Is less gun sometimes more?

[wildfowler.250]

Well folks. Been using a .270 for years, since day one really. And for my distances, it’s point, shoot and usually drop on the spot,(if not, then very close).

The old man wanted a rifle for the occasional stalk and I suggested a 6.5x55. I’ve pinched it a few times. It’s accurate, mild recoil,(not that the .270 is bad unless you’re plinking) and the deer drop nearly as well. Possibly marginally less bang flop but there’s nothing in it.


Spoken to a few PH’s recently and for the usual stuff, they’re just using .270’s and .308’s.


Have I missed a trick by not going down the .243 or 6.5 route at the start? Lots of folk have used a .243 for reds for years. I have to say, a factory 6.5 creed or T3 in 6.5 prc does seem like it would tick all boxes.


Anyone down scaled in the past? I have a .222 and refuse to get rid of it because it’s just a delight but I’m getting towards the idea of one rimfire and one,(or in this case 2) smaller CF being appealing.

 

[WildBoarHunter]

I started with 30-06, then another 30-06, then 308 win and then 6,5×55. In my case it's the years accumulating. They all kill just fine. It's just me. I tolerate milder caliber better nowdays.

 

[Border]

…

 

[Utectok]

Basically yes 6.5x55 is nicer to shoot than a 270 shoots with less wind drift and can shoot longer sexier bullets as the twist is usually 1:8. It kills just as well and can be home loaded to almost as fast. Mine is about 3100fps at the muzzle. Drops 2” at 200m

 

[Keith Edmunds]

The 6.5 creed and 6.5 prc that you mention are different animals.

 

[Mungo]

Well folks. Been using a .270 for years, since day one really. And for my distances, it’s point, shoot and usually drop on the spot,(if not, then very close).

The old man wanted a rifle for the occasional stalk and I suggested a 6.5x55. I’ve pinched it a few times. It’s accurate, mild recoil,(not that the .270 is bad unless you’re plinking) and the deer drop nearly as well. Possibly marginally less bang flop but there’s nothing in it.


Spoken to a few PH’s recently and for the usual stuff, they’re just using .270’s and .308’s.


Have I missed a trick by not going down the .243 or 6.5 route at the start? Lots of folk have used a .243 for reds for years. I have to say, a factory 6.5 creed or T3 in 6.5 prc does seem like it would tick all boxes.


Anyone down scaled in the past? I have a .222 and refuse to get rid of it because it’s just a delight but I’m getting towards the idea of one rimfire and one,(or in this case 2) smaller CF being appealing.

Careful - 6.5PRC is very similar to a .270. If anything, a step up rather than a step down. That said, it is superb.

6.5CM is a very polite multi purpose round and very easy to shoot. It’s ballistically identical to a 6.5x55, so if you like that, you’ll like a Creedmoor. Which of them you choose is really just a coin toss, though people get weirdly worked up about it.

.243 for me is not ideal. I had one for years, and lost confidence in it shooting things like heavy bodied early autumn fallow bucks. They ran a bit further than I was comfortable with.

 

[Utectok]

The 6.5 creed and 6.5 prc that you mention are different animals.

Actually that depends on barrel length a 20” prc will be all most the same as a 24 creed

 

[Smellydog]

The 6.5 is closer to the 270 than it is to 6mm (.243") bullet diameter wise.

 

[finnbear270]

The 6.5 PRC for me is the only deer rifle, where I have been able to watch the strike, impressed me so much that I am having a 6.5 PRC built for extended range shooting.

 

[Mungo]

The 6.5 PRC for me is the only deer rifle, where I have been able to watch the strike, impressed me so much that I am having a 6.5 PRC built for extended range shooting.

It’s a wonderful cartridge.

If a little aggressive on roe at short range!

 

[Mungo]

Actually that depends on barrel length a 20” prc will be all most the same as a 24 creed

Yes.

Though a 20” PRC is a sin against all that is holy.

 

[finnbear270]

Has to be a min of 24" barrel for me.

 

[25 Sharps]

Well folks. Been using a .270 for years, since day one really. And for my distances, it’s point, shoot and usually drop on the spot,(if not, then very close).

The old man wanted a rifle for the occasional stalk and I suggested a 6.5x55. I’ve pinched it a few times. It’s accurate, mild recoil,(not that the .270 is bad unless you’re plinking) and the deer drop nearly as well. Possibly marginally less bang flop but there’s nothing in it.


Spoken to a few PH’s recently and for the usual stuff, they’re just using .270’s and .308’s.


Have I missed a trick by not going down the .243 or 6.5 route at the start? Lots of folk have used a .243 for reds for years. I have to say, a factory 6.5 creed or T3 in 6.5 prc does seem like it would tick all boxes.


Anyone down scaled in the past? I have a .222 and refuse to get rid of it because it’s just a delight but I’m getting towards the idea of one rimfire and one,(or in this case 2) smaller CF being appealing.

Just 3 guns!! What is this heresy you speak of?!

 

[Keith Edmunds]

Actually that depends on barrel length a 20” prc will be all most the same as a 24 creed

All things being equal I meant. A mate is thinking about pushing the button on a 6.5prc and I must admit, it has a lot going for it.

 

[Bowland blades]

Well folks. Been using a .270 for years, since day one really. And for my distances, it’s point, shoot and usually drop on the spot,(if not, then very close).

The old man wanted a rifle for the occasional stalk and I suggested a 6.5x55. I’ve pinched it a few times. It’s accurate, mild recoil,(not that the .270 is bad unless you’re plinking) and the deer drop nearly as well. Possibly marginally less bang flop but there’s nothing in it.


Spoken to a few PH’s recently and for the usual stuff, they’re just using .270’s and .308’s.


Have I missed a trick by not going down the .243 or 6.5 route at the start? Lots of folk have used a .243 for reds for years. I have to say, a factory 6.5 creed or T3 in 6.5 prc does seem like it would tick all boxes.


Anyone down scaled in the past? I have a .222 and refuse to get rid of it because it’s just a delight but I’m getting towards the idea of one rimfire and one,(or in this case 2) smaller CF being appealing.

6.5x55 is actually very close to 270 win . The 6.5 creed , 260 rem are also very close ( 260 should be avoided today if you do not hand load ) . 243 win is underrated by many it will do crows to the biggest stags ( just feed it the suited bullet for each).
If you do not hand load 6.5 creed or 270 win , 243win should top the list in my experience . Because they are the most commonly in stock for ammo .
To get factory ammo and get a 1-8 or faster twist forget the 260 rem ( mine is 1.7 twist and i covert 243 brass in the main part ) for stalking purposes when in a fast twist it will outperform the creed and brass can be formed from any 308 class based cartridge. Though factory 260 rounds is real hard to find now

 

[Mungo]

6.5x55 is actually very close to 270 win

I’m not sure it is.

.270 shoots a 130gr bullet at 3150fps or so.

6.5x55 or 6.5CM shoot 130gr bullets at 2850fps or less.

That’s quite a difference.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

.......Though factory 260 rounds is real hard to find now

Edinburgh Rilfles and Sporting Goods have 260 Rem ammunition available.
Regards
JCS

 

[Bowland blades]

I’m not sure it is.

.270 shoots a 130gr bullet at 3150fps or so.

6.5x55 or 6.5CM shoot 130gr bullets at 2850fps or less.

That’s quite a difference.

its really nothing of consequence , especially as the high BC bullets the creed was specifically built to utilise . In the real world i have shot a good deal of Reds with the head man him on the 270 me on the 260 rem there was nothing but nothing different in practical terms . Especially when we talk about copper bullets long for calibre . We are talking about having to purchase two with very similar " on target " performances. We do not shoot anything at the end of the barrel and speed at barrel end and 300 yards further on are always going to look different to speed at the end of the muzzle . Call it as you will but why state " or so " on the 270 and then "OR LESS" when you got to the creed? Realistically we need to compare impact speed at say 300 yards with correct BC figures on each in drop and drift and that gap is going to look a fair bit different ! That's one why comp shooters dont shoot 270 win but jumped all over the creed from day 1
No dog in this fight is mine as i shoot a modified version on a 260 rem bash the creed all you want but please lets not forget retained velocities and BC

 

[Bowland blades]

Edinburgh Rilfles and Sporting Goods have 260 Rem ammunition available.
Regards
JCS

very rare i buy factory but yes they do . I run 100 grain tTSX copper mainly and the 120 version of the same and i rarely shoot factory

 

[Mungo]

bash the creed all you want but please lets not forget retained velocities and BC

Not bashing CM at all - I have one and shoot all the deer species with it.

But having had a .270 and now using a 6.5PRC as well, I do notice a difference.