I want to build a 20-22" heavy barreled carbine. Which cartridge will give better performance with that short of a barrel. 260Rem, 6.5x47, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55? I wanna run heavy bullets, not to 1000yds maybe to 5-600. This is gonna be for hunting whitetail and general use, along with some punching paper/steel dinging. Velocity is not my goal obviously. Just consistent accuracy. I can dial for lack of FPS.
6.5 with a 20-22" barrel
- Thread starter finnwerke757
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Re: 6.5 with a 20-22" barrel
I was kinda leanin towards the shorter cartridges for efficiency etc. Just wantin some feedback on the Swede also.I have two options to go. I have a Mark X action already in 7x57 to rebarrel in 6.5x55. Or a donor Savage action to do some short action 260,6.5 Creed, etc.
I was kinda leanin towards the shorter cartridges for efficiency etc. Just wantin some feedback on the Swede also.I have two options to go. I have a Mark X action already in 7x57 to rebarrel in 6.5x55. Or a donor Savage action to do some short action 260,6.5 Creed, etc.
Re: 6.5 with a 20-22" barrel
I have owned the 6.5x284, 6.5x47L, 260 Rem and 6.5 CM. Of all of them the CM is my favorite. You can make it hum if you reload (RL17 and 142 SMK) or you can buy Hornady ammo off the shelf. The Hornady stuff shoots great too. Sure, you can buy 260 factory ammo but not heavy bullet match grade stuff (unless you get Black Hills). CM is also in between 260 & 6.5x47L in size as well so it fits nice in a short action.
I have owned the 6.5x284, 6.5x47L, 260 Rem and 6.5 CM. Of all of them the CM is my favorite. You can make it hum if you reload (RL17 and 142 SMK) or you can buy Hornady ammo off the shelf. The Hornady stuff shoots great too. Sure, you can buy 260 factory ammo but not heavy bullet match grade stuff (unless you get Black Hills). CM is also in between 260 & 6.5x47L in size as well so it fits nice in a short action.
Re: 6.5 with a 20-22" barrel
I just built up a 6.5 CM on a Remington 700 trued action, Bartlein MTU 22" barrel with a 1-8".
Customer reports exceptional accuracy and velocity up to 3000 (large ES not as accurate as the slower loads worked up) with a 139 Lapua Scenar.
I think he is getting his accuracy node around 2950-2900 IIRC. That is awesome out of a 22" barrel!
Mark
I just built up a 6.5 CM on a Remington 700 trued action, Bartlein MTU 22" barrel with a 1-8".
Customer reports exceptional accuracy and velocity up to 3000 (large ES not as accurate as the slower loads worked up) with a 139 Lapua Scenar.
I think he is getting his accuracy node around 2950-2900 IIRC. That is awesome out of a 22" barrel!
Mark
Re: 6.5 with a 20-22" barrel
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: M.Gordon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just built up a 6.5 CM on a Remington 700 trued action, Bartlein MTU 22" barrel with a 1-8".
Customer reports exceptional accuracy and velocity up to 3000 (large ES not as accurate as the slower loads worked up) with a 139 Lapua Scenar.
I think he is getting his accuracy node around 2950-2900 IIRC. That is awesome out of a 22" barrel!
Mark </div></div>
That is a bit fast for 139s and R-17 with a 22" barrel.... Are you sure that is not with 123's
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: M.Gordon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just built up a 6.5 CM on a Remington 700 trued action, Bartlein MTU 22" barrel with a 1-8".
Customer reports exceptional accuracy and velocity up to 3000 (large ES not as accurate as the slower loads worked up) with a 139 Lapua Scenar.
I think he is getting his accuracy node around 2950-2900 IIRC. That is awesome out of a 22" barrel!
Mark </div></div>
That is a bit fast for 139s and R-17 with a 22" barrel.... Are you sure that is not with 123's
G
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Re: 6.5 with a 20-22" barrel
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: finnwerke757</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So Pointblank, are you looking to get rid of that Swede? </div></div>
Yeah.....I think so. I sent you a PM as not to further hijack your thread.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: finnwerke757</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So Pointblank, are you looking to get rid of that Swede? </div></div>
Yeah.....I think so. I sent you a PM as not to further hijack your thread.
Re: 6.5 with a 20-22" barrel
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: M.Gordon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just built up a 6.5 CM on a Remington 700 trued action, Bartlein MTU 22" barrel with a 1-8".
Customer reports exceptional accuracy and velocity up to 3000 (large ES not as accurate as the slower loads worked up) with a 139 Lapua Scenar.
I think he is getting his accuracy node around 2950-2900 IIRC. That is awesome out of a 22" barrel!
Mark </div></div>
That is great velocity! I'm running a 24" Shilen 1-8" and running 2750 with 41.6 grains of H4350.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: M.Gordon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just built up a 6.5 CM on a Remington 700 trued action, Bartlein MTU 22" barrel with a 1-8".
Customer reports exceptional accuracy and velocity up to 3000 (large ES not as accurate as the slower loads worked up) with a 139 Lapua Scenar.
I think he is getting his accuracy node around 2950-2900 IIRC. That is awesome out of a 22" barrel!
Mark </div></div>
That is great velocity! I'm running a 24" Shilen 1-8" and running 2750 with 41.6 grains of H4350.
Re: 6.5 with a 20-22" barrel
Customer reports with around 43.? gr of Vgt he is getting those numbers with the 139. I can give him a call and double check, but they seem high but possible.
Customer reports with around 43.? gr of Vgt he is getting those numbers with the 139. I can give him a call and double check, but they seem high but possible.
Re: 6.5 with a 20-22" barrel
I would base my choice on availability and ease of obtaining suitible loads.
I would also get my mind straight about hunting rifles and range rifles. They are different animals with different needs, mainly regarding barrel contour.
There is no really good sense to lugging a heavy barrel contour around on a walkabout rifle. The range rifle will probably not do as well with a lighter contour.
It might be worth considering two rifles, or maybe a switch barrel setup.
Greg
I would base my choice on availability and ease of obtaining suitible loads.
I would also get my mind straight about hunting rifles and range rifles. They are different animals with different needs, mainly regarding barrel contour.
There is no really good sense to lugging a heavy barrel contour around on a walkabout rifle. The range rifle will probably not do as well with a lighter contour.
It might be worth considering two rifles, or maybe a switch barrel setup.
Greg
Re: 6.5 with a 20-22" barrel
Mark I would tell him to check his chrono because with my 28" barrel I have gotten 2870fps with the 140 AMAX with 43grns of H4350 with no pressure but 3000fps from a 22" barrel sounds a little too good to be true. Varget is a little fast for those heavy bullets also. They are using it now with the 120 weights.
Mark I would tell him to check his chrono because with my 28" barrel I have gotten 2870fps with the 140 AMAX with 43grns of H4350 with no pressure but 3000fps from a 22" barrel sounds a little too good to be true. Varget is a little fast for those heavy bullets also. They are using it now with the 120 weights.
Re: 6.5 with a 20-22" barrel
I get great accuracy and a little over 2900 fps with RL17 and the 142 SMK. I made 3000 fps but max bullet weight was the 130 Berger. My barrel is 24". I just don't see 3000 in a 22" with 139 Lapua, even moly ones.
Hornady now loads both match grade and Superformance for the 6.5 CM, making it a great choice for the non-reloader.
I get great accuracy and a little over 2900 fps with RL17 and the 142 SMK. I made 3000 fps but max bullet weight was the 130 Berger. My barrel is 24". I just don't see 3000 in a 22" with 139 Lapua, even moly ones.
Hornady now loads both match grade and Superformance for the 6.5 CM, making it a great choice for the non-reloader.
Re: 6.5 with a 20-22" barrel
The Savage w/ a switch barrel option was a thought. I could do multi-caliber or anything I wanted. Within action length limits.
The Savage w/ a switch barrel option was a thought. I could do multi-caliber or anything I wanted. Within action length limits.
Re: 6.5 with a 20-22" barrel
if you walk into your local hunting store, which of those calibers will you most likely find on the shelf?
In my experience, and that's a serious disclaimer there, the 6.5mm cartridge I've found more than any other is the 6.5x55 Swede.
If I'm building a hunting rifle and "oh crap, I left the ammo on my reloading bench", I'm still more likely to be in the game with the 6.5 Swede. Many "Old Timers" brought this cartridge back from WW2 and made it popular enough that a lot of stores still stock it today.
My ¢2
Note: as mentioned above, here is the Solution that you are looking for.
if you walk into your local hunting store, which of those calibers will you most likely find on the shelf?
In my experience, and that's a serious disclaimer there, the 6.5mm cartridge I've found more than any other is the 6.5x55 Swede.
If I'm building a hunting rifle and "oh crap, I left the ammo on my reloading bench", I'm still more likely to be in the game with the 6.5 Swede. Many "Old Timers" brought this cartridge back from WW2 and made it popular enough that a lot of stores still stock it today.
My ¢2
Note: as mentioned above, here is the Solution that you are looking for.
