Help me decide on a 6.5mm

Bucksquirrely

Bucksquirrely

New member
I'm looking to buy another barrel for my stevens action this winter. Its a short action in 308 at the moment and a wonderful shooter but I'm really interested in the 6.5s and want something in a semi heavy/varmint contour. I'm currently leaning towards the 260 rem because it seems like it will do what I want and there are several options for brass. 6.5x47 is another option I've been thinking of as well as the 6.5x55 swede but I'm not sure if the latter will work in a short action and with the longer bullets I plan on using I'm doubting it will. Any other recommendations in 6.5mm?

Another question is which barrel manufacture? I've been looking at ER Shaw because of the price but I'm not to sure about their accuracy, has to shoot at least .75moa or better being as the 308 currently shoots that but of course I'd like much better, that's just a minimum. I'd like to stick around the 300$ range. What are my options.



*edit* Also thinking about a 260AI if thats possible.
 
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I would say what chamber you go with would depend on what you want to do with it and what bullet weight you want to shoot. Always wanted a 264win. but never got one would also like a 260,260AI or 6.5/264 maybe a 6.5/06 or 6.5/06AI well you get the picture.
Try savageshooters.com and look up Northland supply or Sharp Shooter supply in their vendor classifieds, will give you an idea on whats available(contours, lenghts and prices). Or you can order from a custom barrel maker in the configuration and chamber of your choice, but your wait time will probably be lenghty. Good Luck which ever way you choose to go.
JH
 
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A 260 rem w/140g amax/vld will do what you want easily out to 1000 yards or so. Nothing wrong with any of the calibers you mentioned.

I would stay away from ER shaw barrels. They are ok barrels, but not great

I would love to own a 6.5-06 AI w/28" bbl one day. Once I shoot my 25-06 out, I just might do it. The 6.5 bullet is just to good to be ignored.
 
I believe you will find some excellent info on the 260AI & 6.5 x 47 on the 6mmbr.com site. If I recall someone posted a clip of his 260AI on You Tube. I’m building a 244AI on a 700 long action and have selected Krieger barrels as my single source might give them a look.

Good luck with the project

B.
 
6.5 creedmore. You want to shoot a short action for long long range, it's the
way to go. For varmints, less powder, less noise, less recoil. A little slower
than the others but not by much.
 
The 6.5 Creedmoor was designed for the short action!! It is in my mind hands down the best choice for a moderate 6.5mm chambering. The brass from Hornady has improved and offers an excellent balance between affordability and performance. Dies from Hornady are affordable and of good quality. The creedmoor was designed so you can reach the land in your barrel and still make use of the short action rifle. The creedmoor is a bit shorter than a 260rem but it wil run right with the 260 any day as far as velocity and accuracy goes. Check into it and i think your mind will be made. Lee
 
Originally Posted By: JustC6.5x55 will not eject a live round in a short action.




That's kind of what I figured, especially with the long 140+grain bullets. I think I'm gonna go with the plain old 260 mainly because of the availability of brass and dies. I'm keeping my mind open about the creedmore but the only brass I can find for it is Hornady, and I was never real impressed with their brass, plus they are the only ones making dies for it. I would love a 260AI but from what I can tell the dies are a special order proposition and kind of expensive, plus the hassles of fire forming the brass and the stuff that comes with that. Maybe I'll AI it at some point down the road when I get bored with the regular 260. Still looking for a decent barrel in the 300$ range. I have ruled out ER Shaw not only because of the quality aspect but because they only offer the 260 in 1 in 9 twist. I'm thinking I'd like 1 in 8.5 or 1 in 8 for the 140-143g bullets. Will that twist still shoot the 110-130g ok? I've never ordered a custom barrel before, should I have the manufacture chamber it or order a blank and have a local smith ream it and thread it for my action?
 
6.5 bullets go all the way to 169 grains now. You won't be working
anything like that in a short action with anything but the creedmore. 160's
are what have the really high bc for 1000+. The high twist rates are not going to affect how lighter bullets shoot.
 
I have a 6.5x55AI on a short action,..that's how I know. I have a 6.5-06AI on a sako action, but it is a long action.

The 140-147gr pills are perfect for 1000yds with BC's in the .6's,..I run the 140gr a-max.

lighter bullets will still fly well,....I use 1:8 but a lot of guys are using 1:8.5 at the matches I attend
 
The creedmoor doesnt have enough powder to shoot those big 169gr bullets, at least thats my opinion. I am also of the opinion that the 123gr bullet are the perfect choice for the creedmoor or the 260 rem. I am shooting some 130's in my creedmoor with excellent results, but i am not sure i will stay with them. The 120gr class of bullets seem to me to be the best bet. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the new Hornady creedmoor brass. Its a darn site better than remington brass that for darn sure. It might not be the quality of Norma brass but it is also less than Half price. So if you loose one there isn't any crying in your milk. Nothing wrong with the 260rem really but the creedmoor is everything the 260 was supposed to be. Not to mention the fact that Hornady offers quality match ammo at a very fair price, You sure cant say that for the 260rem. The last box of 260 remington i saw was 40 bucks for 20 rounds and it was just hunting ammo. Then there is the issue of trimming brass. The 260 and 243 brass grows like grass. I had to trim my 260 and 243 brass back after two firings. I am on my fourth firing with the hornady creedmoor brass and it has only grew 2 thou. I dont want to sound like i work for Hornady or anything but the creedmoor is were its at. I would like to have a 260AI someday but i am in no hurry as this second creedmoor of mine is a hot dog shooter. I have some targets here i will try and take a pic of. the targets i will post are the very first 20 or so rounds that came out of this rifle. It simply awesome!! Like i said nothing wrong with a 260 remington but there is everything right with the 6.5mm Hornady creedmoor!! Good luck and let us see your new stick when its done. Lee

creedmoorgroups001.jpg


 
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Originally Posted By: JustCI have a 6.5x55AI on a short action,..that's how I know. I have a 6.5-06AI on a sako action, but it is a long action.

The 140-147gr pills are perfect for 1000yds with BC's in the .6's,..I run the 140gr a-max.

lighter bullets will still fly well,....I use 1:8 but a lot of guys are using 1:8.5 at the matches I attend


I'm gonna pick up some a-max's, some 139 scenars and some 140 and 142 sierra match kings. I was also looking at the Nosler Custom competition bullets. They are 24$/100 on midway compared to 36 for the scenars. The MK's and A-maxs are around 30$. Anyone have any experience with the Nosler competition bullets? Good reviews on midway and priced nicely for plinking.

Skeetlee this is gonna be a winter project but I am gonna order the barrel in late November or early December. I will definitely post up some pics and accuracy results when I get it all together.
 
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Originally Posted By: JBPrecisionBigwheeler, where are you getting 169gr 6.5's at? I'm drooling now

Check with wildcat bullets. They were working on them as far back as 2005.
wildcatbullets@gmail.com
 
Originally Posted By: HOGGHEADPac-Nor barrel in either 260 Rem. or 6.5 Creedmore. Tom.

Pac nor is almost 100$ out of my price range judging from their price guide. I did some searching around and came across a decent deal over at savageshooters. Sin Arms is offering prefit barrels in the chamber, length and contour of your choice for pretty reasonable prices. He is selling them under his own brand but gets them from a major manufacture. From what I gathered in the post they are either shilen, mcgownan or lothar barrels, probably one of the first 2 judging from his posts. Either way I wouldn't hesitate to go with any of those brands. I have heard good things about all of them. I sent him an email asking for a price quote on a 24" stainless varmint contour chambered in 260 with possibly a bead blast finish. I'm pretty sure the quote will come in under 300 easy. I'm thinking of going with a heavier contour and will probably end up with a palma heavy the more I think about it. I'd like to go shorter than 24" but I dont want the velocity loss that would come from a 20" barrel. I may go as far as 26" but I think I'm gonna stick with 24 for now.
 
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Are you looking for the best price?? Or are you looking for the best barrel?? Go to the Savage forum. There are a lot of high quality used barrels. Or special buy barrels on that web site. You could probably save some money, and get a better barrel. They do a lot of group buys on barrels. Tom.
 
Originally Posted By: HOGGHEADAre you looking for the best price?? Or are you looking for the best barrel?? Go to the Savage forum. There are a lot of high quality used barrels. Or special buy barrels on that web site. You could probably save some money, and get a better barrel. They do a lot of group buys on barrels. Tom.

I am looking for the best barrel in my price range. I talked to a vendor from over on the savage forums and he is gonna set me up with a Mcgowan 26" stainless barrel in a varmint contour chambered in 260 rem for 290$. That seems like a pretty good price to me compared to what it would cost if I ordered directly from Mcgowan. I have heard a lot of good things about their barrels and have no hesitation buying one. Now the hunt is on for an affordable stock. Any recommendations for under 300$ ?


*edit* after doing some more looking around I came across a 260 barrel on Midway in the contour and twist I want for 275$ Its a 26" Shilen barrel in stainless, pretty much exactly what I was looking for and they stock them so not much of a wait time. I kind of prefer Shilen over Mcgowan anyway. I might end up ordering before December now.
 
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I would say 260 rem or 6.5x47 in that order mainly due to the availability of good brass.

In 260 you can get Norma and Nosler brass, in 6.5x47 Lapua.
 
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