Re: .260 vs 6.5 creedmoor
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Casey Simpson</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Only a champion benchrest shooter would appreciate any advantages Lapua cases might provide. I've used Nosler, Norma, Winchester and Lapua in field competition type shooting. My experience, around 35 years, has been: in the kind of shooting this site is about case brand is not the determinative factor(s).
The determinative factors are:
1.) wind reading ability of the shooter, and
2.) the machinists ability setting up the barrel.
<span style="font-size: 14pt">The gun will shoot if the chamber is straight.</span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt">Barrel life is a concern of machine gunners and bench rest shooters.</span> Unless you're shooting a 3500 fps .30 caliber bullet, stop worrying about wearing out a barrel. Endeavor to wear out a barrel instead and become a better marksman.
So, whether impact occurs is a team effort of the shooter and the gunsmith.
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Wow. Truer words have never been spoken!
Having just shot out my first barrel (a 308 no less!), it sure gives a nice feeling of accomplishment! Of course, easy to feel ok about a shot-out barrel when you've got a Savage, and a new barrel already in hand.
At the square range, where you can easily get your brass back, Lapua is great - mainly because a "max load" that would use up an FC, Win, or RP case after 4 or 5 hits can last 10-15+. But, for real-world shooting, it flat sucks to be shucking out Lapua brass and leaving it behind!
I'll never bring Lapua brass to a tactical match again... ...which is a serious downside to 6.5x47 IMHO. Fclassers always get their brass back. We don't.
I'm amazed no one (that I've heard of - or the smith I've got working on a rifle now has heard of) is using a 260 (6.5-08??) reamer designed for 308 brass necked down. NATO 7.62 brass is basically free.
I've got my DPMS SASS at the smith getting a 260 Bartlein fitted, which is being chambered thus way. I figure autoloaders are hard on brass to begin with, so I probably won't get enough reloads to form donuts anyway. Plus, a lot of brass will be lost at matches after just one hit.
Between 260 and 6.5CM, the choice for a reloader-type is a no brainer. 260. More case capacity, many brass choices. The 6.5CM is great! but brass isn't prolific, and you are beholden to Hornady to get it. If you buy factory ammo though, the CM is a natural choice.
Lastly, someone above wrote that 6.5x47 can match 260 and CM....? Really? I thought that '47 was a bit down on horsepower in comparison...?