6.5 CM or 260 Rem

@Remmy700 you aren't far from the Clinton house. They have out to a mile. I'm not sure how membership works. I've shot several matches up there. There is a 500yd range in yemassee and a 600yd range in chesterfield. Palmetto Gun Club in Summerville is 800 I think. @Holycity73 can give you more details on that. We have a private range out just past a mile with some smaller stuff scattered throughout the low country.
 
I'll be hunting whitetail, mule deer, elk, and the occasional pig down south.
6.5 is great but as others have advised - might be on the light side - especially when you combine distance with larger game...
I'm live on a big island in the South Pacific, ( NZ ) I mostly use 6.5 creedmoor for culling the goats that eat everything in site, they blow out in population due to the fact we have no predators.

The country is very steep so shooting across valleys is really the best and only way to hunt them.. ranges are typically 400-1000 yards the energy lost past 500 yards is really not that bad, in fact the little CM holds up well, however it just doesn't start with high numbers so is never going to be decent enough for bigger game the further you take it out.


I'm certainly not a hater of the 6.5
I have documented a lot of footage on my channel this year after many "experts" told me that the CM was limp and that it simply couldn't be used for any kind of hunting except varmints...
 
.260 has better characteristics for gas guns, more case capacity, faster velocities out especially out of hand loads.

6.5, very close in capabilities and available on the shelf almost everywhere to include Walmart.

I run .260 but am thinking about switching to 6.5 just for availability.
I disagree, it totally depends on coal length. 130 AR Bergers will hold more powder in a 6.5 when both are loaded to SAAMI spec. length, and will give 50 fps more than a 260. The 260 will outperform the 6.5 with 140's, but the 130 will match up well with anything the 260 shoots in a gas gun. Gas guns don't like heavy bullets anyways unless you go with a rifle +2 gas system and have proper timing adjustment.
 
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If you hand load 260, if not CM. That's about the only distinguishable difference. The reason I run a 260 is because I load for it. I can neck up 243, and neck down 7mm08, and 308 to have brass
 
I've had both.

I had problems with case neck donuts in 260 Remington when loaded with 140s at 2.950.

I don't have that issue with the 6.5 Creedmoor, and get the same performance.
 
wanting to build a hunting rifle for out west and the occasional pig. Ranges will vary from 100 yards to 800ish.

Thinking about using the hammer bullets or Berger target VLDs but not sure yet.

What the are the pros and cons of the 6.5 creedmoor vs 260 rem?

Thanks.
If you do not hand load go for the 6.5 Creedmoor. If you do hand load get the 260 Rem. I have both, and the 6.5 Creedmoor is a joke compared to my 260 when I hand load. Look at Hornadys website. They even admit the 260 Rem is better. That is why they only load the 130 grain bullet in the 260 Rem and not the 140 or bigger bullets. I get 250 FPS more out of my 260 than I can my 6.5 creedmoor when I hand load.
 
I've had both.

I had problems with case neck donuts in 260 Remington when loaded with 140s at 2.950.

I don't have that issue with the 6.5 Creedmoor, and get the same performance.
@ 2.950? Thats a long coal for a 260 LoL. factory is only 2.800 I can load mine to 2.840 and still feed good in my mag. I have a 27" Krieger Barrel on my 260 and its been made to shoot the longer bullets. If your talking about neck diameter it should be .297 for the 260 and only .295 for the Creedmoor. If your neck diameteris much bigger than .295 your bullet will fall out of the casing. Case donuts are caused by improper die setting. The die is to close to the shellholder. Back it off 1 full turn and you will eliminate the donut. Hope this helps.
 
They do good at keeping the drop and wind drift to a minimum, but they don't often beat a 30 cal in delivered energy, which is important in hunting.

Now Berger is finally delivering their new 6.5 156 Gr. Elite Hunter next month. That could be a bit of a game changer. I think a 6.5 156 gr. bullet out of a 6.5x284 in a long action and throated for it would probably be awesome.
Ive shot so many guns It is unreal. But to keep this simple. My little 260 has killed more than my 300 win mag ever has or ever will. I dropped a 290 lb hog at 997 yards with my 260 REM 140 grain VLD and hit hogs at the same distance with my 300 WM 180 grain VLD. They all dead so who cares witch gun is bigger. Iv killed elk over 1000 yards with my 260 Rem 140 grain Berger bullets and my 300 WM still sets in my closet collecting dust. I get 3020 FPS out of 27" Krieger barrel and 140 grain Berger bullets. I shoot with people who hand load w/ their 6.5x284 and they are only getting 3050 FPS with the same 140 grain bullet, but yes only a 26" barrel. I have seen the 6.5x284 140 VLDs drop elk at just under 1400 yards. Ive just never needed a 300 WM. I just bough it cause everybody said I needed it to get clean kills. I hope my 260 REM does not check my emails cause it would probably put the 300 WM in its place. Oh wait It all ready did. LoL!!!
 
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