Advice on a Caliber Swap

[bogeybrown]

Hello Gents,

I am REALLY trying to keep this from being a "what's best" type of thread, since we all know how those turn out.

I find myself with more .308 rifles than I need, and am contemplating sending one off to GAP for a caliber swap. The big kicker is that I am not currently able to reload. I'll be doing it once I get back to the States for good, but I'll be starting from square one and there's a hell of a learning curve, so I'm looking for a caliber where I can at least start with available match ammo. Being an absolute know-NOTHING novice, I'm thinking I should avoid having to form my own brass.

Overall goal for the rifle is something more ballistically efficient than the .308 at ranges beyond 1k on steel, while obviously staying within my short action.

SO, between the 6mm Creed, 6.5 Creed, .260, etc, some advice on which to choose and whatever you'd like to offer as to "why" would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Supergyro]

1000 yds and under, not trying to kill anything over 400: 6creed.
1200, 600: 6.5creed or 260.
My $.02 and worth what you paid.
I went with .260

 

[bohem]

I'd go 6.5 Creedmoor. You can order boutique 6 Creed, 243, etc ammo from a couple of places but it's all pretty much $33-35+/box where factory 140 Amax 6.5CM ammo is around $25/box

Other than the restriction from reloading or not reloading it's going to be a toss up.

The guys that can definitively shoot the difference in match conditions of a 6.5CM, 260Rem, 6 Creed or 243 are few and far between. The 6CM and 243 are great little lazers, but for the majority of us, having a 6.5mm that we can afford to shoot more often because factory ammo is 35% cheaper is going to be a bigger advantage than having a 6mm flat shooter.

If you can't afford the ammo it doesn't matter if it literally shoots bolts of light, some guy with a 308 that shoots out a barrel every year is more than likely gonna beat you.

 

[jvencius]

How about a .300 Blackout? If you've got a can(s), a bolt-action .300 would be mucho sneaky-o...

 

[Captain Kirk]

Hello Gents,

I am REALLY trying to keep this from being a "what's best" type of thread, since we all know how those turn out.

-The big kicker is that I am not currently able to reload.
-I'm thinking I should avoid having to form my own brass.
-Overall goal for the rifle is something more ballistically efficient than the .308 at ranges beyond 1k on steel, while obviously staying within my short action.

Taking into consideration ALL your requirements, 6.5CM would be my choice, without hesitation. If you were a reloader, I may have suggested something different, but not because there is a obvious winner. 260, 243, 6 or 6.5CM, 6.5x47L, all will fight neck-n-neck, all good choices and offer better ballistics and flatter trajectories than the 308.

Kirk Roberts

 

[VKC]

6.5 Creedmoor. Order loaded 140amax and shoot then if you reload later you can do that to factory data. Or switch up bullets to 142smk or Berger 140gr hybrids to gain advantage at distance. Reasonable barrel life and manageable recoil.

 

[bogeybrown]

Thanks for the feedback so far. I know the lack of reloading ability is a huge limitation.

It sounds as though with the 6.5CM I can get factory match ammo to start with, then once I have some idea of what the hell I'm doing on the reloading side I can potentially make it even better with handloads; whereas with the other calibers I'd be stuck with hunting rounds or no rounds until I was able to handload.

Being honest with myself, I'm not in much danger of shooting out a barrel any time soon. My volume shooting will likely still be .308 and .223. If I didn't have this "extra" rifle that's too nice not to do something with I probably wouldn't get into a "wonder caliber"; but it will be fun to have for the opportunities when I can get out a little past 1k.