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Long Range Hunting & Shooting
6.5 Creedmor- the Holy Grail?
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<blockquote data-quote="edward hogan" data-source="post: 1529990" data-attributes="member: 1341"><p>If there is a "holy grail" rifle cartridge/chambering; it isn't the Creedmoor. Maybe it was an Instant Classic among the serious target longrangers, but must agree that with so many 155-160gr bullets discontinued over the past 10yrs, no 6.5mm can do it ALL... </p><p></p><p>Owning a precision Obermeyer barreled LR/Tactical rifle in .260rem, I was never too excited about the 6.5 Creedmoor. "holy grail" status is more applicable to the .260rem IF considering 6.5s because of only 1 thing: just neck down a .308win case and you are set! Of course, not that many guys handload; and by "guys" I mean this age's serious shooters. My view is that you aren't a Serious Shooter until you've learned precision handloading by doing it...</p><p></p><p>In my view, as a precision handloader and shooter, the Ackley Improved case family IS The Best There Is... For all-purpose applications The .280rem, .30-06, & .338-06 in Ackley Improved configuration (with 40deg or maybe 35deg shoulder) ARE Most Versatile and Capable for longrange precision with heavy, high BC bullets and Capable of Almost Magnum Ballistics. The Gibbs ctg family is also worthy of consideration if sole use is for hunting. No, not gonna find .30 or .33 Gibbs on the shelf at the gun emporium on Kodiak Island, (or anywhere else) but Gibbs ctgs are overlooked.</p><p></p><p>A "holy grail" ctg must also be capable of handling Cast Boolits... Cast results favor bigger diameters and slower twists. The .338-06AI is pretty optimum for cast applications and the Lee 220gr goes about 225gr when hardcast from wheelweights for optimum penetration. I have a 283gr .338 roundnose mold that delivers about 292gr hardcast. Pretty heavy Sectional Density numbers from an almost 300gr roundnosed .338 boolit...</p><p></p><p>In my book, as more precision handloader than hunter, a "holy grail" ctg will use a .308win or .30-06 as its parent case. Yes, I have owned a .308win AI target rifle too, and for primary accuracy the .308win case offers that smidge more potential, but lacks the 100fps more velocity of the 06 variants. With a full set of tapered expander balls and set of correct Redding Neck Bushings, the Redding bushing sizer dies (fl or neck) make ammunition creation a breeze. To make .260rem from .308 I neck-down to 7mm first, and then use the 6.5mm bushing.. Works same for 06 ctg family. </p><p></p><p>While there are so many chambering choices these days, the availability of premium quality and versatile loading dies governs my decisionmaking; Want to pay several hundred for each set of custom dies; it's your money... Redding Type S dies in AI are readily available. Usually the .30cal Type S die will have enough bushing clearance to allow use for .338 cal. I use a Type S .300win die for .338/300mag loading...</p><p></p><p>As for seating dies, Forster bench or micrometer dies are a great choice as they will sell you spare case-bodies which can be reamed for your ctg or might be AI available. Redding AI seaters, usually only in a die set, can be modified with their micrometer seating head, but you still lack the sliding case-body unless you find an AI chambering in their match seater, match bushing die sets.</p><p></p><p>Of course, with an AI ctg there's always the potential for firing standard, non-AI shouldered ammunition, often without accuracy diminishment; just in case you ever have to... One more "holy grail" attribute no other ctg series has.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="edward hogan, post: 1529990, member: 1341"] If there is a "holy grail" rifle cartridge/chambering; it isn't the Creedmoor. Maybe it was an Instant Classic among the serious target longrangers, but must agree that with so many 155-160gr bullets discontinued over the past 10yrs, no 6.5mm can do it ALL... Owning a precision Obermeyer barreled LR/Tactical rifle in .260rem, I was never too excited about the 6.5 Creedmoor. "holy grail" status is more applicable to the .260rem IF considering 6.5s because of only 1 thing: just neck down a .308win case and you are set! Of course, not that many guys handload; and by "guys" I mean this age's serious shooters. My view is that you aren't a Serious Shooter until you've learned precision handloading by doing it... In my view, as a precision handloader and shooter, the Ackley Improved case family IS The Best There Is... For all-purpose applications The .280rem, .30-06, & .338-06 in Ackley Improved configuration (with 40deg or maybe 35deg shoulder) ARE Most Versatile and Capable for longrange precision with heavy, high BC bullets and Capable of Almost Magnum Ballistics. The Gibbs ctg family is also worthy of consideration if sole use is for hunting. No, not gonna find .30 or .33 Gibbs on the shelf at the gun emporium on Kodiak Island, (or anywhere else) but Gibbs ctgs are overlooked. A "holy grail" ctg must also be capable of handling Cast Boolits... Cast results favor bigger diameters and slower twists. The .338-06AI is pretty optimum for cast applications and the Lee 220gr goes about 225gr when hardcast from wheelweights for optimum penetration. I have a 283gr .338 roundnose mold that delivers about 292gr hardcast. Pretty heavy Sectional Density numbers from an almost 300gr roundnosed .338 boolit... In my book, as more precision handloader than hunter, a "holy grail" ctg will use a .308win or .30-06 as its parent case. Yes, I have owned a .308win AI target rifle too, and for primary accuracy the .308win case offers that smidge more potential, but lacks the 100fps more velocity of the 06 variants. With a full set of tapered expander balls and set of correct Redding Neck Bushings, the Redding bushing sizer dies (fl or neck) make ammunition creation a breeze. To make .260rem from .308 I neck-down to 7mm first, and then use the 6.5mm bushing.. Works same for 06 ctg family. While there are so many chambering choices these days, the availability of premium quality and versatile loading dies governs my decisionmaking; Want to pay several hundred for each set of custom dies; it's your money... Redding Type S dies in AI are readily available. Usually the .30cal Type S die will have enough bushing clearance to allow use for .338 cal. I use a Type S .300win die for .338/300mag loading... As for seating dies, Forster bench or micrometer dies are a great choice as they will sell you spare case-bodies which can be reamed for your ctg or might be AI available. Redding AI seaters, usually only in a die set, can be modified with their micrometer seating head, but you still lack the sliding case-body unless you find an AI chambering in their match seater, match bushing die sets. Of course, with an AI ctg there's always the potential for firing standard, non-AI shouldered ammunition, often without accuracy diminishment; just in case you ever have to... One more "holy grail" attribute no other ctg series has. [/QUOTE]
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