M1A in 6.5 Creedmore
- Thread starter Odd Shot
- Start date
It's the same as having a minivan with 300 horsepower and saying any less just isn't enough to go get groceries, we're being conditioned to always want more even if it's useless.
They advertise SUV's with their times on the Nürburgring now because that somehow makes it better than the other soccer mom grocery getter. No one seems to care that they get much worse mileage than a minivan as long as they can pretend it's a truck and not a minivan even though it does the exact same job.
We're being conditioned by advertising to consume and to throw away whatever was great yesterday because the latest and greatest is supposed to be better. They fail to mention though that most times better is hardly measurable and that the average consumer will never utilize the full potential of the product.
Why do we need a cellular phone that has as much computing power as a desktop computer? We don't, but unless you have the newest model you're somehow missing out on a better life so we upgrade every time our 2 year rape me plan runs out and then upgrade our plan to an even more expensive plan because it's somehow going to save us money by spending more monthly to have some extra features that you won't even use.
Our shooting hobby is no different, somehow we need a faster followup shot for coyote hunting so we spend $2000+ on a nice non restricted semi auto instead of just becoming more proficient with the bolt action or simply becoming a better marksman so you don't need a second shot. One of my favorite hunting rifles was my break action single shot 243, that one was sold and I went through the whole hunting with a black semi auto phase, now I'm back to a good old Rem 700 in 7-08, it will do everything I need it to do in the field. I hunt with that rifle and rest are just toys for fun time.
Donny Fenn1
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East Kootenays
Usually it is, but 6.5 components and brass are not cheap and unobtainable H4350 means the costs are close to same. Ask me how I know.
Reloading is cheaper than shooting factory but I can reload 308 for a lot less than I can for 6.5CM. It's not the cost of powder or projectiles in this comparison but the cost of the brass that is a lot more. I bought my Hornady 6.5CM brass for $70 for a pack of 50 pieces, Hornady 308 brass is not that expensive and since an M14/M1A is not exactly easy on brass those costs will add up quickly.
I'm using Varget for my 6.5CM in my Modern Hunter, H4350 is a good powder for 6.5 but I'm running 129gr projectiles because I like to think I'm being easier on my rifle staying away from the 140gr+ just like I do when loading for a 308 semi and I keep them under 175gr. I also don't see the need to go with a heavier projectile in this rifle since I probably won't be shooting 1200 yards with it so I don't need the longest lowest BC projectile available. Fast and flat for the odd coyote I may get a shot at makes more sense to me since I won't likely be shooting past 500 yards.
I've also used Hybrid H100V under the 129gr Hornady SST and got some pretty good groups but it's not as temp stable as Varget, I got lucky and my groups shrunk when I found the rifles favorite load with Varget. This summer I'll might try some 4350 but I'm more likely to try some better quality projectiles over Varget first since I have around 15 pounds of it.
I think comparing a bolt gun to any semi is kinda apples and oranges anyways. I do see where you're coming from and I wouldn't really have any interest in a factory 6.5 Creedmoor barrel on an M1A/M14, it would have to be a match barrel. In my mind, that already pre-supposes that you're willing to a least spend some money to do the necessary accuracy mods on your rifle. That being said, if you're just starting out with an M14 pattern rifle, there's no disadvantage to starting with a factory 6.5 barrel and seeing how it shoots. Other than the shorter barrel life, there's no increased cost to reloading 6.5 vs .308. No surplus ammo, I guess.
For what it's worth, my factory, chicom M14S bedded in one of M14Doc's stocks with most of the NM tweaks and handloads reliably does 1.5 MOA. I've taken her out to 830 yards and made hits on a 2/3 IPSC plate. It's kind of funny because the plate's 12" width is just slightly under 1.5MOA so with the same hold, you can squeak one round left of the plate, one round right and then hit, haha. I've always wanted to rebarrel it with a match barrel at some point and if there was a Creed barrel, I'd go that way, less elevation to reach out that far, bucks the wind better and most probably the match barrel, everything else being the same, would net me a bit of an accuracy improvement. FWIW I'd stick with a 22" length as well to reap the reward of better ballistics.
Brass is the only thing that costs more and it's noticeably more when your M14 is chewing them up after 4-5 reloads and you have to replace it.
My newest M14 is a Norc build with a 308 Krieger barrel and everything else that can be done as well (I think the only thing left that's Norc is the receiver, I've found a 1.5 moa load for it and am sure that with some more development I'll shrink that down some more. Then I'd like to try stretching it out like you're doing with your rifle and see just how fun it can be to hit plates at 800+
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See i find your post interesting. You like hunting inside 400 yards, so do I. I also like shooting long range rifle matches and I like practicing at long range and honing my skills. Some guys like ELR shooting (like 2000+ yards). Different strokes for different folks. You don't need to be an "employed sniper" to enjoy the challenge and pleasure of making long range hits. If you live in the right spots, look hard enough and take the time to do so, you can set up your own range in the bush without too much trouble. I have steel from 305-980 yards that I shoot at weekly. Just because you enjoy shooting a 100 year old rifle doesn't mean that's the only fun going, ya know?
Yup, one of the best days I can remember shooting in the last few years was shooting at expired 20lb propane BBQ tanks at 1100 yards with a buddy of mine. Once we were dialed in it was a blast, You had enough flight time you could actually see your bullet in flight and spot your own hits and misses, my 338 Lapua would tear them open like a pop can being hit by a 17 HMR and my 308 had lost so much energy by the time it got out there it would only dent the tank.
Brass is the only thing that costs more and it's noticeably more when your M14 is chewing them up after 4-5 reloads and you have to replace it.
My newest M14 is a Norc build with a 308 Krieger barrel and everything else that can be done as well (I think the only thing left that's Norc is the receiver, I've found a 1.5 moa load for it and am sure that with some more development I'll shrink that down some more. Then I'd like to try stretching it out like you're doing with your rifle and see just how fun it can be to hit plates at 800+
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There's just some kind of intangible thing about ringing long range steel with a semi that puts a smile on my face, haha.
I hear you about 6.5 brass. I have a buddy I shoot matches with in the States who shoots factory 6.5 so I have a steady source of cheap, 1x fired brass that I know was all fired in the same chamber. I bought 400 pieces from him to neck down to 6 Creed for $120, haha. I'd do the same for an M14. I only ever buy 1x fired brass for it since like you said, you pretty much chuck it after 4 firings. I just anneal it and my dies are already set for my chamber so I'm off to the races, so to speak
