I am looking for a 6.5x284, 6.5 x 47 Lapua, 6,5x55 Swede, 260 Rem or 264 Win Mag, but I don't know where to start, Any help or advantages/disadvantages of each I would love to hear. Plus any good manufacturers that won't cost an arm and a leg,

For what purpose?

Hunting. Blind hunting TX, Antelope WY, Mule deer

^^this^^

The 260, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 6.5 x 47 will do just about anything (among the six fives), with more barrel life, less recoil, and less powder. Unless, of course, you want a screaming fast 6.5

Awww Jason, I knew you would say that...IMO the OP just described what a 264WMg was built for. But the venerable Wmg is not the place to start IMO in a 6.5 Sumthin.

For lower cost "factory built off the rack" guns I'd look at Ruger & Savage for a 6.5 Creedmore, & Remmy for a 260 for a spread in price points and gun features.

Bud's & Eurooptics on line both are now stocking Tikka T3 Hunter Grades in 260 & 6.5x55's when they can get delivery at about $650/$680 and are steller bug hole shooters...at least the T3 HG 6.5 Swede I owned was boringly accurate. FWIW none of the other factory built 6.5's interest me, after getting totally spoiled with the Tikka's performance. Which leads to another thought to persue.....I may wind up buying another 260 in a T3 to pair up with my "tooo pretty to get wet" wood/blue SAKO 260, to use in bad weather after getting a B&C composite stock and Cerakote job... as part of my downsize and consolidate the gun safe drive.
Ron

6.5-284 Norma, .26 Nosler, or 264 win mag would be my picks. LOL

There is not a bad hunting caliber in the OP's list. I went with the 6.5-284 with no regrets. Then again there are also 6.5 Grendel, 6.5X54 and a 264WM in the safe all of which will take care of the mentioned game at ranges I prefer to shoot and further than myself or most should be shooting at game. Barrel life I really do not worry about, if IU shoot out a barrel then I have enjoyed shooting that rifle and get a new barrel for it.

Look at the rifles in your price range chambered for any of the above plus 6.5 Creedmoor, pick the rifle you like and enjoy.

I love my 6.5x284. I don't know just what companies offer it (except for Savage). Mine is built off of a Rem 700 long action. It is accurate and does not have much recoil. I am a 6.5 fan and just got a 6.5/257 weatherby. It is also accurate and is nice. Depends on just what you want.

Not to worried about the money part of it. I want a rifle that I will keep. I have never sold any of my rifles. I also handload,, so that should help with all the calibers.

The 264 and 6.5x284 are really hard on barrels. The 260 would and has got my money.

Old Paint, if $bux is not a problem & you can reload for it, then that opens the door for lots of options in the Semi Production/Custom offerings from Nosler, Cooper & etc ...and Montana Rifle Co's American Standard Line in several 6.5 calibers. MRC ASR's in wood/blue run about $1100, wood/SS $1200 & SS/syn about $13-1400 in a choice of 22 calibers including 3 6.5s in 260, 6.5x284 & 264Wmg. MRC also builds full customs from about $2k to $5k+++

Nosler, like Cooper, start at about $15/$1600 and go up from there and I would be hard pressed to have to choose 'tween the 2 lines. Steyr also makes a 260 in the $1-$1500 range... but if you are into spending Hedge Fund Mgr or Exxon level money just for fun, Blaser makes a pile of options in 6.5's.

Another way to look at this is that 270Win's in 130's & 140's runs equal in MV's to a tiny bit faster than a 6.5x284, and about as fast as a 264Wmg +/- individual barrel idiosyncrosies...but a 270 anything is not as good a Loooong range bullet past 500 yards in BC's, that are necessary to help fight the wind for past 400 yard shots. Just remember... we are picking fly poop outta the pepper at under 300/350 yards on any of these calibers in that bullet weight range, IMO.

The only reason I wound up with a SAKO 260 - yet another $1500/$2000+ 260 or 6.5x55 option - is that I had such great success with a Tikka T3 HG 6.5x55 boring accuracy shooting 120's & 130's, and stumbled into a trade deal on a killer looking SAKO Hunter Grade that is out of production....and used the Swede as part of the trade deal. If I can't find a gently used SAKO 260 Finnlite SS/syn for $9-$1100 in the next year or so I'll pick up a new T3 HG 260 for about $650/$700 and spend the balance of that used SAKO Finnlite budget to "weatherize" the 260 T3. Got other guns to get squared away meantime.

If I had never sold any of my guns...I'd have to have a 6 car garage sized walkin Vault...like a couple folks I know do as part of their Wine Cellar.

I know I know ...decisions decisions. Just remember...in a 6.5 aka .264 diameter ...there is no Wrong choice, they are all that good a caliber. JMHO & YMMV
Have fun and good luck.
Ron

I have a 270, 270 WSM and a 6.8. Just heard good things about the 260/6.5s for long range shooting.

The 260 Rem and 6.5 CM are awesome rounds. It's a whole new world of awesome with a 6.5x47.

6.5X55mm if you want a more traditional rifle.

Short action, long action? OTC ammo?

Gap or beanland ...6.5 saum

Or mcwhorter 6.5wby

Why not the 26 Nosler?

Forgot about that one...so ya 26nolser. Still curious on what final numbers will be and felt recoil

Don't overlook the 6.5x55. It is a sane caliber with excellent performance. There's factory fodder available and it is easy to load for. A 140 grain accubond at 2700 fps is potent medicine.

I became a believer over the last few years where I've used this caliber on all manner of game, from whitetail to red stag.

My "go to" load for my 6.5x55mm is pushing a 120 gr. Barnes TSX @ 3000 fps.

Has anyone here picked one up yet? I'm curious myself

If I chose the 260 Rem, what barrel length would I want?

I run a 24". It's not too handy to maneuver, but makes 2800 fps with a 140 gr.

If you go 22" you'll be around 2760 fps

If you go 20" you'll be around 2720 fps.

In your case I'm sure a 20" would be the perfect compromise of a short, handy (slow) 16", and a long, unhandy (fast) 24".

My 6.5 creed is 2810 with 130 gr Berger and 21.5" barrel

Yep I am running the 129 Lr accubonds and 45 gr of h414 at 2904 out of a 23 inch creed