I have the 6.5-06 Ackley. My favorite rifle. I also have a.264 Win Mag. Don’t even shoot it anymore since building the Ackley. 10 grains less powder, less recoil and the same ballistics.

6.5 pcm looks real interesting though. Basically is a clone of the old 6.5 Rem. Mag

You really should find someone with a 6.5 Creedmoor and shoot it. It's not hype. I bought a cheap one last year and within six months I bought a nicer rifle, cause I liked it so much.


I was considering a custom rifle build last summer until I bought my Creedmoor. I would have spent way over my budget to get the grouping I was getting from a nearly stock savage axis. I had dime sized groups at 100yds with factory ammo.

^ I was hesitant to purchase a 6.5 Creed cause all the Hype, but I did.. lol.. With tailored hand-loads I've shot under a 1/2 inch moa at 100yds. Tack driving Cartridge for sure no doubt in my mind now. But I believe the 264 Win would also serve you well and do the same.

Factory 6.5 creed
Custom 6.5 300 wsm

I have shot a Creedmoor from someone at the range. IMHO its the prius of the 6.5 calibers. I have zero interest in it. I would not buy a 6.5 Grendel in a bolt action rifle either but I think its one of the best rounds that will still fit in an AR15.

I've have a creedmoor in a AR10 for 8 years or more. Best of both worlds! If you don't want a creed and want something unique I would look at a 6.5x47 lapua.


One shot cold bore at 100, and 3 during load development. Very pleased for a AR10.

Well Mark Larue is trying to start a .25/08 caliber in the AR10 platform? Other wise you could have a Marlin .45/70 built on a 30" half octagon barrel. Globe front sight and ladder rear.

No I want this next one to be a bolt action rifle.

There is a 25-08 wildcat called the 25 Souper. RCBS has dies....

the question I think you should ask yourself , are you going heavy bullet or not?

if say you load 143gr ELDX it almost won't matter much if you go 6.5-06 or 6.5 creed they are almost identical in velocity about 40-50 fps for 10 extra grains of powder

but if you load a lighter 129-130gr bullet you can get around 200fps more velocity which will buy you 5 feet less drop at 1000 yards

if you go lighter yet to 95gr v-max in each you can run about 3200 creed and 3450 fps 06

if you compare the 6.5-300 wby you can get another 250fps over 6.5-06 in the 143gr

Good point. As it is going to be an all around rifle I would think that I'll use lighter bullets like the 123 grain SST for targetshooting and a bit heavier if required for hunting. Or if not heaver, then longer like the TTSX for example. But it is not going to be a creedmoor anyway. 6.5x55 or 6.5-06 if I can get hold of a long action donor rifle

you haven't mentiond 6.5-08 AI looking over some info looks like that will get your 123gr bullet to 3K and

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek046.html

I guess I am not going to be in tears if the donor rifle ends up not to be a long action then with the 6.5-08 AI

might be worth watching for a donor rifle https://www.gunbroker.com/item/780741576

trigger https://www.midwayusa.com/product/114622...y-1-1-2-to-4-lb

a Boyd's AT1 stock https://www.boydsgunstocks.com/at-one and send it strait to CDI for bottom metal inletting https://www.cdiprecisiongunworks.com/remington-700-short-action.html

and a Rock Creek .264 5R barrel

Can't go wrong with a 260 or 6.5-284. They are the hot cals at the long range shoots around here.

My personal favorite is the 264win. Have had at least one for many years and is my go-to for whitetail.

The 6.5-08 is essentially the 260rem. I personally wouldn’t go ai. Very minimal gains and you have to fire form your brass. I did a lot of research before building my 260. Some cases benefit from improving, but the gains in a 308 based case is minimal. If you need more velocity than a 260,step up to a larger case like the 6.5x55 or 6.5-284. If you want an ackley improved because they are cool, nobody can fault you for that. That’s why we build rifles, so we can get what we want, not what everyone else wants.

7 Dakota or 6.5 SAUM

Speaking of Ackley, I own 2 of them. .257 Roberts/Ackley in a Mauser action & a 250-3000 Ackley in a Savage 99. Both are tack drivers.