Opinions? experience with this cartridge? anyone reload it? How does it compare with the other 6.5s?

Thanks

Excellent caliber !!
Only problem is to get brass

For medium game try Nosler Partition 125 gs at 3400 fps .

Big case, long shoulder, burns a lot of powder..
Not so much more than a 6,5-06, but a bit more aristocratic(or at least so here in Norway..)
If you want to shoot deer sized game across canyons it great! For me the accuracy, availability and easy of reload of the 6,5x55 made it an easy choice. Out to 250 yards the x55 is a real dandy

M

This is cap. in grs. of water. 6.5x55=55--- 6.5x06= 64--- 264 Win Mag=79--- 6.5x68-83.1--- and 7STW=93

6.5x68 is very similar to the 264 Win in performance. A 26 in barrel would be a good idea.Slow burning powders like 7828 and RL 25 would be best. Retumbo should also be good but I have never tried it.

quote:

Originally posted by Fat_Albert:
This is cap. in grs. of water. 6.5x55=55--- 6.5x06= 64--- 264 Win Mag=79--- 6.5x68-83.1--- and 7STW=93

Sources I've seen show the .264 Win has having marginally more case capacity than the 6.5x68, and case drawings which show the .264 with a very slightly longer body, wider shoulder and sharper shoulder angle would seem to validate this.

However, the actual capacity of either would depend on the thickness of the brass and how the chamber was cut, so I think they can be regarded is virtually equal in case capacity.

The orignial factory loadings for the 6.5x68 used 93 and 123 grain bullets, meaning that it was conceived to be a hyper-velocity round, whereas the .264 had a "varmint" bullet of 100 grains and a "game" bullet of 140 grains. The 1-11" twist of the Mannlicher-Schonauer rifle in 6.5x68 also suggests the intended use of somewhat light-for-caliber bullets.

If one were to come across one of the factory 6.5x68 rifles, it would be a prize that you could certainly make into a shooter, provided you could round up sufficient brass. But in terms of a custom rifle, the .264 would seem much more practical.

The super high velocity rounds like the 6.5x68 always cause me to pull my hair out between the loading bench and the range, I suspect that this round would be no differant but in the end I'm sure you can come up with a good accurate load.
As much as I dislike the monometal bullets they might just be the ticket for this round. I found with my .220 swift that only a solid metal bullet could handle the velocity.

Although I haven't loaded for the 6.5x68 I have hunted with one. It performed very impressively on a hunt that seemed to only give long range shots. This chamouis I shot at 290 yards steep down hill, Two days later I shot a rehbock at the same distance but uphill this time. Both shots I held right on.

It´s PERFECT for Chamois!

I used the 8,2 g ( 127 grs ) KS type bullet, my farthest Gams was a lasered 326 m.

Kills them like Lightning.

Accuracy in a Steyr may be EXCEPTIONAL!!

Barrel life won´t be 10 K rounds, and stock up on brass.

Test, if your rifle will shoot 140 grainers, I would suggest 125 to 129 grs Spitzer Bullets, e.g. by Nosler, or, I would recommend the Blaser CDP 127 grs ( which is kinda like the Nosler Partition )

I would start reloading with 4831 or slower.

Hermann

You can do the same with a 6.5x284 with a lot less powder.