Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting 6mm CM or 6.5 CM?

I am looking at getting one of those or a 260. A rifle just for long range steel or target shooting out to 100yards.

I just ordered a SWFA 10x MIL and it will go on a Savage tactical or Tikka CTR. I just can’t decide on the chambering.


Thoughts and advice, thanks

Out to "100 yards", id just get a 22..

Buy the Tikka CTR. You will be damn happy with it. I have 2 chambered in 6.5 CM. They both shoot lights out. The first one I bought, shoots exceptionally well. I'll ring a 2" diameter steel plate, set at 400 yards, with my CTR. No problems whatsoever...

Dam, I meant 1000 yards.

6.5......

Dedicated steel only rifle...6 CM. But definitely couldn’t suffer a Savage.

Tikka CTR 6.5 CM wins the race here for me for that fact and they just flat shoot.

Hater......

This.

The CTR I found is chambered in 260. The price is 150-200 dollars less than a Creed, 875

Comes down to if you handload or going to rely on factory ammo....

I have both... for banging steel and not necessarily shooting really small groups I’d go with a 6.5cm CTR 24in. Mine shoots the Hornady American Gunner out to 1000 on a 18in plate with no problems.

Honestly Viking, I'm not going to bad mouth savage because they make damn accurate rifles. I have a lot of respect for them. I've had my azz handed to me in competition by guys shooting savage rifles. They are nothing to sneeze at or underestimate. As for your question, I'd look for a 6.5 creedmoor, if the 260 you are looking at is "875", you can buy a 24" CTR for around $900.00 and cheaper if you look hard enough. LIke I said earlier, I have 2. I bougth one brand new for $900.00 and the other at a steal for $675.00. I couldn't pass it up at that price, however it needed a little work to get it in the same league as my first one. The recoil lug was loose and it needed some glass bedding, so it was more of a time and attention to detail thing rather than throwing money at it thing, since I do all my own work, it was easy and well worth what I paid for it. Like I said, it doesn't shoot as good as my #1 CTR, but here's how it shot the last time out:




My CTR #1 will shoot perfect scores all day long:



I would opt for the 6.5 cm and not even think about the 260. You'll have a better opportunity to find better factory ammunition for the creed vs. the 260 and the creed was made to shoot. Its whole intent and purpose, from its designers, was for long range competition. All of my creedmoors shoot awesome at 100 yards. Easily sub moa 10 shot groups. I've entered all of them in the moa all day long challenge here, and they have all demonstrated sub moa in rifles ranging from my ar10 to the tikka CTR, A cheap azzed savage 12fv, and my Tikka superlite, oh yeah and even my SAKO A7 longrange 6.5 cm. They all shoot lights out:


But what I was getting at is, what is even more impressive than the 100 yard targets, is the longrange targets shot with the cm. and all this can be done with off the shelf factory ammo. There's a huge selection of good match grade ammo out there for the 6.5 cm right now. I'd be taking advantage of that if I were you...

I have a CTR in 260 and it is a true 1/2 MOA gun out of the box, and that is with factory ammo (Horn match)

The CTR is an absolute peach.... I’ve been singing their praises since they hit the market. I prefer the 20” version in both .260 and Creed.... but that’s because I primarily shoot them suppressed.

On .260 vs. Creed.... if you handload, there isn’t a lick of difference.... period. In fact, I’m partial to the .260, due the ability to simply neck down .308 or 7/08 brass.

All that being said... if Tikka offered a 6mm Creed (Or a 1-8” .243) in a 20” CTR... I’d be the first guy in line to buy one.

Dog, I bought the 20" 6.5CM (from josh here on the 'fire) largely because it was a heavy barreled Tikka, but your input had a lot to do with it as well. You were spot on in your assessment too....it really is a peach, and I can't wait to get my suppressor out of jail. I'm sure I'll appreciate it even more after that.

Might as well get that paperwork rolling on the next ones....grin..

That’s funny Johnny.... a buddy of mine has a .260 CTR that belonged to josh... it shoots 143s into itty bitty groups. Josh and I have swapped a few rifles over the years... I’ve never had a bad one go either direction.

Concur....I took my CTR in 6.5, chopped it at 21” and threaded it. It’s an absolute knot maker with factory 143eldx fodder.

I did flip the stock to a custom grayboe handle in subalpine just because. Nothing wrong with the factory stock. The grayboe gave me a little deeper grab on the pistol grip - the factory stock was a smidge shallow for my paw. 😎

That works for the Creedmoor too. In fact, that's where all of my first Creedmoor brass came from - mostly old LC and TW 7.62/308 brass. Winchester brass was the only one that wouldn't form properly for me, too thin so the shoulders buckled.

Beav, post a pic of that rig if you don't mind.

Will do Johnny...I’m headed home from PA right now. Will get you some pics up tonight.
😎

I would go 6.5

Have you considered a 6.5 x 284 if you are gonna shoot long range??

Tell us why you would go with a 6.5x284 over both the other 6.5 offerings? Please expound on your LR experience with it while you’re at it....

They're sure hell on pigs.

Dude,
Threading a .264 bullet between wire fence openings requires a level of precision...You should know this. 🤣😎

I
This day and age, makes zero sense, like the 6.5 ai, which I'm a fan of...

Wouldn’t the 6.5x284 give you a little more at long range if you wanted a short cartridge?

I have a couple of Creedmoors, a 6.5-06, couple 264’s and a 26 Nosler. I’m a deer hunter, never shoot over 300 yds.

I'm partial to the 6.5-300 Weatherby especially in a short action and shooting EOL's. But only out to 400 or so as the energy drops below acceptable killing levels...

God Damn it Williams, I just pissed myself!!! Laffin

We know Hanco... and you have dozens of Leupold scopes on those long range rigs.... maybe you should stick to the 223ai thread?

Or the 6.5 PRC. 😆

I LIKE 223 AIs!

Parden my friend, he's a bit slow. The town's back that way......

I’m going to hang by the bar. Put out the vibe....

We got no food, we got no jobs, our pets heads are falling off!

Fredda Felcher told me the whole sleazy story.... Mr. French Tikka-ler!

I've read that target shooters are going 6mm due to lower recoil, but I suspect that barrel life might be just a bit better wth the 6.5.

That money you would save buying the .260 might not seem important when you start shopping for ammo, if factory figures in your plans. There's a LOT of 6.5 stuff available. Also, you may want to consider resale value, or not.

The PRC is gaining traction by the day and developing a reputation for accuracy that is right there with the Creedmoor. If you are going to handload, I'd get the PRC. Factory ammo is easy enough to come by, but is a bit more expensive.

😎

Beav, that is sweet! Did you order it already inlet for the CTR, did you have to modify it, or what? Did you do that finish yourself? Thanks for posting that pic. I really like that.

I knew you were a flat brimmer....

Grayboe has a custom shop on-line. The CTR stock is one of the offerings they provide.

Stock comes completely inlet for Tikka drop in barrel/actions

https://grayboe.com/

😎

Oh, Shît...Busted....🥴

For the more civilized palette. GAP Tempest 6.5 Manbun 😎

Points awarded for the Gucci harness!

You ignorant, or what?... That’s a man purse I bought off a hoarder with too many cats. 😎

That’s a “satchel”.... satchels are cool.... Indiana Jones has one.... where else is he gonna put the keys to his Tac-Door?

A year ago, for the same purpose, shooting targets out to 1,000 yards, I picked up a new 6mm Creed in the Ruger Precision Rifle. Couldn't turn it down for $749. Popped an unemployed Vortex scope on it.

With factory Hornady 108's or my handloads with the same bullet, it shoots great!

Big Ugly ol' truck axle of a rifle, but it shoots well. The cartridge is a peach. I think a 6.5 Creed would do as well, but the 6 was avail at the deeply discounted price. That was good enough for me!

I've done quite a bit of long range shooting over the years, NRA "High Master" and all that, and the 6mm Creed makes it easy. Crosshairs don't come off the target. Can spot my own hits on steel. Easy to load - just run it through my Hornady dies with no special attention. I think I'd have been equally pleased with the 6.5 version, but the 6 landed here.

Regards, Guy

For something that's going to be a range gun (especially longer ranges) I can't think of a better rifle out of the box than the RPR.

My old eyes won’t let me shoot long range anymore. My rifles are way more capable than I am. If I was shooting as far as you guys I would go Nightforce.

Yep. I am in the same boat. I have a 530-yard range here at home and that is really pushing it for me, anymore. I like sub-300 for hunting.

Shooting a 260 since 1998... never grabbed onto the 6.5 Creedmoor...

Endless supply of 308 brass out there....which I just neck down.....

Saving a couple hundred bucks... that would pay for the Super Sniper or 2/3 of the cost...

as long as it has a one in 8 twist to it...you'd be good to go...

I'd say Tikka CTR in 6.5CM over the .260. Euro Optics has both for same price, $898 blued, $998 SS.

https://www.eurooptic.com/search.aspx?keyword=tikka+ctr

SD

That's good advice right there ^^^

If you have additional questions.........................

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(888) 223-3006

the whole reason to use a creedmore is because the case is a bit shorter. tikka's are all the same length action. you can load the bullets out long. the 260 should have an edge if you want to use it. that and the creed has become too tacticool.

Who uses a creedmore?

Am I seeing right? Those CTR's are made in left hand, and are available?

Prices increased $100 already

I’ll flip that the other way around and take the 260 over the Creed.

The creed is shorter, and has a straighter case which makes it tricker to feed, and a tad slower than the 260..
BUT you don’t really need longer bullets so why is shorter better ?


IF ... as the OP asks you are getting a Creed. Then I’d go 6 Creed = just beware that your barrel life will be shorter that you might like.

What platforms/set ups have been “trickier” to get to feed the CM cases?

Oh brother....

the magazine lips if you are building them from the ground up... I’ve got both the Creed, and the 260...

You talking metal AICS style mags?

I feed Creedmoors out of 308 mags just as easy as Creedmoor mags.

I have both metal AICS and plastic MagPul mags for my 6.5 CM and both have functioned just fine.

My thoughts exactly, the oh brother part. My son has the CTR in 260, I have the same rifle in 6.5. Believe it or not there has never been a feeding issue in either.....ever. I know this is a big surprise but it is actual experience talking.

Yeap....

Have had at least half a dozen of both calibers mentioned in BDLs, M5 DBM/AICS, gas guns and loaded for many more. Can’t ever recall having a feeding issue with 22, 6, 25, or 6.5 CMs in any platform...so naturally Im curious...

Takes about 15 seconds to tune the lips on metal AICs mags if it’s needed.

To the OP

Another option, if you like to march to your own beat and hand load, is the 6.5 x 55. Especially if your are going Tikka ( medium action), they are a perfect match imo.

The Tikka’s version of this cartridge chambering is spot on.They have the rifle set up with a long throat that allows you to get those long slender vlds out of the powder column. ( without running out of magazine length!!!!)

You do not have to worry about donuts as a result of the long throat. The pressure ring of all 140 to 147gr vld style bullets is well above the neck shoulder junction of the case.( below the neck shoulder junction is where the powder belongs). Reminds me of how the 300prc is set up. (Long throat, large head height )

I have a Varmint version in that caliber. Shoots ridiculously well, and handles the long vld style bullets better than the creed.

Don’t read into the absolute bullsheite, that a cartridge has to be “new” or “designed “ as an accuracy cartridge to be accurate. 90% of accuracy is in the barrel. Tikka precisely chambers their excellent barrels. No worries there.

Anyway... 1000 yard hits are cake walk with this combo.( at least when it’s not windy! ) I wouldn’t waste the extra dough on the ctr version, the varmint version will do the same for cheaper. The 6.5 x 55 works so well, I’m thinking of another tikka 6.5 x 55 in a sporter weight version.

Well, being that it has been over a month with no decision and rising prices, I'd say grab an Origin action from Brownells for $742. Then grab a 6.5CM and a 6CM prefit barrel from Keystone Accuracy (2 for $700 deal), a KRG Bravo/MDT Oryx and a TriggerTech trigger. You'll have both chamberings for $2k total investment and they'll shoot good to boot.

Problem solved!

SD

I’m not seeing them for $742. Am I looking in the wrong place?

Same here....

I’m gonna guess he means buying an origin from brownells during one of their frequent 10% sales. I get codes emailed to me all the time, and I’ve read that the codes do work for the Origin.

Thank you

Yep, sorry, should have stated that Brownells accepted coupon codes for the Origin and the KRG Bravo even on back ordered items. I grabbed an Origin for $726 and a Bravo chassis for $308 shipped(12% off coupon and free shipping)

I now see they are not accepting backorders on the Origin, guess too many people were taking advantage of the price break/coupon codes.

SD

If you want to see you impacts like one does in PRS get the 6 Creed and put a break on it.

I run a 260, and a 6 creed ...

If you reload either and are getting a custom barrel you can get a 260 to run just like a 6.5 creed... but not if you are using factory ammo - then go with the Creed.

I just bought my son a 6mmCR and have had .the same gun (Ruger American predator) in 6.5. Pretty surprised how similar they are. No kills with the 6 yet and wonder how it’ll go w the 40gr lighter bullet but trajectory and even recoil seem the same.

6MMDasher