Thanks for the replies.



I've interested in a 6.5x68mm for a couple of decades and due to the threads on this board have slowly being turned to the idea of a single shot, with more than one barrel. Would be a great lightweight mountain rifle for chamois, tahr plus also general deer hunting.



I am keen the 68mm version still.



Some more questions if you don't mind:



1. I understood the 140 gr bullets shot well in the 6.5x68mm. Is there variance in the rifling twist rates between different makers?



2. I see the break-open rifles usually are rimmed cartrigdes in the 65mm and 6.5x68mm. Yet the 8x68S is always rimless. I guess this is due to there being no rimmed 8x68S?



3. I see a chambering in the Blaser for a 8x75mm Rimmed. What would this chambering be like? How does it compare to the 8x68S, what case is it based on, and are any reloading components available in sufficient sources? (I have never heard of it till last week) (edited - oops, found some info and see it is based on the 9.3x74mmR case and a 100-200 fps slower than the 68S.)



4. I would definitely want a 25-26 inch barrel in a 6.5x68 and a 8x68S. My thinking is due to the reduced action size the rifle stills stays quite handy and short.



5. For any of you guys that use these singles shots. How have they performed away from the hochsitz environment ie have you taken them on safari and was not having a magazine felt to be a deficiency?



6. I also like the idea of a break open single shot as the rifle can be taken down and placed in a take down sized gun case with my doubles for travelling.



Thanks.

NitroX



The 6,5X65RWS is a 7x64 Brenneke, 8X64brenneke or 270 case that been necked down to 6,5 and is 1 mm around longer than the parent case I have no idea how popular the 6,5X65 is in Europe. In Scandinavia I have not seen more than two rifles in the caliber



I have never owned a 6,5X65 or 6,5&68 soo it impossible for me to enlighten you of any actual gains one caliber has over the other



Cheers

/ JOHAN

Hi Nitrox,
6.5x68 has a first big problem, is very fast, but it use only light bullets.
I tried to reload it for a friend but I hadn't anything good. Max bullet weight around 100/125grs.
Other problems: long barrel to obtain the velocty, this means heavy rifles, and this is not coherent for a mountaineer caliber that has also a heavy cartridges because also the cases weight;
few cartridges producers, scarce availability, expensive.
If 8x68 is a well balanced cartridge the same cannot be said for 6.5x68. R.I.P. and a pray for 6.5x68.

Good answers up to now!

The 6.5x65R is the same logic step as 7x57 to 7x64, 7x57R to 7x65R, 8x57IS to 8x64 S Brenneke, so same diameter ( excluding the rim, the base is the "Mauser" or "06" case diameter, only lenghtened ). IIRC its around .473 or 12 mm.

The 9.3x64 Brenneke is 12,6 mm ( H & H belted Magnum case with turned down belt ), the 6.5x68 and the 8x68S are 13 mm ( all from memory ).

My father has a Steyr S ( schwer = heavy ) in that caliber, with looong barrel and double trigger, set to a hair!

I have taken several Gams ( Chamois ) with it. It works like the proverbial lightning! Wind and 300 m are hardly any problem. But that thing is heavyyy!

And the heaviest bullets you may use because of twist lenght are 8,2 g ( ~ 129 grs ). Coupled with that speed means trouble on bigger game ( one Red deer I shot had heart shot to pieces and went 60 m!

Its a great cartridge, ballistically ( no useless belt ) better than the 264 Win Mag, but for my future mountain rifle I at the moment think about the 6.5x65R, although I want to know, if I may use 7x65R cases for reloading, which are plentiful. If I have to fireform or may only use original cases, for whatever reason, this would very much turn me off it.

It will gradually replace the 6.5x57R, but very slowly, especially as SS and Combo guns are getting more and more expensive.

Regards, Hermann

I have noticed the new cartridge the 6.5x65mm is steadily replacing the older and faster 6.5x68mm in many rifles chamberings.

How do the two cartridges compare and what is the 6.5x65mm based on?

You are correct, 6.5x68(R) and 8x68S versus 8x75RS. BOTH 8 mm�s are available in Blasers K 95!

The 8x75RS is slightly slower than 8x68S due to very low pressure. The cases for 6.5x68R are very rare!!

As for quick reloading with SS or doubles: try one or two cartridges between the fingers of the weak hand, Blasers "Blitzetui", two cartridges besides the receiver, good ole Uncle Mike�s Nylon butt stock shell holder or wrist shell holder.

There�s also Cooper�s "butt magazine", any idea where I might order that?

Regards, Hermann

If you think the 6.5x68R cases are hard and expensive to get, forget about the 8x75R. It is a classic cartridge, but I only think MEN produces cases for it, at least they are the only ones I have spotted. Expensive (if available), my Swiss distributor lists them at about CHF3.80 per case - compared to CHF1.60 for 8x68S RWS cases.

Huntingtons lists 6.5x68R RWS cases at US$28 for 20. If you decide to go this route, and can't rely on a steady supply of cases in Aussie-Land, you'd better make a big import to ensure you are stocked up for a few years.

About ease of travelling with take down rifles: absolutely! It is so much better to travel with take-down rifles. Much easier, much more discrete, and less prone to breakage by luggage manglers.

I don't know about twist rates normally used for the 6.5x68R. But if you are thinking of getting a K95 (which is what I would get), ask darren.hull@blaser.de. Darren is great at responding to customer requests, he gets most English requests anyway.

I would personally not feel limited by hunting big game (as opposed to dangerous game) with a single shot rifle. If I felt the need for a quick back-up round, I would use either the Blaser "Blitzetui" ( Blitzetui) or use one of the slip-on cartridge carriers for the stock. There are some quite decent ones in neoprene, they don't necessarily turn the rifle into a "tactical" looking thing. Just one or two extra cartridges in the stock holder is all you need, and you won't look like Pacho Villa.

Barrel length, again if it is Blaser you are thinking of, they offer the K95 with a 25.6" barrel in 6.5x68R.

Btw, Blaser apparently also chambers the K95 for the 8x68S. That would be for better men than myself. It would be a lively combination!

I think you would be happy with a 6.5x68R, it is capable of producing some phenomenal ballistics - I can't think of anything more you'd want for lighter mountain game (chamois etc). Be a bit careful with your barrel, and the rifle will serve you as well as your son for years to come.
- mike