Gents:
As a mate to my Model 600 in .350 RM, I may be in the market for a twin 600 but in 6.5mm RM. I use the .350 as a loner rifle when friends come to Alaska to hunt and perhaps the 6.5 would be better for longer ranges in caribou hunting. Or, to have a second rifle if two come to hunt.

As I know nothing about the caliber but do like the ugliness of the Model 600, what can you tell me about ballistics, the cartridge in general, reloading, etc. Even your opinions on the rifle would be welcomed.

Thanks for looking and your replies.
cal

Well as long as you can get ammo or brass.

It well work just fine.

I have no personal experience with the cartridge but from the ballistics I see it deserved to do better and a nicer platform and longer barrel may have made the difference.

Mine is an old Ruger flat bolt 6.5 mag.
Think of it as a 6.5-06 in a short action.
But, in the carbine, the short OAL and barrel, will reduce vel.

I have one on a short action Rem. with a 3.00 in box. It has a 24" Lilja barrel. It matches the 6.5 PRC in all performance specs. It does not deserve a barrel shorter than 22".

Love the performance as mine is set up.

Docbill, that is a perfect set up for a 6.5 mag!

If you do a search here for member North61 he has both experience with the cartridge and its use on caribou.
Here's some help.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=789100565#789100565

http://forums.accuratereloadin...251029971#6251029971

Thanks for the comments and information. In a week or so I will begin searching for a M-600 in 6.5.
Cheers and thanks again.
Cal

I'm actually surprised this cartridge hasn't seen a resurgence due to it filling both the short mag and 6.5 niches. Has both of those and good ballistics to boot. I never bought much into the whole "an idea ahead of its time" thing, but it's very true in this case. The same can be said of its bigger brother. I've always had a soft spot for the 600/660 and these two calibers.

Cal, if you're able to locate one, you'll have to post some pictures of the twins when they're assembled!

It is essentially a ballistic twin to the 6.5-284 as case capacity is very similar -- and the two cartridges are very much alike in body diameter and length -- they just have different rims, one belted and one rebated.

I owned one in the Ruger 77 many years ago. Ammunition is simple if you are a handloader as cases can easily be made from any belted magnum brass (I had a bunch of .264 WM at the time and used that, but today I'd probably use some easier-to-find 7mm RM.) I didn't even buy special dies for it -- I just cut a half-inch off of the bottom of an extra set of .264 Win dies and there ya go.

I loaded 120 grain Sierras in it -- can't remember the powder or exact velocity -- but it was ample. Killed a coyote and a whitetail with it before (foolishly) trading it off. I think I still have most of a box of 20 rounds moldering somewhere in a stack of old ammunition.

I have one made on a Mexican Mauser. I agree a good cartridge, better with a 24" barrel.