lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
I am with Creedmoor Shooter on prefering a 6.5mm bullet over a 6mm nullet for medium sized game. You need a fast 1:7" twist 6mm barrel to push a 115 bullet to even come close. With the 6.5mm, you can jump up to a 160 if you want.
Several newer high BC heavy for caliber 6.5mm bullets are out in the 140+ range. But you need a bigger case than the 6.5CM to push them hard to take advantage of the increased weight and BC to overcome what a 130-140 would do at reasonable hunting ranges .
147 ELD-M
150 Matrix VLD
150 Sierra MK (just out this month)
155 Berger Elite Hunter (due out very soon)
160 Matrix VLD
A lot of velocity variables depend on powder choice and seating depth/jump if you reload.
In factory ammo, the .260 Rem will slightly beat the 6.5 CM in the speed department. But for handloaders, it should not be a determining factor.
As for "usable" case capacity, the .260 Rem still has slightly more, but not enough to make a huge difference. For medium size game to 600 yards, the added 50-100fps is not going to make much difference. Any 130-140+ weight bullet from 2600-2900+ is going to work just fine if you put it where it needs to go.
I was pushing a 140 HVLD @ a nice and easy 2850 from my 26" .260 Rem over 42.0gr H4350.
I get 2940 with the same bullet over 43.0gr H4350 in my 27.75" 6.5 SLR.
I have loaded for several 6.5 CM and never achieved those speeds with that bullet weight range, although some were close. 2750 pushing a 143ELD-X over Superformance from a 22" is pretty darn good deer medicine. The others were 2720 for a 140 HVLD over 41.5gr. H4350 from a 25.5" 6.5 CM and 2850 for a 130 HVLD over RL26 (I don't remember charge weight) from a 24" 6.5 CM.
I like the 6.5CM case design a bit better, and accuracy is usually great with the longer neck and 30° shoulder. Just a bit too mainstream for me now that everyone has one (including me, I just bought one for my daughter as a Christmas present). Hard to beat in a factory rifle. But if you are building one, and handload, there are so many other 6.5s out there that are better performers, why not go with one?
Several newer high BC heavy for caliber 6.5mm bullets are out in the 140+ range. But you need a bigger case than the 6.5CM to push them hard to take advantage of the increased weight and BC to overcome what a 130-140 would do at reasonable hunting ranges .
147 ELD-M
150 Matrix VLD
150 Sierra MK (just out this month)
155 Berger Elite Hunter (due out very soon)
160 Matrix VLD
A lot of velocity variables depend on powder choice and seating depth/jump if you reload.
In factory ammo, the .260 Rem will slightly beat the 6.5 CM in the speed department. But for handloaders, it should not be a determining factor.
As for "usable" case capacity, the .260 Rem still has slightly more, but not enough to make a huge difference. For medium size game to 600 yards, the added 50-100fps is not going to make much difference. Any 130-140+ weight bullet from 2600-2900+ is going to work just fine if you put it where it needs to go.
I was pushing a 140 HVLD @ a nice and easy 2850 from my 26" .260 Rem over 42.0gr H4350.
I get 2940 with the same bullet over 43.0gr H4350 in my 27.75" 6.5 SLR.
I have loaded for several 6.5 CM and never achieved those speeds with that bullet weight range, although some were close. 2750 pushing a 143ELD-X over Superformance from a 22" is pretty darn good deer medicine. The others were 2720 for a 140 HVLD over 41.5gr. H4350 from a 25.5" 6.5 CM and 2850 for a 130 HVLD over RL26 (I don't remember charge weight) from a 24" 6.5 CM.
I like the 6.5CM case design a bit better, and accuracy is usually great with the longer neck and 30° shoulder. Just a bit too mainstream for me now that everyone has one (including me, I just bought one for my daughter as a Christmas present). Hard to beat in a factory rifle. But if you are building one, and handload, there are so many other 6.5s out there that are better performers, why not go with one?
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