Re-chamber a 6.5 Creedmoor Savage barrel to which larger 6.5mm Cartridge

[223Rem]

Found a dirt cheap Savage 24" SS 1-8 twist 6.5CM that I would like to re-chamber to a more robust 6.5 cartridge, something in between the 6.5CM and the heavier of 6.5mm magnum. Looking for something with about 16/18 pounds of free recoil. This leaves me with these options:

.264 Win Mag (18)
6.5 PRC (16)
6.5-284 Norma Match (14)

Will be handloading for any of these cartridges, so ammo availability is not the concern.

Leaning towards the 6.5 PRC.

Any thought would be appreciated.

 

[fseaman.js]

I don't shoot any of these. Just "book knowledge" with experience.

Add to your list:
6.5 Weatherby RPM. A stretched and higher pressure 6.5-284.
6.5-7mm PRC.

The 6.5-284 is the lowest capacity and pressure of the bunch. Fits with no modifications AFAIK. Maybe feed lips adjustment.
6.5 PRC is the next step up in capacity and comes with modern pressure rating. You would have to replace your bolt head and get short mag feed lips. Maybe a different mag box.
Next up, the 6.5 Weatherby RPM. AS close as you can get to a 264 Win Mag or 6.5-7mm PRC without a new bolt head. Will need a 30-06 length mag box, feed lips and some feed lip tuning.
6.5-7mm PRC would be virtually the same as the 6.5 Weatherby RPM and same mag box and feed lips changes.
The 264 Win Mag is a well know quantity. Swap bolt face and get a belted magnum mag box and feed lips, job done.

I have to assume you hand load because you bring up 6.5-284 Norma so cost of brasss.

Weatherby is about $2.50 per but probably good stuff and it appears to be readily available.
6.5-284 Norma is $2.25 but there is one seller listed on AmmoSeek
264 Win Mag average is about $1.50 and lots of sellers on AmmoSeek
7mm PRC to neck down to 6.5-7mm PRC is $1.25, maybe less. Lots of it.
6.5 PRC looks to be about $0.95. Lower price because there is less brass.

From a pure cost standpoint, I'd give the nod to the 6.5 PRC. Not really any performance loss to the others. Cheaper to run day to day. Fine with you OEM barrel.

I am a Weatherby simp and have been considering making a 6.5 Weatherby RPM on one of my Mark V 6 lug. "Cooler" than the 270 Win it is currently.

The others would all excel fur the intended purpose.

 

[Taylorbok]

Just making sure you're aware, You'll have to change the bolt head if you wanna go to any of those magnum cartridges.

I'd go 6.5 PRC