I'm looking at building a flat shooter for deer. Want to have dies available, so am sorting through the 6.5-06, 264 Win Mag, 6.5-300 Weatherby, or the 7-300 Weatherby.

Of the 6.5's listed, is there a considerable velocity gain of the larger 2 calibers?

Any ideas or load data would be appreciated.

The 6.5 is an excellent caliber, so I think you are on the right track.

Some of the cartridges you have listed have a reputation as "barrel burners". You probably want to listen to some experienced owners, so you don't end up spending money on a new barrel sooner than you had planned.

I shoot a 29" Swede, 6.5x55, which pushes 140 grains at 2800 fps. The barrels last a long time, and the deer can't tell the difference between 2800 and 3100 fps.

Since ou are realistically talking about a 140 grn bullet and 6.5/06 will be plenty flat very for as far out as you can hold the other cases will just burn more powder.

Dean -- Both the 6.5 and 7mm-300 Weatherby cases are seriously overbore with currently available propellants -- even H870. Hell, with anything less than a 200 gr. bullet, the 300 Weatherby is overbore for a 30 caliber with anything faster than H-1000.

I suggest you stick with nothing larger than the '06-sized case -- either standard or AI with the 40� shoulder. With a 24" barrel, you should be able to push a 140 grainer along at right around 2900+ fps (Viht N-165), and this going to produce a plenty flat trajectory.

The 120, 125, and 129 gr. bullets are somewhat more suitable for deer-sized critters, and these can be pushed along at 3,000 to 3,100 fps depending upon bullet and weight.

Even with the 6.5x55mm Swede, if I am willing to take the pressures up to around the 60,000 psi level of the '06, I can get 2800 fps with 140 grainers out of the 26" barrel of my rifle. (I can take the pressures up in my rifle because it is a Remington M700 action with a 26" Douglas Premium barrel.)

I suggest, though, you opt for 1-8 twist instead of the more conventional 1-9. The 1-8 twist will stabilize the long 140 grainers and the RN 160 grainers, while not too much overly stabilizing the lighter bullets.

Vihtavuori 20N29 has the burning rate of dry birchwood. 6,5-300Wby and the likes are not overbore anymore. But the barrels might be a tad short... AKI

P.O. Ackley considered the 06 case the max for the 6.5 before overbore. He even considered the 6.5-06 AI beyond the best efficiency. While your at it it is really tough to beat the old 6.5x55 Swede. Its not quite as hot as the 6.5-06 but it is accurate, lethal, light on recoil and forgiving.

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Robin
from Tucson, AZ

The rifle powders available to Ackley are almost pistol powders compared to the BMG powders available today. If P.O. would have had some 24N41 or 20N29 he would have called a 6,5mm/416Rigby overbore. There�s the difference! AKI

I know that in the .264 Winny, some folks are equaling the originally published ballistics in 24" barrels using one of the .50 BMG powders. I don't know which one. Still the slower the powder the sooner the barrel erodes, I'd be more than satisfied with the 6.5-.284, but then I'm happy with my .260.

I've heard and read good things about 6.5-284, 260Rem and 6.5-308(same as 260?). Built on a short action in a McMillan stock you would have a excellent deer thumper with minimal recoil. sure-shot

Some of the target/match shooters in my area have cycled through calibers as follows 6.5-.284, 6.5-.308(.260) and are now shooting 6.5-.308 Ackely Improved, which they claim give excellent velocity with short action configuration.

I have been shooting a 6.5-06 for about 10 years and love it. I previously worked with two 264 Mags with 24" bbls and found that my 6.5-06 with 25" bbl almost equals the 264 Mag and is not nearly as finicky as the 264's.....LR

I'd think with modern powders the 264 win mag might be worth re-avulating. I would want at least a 27" barrel to get its potential though, and you just might want to consider a Ruger #1 with a 29-30" barrel, carries the same as a bolt gun with a 25-26" tube.

I'm a 6.5 nut, and still have the urge for a hot 6.5, just haven't figured the ideal one yet. I would think a long tubed .264 would be capable of pushing 120's in the 3300-3500 realm.