6.5 Cartridges

[pennstater]

Looking at different manuals, whats the big deal/difference between the 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser and the .260 Rem?
I honestly don't know anything about these rounds,but, gadzooks, other than the Swede, it's all I hear about. They don't seem that far apart. Curious.

[Kwikvette]

Ballistics, application, and the fact that each caliber you listed may be available in one brand/style of rifle but not in another.

I see 6.5 Grendel as a popular cartridge for AR's, though there are a few bolt guns chambered for it.

6.5cm has been popular for quite some time for the precision/long range type.

I'm not too familiar with the rest myself; I'm a .30 caliber fan

[PatC415]

Don't leave out 6.5 Lapua!
LOTS of match projectiles for 6.5, flat shooting, super accurate...
There's a lot to like!

[pennstater]

Kwikvette, yeah, I'm pretty much a .30 cal shooter also. Or, at least when i hunted BG. Was just kinda curious, 'cause if I was to buy one, it would probably be the .260 Rem or the Swede. Guess my .270 Win will do for now. IF I ever go after BG again. Or, one of my 30-06's. Or maybe my 7x57.

[russ69]

Looking at different manuals, whats the big deal/difference between the 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser and the .260 Rem?...

Each one was designed to solve a particular problem or fill a gap. They all have good reasons to exist.

[Divernhunter]

One is better than the other depending on the bullet selected and powder charge. Hand loaded they are not all that much different.

[sigstroker]

The main difference between the newer cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor and the others is it's designed to fit in it's "envelope" (chamber, magazine, etc) with space for a very long bullet sticking out of the case and it being held properly in the neck. So the case to overall length ratio is short compared to the older stuff.

So it's more amenable to long range shooting because you can use longer bullets.

[pennstater]

So, most are doing what the old 6.5 Swedish Mauser and .260 Rem do. Ok.
Interesting that new is same as old. Kinda like the .250 Savage, .257 Roberts etc. Thanks guys.

[Jimmy's]

260 Ackley Improved.

[pennstater]

260 Ackley Improved.

Hadn't seen that or the 6.5 Lapua. Those aren't in my #8 Hornady book.
Kinda dates things, huh?

[russ69]

So, most are doing what the old 6.5 Swedish Mauser and .260 Rem do. Ok...

No, they don't but I'm too lazy to go through the list of reasons.

[pennstater]

Good enough. Was a bit curious is all. Now, maybe off to the trap range today.

[LynnJr]

When a cartridge comes out it immediately gets wildcatted by taking out body taper adjusting the shoulder angle and lengthening shortening the neck. The 6.5 is no different in that just about every combination has been tried.
The combinations that work or seemingly work gain in popularity and the rest fade away until new powders/primers/bullets come out then they all get tried again.

[NorCalFocus]

Also new this year, the 6.5 PRC.

[SMarquez]

The Swede, .260 and 6.5 CM all have very similar ballistics and case velocities. Much of the load data is really close. I think the biggest difference is the case length and can be used in a shorter action. The shorter action can be lighter and stiffer. The CM started as a bench rest caliber in 2007 and has found popularity with the hunting crowd now. It seems that ammo is more common on the retail level than Swede or .260 too. The Swede is obviously the Grand dad of 6.5 cartridges. The Swede has always been lauded for having knock down power out of proportion to it recoil. All in all it seems that it's the 6.5 caliber that has all the interest more so than the case design until you get to wildcats. I have 3 6.5 x 55 rifles but am probably going to pick something up in 6.5 CM to play with.