Need some suggestions for factory 6.5CM rounds. I will be using a Bartlein 1:8 18.5 inch barrel and I am looking for the all around best grain weight? Thanks in advance.
6.5 CM ammo
- Thread starter remington patriot
- Start date
Anything from Hornady in the 140grain and up. Every barrel is different but I have had four 6.5 rifles and always come back to Hornady. I do know a lot of people use Prime but I believe the grain is 130. My current rifle from moon with a Bartlein 1-8 barrel loves the new 140ELD Match and 147ELD Match. Usually a custom Creedmoor will shoot well with many types but I try groups at 300 yards and then compare what load the gun prefers.
I've had great luck with the Hornady 143 and 147 both the ELD-M and the ELD-X. I constantly get .7-.75 out of my GAP-10. I can do .5-.525 with my handloads, but four hours of reloading vs. buying ammo off the shelf and shooting, the .25 " isn't always worth it to me. To shoot .7 5 shot groups with a gasser is amazing to me, yet the GAP does it regularly.
Anyone shoot the federal FGGM ammo yet, saw some on the shelf at the LGS and it was a dollar cheaper than the Hornady. Berger 130 grain hybrid bullet.
Being a shorter barrel, I would try the 140's over the 147. Gotta keep that velocity up to take advantage of the BC. Let us know how it shoots!
I use PRIME ammo exclusively now. It shoots the best out of my gun and also gives me surprisingly good MV for a 24" barrel (my MV is about 2950 fps). The farthest I've shot with it was 1160 (it took 9.8 MIL elevation from 100) and I got a first round hit on a 9" plate at that distance, though I admit it was 90% luck. Personal anecdotes aside, I've shot PRIME out of 4 different rifles and it has never disappointed me.
You may want to try the PRIME first because it's 130 grain bullets and it'll be easier to take advantage of the BC of a 130gr bullet out of an 18" barrel. If that doesn't work out then maybe try Hornady.
You may want to try the PRIME first because it's 130 grain bullets and it'll be easier to take advantage of the BC of a 130gr bullet out of an 18" barrel. If that doesn't work out then maybe try Hornady.
Thanks for the recommendations. Been shooting .308 and excited to make the switch. Gotta find someone who will trade some Fed GMM for some 6.5CM
I would go with lighter bullets due to the shorter barrel. 140s might even be a bit too heavy. Lighter bullet is gonna have higher velocity and you'll want all the help you can get with an 18" barrel. But yeah, Hornady ELD-M is good to go.
Prime shoots the best out of my AI with a Bartlein barrel. It is noticeably better than Hornady and the FGMM
