Should I switch cartages?

Careful what you believe. 6CM will go over 1000 rounds, easy. I recently retired one at 2700 and another has 1700 with no signs of slowing. It’s a no brainer if you don’ t want to waste training hours reloading.
6 MM will improve your scores and if you don’t mind reloading, BR, BRA, or Dasher is what you want. It’s retarded easy to load for, to shoot, to see impacts and to have dope that compares with everyone in your squad so you can become a wind call scavenger and avoid thinking for yourself.

25x47 is the new hotness with recoil somewhere between 6CM and 6.5cm. Might be worth looking at depending on where you shoot….big country on windy days or golf-course ranges that have no wind?

25 Creedmoor seems to be making an appearance as well. Least in the Kansas/Oklahoma area. Less recoil of 6.5, easier shot spotting than 6mm.

The 25s have astonishingly high BC but there are fewer bullet choices. I think they really shine as winds go up (say above 12 mph) and when terrain dictates shooting into high wind gradients (over canyons, for example). In terms of a 10 mph wind that’s switching from 11 to 2, you still have to be able to sense and react to that change so if you can’t do that, or until you can, it won’t matter what bullet you shoot. 25CM and 25x47, like 6.5CM, .260 REM, and 6.5x47, and 6CM and 6x47, and for that matter, 6BR, BRA and Dasher, are all variations on the same theme. You can read a million opinions on how one is better than another. The point is, pick the size bullet you want to use and then the chambering that gives the best performance. Any of them can win matches.

The recoil advantage, bullet selection, and ease of load development in the small 6s (6BR based chamberings) far outweighs any perceived disadvantage in splash for most shooters.

Given your region, I’d stick with one of the easy button 6mm chamberings until I was winning matches on the regular or until I was thinking about shooting matches out west. But do as the spirit moves you. Ultimately what you train with and how you train will dictate your performance more than which cartridge you choose.

JLandis said:

25 Creedmoor seems to be making an appearance as well. Least in the Kansas/Oklahoma area. Less recoil of 6.5, easier shot spotting than 6mm.

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25GT as well. I just got my 25GT barrel but have not had the chance to shoot it yet.

6 Dasher now that Alpha makes brass and MDT makes a follower that helps w/ the gap in the .308 mags. Other than that, 6GT for similar reasons except no spacer needed in the mags. I think 6 Dasher is easier to find load for but 6GT isn't far behind. I load for speed now, 6GT, and really don't worry about finding a "node". Most of the work has already been done for you and there's a lot of load data available to work with.

Are you a big dude? And will your buddy let you run his gun through a small local match? Morgan King runs a 6.5 and he kills it.

186thFCo said:

Hello everyone,

I started shooting PRS this year as regional competitor. I have been shooting in the production division using an Aero Solus in 6.5 CM and it has been great but I'm at the point where I want to order a new barrel so I have one ready for next season. My question is, is there any advantage or enough of an advantage if I switch from a 6.5mm to a 6mm? Something like the 6GT. I've shot my buddies 6GT and its nice, but I have never used it in a match. I like my 6.5CM and other than the barrel of the factory Solus being too short IMO it has done very well with factory Hornady 140gr ELD-M's. There are a ton of people at the matches that are shooting 6mm's and I have asked this question and the answers I normally get is that the recoil is less so it is easier to spot your misses but at the same time the 6mm's have less splash.
Also, I wanted to mention that even though I have used factory ammo this year I am set up to reload so I'm not counting the need for making my own ammo as a disadvantage, other than I haven't had any issues finding match ammo in stores for my rifle. Also I don't want to use I 6mm CM, 1000 round barrel life doesn't make sense to me.

Thanks in advance, Josh

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I made this same switch (6.5 CM to 6 GT) back in 2020. I definitely found it easier to shot the 6 GT successfully vs. the 6.5 CM.

I like the 6 GT because it does not require mag spacers and it will work with a variety of powders. Varget is my preference, but if that becomes scarce I can use H4350 or 6.5 Staball with good results.

The downside is you are realistically giving up the factory ammo option. There is loaded ammo available, but it has to be ordered. You can't just walk into any store and buy it like you can the 6.5 CM.

If you want to change calibers, and you can fund the transition, now is the time. Components are readily available. Buy enough brass, primers, powder and bullets to load 2000 rounds of the new caliber. There is risk of components becoming scarce again with the election coming up.

I switched from 6.5 CM to 6mm BRA 3 years ago and glad I did...much less recoil, I run slow (2780) and get 3,000 rounds out of a barrel...If you're gonna reload, BUY POWDER NOW...there is a shortage of nitrocellulose and it's only being used for gov't contracts for a long time to come, so powder will be very scarce.

I'm no pro, but do a lot of shooting. I swapped out my 6.5 barrel to 6GT to match my other centerfire precision rifle. (for economy of effort, loading enough cartridges for two separate rifles, when going to a match is twice the work. Now, just load enough 6GT for one rifle and done).

Point, I find that the GT is much easier to keep on target. Even with rifles as light as mine (18-11) with a good brake, recoil does not exist. The 6.5 is easier to spot hits on targets, but in my case, I have to hit them first, then I can worry about where I hit them.

Still own an RPR in 6.5, nice rifle to have around. We put a carbon barrel on it and a lightweight buttstock, did some other work, and Brenda adopted it and loves it.

For competition use, I don't think you will be unhappy with one of the 6's.