I'm in the process of building another savage short action .473 bolt face. This rifle serves no purpose other than I wanted to build something off this action. I was originally thinking .260 Rem but have also been considering the 6.5 creedmoor. I am a reloader but I also like to be able to get a box of ammo off the shelf. I have plenty of .308's and a 22-250 already so I wanted to do something a little different. I'm open to other caliber suggestions, what would you guys do?
Help me decide caliber of next build
- Thread starter psdan000
- Start date
Since you included buy off the shelf, I would agree with the 6.5 Creedmoor. I started shooting the Hornady 140 ELD's about two years ago and it definitely out performs my 308 at 1000 yards. The barrel is a Bartlein barrel with 1-8 twist with 5R rifling. I also just completed a 6MM Creedmoor build. I will be using the Hornady 108 ELD's. It has a Kreiger barrel with 1-7.5 twist 4 groove. Haven't had enough time behind the build, but from all indication, I believe it will be a shooter. Good luck on your choice.
Thanks RD, I guess I was just hoping for someone to talk me out of the 6.5. It just seems like everyone and their brother own one. I wanted to do something "different" but realistically it seems to be the better option. I guess it has so much hype for good reason.
6.5 Creed if want factory ammo. If want a little different but still factory ammo then 6 Creed. "Different" and having availability from factory ammo are usually metaphors. If want " different" then you might be back to reloading.
Last edited:
If you want to reload and buy off the shelf 6.5 creedmore is the way to go. Personally I believe one can reload ammo with better performance than factory ammo. I built a custom 260 and delivers high performamce. TA4 Manners stock , Defiance Deviant short action , 28" Krieger 1-8 twist heavy palmar barrel with break. This is just my opinion but with this round it is still economically to reload , accurate to 1400 yards, recoil don't beat you up. If interested can get into components that I use and MV.
Last edited:
6.5 creedmoor and factory Hornady 140 eld match. Deadly accurate combination. They shoot just as accurate as my handloads out to 300 yards
For factory offerings you can't beat a 6.5 creedmoor. BUT if I were you since you reload take a hard look at a 22 creedmoor. It's a fantastic round, stupid accurate and a pleasure to shoot. With a 1/7 or 1/8" twist you can shoot anything from a 75-90g bullet at over 3000 fps with no issue ( barrel length dependent). Do anything you want from shooting steel to shooting coyotes and deer.
The last rifle I built on a savage action was a 1-8 x 26" 243win with a McGowan barrel. Its a fast and accurate round that so far hasnt been very fussy with finding accurate loads with muliple powders and bullets but it does seem to favor the 105 AMAX or Scenars with H1000 or H100V. Lots of good factory ammo as well barrel life is the only downside but its a savage just spin it off and throw another on when its toast.
Thanks for the input guys. I forgot to mention I do also already have a fast twist 243 that likes the heavier bullets. It looks like the 6.5 Creedmoor wins the majority of the votes as I figured it would. The 22 Creedmoor is intriguing I’ll have to look into that one. Like I said I do reload but I find myself not having much time to do so anymore. It’s been over a year since I even touched my reloading bench. Still waiting on my action to come back before I make the big decision lol.
