This is one of those, What Calibre ? questions. It probably deserves to live in the reloading section but on other forums all I've been told is American calibres or the 7x57.

No one mentions the 6.5x65.

I have a (2nd) FN Mauser '98 action ready for another custom rifle project. I want to fill the Ballistics hole between .243W and 9.3x62. I'm thinking 6.5x65, .270, 7x57, 7x64, .30-06.

Use will be small/medium, antelope/deer/gazelle and similar plains game. What are your suggestions and why ?

What is the 6.5x65 used for in Europe ?

The 6.5x65 most commonly exists in the 6.5x65RWS format a proprietry 6.5-06 made by RWS.

The shoulder angle is somewhat sharper and the neck somewhat shorter but the volume so gained is then negated by the standard RWS brass construction (Panzer brass!) which is strong!

Factory loads top out at 127gr. I can't remember the CIP twist but it should handle 140gr bullets (but I would check) Ballistics should be similar to 6.5-06 ie 270 performance.

It's not that popular in Europe. Tends to be a somewhat specialist chamois and alpine calibre.

I nearly got one but went 6.5x57R instead which was much more commonly available and didn't give up a huge amount of performance.

An acquaintance, about 2 years ago, decided to buy a Blaser K95 for mountain hunting, chamois and roe deers. He was somewhat eager to choose the 6.5x65R, then he called the Blaser importer and someone over there advised him to choose the 7x65R, since 6.5x65(R) rounds and brass are expensive and the choice of loads is VERY limited, in short, a marginal cartridge. I personally would never choose a cartridge that is manufactured by only one firm. By the way, the guy wisely chose the 7x65R and he's very satisfied. Furthermore, the 6.5 is too close to the 243, so, the gap could better be filled by the reputed 7x64, for instance.

Which calibre twixed 243 and 9.3?
Easy .366 - .243 = .123
.243 + .66 = 309
Answer, of the rounds you list 30-06.
The 6.5x55 and the 7x57 are great old cartridges and I would probably choose the 7x57, but it's difficult to ignore the 06.
Happy Hunting.

As 1894 states, the 6.5x65 is a bit of an oddball caliber in Europe. I don't recall ever having run into one.

The rimmed version of this cartridge has been plagued by donut build-up in the brass. Don't ask me why that happens for this particular cartridge, but you come across references to this problem on various forums - perhaps it is caused by the way RWS make their brass? In any event, owners of these guns have to resort to regular inside neck reaming to be able to load their brass with impunity.

I don't know if the problem also affects the non-rimmed version of the cartridge??

- mike

A very nice 6,5 calibre is the 6,5x68 http://www.lima-wiederladetech...tronen/6,5x68WW.html

BlaserGun, I do not agree so much on this.

6.5x68 is limited, if used with the standard twist by the bullet weight (light). It does not work well with 120/140grainìs bullets.

Stefano,

What your talking about is more a matter of proper twist matched to the bullet size.

Weatherby screws the guy that likes heavy bullets in the 340 by using a one in twelve twist. I realy like my 340 Weatherby but wish it would stabilize 250 and 275 grain match bullets.

I would bet that the 6.5x68 rifles are built with a slow twist, screwing the guy that likes to shoot 140s.

Blaser builds the 6.5x68 with a twist rate of (approx) 1:10" (1:250 mm). That is actually pretty slow for a 6.5 mm....

The 6.5x55 gets 1:220mm (1:8.7") and the 6.5x65 (R) gets 1:200mm (1:7.9").

I'm guessing this has to do with the 6.5x68's claim to fame (at least claimed in European shooting lore): "fastest" cartridge - although only with light bullets, and in reality outpaced by cartridges like .257 Wby (and in this day and age of the "super magnum" of many other cartridges, I'm sure...).

- mike

Hi Seth,
sorry if I give to you a quick answer, but I'm in a hurry. Traditionally speaking, and I think also referring to CIP standards, this cartridge is designed to manage bullets around 100 grains. The 1:10 twist rate is more suitable for light bullets than for heavy.
MHO has given to you more data. My 6.5x55 use a 1:9 twist and the best resulst are with the 140grs Bullets.