6.5 CM or 260 Rem

[the hunter]

You may be getting 250 FPS more out of your .260, but you ain't doing it at the same pressures.

John

He also said that his .260 barrel was 27in, that will help a lot. I would like to know how long his creedmoor barrel is. He also seems to be hot-roding the .260 and not loading the creed to its max.

 

[Stgraves260]

My 6.5 Creedmoor has a 26" heavy barrel 1-8 twist. Berger 140 VLDs. I have loaded my Creedmoor with all the recommended powders Hornady suggested. Hodgdon Varget,H4350,RL-15,RL 17, I even used their Superformance powder. I use Federal 210M primers. I can't even get 2800 FPS out of it. I even went above max charge to blow primers witch I would never recommend. Maybe people that say they are getting 2900 - 3000 FPS all have 30" barrels to get their 140s to that speed. Now if we are talking about 130 grain bullets that's a different story, then yes 2850-2900 FPS is achievable. From a 24" barrel. 26" barrel would see more FPS.

 

[stx]

My 6.5 Creedmoor has a 26" heavy barrel 1-8 twist. Berger 140 VLDs. I have loaded my Creedmoor with all the recommended powders Hornady suggested. Hodgdon Varget,H4350,RL-15,RL 17, I even used their Superformance powder. I use Federal 210M primers. I can't even get 2800 FPS out of it. I even went above max charge to blow primers witch I would never recommend. Maybe people that say they are getting 2900 - 3000 FPS all have 30" barrels to get their 140s to that speed. Now if we are talking about 130 grain bullets that's a different story, then yes 2850-2900 FPS is achievable. From a 24" barrel. 26" barrel would see more FPS.

I'm getting 2800+ with 140 VLDs with RL16 and with Factory Hornady 140 ELDMs out my 26" bbl CM.....and getting 2820 out of my 24" CM with VLDs and 2950 out of it with 124 Hammer Hunters, both with RL16.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

I'm getting 2885 with rl-17 and a 140 eld. Heck with rl-26 i ran it up to 3014 fps with a 140 before i ran out of room in the case. My accuracy node with that powder was 2945 fps. Sounds like you got a slow barrel on that rifle.

 

[Stgraves260]

Yes sir my 260 Does have a 27" Barrel built by Krieger. And yes it does help with my FPS. My COAL is also 2.820 and not the recommended 2.800. This pushes the bullet closer to the lands which Berger recommends because they shoot better. Doing so also allows the 260 to hold more powder than the reloading books show. Now I DON'T recommend this unless you are an experienced reloaded and know how to look for pressure signs. I did load my 260 hot enough to blow primers to help me find my max charge on ( MY ) rifle with my chosen powder. I then wrote down the grains of powder that blew my primers out. After that I performed a latter test to find the charge my 260 liked. It is way below the charge that was blowing primers. I use this method on all my rifles.

 

[gohring3006]

Yes sir my 260 Does have a 27" Barrel built by Krieger. And yes it does help with my FPS. My COAL is also 2.820 and not the recommended 2.800. This pushes the bullet closer to the lands which Berger recommends because they shoot better. Doing so also allows the 260 to hold more powder than the reloading books show. Now I DON'T recommend this unless you are an experienced reloaded and know how to look for pressure signs. I did load my 260 hot enough to blow primers to help me find my max charge on ( MY ) rifle with my chosen powder. I then wrote down the grains of powder that blew my primers out. After that I performed a latter test to find the charge my 260 liked. It is way below the charge that was blowing primers.

So what velocity did you end up with in both cartridges?

 

[Stgraves260]

I have not tried the RL-26 powder for the 6.5 Creedmoor. Maybe that's the ticket. I'll have to read up on that. If it's not temperature stable I'm out. I've never had good experience with Alliant powders.

 

[Clem Bronkoski]

For a rifle build I'd go with something more like the 6.5x284. But of the 2 you have selected the 260 has a very slight edge.
I also agree that either are marginal choices for elk. A mature bull elk is a big animal. Either will kill one but you have to be careful with your shot placement.

 

[Stgraves260]

I'm getting 2800+ with 140 VLDs with RL16 and with Factory Hornady 140 ELDMs out my 26" bbl CM.....and getting 2820 out of my 24" CM with VLDs and 2950 out of it with 124 Hammer Hunters, both with RL16.

So your getting over 100 FPS more than the claimed 2710 FPS on the box of Hornady ammo?

 

[Stgraves260]

So what velocity did you end up with in both cartridges?

My 260 Rem I'm getting 3026- 3033 FPS with the 140 grain Berger VLDs. My 6.5 Creedmoor I'm getting 2709 - 2715. I use H4350 powder cause it's so temperature stable. If I do my part I can keep my extreme spread Below 10 FPS. So I'm getting just over 300 FPS more from my 260. When I did my latter test on the Creedmoor I had to back it down to keep my accuracy up. But when I was really pushing the Creedmoor I thank it was around 2785 FPS. That was why I said on hear earlier my 260 Rem was 250 FPS faster than the Creedmoor. I was trying to be fare to the Creedmoor. If the barrel on the Creedmoor was 27" and not 26" then I can get around 25 FPS more out it. My 260 has a 27" barrel. I'm just trying to figure out how people are getting 3000 FPS out of their 6.5 Creedmoor with a 24" barrel Shooting 140 grain bullets.

 

[gohring3006]

My 260 Rem I'm getting 3026- 3033 FPS with the 140 grain Berger VLDs. My 6.5 Creedmoor I'm getting 2709 - 2715. I use H4350 powder cause it's so temperature stable. If I do my part I can keep my extreme spread Below 10 FPS.

It's really hard to compare those two rifles. One is 27" the other 26". My old 6.5 creed shoved 130 Berger's @2900fps with a 26" barrel. My new one has 24" and shoves them 3050fps. I'm getting 2750 FPS with the 147 eld and h4831sc, it's a new barrel with less than 100 rounds thru it, I expect it to speed up a little, my old one wouldn't break 2700fps. Slow barrel vs a fast one. 2" less barrel. Brass quality/brand makes a difference as well.

 

[Stgraves260]

Maybe I should use RL-26 in my 260 Rem so I can get 26 Nosler Performances. LoL

 

[gohring3006]

I'm my experience, it's all subjective to components. I like the creed because of the design let's it use longer bullets more efficiently. Both are always close to each other in rifles I have been around. If I was going to build a 260 I would probably use a long action, and I probably would AI it. If I had to choose one of the two in standard form, it's definitely going to be a creed.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

Kinda sounds like the world's fastest 260 barrel and a really slow 6.5 creed lol. Over 3000 fps in a 260 with h4350 is screaming. That has to be red lining it. 2900-2950 I could understand, but 3025?

Like said above, components has alot to do with it. I couldn't get over 2775 with peterson brass but adg I got 2821 and hornady I got 2885 all with the same powder. I'm getting ready to.mess with the 150 smk in hornady brass. Should get interesting I'm expecting to exceed 2900 fps with rl-26.