Who is running 147gr 6.5mm ELD-M bullets: I need advice

[Winny94]

I am a few days away from dropping off my Tikka action to have threaded and chambered and I still haven’t settled on a cartridge. Im leaning towards 260 rem, but only because I have 100 pieces of lapua 260 brass. I will need new dies regardless of the cartridge I go with, so im wondering if $100 worth of brass is enough to make my decision. Im open to any of the 6.5 cartridges, but I would like the option of factory ammo if necessary (impromptu range session, lack of components, etc.), so im heavily leaning to 260 or 6.5CM

Back to the point – I want to run the 147gr ELD-M bullet, and I want to run them out of a mag. I am probably going to go w/ ARC mags (internal length: 2.97”).

For those of you running the 147gr ELD-M, which cartridge are you running and what are your C.O.A.L. numbers looking like?

Thanks for the help

 

[Rob01]

I load them in my 6.5 Creedmoor at .030" off the lands and the OAL is 2.860". That is in a .199 freebore Creedmoor chamber. They easily fit in my standard AICS mags. In my 27" Creedmoor I have them going 2820fps with H4350.

 

[Gohring65]

Assuming your action is a short action.
I would go with 6.5 Creedmoor. If it's a long action I would go .260 AI or 6.5x284.

 

[Dai Bando]

My .260 is running 2.924" with 147's.

If you want to shoot factory loads, the 6.5 Creed is the way to go.

I'd go .260 because you have brass and the long action of the Tikka is easily made to digest the extra length.

 

[Winny94]

My .260 is running 2.924" with 147's.

If you want to shoot factory loads, the 6.5 Creed is the way to go.

I'd go .260 because you have brass and the long action of the Tikka is easily made to digest the extra length.

I don't intend to shoot factory, but there are definitely occasions where you just don't have many reloads ready and want to shoot, so having the option to pick up a couple boxes of ammo is nice.

Are you shooting through a custom chamber or factory?

The Tikka action is nice and long, but I'm still constrained by the mags I need to run. It'd be nice of someone would market a bottom metal for Tikka that would support a medium length mag and still have 10-Rd options (if 10 round mags weren't a requirement, I would just run a LA DBM)

 

[Dai Bando]

If you want the option of grabbing ammo off the shelf on a whim, the answer is 6.5 Creedmoor and no other.

Factory chamber.

Tikka mags are easily modded for more COAL.

 

[steve123]

Personally I'd go Creed, using Lapua brass, and with a 7.5 twist barrel.

 

[kashaV]

I shoot the 6.5x55 with the 147gr ELD M. Tikka makes their rifles to use up to 30/06 length mags and they chamber in 6.5x55. My length is 3.160" oal. My accurate loads are approx. 2830 fps with this bullet with much less pressure than the short action cartridges. This bullet requires a much smaller charge then other 140 class bullets due to it's long bearing surface.