6.5CM do it all rifle: RPR vs BA vs CTR

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VinceMarksman

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I want to buy a factory rifle in 6.5 creedmoor to use as a do it all. I would use it hunting preds and deer but also for a lot of shooting. I would throw a 16x 40mm scope on it to keep things light-ish although weight is not a priority. I already have 2 tikka t3 varmint 223 and a 308 in a mdt ess chassis.

I would like a very accurate rifle out of the box (I reload). Something that would not need upgrades for good positioning and a good bang for the buck.

Here are some thoughts on top of my head

RPR
-doesnt seem to require much upgrade out of the box.
-action looks decently smooth
-action reusable after the barrel wears out? Doesnt seem to have much aftermarket stuff for it.
-heavy?

BA STEALTH
-ugly butt stock that would need upgrade
-action blueprinted out of the box
-not too heavy
-no experience with savage 10 action. Looks fidly and loose

CTR
-could use my mdt ess chassis
-action butter smooth
-availability unknown
-accurate
-not too heavy

What are you guys thoughts? Price is also a concern
 
Your tikka varmint 308 in its original stock might be the best all around hunting rifle of the bunch.
 
Well that was not quite the question. My 308 currently sees LR shooting. Worst case is the 6.5 will become the shooting rig and the 308 will become the hunting one.

So the question still holds
 
Tikka CTR comes in 260 , about the same ballistics as creedmore and Lapua brass for it as well . I have two ( 308,260 ) and love them as is , I'm trying to justify A new stock but they shoot so nice as is it's tough
 
The RPR is not what many claim it to be.

You ever get exited to go out on a date with a pretty girl and then find out she has no personality and is bad in bed... here's the RPR.

It is in reality quite crude and low tech in general. The machining is poor, the bolt handle lugway is the worst I've seen. The extractor is difficult to cam over the head of a cartridge so you have to manhandle the rifle and drive the bolt closed aggressively. And don't forget the mag falls out on occasion during action games. Last weekend the trigger clicked but did not drop the hammer until I touched the bolt handle... then it fired.... nice.

In the long run you can dress up the RPR with new stocks and barrels but you will never get past the points noted above.

In the long run you are better off with the Tikka and maybe one day parking it into a Cadex Chassis.
 
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Regarding the 6.5cm vs 260. Are they equal in therms of barrel wear and COL issues with magazine length? For example will a 260 loaded with 140g bullets be a hassle to load to mag length? Will it require compressed load or low velocities?
 
VinceMarksman said:
Regarding the 6.5cm vs 260. Are they equal in therms of barrel wear and COL issues with magazine length? For example will a 260 loaded with 140g bullets be a hassle to load to mag length? Will it require compressed load or low velocities?
Click to expand...

No knowledge about the barrel wear but I can load SMK and ELD X 140 ish bullets to the lands in my 260 I still have room for powder using h4350 anyway
 
My two cents - Weatherby got into the game with their "modular chassis" in 6.5 CM that would be my choice is I had extra gun funds available. Buy once cry once and forget about the latest hype - personally would not want a RPR - think about it - they come out with the first gen and then not too long before they come out with gen two - if I had a gen 1 I would be pissed
 
I've got the gen 1 RPR in 6.5 Creedmoor. ...it's worked as it should every time out.....no problems at all .
I've installed a heathen muzzle brake and the timney 2 stage trigger.
The stock trigger had a fair amount of creep and was the only thing that I wasn't crazy about.
 
I bought a BA 6.5, It's gonna be a shooter. The more I mess with it, the more I like it. (Not the stock.) Seems heavy still. I have CTR 6.5 still on order. Maybe in a few months it will show up.
 
I have a Gen 2 RPR in 6.5 Creed and was really torn between it and the BA Stealth

In the end I found a sweet deal on an RPR first

Two very different guns in my opinion (I compared both side by side in my local gun shop)

They're both good looking guns but for me the RPR is more "tactical", the Savage has a more lean, minimal look

Biggest difference is the weight though - the RPR is much heavier and feels more like a bench gun whereas the Savage is quite light and agile - much better suited to hunting I would say
 
thanks guys

im still undecided. I tend to like the CTR with a 24in barrel, if they ever show up in Canada maybe im lucky enough to grab one before they sell out

The 260 is still appealing too. Lapua brass for it seems reasonably priced. Not sure when lapua 6é5cm brass will show up in Canada either.
 
You RPR Fans...

Do a test... please....

Chamber a round from the mag and close the bolt... do it slowly... do it a few times... Take note of any binding that occurs... That binding is caused by the extractor claw camming over the cartridge head because the claw is not a good design... like the tikka or sako. It's also because the small lugs are too small to bevel the leading edges to cam into battey and overcome the exctractor claw.... Compare the bolt head to a remmy... large leading bevel on the lugs cams into battery... same with sako and tikka.

Second test...

Drive the bolt handle upward and with upward pressure like you are supporting the weight of the rifle with the bolt... pull rearward slowly and take note of the variation in force required to move the bolt from front to back then back to front.

Notice the steps along the bolt handle raceway?

Notice the change in sliding resistance from variations in the hardness of 3 different steels?

The top is worse than the bottom but both and anything but smooth.

It sucks once you really look at it doesn't it?

Please get past the cool appearance from a distance and look at the detail up close.

Please... tell me I'm wrong and yours is straight and smooth... hey don't forget to post pics if you have a straight one because every one I've looked at is the same.
 
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I have both the RPR and CTR. I love them both, mostly due to my obsession with the 6.5 Creedmoor.
My CTR is both my hunting and shooting rig right now. The RPR never gave me any troubles the CTR is just more comfortable.
That is my vote if you want a 6.5 Creedmoor. The CTR is to me, what you are wanting for yourself.
 
bergara hmr is what I'd look at. Sure, it's new, but it would let you use most r700 accessories/chassis if you ever wanted a change.

I believe there have been, or are a couple being brought in to the country, while the RCMP looks at them.
 
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