New Rifle comparison, please help

[mrbofus]

Hello,

I am in the "wants" for a new Rifle. A lighter caliber with light recoil.
Not a custom build long range rig but a off the shelf with a few mods rig. I know that this is a long range site and I really have picked up lots of valuable info--thanks.

So I have been reading a lot about the 6.5's and am very interested in that cartridge. I am thinking 6.5 creedmore or 25-06.

My question to you all is pro /con of either rifle? I live in the west and will mainly use it for Deer/ Antelope/coyote/chucks and under 500yrds.

I already have a .243 and smaller and 7-08 and larger calibers.
Any and all input greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[MudRunner2005]

6.5 Sherman is a great one...And, IMO, better than the Creedmoor.

Also, the 25-06 is a great round, too.

One of the best rounds I think there is for all of that you plan on using it for, is the .257 Weatherby. It is one of the best for whitetails and antelopes and plains game. But also makes a great coyote gun.

 

[reeldawg]

I have looking at 6.5s for 2-3 years. I had decided on 6.5-06 but I am know doing a 6.5 Sherman. I am sending my action off in the next couple of days. This will be my first build.

Jay

 

[chas3stix]

It all depends whether you want a factory rifle or a custom build. Custom builds the sky is the limit on choice of round and price. Factory 6.5s are kind of limited in choice.
I shoot a 6.5Creedmoor factory Savage model 10 and am well pleased with it. YMMV

 

[BrentM]

Savage makes a line up for the 260, 6.5 creed, and the 6.5-284. All are pretty sweet and so far the ones I have played with shoot very very well.

There is neat model predator that I would consider. Nice rifle. I have something very similar in a 116, SS 24 fluted varmint, SS action, accustock, accutrigger, in a 6.5-284. Rare rifle, but I love it. Shoots well, no issues.

 

[mrbofus]

One of the best rounds I think there is for all of that you plan on using it for, is the .257 Weatherby.

Great rifle, I agree but would like a "lighter" recoil. Not that the .257 is bad.

Jay[/QUOTE]

It all depends whether you want a factory rifle or a custom build.
I shoot a 6.5Creedmoor factory Savage model 10 and am well pleased with it. YMMV

At this point a factory built rifle and have been looking at the Savage 116

Is it a far strech to compare the 6.5 Creedmore to the 7-08?

 

[BrentM]

IMO, no. The 7mm in comparable bullet weights does not hold a candle to the 6.5 for BC. However, the 7mm08 is a great chamber, easy to find ammo and components, and is proven. I am working on 1 right now for a kid and love it so far. It is shoots 140s around 2700 to 2750 in a 21" barrel.

You can get heavier pills for 7mm as well much easier than the 6.5 but the speed is slower so the trade off is not worth it.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Great rifle, I agree but would like a "lighter" recoil. That that the .257 is bad.

Jay

You would be surprised at how light the recoil is of an un-braked Weatherby Accumark .257 Wby. I have one, and it is my go-to rifle for whitetails, and has been since I got it in 2008.

I suggest shooting one before knocking it out of the race.

The 6.5 Sherman will be a good one shooting Berger 140's.

The .25-06 Ackley Improved is another good one. You can get .257 Wby velocities in a smaller non-magnum package. I'm building one of these as we speak.

 

[mrbofus]

IMO, no. The 7mm in comparable bullet weights does not hold a candle to the 6.5 for BC. However, the 7mm08 is a great chamber, easy to find ammo and components, and is proven. I am working on 1 right now for a kid and love it so far. It is shoots 140s around 2700 to 2750 in a 21" barrel.

You can get heavier pills for 7mm as well much easier than the 6.5 but the speed is slower so the trade off is not worth it.

Well I understand that. I guess I had 270 on the brain and said 7/08

You would be surprised at how light the recoil is of an un-braked Weatherby Accumark .257 Wby. I have one, and it is my go-to rifle for whitetails, and has been since I got it in 2008.

I suggest shooting one before knocking it out of the race.

I meant to say "NOT that the 257 is bad", refering to recoil.
My hunting partner has one and I have shot it a bit. Yes very manageable recoil. It is not Totally out of the running.

 

[gillettehunter]

I have a 25-06 and 6.5-06. I would suggest that the 6.5's are going to edge out the .25's. That is based primarily on the higher bc's available for the 6.5's. Better selection of bullets for the 6.5's. The Creedmore is easy to shoot as is the .260. Both available in factory chamberings. That's the way I'd go. In fact I may get around to selling my 25-06 one of these days. Haven't shot it in 3 years.... Bruce

 

[letrbuck]

Hello,

I am in the "wants" for a new Rifle. A lighter caliber with light recoil.
Not a custom build long range rig but a off the shelf with a few mods rig. I know that this is a long range site and I really have picked up lots of valuable info--thanks.

So I have been reading a lot about the 6.5's and am very interested in that cartridge. I am thinking 6.5 creedmore or 25-06.

My question to you all is pro /con of either rifle? I live in the west and will mainly use it for Deer/ Antelope/coyote/chucks and under 500yrds.

I already have a .243 and smaller and 7-08 and larger calibers.
Any and all input greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

I am in the "wants" for a 6.5 as well. If I were to do a non custom build I would go with the swede (6.5x55). Several companies are offering them in good configurations these days and I think it's a great caliber.

If I were to do a custom build, I would do a Sherman or Sherman Short mag. They seem to be awesome, especially with heavier pils (140-160g)

 

[tikkat3270wsm]

.270wsm in a Tikka T3. light, shoots lights out, and easy to load for. Tikka T3 in black 499.00 most places you go. Cant beat the action, silky smooth. I have mine in Stainless. Sako action with out sako price

 

[farout]

I use a 25-06 and a 6.5 Creedmoor and between the two, for a off the shelf rifle and off the shelf ammo, I give the nod to the 25-06. I use these two rifles for two different reasons. The 25-06 is my carry rifle for general hunting and blacktails across clearcuts. The Creed is for medium long range hunting and long range target shooting.

With medium for caliber bullets the 25-06 hits harder and shoots a lot flatter out to 400 yards and has less wind drift. Almost sounds crazy the way the short action 6.5's get played up these days but it is true. Things change a bit if you are using heavy for caliber high BC bullets for the Creed and the 260. But for the most part those bullets are not flat shooting, they are better at retained energy long range.

Matter of fact for off the shelf ammo in 6.5, I think a Remington 260 would be better than the Creedmoor. I see lots of 25-06 and 260 ammo in stores but don't think I have ever seen Creedmoor.

Of course a .257 Weatherby, or AI would be the ultimate, but I got the feeling that you were talking off the shelf ammo too.

Federal Ammunition has a great ballistics program that can be downloaded for free. It is great for making comparisons between calibers that Federal makes ammo for. The link is below. Try it and compare the 25-06 to the 260 and you will see what I mean.

Federal Premium Ammunition - Ballistics Application

 

[mrbofus]

I use a 25-06 and a 6.5 Creedmoor and between the two, for a off the shelf rifle and off the shelf ammo, I give the nod to the 25-06. I use these two rifles for two different reasons. The 25-06 is my carry rifle for general hunting and blacktails across clearcuts. The Creed is for medium long range hunting and long range target shooting.

With medium for caliber bullets the 25-06 hits harder and shoots a lot flatter out to 400 yards and has less wind drift. Almost sounds crazy the way the short action 6.5's get played up these days but it is true. Things change a bit if you are using heavy for caliber high BC bullets for the Creed and the 260. But for the most part those bullets are not flat shooting, they are better at retained energy long range.

Matter of fact for off the shelf ammo in 6.5, I think a Remington 260 would be better than the Creedmoor. I see lots of 25-06 and 260 ammo in stores but don't think I have ever seen Creedmoor.

Of course a .257 Weatherby, or AI would be the ultimate, but I got the feeling that you were talking off the shelf ammo too.

Federal Ammunition has a great ballistics program that can be downloaded for free. It is great for making comparisons between calibers that Federal makes ammo for. The link is below. Try it and compare the 25-06 to the 260 and you will see what I mean.

Federal Premium Ammunition - Ballistics Application

Thanks, farout,

I have the ability to reload so that really isnt an issue. But I agree that a more "standard" calibre will probably be the way to go.
I get the "wants" on one side and the "needs" on the other side start wrestling with myself with Really, what will something new do that something I already have wont....besides cost me some more $$???

ie,.243 vs 25-06, 6.5 vs 270 vs 30-06 etc.

But I guess that is there is more than 1 flavor of ice cream so to say.