No one emphasizes the fact that these long for caliber bullets shoot straight and seem to hit harder than they should. Penetration is outstanding and range of bullet weights available is tremendous.( Take that... Mr. .257 fan).
I shoot a .264 winmag in Model 70. I can cloverleaf it at 100 yds. It seems to shoot everything well. I had planned on building a 6.5-06, but this .264 win mag came along cheaper than I could build the other.
I took 6 whitetails at ranges from 250 to 400 yds this last season...all one shot kills with a 129 gr Hornady SST. ( Party hunting is legal where I hunted.) None went further than 10 yds after impact. What more could you ask...can't kill them any deader.
I have a couple 6.5 swede and you couldn't ask for a better rifle than the 6.5x55. Mild recoil, accurate, they never built a bad swedish mauser. Great penetration yet has what it takes for larger game. The 6.5 swede replaced the .243 as my primary antelope rifle years ago. You can go to 85 gr bullet weight and varmint with it.
Yes there is a conspiracy to promote the flavors of the month short mag etc...but thats how you support the economy...
Those who know...love the .264 caliber...and the performance. I would love a .264 short mag...but dont know where I would put it or how I would justify it. Just have to find a way I guess. I am a certified .264 loon.
My $.02
swede
Posts: 44 | Location: North Central ND | Registered: 21 December 2003
Ever since I bought my 6.5X55 a couple years ago I've been singing its praises. This thing kills way out of proportion to its paper ballistics, particularly with 140 grain Barnes XLCs. I too would love a 6.5WSM, but have no need - I'd be forced to part with my Sako 6.5, and that's just not acceptable.
Posts: 3301 | Location: Southern NM USA | Registered: 01 October 2002
I have a Winchester Model 70 chambered in the .264 Win Mag improved or sometimes it is called the 6.5 Mach IV. It is an older rifle, but shoots extremely well. I have only shot whitetail deer and armodilloes with it, and the results are spectacular. This rifle has a fast twist Hart barrel so it shoots the 140 - 160 gr. well. If I try to shoot the lighter bullets, below 100 grs., very fast they self destruct in mid air. All you will see is a puff of grey down range and nothing hits the target. I love to shoot this rifle and I love the caliber. The only complaint I have is that I get rapid copper fouling and the muzzle brake makes a lot of noise. To me the .264 is an ideal all around caliber for most North American hunting.
Posts: 339 | Location: Texas via Louisiana | Registered: 29 October 2003
Just got a .260 Rem barrel to replace the 6mm Rem one on my Model 7 Rem which was my very first rifle at age 14. Can't hardly wait to get it put on and try it out this fall.
I was first introduced to the .264/6.5mm as the "perfect" white-tailed deer caliber by Jim Carmichael in an Outdoor Life magazine article in the very early 80's. In my youth, I pleaded with my stepfather for the Model 7 in 6mm and didn't realize then what exactly the difference in 6mm and 6.5mm . It did account for a double fist full of deer over the years however. Now 20 some years later, I hope to rectify that early error. It'll look just a little different with a slightly longer tube, but it's still "my" rifle and I won't have that "undergunned" feeling I've developed. I haven't hunted with that gun in 6 or 7 years, having religated it to "wife gun" status, but hope re-establish a good relationship. BTW, the Wife has developed a fancy for the .308 Model 700 since it "shoots where I aim it" and things don't travel far either.
At just 2 inches more drop at 400 yards than a .270 or .25-06, it should make a fine pronghorn out fit also.
Suggestions on good loads would be appreciated.
Posts: 842 | Location: Anchorage, AK | Registered: 23 January 2004
Redlander, my favorite load for my 6.5 swede is 40 gr of IMR 4064 under a 140 gr nosler BT. Smokes out at about 2800 fps...aint the fastest just the most accurate.
Works for the 6.5 swede...should work for your .260 rem since they are kissin cousins.
Hope this helps.
swede
Posts: 44 | Location: North Central ND | Registered: 21 December 2003
Why bother to talk up the high sectional density 6.5mm bullets and bad mouth the .257" if you are shooting 129gr 6.5s? The sectional density of the 129gr 6.5mm is virtually identical to that of the 120gr .257".
Hey JA...Lets agree that the gun and cartridge only goes so far...the rest is up to the man that pulls the trigger. I am not gonna argue with a fellow Wyo guy that favors a .270 cause I got one also.
swede
Posts: 44 | Location: North Central ND | Registered: 21 December 2003
We in the US are guaranteed a freedom of speech (opinion). I don't mind if someone wants to argue a point. I have a 6.5 WSM which has treated me well. It's been my go to gun for over two years and tipped over game far out there. My set up is quick and efficient. But the 270 argument is a dead horse, but no one can convince the 270 guys to just give up. I'll even give the 270 people a 10 grain increase to 150, and you still have no comparable data. BC's and SD's wont touch a 140 264/6.5. Add in at least 100 fps, and your argument should be over......next. A shame they are so looked down upon, as they have alot of things going for them. For now, I'll be happy to keep the 6.5 my secret and hoard bullets before they are done being produced.
Posts: 346 | Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico | Registered: 05 January 2002
Count me in on the 6.5 club also. I have quite a few of them, but NOT the 6.5 Rem Mag or the 264 Win Mag. I own 3 rifles chambered in the 260 alone ( Is that being Renamed the 6.5 RSSNM?/ Remington Short Skinny NON Magnum)
IN a non mag case the 6.5 mm does just an awesome job, at about whatever you ask of it.
I have 3 6.5 x 55's also, a Ruger 77 Mk 2, a rebarreled Winchester Featherweight with a 26 inch barrel, for open plains hunting, and a Swedish Model 96 Sniper rifles with the 29 inch barrel and different sniper sites., 1920 Manufacture
However, I had to build the oldest of the 6.5 s and one that is either an outcast or just plain "Not Needed" in today's modern world: a 6.5 x 57.
I rebarreled a model 70 with a heavy sporter barrel with a one in 8 twist, and 28 inches in length. Recoil is like a 22/250 with the heavier weight of the 28 in Heavy sporter barrel. Just neck up 257 Roberts brass or 6mm Rem brass and its off to the races.
It is one long distance shooter, and I think it will keep up with a Magnum 6.5 anyday of the week. If not, then awfully close to it. 100 grain ballistic tips shoot in excess of 3500 fps out of this rifle. The Winchester 257 + P brass will handle the excess pressure if their is any. I haven't seen any signs of it.
IN a sports car world of light rifles, she is a 6.5 version of a Bean field rifle, or the rifle version of a 1949 Buick.
She is not a wildcat cartridge tho, and she is older than the 8mm and 7mm Mausers, the 6.5 Swede and the old 30/30 even. even tho it is a European cartridge, the 257 Roberts brass at least fills me with dillusions that I have an American version of the 6.5 x 55.
with 107 grain or 142 grain Sierra match bullets she is one very very flat shooting rifle.
Many moons ago we shot steel silhouettes with 6.5/308 aka 260rem.,it simply smacked 500meter rams with authority. Also shot a couple 264 mags. This caliber never let me down.Also a good buddy had a drilling chambered in 6.5x57r on occasions that i used it i never found it lacking on deer ,turkey or anything.The mags will get the job done at longer ranges.Imagine i got rid of the 6.5's for 7/08's&7stw's.Go figure-OH for another 6.5.Maybe the REM6.5HMM!
Mine are a battery of 2 6.5x55(soon to be 3) 6.5-06 and 6.5-284. That poor old 6.5-06 is all but had the life shot out of the barrel. Hah! another project! All have taken deer and coyotes with reliable outcome. It seems I may start leaning to .30 and larger bore. I may have used up my small, fast and flat phase and go to big, fast and flat!
Posts: 281 | Location: MN | Registered: 27 May 2001
JAS, Yes the .260 Remington can do about anything the .270 can with a helluva lot less punishment on the backend!!!!! And a measure of accuracy with it at extended ranges.....how many 270's you ever see at 1000 yard matches!!! GHD PS: Couldn't help myself JAS!!! The 270 Win is a classic number but had to poke a little!!! GHD 2ndPS!!!! ANd this is from someone who if told tonite he could only have 1 rifle....it would be a 25-06!!! GHD(pastor at the church of GHD..25-06)
Posts: 2495 | Location: SW. VA | Registered: 29 July 2002
Quote: Hey JA...Lets agree that the gun and cartridge only goes so far...the rest is up to the man that pulls the trigger. I am not gonna argue with a fellow Wyo guy that favors a .270 cause I got one also.
swede
The 6.5 CALIBER is quite frankly, IMHO, the best all around CALIBER for just anything you want to do! In the gun cabinet at this time are---6.5/06 custom Springfield, 6.5x55 Swede Mdl 38, 6.5x55 CZ550 & Ruger 77mkII,Savage 10FP in 260.........in the building stage--6.5/08 AI, 6.5x55BJAI and 260AAR. From varmints at long range to F-class 1000yd shooting, there is a 6.5 of some sort that will do the job necessary exceedingly well.
WYswede: So which caliber do you like better? And where do you live? I'm debating getting something a little bigger than my 270 for elk but I hate recoil. I just had a trigger job done on my rem. mtn. rifle. Groups shrank from 1 1/4 to less than half an inch. Not bad for that skinny barrell.
I shot my .264 in the wind today it still shot good.I almost didnt shoot it was so windy.I love My Ruger Stainless 264 win mag its awesome!I cant wait to shoot something with it.Any body else use 140 gr Nosler Partitions.My favorite bullet is Lapula 155 gr mega tips.Its accurate as hech.I shot one group at 200 yards 3/8" thats awesome!
what are you filling up the cases with under them partitions. I have the same rifle as you but can't get partitions to shoot worth a crap.
I'm currently using the 140grn hornady interlocks over 7828. My loads clock at 3200 with one holer 3shot groups and stretches out to 3/4" with 5 shot groups at 100yds.
turfman
Posts: 133 | Location: Pa\Nj | Registered: 05 January 2003
I have not shot the partitions yet.I will use H-870 when I load them.I have had awesome luck with the 155 gr Lapula bullets but seated way deep with 67-69 grs of h-870.The groups from this bullet are nothing but awesome .The 3/8" at 200 yards was not a fluke I havE shot it a couple of times.I love this stainless Ruger 77 in 264 Win mag I have two of them.They need to have their throated deepened .I also have had 1" groups with Remington 140 gr corelocks.You really have to pay attention to seating your bullets to just before the lands in the rifling.
. It did account for a double fist full of deer over the years however. 
Now 20 some years later, I hope to rectify that early error. It'll look just a little different with a slightly longer tube, but it's still "my" rifle and I won't have that "undergunned" feeling I've developed. I haven't hunted with that gun in 6 or 7 years, having religated it to "wife gun" status, but hope re-establish a good relationship. BTW, the Wife has developed a fancy for the .308 Model 700 since it "shoots where I aim it" 
and things don't travel far either.
