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Rem260 or 6.5CM

rgvt4

rgvt4

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Oct 9, 2012
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Thiking of building one of these calibers. It will be used for deer and some long rang shooting. Witch one would you choose and why. Also I assume it is easier to get 260 brass. What other calibers can you form both cartridges from.

Thanks
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

6.5 cm, 260rem, 6.5x47 are so freaking close ballisticly they are almost the same round. you can get factory 6.5CM ammo, or you can order either from companies like copper creek, southwest, mccourt etc. you can form 260 brass from a few diferent casings, i've always just got labeled 260 brass.

really you get either you'll be happy.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

As Joe said, they are so close its nearly a wash, thats the point and the reason I posted the article but it does have a lot of good info as well.

I am running a 243 now, Broughton 7.5 twist shooting the 115gr TUBB coated DTACs, its a hammer and shoots ultra flat. With that said, next barrel will most likely be chambered in 260 Rem and I want to try running the Lapua 308 Palma small primer brass necked down. Hot loads in the 260 and 243 seem to open up primer pockets fast and the small primer pockets should hold up to the pressure, that is one of the benifits of the 6.5x47 brass.

Kirk R
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Captain Kirk</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> With that said, next barrel will most likely be chambered in 260 Rem and I want to try running the Lapua 308 Palma small primer brass necked down. Hot loads in the 260 and 243 seem to open up primer pockets fast and the small primer pockets should hold up to the pressure, that is one of the benifits of the 6.5x47 brass.

Kirk R</div></div>

This is a great idea, never thought of doing this, i guess I would just have to neck turn them before or after sizing them.
Has anyone done this? I wonder if there are any other benefits?
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

We went with the 260, basic and simple to load for. Also easy to get brass for. We started with Remington 260 brass but after a season of matches and practice the primer pockets started to open up and we don't load hot rounds, it's just soft brass. Then we went with WW 7-08 and have had great success and the brass is much more consistent. Haven't had to toss a WW brass yet due to loose primer pockets and that has been all summer at matches and practice with three different guns.

Now we've stocked up on WW 243 brass for next year or when ever our 7-08 brass gets worn out. With both the WW 7-08 and the WW 243 brass one pass in the sizing die, trim all to length before we start the season and load. No neck turning or fire forming. That gives you at least three options for brass if you can't find one surely one of the others will be available. We've tried all three brass with the same load at the same 900 yard target and all three were good hits.

Just what we've found on the 260 and passed it along. Any of the three you mentioned are great shooters, some sound cooler but all are nearly identical and will give great results.

Topstrap
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

260 for the brass option. I prefer Lapua and Nosler. Both are about the same and shoot the same. Also Norma makes brass for it as well, and Remington is still good for practice and load work up. They are all great choices but the 260 is my baby.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

My last build I went with 6.5 CM because I don't reload . Hornady Makes some very good ammo for it
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

The short answer is, if you can reload and you are good at it, get the 260REM if you don't reload or are not as experienced reloading get the 6.5CM

That is the easiest way to answer the which one question.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The short answer is, if you can reload and you are good at it, get the 260REM if you don't reload or are not as experienced reloading get the 6.5CM </div></div> That's interesting. Why does the 260 require more skill in reloading? That's an honest question not disagreeing.

I just thought since they were so close it would be the same or since the .260 was closer to the 243/308 round it would be easier if anything.
I just went through this same decision over the last 2yrs first I was leaning toward a 6.5CM then was dead set on a 6.5x47 then I leaned toward the .260 and eventually decided on the 6.5Creedmoor for what you said, factory of the shelf match ammo, for those days or weeks i am too busy to reload. It is shipping to me this week from Long Rifles.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

I've been debating what caliber my next build will be in. I've decided on 260 Remington because Federal now has 260 Rem Gold Medal Match.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

Because Hornady provides great ammunition with the recipe on the box, people have sort of loads for the 260 and I find seating depths, bullet weights matter more and are a bit pickier to deal with because generally speaking people are starting from scratch.

Guys who like to reload and tinker will have more fun with a 260 in my opinion, nothing wrong with the 6.5CM but starting out it is an easier way too answer the question for new shooters. Lots of time they will ask and not know the difference, which the main one, good solid Factory Ammo... you can't beat Hornady in this respect so for the less experienced Hornady wins. You can copy and use their load and then tweak it as you become more experienced.

Better reloaders can jump right into either, still most opt for the 260 because they can play with different brass and loads, as they are versed it. They can take their other brass they might already own and resize it for the 260. You dont' get this with the 6.5CM
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

Since you asked: "Witch one would you choose and why."

I don't reload and have no plans to start, so I'd go with the .260 Remington because Southwest Ammunition will reload .260 Remington brass for $0.75 round. I'm very pleased with their .308 ammo and have 600 pieces of Winchester brass ready to send in for reloading. I've no reason to think that their .260 Remington loads wouldn't shoot just as well.

Good chance that I'll install a .260 Remington barrel on my AW when I shoot out the factory .308 one.

—Andreas
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Captain Kirk</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> As Joe said, they are so close its nearly a wash, thats the point and the reason I posted the article but it does have a lot of good info as well.

I am running a 243 now, Broughton 7.5 twist shooting the 115gr TUBB coated DTACs, its a hammer and shoots ultra flat. With that said, next barrel will most likely be chambered in 260 Rem and I want to try running the Lapua 308 Palma small primer brass necked down. Hot loads in the 260 and 243 seem to open up primer pockets fast and the small primer pockets should hold up to the pressure, that is one of the benifits of the 6.5x47 brass.

Kirk R </div></div>

Would you have to bush the bolt?
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Because Hornady provides great ammunition with the recipe on the box, people have sort of loads for the 260 and I find seating depths, bullet weights matter more and are a bit pickier to deal with because generally speaking people are starting from scratch.

Guys who like to reload and tinker will have more fun with a 260 in my opinion, nothing wrong with the 6.5CM but starting out it is an easier way too answer the question for new shooters. Lots of time they will ask and not know the difference, which the main one, good solid Factory Ammo... you can't beat Hornady in this respect so for the less experienced Hornady wins. You can copy and use their load and then tweak it as you become more experienced.

Better reloaders can jump right into either, still most opt for the 260 because they can play with different brass and loads, as they are versed it. They can take their other brass they might already own and resize it for the 260. You dont' get this with the 6.5CM </div></div> that makes sense I didn't even think about the recipe on the box and that would make it a hell of a lot easier with a starting point. That's just another reason I'm glad I chose 6.5CM. I hated doing load dev on my .243 but it was inevitable with no factory match ammo available. Glad I did it though to learn how and what no to do next time.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The short answer is, if you can reload and you are good at it, get the 260REM if you don't reload or are not as experienced reloading get the 6.5CM

That is the easiest way to answer the which one question. </div></div>

I am defiantly not a reloaded yet.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

308 brass is .020 shorter than 260, while you can use 308 brass in your 260 all you'll be doing is burning up your chamber\throat faster. 260/6.5CM are virtual clones in performance, on paper the CM should be more accurate and barrels should last longer, this is due to its 30 degree shoulder angle, in the real world both are same in either caliber, single source of brass sucks, but Hornady has stepped up production to keep up with demand, of course Lapua now makes 260 brass, IMHO it's over priced and over rated, and primer pockets lasted me 4 loads, Rem brass is soft, primer pockets only last 5-6 loads, and its 65 cents each local, Win 243 or 7-08 is easily reformed into 260(I do neck turn it to prevent donuts in 243 and even out the neck thicknes in 7-08), and lasts forever, my best groups are with Win brass in my 260, and its only 42 cents each local, my 260 has 3700 rounds down the tube, I'm looking switching calibers now, but if I stick with 6.5 it will be 260, only reason is I'm already tooled up for it.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427Cobra</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> IMHO it's over priced and over rated, and primer pockets lasted me 4 loads</div></div>

That's really weird, I have 10 loadings on my 260 Lapua brass and I'm running 44 gr of H4350 w/ a 139 Scenar @ 2910 fps (juiced way up). Primer pockets are still good to go and I only resize the necks. Wonder what's different in mine vs yours?
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

I just started using the Lapua brass and have 8 loads so far. No problem yet. I get 10-12 loads out of my Rem brass. Am running 139 Lapua's with 42gr of R17. I think I'm getting around 2850fps. I'm loath to neck turn but might try the Winchester brass and see what happens.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

Lapua makes .260 brass and it has more capacity to go faster (even if by a small margin). All upsides to me as a reloader over the 6.5 CM. You can't go wrong with either.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lowlight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Because Hornady provides great ammunition with the recipe on the box, people have sort of loads for the 260 and I find seating depths, bullet weights matter more and are a bit pickier to deal with because generally speaking people are starting from scratch.

Guys who like to reload and tinker will have more fun with a 260 in my opinion, nothing wrong with the 6.5CM but starting out it is an easier way too answer the question for new shooters. Lots of time they will ask and not know the difference, which the main one, good solid Factory Ammo... you can't beat Hornady in this respect so for the less experienced Hornady wins. You can copy and use their load and then tweak it as you become more experienced.

Better reloaders can jump right into either, still most opt for the 260 because they can play with different brass and loads, as they are versed it. They can take their other brass they might already own and resize it for the 260. You dont' get this with the 6.5CM </div></div>

I agree.

I wouldn't call myself an accomplished reloader but moderately experienced. Never messed around with wildcats or anything like that. But I did cut my teeth on 7.5x55 Swiss which is a challenging caliber because of the short throat of the K31 rifles. It'll teach you a lesson in shoulder bumping.

I chose the 6.5 Creedmoor because all the guesswork and leg work is taken care of. I hate to waste quality projectiles trying to figure out a powder throw or seating depth. That doesn't mean that I won't experiment a bit, like Mr. Lowlight said, but the bulk of the work is done.

The load in Hornady's box runs fine in everyone else's rifles so I should do fine in my build. If so, then I can play with it a bit, looking for pressure signs, etc., but it will really cut down on the time and money I spend developing a load. Of course there are good loads for .260 as well but good, safe reloading practice is to work up. The 6.5 CM Hornady load is already worked up.

Good luck.

Paul
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

The loads that were printed on my boxes were a little short. I pulled some and measured 42.7gr on the 140's. Velocity out of a 20" 1/8 averaged 2731.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

This topic comes up so much it seems we almost need a sticky for it.

In my eyes, the two cartridges are ballistically the same, so the decision has to be made on other factors...

As mentioned, matchgrade 6.5CM ammo is available from the factory, ready to go, for a pretty decent price. If somebody doesn't reload, and has no intent on doing so, the CM seems a natural choice. However, the "custom ammo" outfits are stepping up their 260 efforts and now matchgrade 260 factory ammo is becoming more available and is also priced well. So honestly, to a non-reloader, the point is moot.

For someone that IS a reloader, the 260 has the advantage that the brass is available from many different sources including Winchester, Hornady, Remington and Lapua to name a few. 260 brass can be formed from 243 or 7-08 brass, and even 308 (pretty much, depending on chamber), so getting brass for your 260 is easy. 6.5CM on the other hand has a single source - Hornady.

However... there are a few more nuances...

The 6.5CM allows 140gr bullets to be seated north of the neck shoulder junction (NSJ) when loaded to a COAL of ~2.875", which many reloaders think is a nice advantage.

The 6.5CM also has the sexy 30* shoulder angle, which some people argue is better than the 243/260/708/308 20* angle.

As far as I'm concerned, the 6.5CM is the better cartridge, but the single source of brass is a show-stopper. I am not cool with being beholden to a single company for brass. Again though, to someone that doesn't reload, none of this makes a difference. If you don't reload - maybe research the used brass market, and see which cartridge has higher resale value, which will offset ammo cost - by selling the spent brass. My gut tells me spent 6.5CM brass is worth more than spent 260.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

The 6.5 Creedmoor can be made out of all of the casings you listed for the 260, I have made mine from 243 and 308 so far. So for a reloaded I think their pretty much the same except for the bullet seating and the shoulder angle. I shot some more factory 140 loads today and had a 4" group at a K. It is some of the best factory loads I have ever shot from any cartridge.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tonytx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The 6.5 Creedmoor can be made out of all of the casings you listed for the 260, I have made mine from 243 and 308 so far.</div></div>

C'mon...

243/7-08 brass become brass by pushing them up into a die, and then removing them.

...it is *far* more rigorous to make them into 6.5CM...
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tonytx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The 6.5 Creedmoor can be made out of all of the casings you listed for the 260, I have made mine from 243 and 308 so far. So for a reloaded I think their pretty much the same except for the bullet seating and the shoulder angle. I shot some more factory 140 loads today and had a 4" group at a K. It is some of the best factory loads I have ever shot from any cartridge. </div></div>

yep, i have been making mine out of 308's and found the 7-08's make the job a little easier. i'm getting prepared for my new barrel.
i;m still waiting for my barrel to come in so i can shoot!!
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: devildogandboy</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tonytx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The 6.5 Creedmoor can be made out of all of the casings you listed for the 260, I have made mine from 243 and 308 so far. So for a reloaded I think their pretty much the same except for the bullet seating and the shoulder angle. I shot some more factory 140 loads today and had a 4" group at a K. It is some of the best factory loads I have ever shot from any cartridge. </div></div>

yep, i have been making mine out of 308's and found the 7-08's make the job a little easier. i'm getting prepared for my new barrel.
i;m still waiting for my barrel to come in so i can shoot!! </div></div>

How much are you turning off the necks?
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

Any special steps to making 6.5cm brass from 308win vs 7-08. I presume 7-08 is a little easier because of smaller step down in size, but you still have to trim length?
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

I know these calibers are tack drivers and I've been wanting to build one of these for my son who is getting into the longrange/tactical competitions, but nothing has been mentioned about the other side? Stopping power on deer,what he'll probably want to use it for besides competing. Anyone use there rifles for hunting and would they use the factory hunting ammo instead of match loads? The round seems a little light for say elk(besides a well placed shot)? But what about mule or white tail sounds better? I don't know just a question that was never answered. Appreciate everyones input! Thanks
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

Go look at PGS's post with the animals he has killed with his 260. Everything from deer to elk to Alaskan brown bear.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mr.45</div><div class="ubbcode-body">nothing has been mentioned about the other side? Stopping power on deer...The round seems a little light for say elk(besides a well placed shot)? But what about mule or white tail sounds</div></div>

Modern 6.5CM and .260Rem match mv's for the older 6.5x55Swede loadings and don't lag loadings using modern powders much at all. The 6.5x55 has taken thousands of moose and caribou over the years in Scandinavia and is more than adequate for the job.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

As a technical point the Yukon moose Americans are familiar with is larger than a Scandinavian moose. That said if not call shooting a moose with a 6.5 a stunt by any means. Moose are easily killed although they die slowly.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

Shot a nice whitetail yesterday with Hornady 140 amax. Hit right behind shoulders with nice exit at 250 yd. Deer ran 30 yds. Shot a couple last year with no problems.
 
Re: Rem260 or 6.5CM

Libertyman I trim the necks until they measure 12.5 thou thick and about an 1/8 off the length. I use the K&M case neck tool to turn the necks down and a Little Crow case trimmer. I use a FL bushing die to finish the case off.
 
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