who makes factory 6.5 guns?

[Ring]

260/creedmore..

anyone other then savage?

[taliv]

JP rifles makes an amazingly accurate 260 gas and bolt gun
DPMS chambers their AR10 platform in 260 from the factory
Accuracy International sells their AW and AX in 260 from the factory and they use bartlein barrels.

[fallenromeo]

DTA makes a .260 also.

[orkan]

DTA makes a .260 also.

Lets not forget 6.5 creedmoor and 6.5x284 as well.

Obviously the DTA rifles will be excessively accurate, and I'd be happy to put one in your hands.

[jvencius]

Sako makes a nifty 6.5x55 (the Model 85) if you're willing to look at other cartridges than the .260 but with that bore diameter...

[fallenromeo]

Lets not forget 6.5 creedmoor and 6.5x284 as well.

Obviously the DTA rifles will be excessively accurate, and I'd be happy to put one in your hands.

Doesn't DTA also do a 6.5 Lapua?

[Ring]

ok, lets clarify this... who make3 6.5 bolt guns that are under 1200$ for new shooters.

i got a bunch of guys at work that want to get into long range and all are on a budget

[jvencius]

Do they have some philosophical opposition to .308? Sure, 6.5 performance within certain envelopes eclipses that of the .308 but if budget is a concern for new shooters, wouldn't it make sense to go with a little less-sexy cartridge that has a lot more options available for ammo loads (and possibly rifles available on the secondary market)?

[orkan]

Do they have some philosophical opposition to .308? Sure, 6.5 performance within certain envelopes eclipses that of the .308 but if budget is a concern for new shooters, wouldn't it make sense to go with a little less-sexy cartridge that has a lot more options available for ammo loads (and possibly rifles available on the secondary market)?

You sir, are making ENTIRELY too much sense.

You sure as hell don't need a 6.5 to learn long range. Point in fact, the 308 is a much better teacher than any of the 6.5's.

[rudy99]

I'm limited on experience with this topic, but I've talked (live, not on the interwebs) quite a bit with those who are highly ranked in the precision rifle series. Their recommendation for me was, if you don't reload 6.5 Creedmoor is probably the best option for a long range caliber. Hornady makes a great cartridge for this round and you can sell your brass to a reloader to get money back on ammo investment. I was also informed that none of the top shooters in major long-range tactical type matches shoot 308.

They did follow that up by recommending that I get a Surgeon action and build something off that, however that is out of my budget for something that would be a 3rd or 4th-line hobby. One guy did admit that Savage has come a long way over the years and really isn't as bad of a rifle as some people make out.

From my research about a year ago, Savage was the only rifle maker that has a factory 6.5 creedmoor rifle. They have lightweight models and something in the long range precision category with a heavy barrel, etc that will run around the $1,000 mark.

With all this said, I'll probably end up going with a 308 as the primary bolt gun (for a variety of other reasons) and consider a 6.5 caliber as a secondary.