6.5 SAUM, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08

[5RWill]

Out of the mentioned cartridges i'd go 6.5 SAUM/4S or 7 SAUM. The 6.5 SAUM is an amazing round. Barrel life, recoil, energy, velocity, are all very impressive. I'm having one built by SAC to surprise my dad with later this year, since his favorite rifle years ago was stolen from him.

The only con is brass, though George has stated he's working on getting a major brass manufacturer lined up, so hopefully we aren't stuck with Hornady forever. However you can turn Remmy or Nosler/Norma 300/7 SAUM down if you really want to.

If you wanted something similar to the 6.5 SAUM but wanted to circumvent it's availability issues at times Hornady just announced the PRC this past SHOT show. Of course restricted to Hornady brass, but factory ammo will be available and you'll be able to push a 140 3000-3100 depending.

I myself want a 7 SAUM mid weight hunting rifle but i might end up following suite and building another 6.5 SAUM.

 

[GelatinousPig]

i would go with a 284 win over the 7-08.

 

[OdinDanielson]

243 for deer.
7mm STW for Elk.
Considering one of the proposed rounds in the future.

Odin

 

[Red1966ford]

I have built the 6.5 /300 WSM and a 6.5 Mathews mag my Mathews is pushing a 120 SMK at 3480 and shooting sub MOA's and it's a 270 Weatherby mag blew out longer and fatter with actly shoulder necked to a 264 fire forming required but it shoots great and RCBS makes dies and hornady now making brass the 130s burgers shot around 3150 under 1/2" at 100 check it out great shooter thanks for reading Ken Brown

 

[Sergeant82d]

I'm in a very similar situation right now myself; was talking with my wife this afternoon about starting a new rifle build in a couple of months...

I've been reading more about the 6.5 SAUM these past few days and am very interested in it as a gp rifle, but, while I do reload, I'm trying to be realistic about what I will be doing with it, and have (almost!) decided on the CM instead.

FWIW.

 

[Red1966ford]

Ok I have built the 6.5 WSM and the Mathews I am currently building a 26 Nosler they are claiming 3770 out of a 120 I prefer a 1/8 twist 26" #5 hart rem mag action and if not a McMillan at least a HS stock check out my Facebook page Ken Brown or call we talk about 770-878-1490 had real good luck from 68.4 grains 7828 behind 120 mk up to 71 grains bout .004 off lands in 6.5 Mathews I have the reamer

 

[Danehunter]

I have two 6.5 Creedmor rifles:

1. COMPETITION-> Ruger Precision Rifle

2. HUNTING-> Ruger American Predator (Boyd's Classic laminated stock & Timney trigger upgrades)

Both are great, flat shooting rifles and the RAP is becoming my main rifle for western hunting - except for bull elk. I reserve my .300 Win mag Browning A-Bolt for that.

If you plan to shoot a lot and want long barrel life and reasonable cartridge cost stick with 6.5 CM.

But... if you want knockdown power at very long ranges get a 6.5/284 Norma. Shorter barrel life, true, but if it's a hunting rifle you'll have no problem. A thousand rounds through a big game rifle is very unusual.

Eric B.

 

[coltac]

Once you settle on a caliber, i found a website that has small quantities of bullets to use for load development. Saved me a few bucks getting things figured out. Its www.bulletsamples.store

 

[Trm82]

I have a ridgeline 7-08 that I have been shooting 150 eldx in at 2900 fps with RL17 and it shoots awesome. That load will beat the creedmore by quite a bit with say the 140 vld at 2750 fps.
If I want lighter bullets it will do the 120 bt or 120ttsx at 3150-3200 fps.
Pretty hard to beat that. The 150s hold 1/2" moa or just under to 600 yards.

 

[elkaholic]

Here is the new kid on the block. It was designed for PRS to shoot the 140's in the mid 3000's with good barrel life and a coal under 2.8". The 6.5 SST will still reach 3200 with max loads though. I shot the 147 ELDM's today with these results. The wind was not cooperating, but decent result none the less. The coal on these 147's was a cool 2.770".

 

[57K]

Interesting thread, and now we have the 6.5 PRC to throw into the mix. In looking up load data, invariably, the custom barrel has a twist rate of 1 in 9". I know it's hard to over-stabilize a bullet, but with the points made about short barrel life, I can't help but wonder if 1 in 8" is too fast for the magnum class 6.5s? And as far as building a rifle, I'd be very happy with the .260 Rem AI.

However, since it seems that the 6.5mm is pretty well covered now, I'm inclined to agree with something I read earlier about the new 6.5 PRC: what's the point? As far as the 6.5 CM or .260 Rem, I'd rather shoot the 7mm-08. I can't help but wonder if a 7mm PRC wouldn't make more sense?

 

[bassrods]

Interesting thread, and now we have the 6.5 PRC to throw into the mix. In looking up load data, invariably, the custom barrel has a twist rate of 1 in 9". I know it's hard to over-stabilize a bullet, but with the points made about short barrel life, I can't help but wonder if 1 in 8" is too fast for the magnum class 6.5s? And as far as building a rifle, I'd be very happy with the .260 Rem AI.

However, since it seems that the 6.5mm is pretty well covered now, I'm inclined to agree with something I read earlier about the new 6.5 PRC: what's the point? As far as the 6.5 CM or .260 Rem, I'd rather shoot the 7mm-08. I can't help but wonder if a 7mm PRC wouldn't make more sense?

If you are doing 6.5 the best I have found is 6.5+284 it will take out Elk Moose Deer or Bear..And at 1,000+..

 

[5RWill]

Interesting thread, and now we have the 6.5 PRC to throw into the mix. In looking up load data, invariably, the custom barrel has a twist rate of 1 in 9". I know it's hard to over-stabilize a bullet, but with the points made about short barrel life, I can't help but wonder if 1 in 8" is too fast for the magnum class 6.5s? And as far as building a rifle, I'd be very happy with the .260 Rem AI.

However, since it seems that the 6.5mm is pretty well covered now, I'm inclined to agree with something I read earlier about the new 6.5 PRC: what's the point? As far as the 6.5 CM or .260 Rem, I'd rather shoot the 7mm-08. I can't help but wonder if a 7mm PRC wouldn't make more sense?

I think it makes sense because it's the first commercialized 6.5 short action magnum cartridge supported by a major player in the industry. The marketing as a PRS cartridge doesn't fit to me. I see it's uses, especially in ELR matches but outside of those i don't see it surpassing the 6.5CM or 6mms in use.

Not sure i see the point in 7 PRC when you already have 7 WSM and 7 SAUM.

Anywho Dad's SAUM is finally done, going to give to him on his birthday. Had it throated for 140gr Elite hunters, aiming for 3100fps with h1000. We shall see, the weight came out nearly perfect at 9lbs without the can and bipod.

 

[Mikecr]

26cal offers a great deal.
Best overall -for specific use, could be different than you think.
Personally, I believe accuracy trumps all else. And accuracy means shooting enough to have & hold it.
I also believe that it all begins with a bullet. Pick a bullet and build around it.

With this, I know of no 26cal bullets where capacity greater than 260AI is appropriate. That is, there is no gain (only loss) in 26cal, beyond that provided by 260AI capacity. And I'm not talking muzzle velocity only, but also barrel life, fastest powder filling the case, highest viable peak pressure, lowest muzzle pressures per barrel length, best brass, shooting system weight & recoil, etc.
I can & do match or better anything a 6.5x284 does with 260AI capacity(using a 6.5wssm Imp) with 140gr bullets.

For medium ranges(~600yds) with 123-130gr bullets(good up to white tail deer), and all attributes mentioned, I don't think you can better the 6.5x47L. It's perfect for just that.

The 6.5CM is merely a lost puppy in between.