6.5 CM

Calibres, cartridges, ballistics tables and ammunition information.

Re: 6.5 CM

Post by Blr243 » 16 Jun 2024, 12:42 pm

I have only used a 222 once. When I was younger hunting with dogs I borrowed it from a grazier to cull a ton of invading Roos b4 he put up a proper fence. It was a cmc mountaineer. I think that was the old name for a howa ? Who is still making 222 rifles now that everyone is making 223s ? I agree the 222 is a classic calibre.
Blr243
Major General
Major General
 
Posts: 4738
Queensland

Re: 6.5 CM

Post by zbenga » 28 Oct 2024, 1:25 pm

the biggest advantage the CM has over anything else in the 6.5 range is believe it or not availability, it's everywhere and well define on what it can do, like:

up to 130 grains projectiles use 2209, over 130 grain projectiles use AR2213SC
don't go over 139 grains high BC projectiles without 1:7.5 twist
super easy to load for, big collection of dies etc.
light recoil for what it is, it's no 6mm but pleasant to shoot

but the biggest thing going for it to be honest is the availability of ammo, go to any range and they will most likely only have Creedmoor in the 6.5 mm range, same to most gun shops, so if you're out hunting etc. you will find ammo in this order: 22lr, 223, 308, 243, 6.5 creedmoor
zbenga
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 39
Queensland

Re: 6.5 CM

Post by bigrich » 28 Oct 2024, 4:27 pm

zbenga wrote:the biggest advantage the CM has over anything else in the 6.5 range is believe it or not availability, it's everywhere and well define on what it can do, like:

up to 130 grains projectiles use 2209, over 130 grain projectiles use AR2213SC
don't go over 139 grains high BC projectiles without 1:7.5 twist
super easy to load for, big collection of dies etc.
light recoil for what it is, it's no 6mm but pleasant to shoot

but the biggest thing going for it to be honest is the availability of ammo, go to any range and they will most likely only have Creedmoor in the 6.5 mm range, same to most gun shops, so if you're out hunting etc. you will find ammo in this order: 22lr, 223, 308, 243, 6.5 creedmoor


some good points there mate . 99% of the time i handload for best accuracy and the the right projectile for the job at hand . the majority of my firearms have never seen a factory made round ;)
User avatar
bigrich
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
 
Posts: 5025
Queensland

Re: 6.5 CM

Post by zbenga » 16 Jan 2025, 6:52 pm

Wyliecoyote wrote:So while the hype with the CM is everywhere, when it gets to handloading, the playing field really levels out. So the Swede is my pick for its ability to get real speed with 2209 and more specifically 2213 SC as the other two haven't the boiler room to get enough of the stuff in. Accuracy is all about the time one is willing to put into it but it should never be thought that the 6.5x55 is in any way less capable than the other two.


I reload 6.5 CM with 43 grains 2213SC, Lapua SRP, Lapua 139g Scenar, half MOA out of stock LA105 from a magazine (10 shots) full case fill which is awesome, SD 7.2 and average speed 2681 fps

2213SC is really really good when using heavier projectiles

for comparison same 2213SC but 43.6 grains and 130 Berger OTM Tactical gives me 0.7 MOA with an SD of 7 and average speed of 2735 fps, with 2209 the SD changes to 4.2 and a bit more speed but out of 5 shots there is always a flier pushing to 1.3 MOA at best hence I stopped using 2209 powder for the CM
zbenga
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 39
Queensland

Re: 6.5 CM

Post by Fester » 18 Jan 2025, 2:45 pm

I did find a few advantages in setting up a Howa varmint in Fagmoor and it didn't become a hit so quickly for nothing.
I just loaded some 120s with a mildish 08 load to break the barrel in and it shot a few 5-shot single raggeds.
Seen other blokes turn up with new Howas and Tikkas also shoot bug holes, some using the factory match ammo.
After break-in, I went to 140s pushed with 09 and it also shot great and so easy to load developed.
Even old hands like Ron Spomer admit it shoots a tad quicker with a little less powder.

I have shot clovers and seen blokes shoot great with Swedes and 260s but I have never had a .260.

My Swede is a 22'' Tikka sporter and was far more difficult to develop a load for.
It shot the clovers with 120gr A-maxes but a 140gr deer bullet was much much harder and it took ages to just get it to shoot 3 into about 3/4".
I knew it could shoot them as that factory Federal Powershok shot pretty well.
Then came 140 Woodleigs so it would be more capable to use on big stags as well as the Fallow.
They are no target projy and to shoot a group around an inch, I had to build up to a warmer load using 2213sc. So far, they are killing deer quicker with far less dead running off so that controlled expansion works. They also exit unlike my soft points and factory SP ammo.

Both of my rifles would show pressure signs way before filling a Creed or Swede case to capacity and had to settle for the norm of around 2,700fps or 50 or so more so that talk of modern Swede actions didn't work for me.

My Howa shot over 2,000 rounds before losing that new barrel accuracy but has continued to shoot fine down to a 1 MOA plate at 500m.
I don't need F-Class grouping or single raggeds but it will still put 3 in with the others flying to make it about 1 MOA. I will just keep shooting it till I shoot it out.
Fester
Private
Private
 
Posts: 93
New South Wales

Previous

Back to top
 
Return to Calibres, cartridges and ballistics