Been considering building a hunting rifle in one of these calibers. Been seriously considering the ackley, heard of both a 6.5x55 AI and a 6.5x55 BJAI which sounds a little better. Looking to build a long range sheep hunting rig in 6.5 caliber, with extreme accuracy, and reasonably good barrel life.

My idea is a Winchester 70 action, about a 25-26" barrel, fiberglass stock, about a 4-14x scope. Something around 7-8 pounds.

Been told by another source that the performance would be similar to a 6.5-284. Is there any truth to that?

Wondering what you folks would choose and why? Pros and Cons for one or the other, case life, barrel life, accuracy, performance...etc.

Well, a 6.5 Swede with a 26" bbl will do mightily. Easier to load, easier to sell someday as well. You can reach close to 6.5-284, but the capacity just isn't there. But the 6.5-284 won't do what the 265 WSm will do, so it's just a matter of where you want to go. But that Swede with a 120g bullet will be nice and flat, low recoil, and if the smith does his part, it'll go right where you point it.

I've got the 6.5x284 and pretty happy it has a 28" barrel on a model 70 action. I hope to use mine for antelope and deer this year. I've been using the 284 case now for over 20yrs and also shoot a 6x284 so most of my experience is with that case. Just seems to have the right case capacity for what I like and going to have a 284 build with a Broughton 5c barrel. In my hunting rifles I don't want to fireform brass or anything like that so an Ackley type is out for me. I have alot of Ackley's in varmit rifles. Since Colorado changed so that you don't need to hunt deer and elk in the same season makes alot easier to justify a deer only type rifle now. Well good luck.

I agree with the last two posters. A Swede loaded with Lapua brass, can do a whole lot. Dies are easy to come by too. A 6.5x284 is a good round too, dies are now available for it. Ackley cartridges can be problematic sometimes. Keep it simple.

I'll let you know,..my 6.5x55AI will be done this week. Steve Shelp,..the gunsmith and 1000yd competitor swears by it,..so I just had to give it a try.

quote:

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Originally posted by Bwana-be:
Well, a 6.5 Swede with a 26" bbl will do mightily. Easier to load, easier to sell someday as well. You can reach close to 6.5-284, but the capacity just isn't there.

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I had a 6,5-284 Norma with 26 inch barrel. 140 grain partition from 26 inch barrel gave 935-950 M/S with Norma MRP or Vihtavouri N-560 or N-165.
My friends 6,5-06 with 26 inch barrel gave almost identical velocity.
I have never been able to get more than 860-870 M/S in 6,5X55 with 26 inch barrel and 140 grain bullets.

If you want more performance get a bigger case

Cheers
JOHAN

I like the 6.5-284. The burning question I have is this one: How are you going to hang a scope like a barbell on a rifle with a 25- 26" barrel and come out with a 7-8 lb. rig? You must be thinking soda straw-like barrel contours and a foam injected stock. To most people a sheep rifle has a small scope mounted low, a sufficient length barrel, etc. In my opinion you should decide if you want velocity or weight. Ability to see a gnat at 1000 yds. or weight. This isn't a flame, just dont want to see another 9 lb "Sheep Rifle"- ya know?

358elk, good point. I have a M70 w/ 23" PacNor lt.wt. (.550") bbl. With a Leup. 3-9comp. in a trim, light wood stock, it weighs right @ 7.25#. A 4x-14x, even a compact, has got to weigh another 1/2# easy, add 2" extra bbl., another 1/4# & you're pushing 8#. Still not a heavy rifle.
If you go w/ a M700 you can shave a bit of weight. The long action would be prefered in either caliber, so you can load your bullets out where you need to. I would probably go 6.5x55AI just because brass is readily available. If you want to stay as light as possible, go w/ the M700SA & the .260AI. I have one w/ 27"bbl. & push 120gr bullets @ 3100fps & 140gr @ 2800fps. I even thought of getting a M700 mtn. in .260 & rechambering. Lots of .243 brass around for fireforming, no recoil & in a pinch you can shoot std. .260 ammo in it.

If you want the wildcat and case forming and all that FUN stuff go with the 6.5x55AI. However the 6.5-284 will out perform the swede all day and then some.