy uses his .257 out west and in Alaska. Proper bullet selection and mindful aim go farther than a larger caliber.

You will never reach those velocities out of a 22" barrel. I shoot 160 grain Matrix bullets out of my 6.5-284 with a 26" barrel at 2,800.
 
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As others have said, they are almost identical. .260 will get you around 2,800 fps with 140's and and 6.5 creed around 2,700 wit 140's.

I had a 260 and was loading 42.5 grains of H4350 with 140 Berger VLD's shooting 1/4" groups. I now have a 6.5 cm and have just begun test loads, but the max charge for H4350 according to Hogdons is 41.8 so I loaded 41.5 and expect it to shoot around 2710 fps.

If you do shoot the VLD's don't use the target version (yellow box), use the hunting version (orange box). Almost same exact BC but the hunting version has a slightly heavier jacket. I always used the hunting VLD even for long range matches and it shot great.

Also try the 143 grn Hornady ELD-X in whichever one you go with. They should shoot similar to the VLDs for about $10-$15 less per box of 100 bullets. The ELD-x might better on elk since it will retain much more weight whereas the Berger VLS is really more of a shrapnel type bullet.
 
I wouldn't go with 6.5 or 260 for the distance and animals you listed. A 284 round is better suited. If you stayed with the 6.5's I'd step up to a Sherman rounds.
 
For pig hunting down here in the sunny south, 6.5 CM with a good, tough bullet like 140gr Swift A-frame slaughters 300 lb boar hogs without mercy. My typical range is 150-200 yds. Bang flop. Never hunted elk but I would be surprised if the 140gr A-frame wouldn't do the job out to 500 yds every time. Pigs are very tough and tenacious but no match for that combination.
 
I am shooting a straight 260 with a 28 inch barrel. I am getting right at 2900 FPS with 139 grain Lapua Scenar....and this is about the max load in my rifle with a long throat..I agree with the previous posts that 3000+ with a 22 inch barrel will not be possible.
 
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