What is, or would be the ideal case for a 6.5mm hunting round? The WSM case or the 06, maybe the 260 Rem? I am trying to decide on a case to make the ultimate - smaller than elk, mountain rifle. I am thinking the 6.5-06 might be as good as it gets, maybe improved. Thoughts?

Why not a 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser? By all accounts performs all out of proportion to its seemingly mild ballistics.

quote:

Originally posted by Sagebrush Burns:
Why not a 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser? By all accounts performs all out of proportion to its seemingly mild ballistics.

X2!!! It'll shoot accurately as far as I can! roger

quote:

Originally posted by Quintus:
What is, or would be the ideal case for a 6.5mm hunting round? The WSM case or the 06, maybe the 260 Rem? I am trying to decide on a case to make the ultimate - smaller than elk, mountain rifle. I am thinking the 6.5-06 might be as good as it gets, maybe improved. Thoughts?

The 6.5-06 is great but so are all the rest. You really can't go wrong no matter which you decide.

There are so many. My new favorite, especially for long range, is the 6.5x65. The 6.5x68 being slightly more adept at the longer ranges.

But in a Mauser it is hard to argue with the 6.5x55. In a short action I like the .260.

Pick one, you'll like it.

I do currently have 260s, 6.5x284 Norma, and 264WM. They all have their purpose, but are not exactly what I want.

Short action = 260
Long action = 256 Newton

for short action.. I like the .260 rem.

How about the 6.5 Remington Magnum?

If I were to want a 6.5mm magnum, I would start with the 375 Ruger case. It would basically give us a beltless 264 WinMag. Furthermore, utilizing the 338 RCM case would give us a very good true short action round that should equal 6.5-06 ballistics. The 6.5-338 RCM would be the equal of the 6.5 RemMag as well without the belt and a more room to seat bullets out further. Besides removing belts from current cartridge designs, I think all the bases are covered.

Big fan of the 6.5x55. I'll have a 260 Rem this fall. THose should do the job all the way out to 300 yards.

Dear Quintas:

I've owned a Sako AV in 6.5x55 that was phenomenally accurate. I stupidly traded it in 15 years ago on a Model 70.

I built a 6.5-06 on a 1908 Brazilian Mauser action, also, quite accurate.

From my research and experience, the 6.5x55 with modern powders appears to be in the sweet spot of bore capacity for the 6.5mm bore. The 6.5x284 (about the same case capacity as the 6.5-06) is showing excellent accuracy for 1000 yard competition. On the other hand, it does burn barrels.

The 256 Newton is between the 6.5x55 and the 6.5-06, and that, too, was a real performer.

Since I miss my 6.5x55, I'm going to build another one on a 1909 Argentine Mauser. My only question is will I scope it or just peep sight it, since it has a perfect crest.

I'd go with the 6.5x55.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

I like the 6.5x55, mine is a Husqvarna model 1640. Its a nice light small ring mauser action. The 6.5x66 does all I'll ever need a 6.5 to do, and does it well. Plus the rifle is slim and light, it carries like a feather and points like a nice shotgun.


This is my go to deer rifle, the side mount and williams peep have been replaced with talley bases, QD rings, and a talley peep. This is my idea of deer hunting perfection.

while I own multiple 6.5 bore rifles, my favorite and my favorite cartridge period...is a very old 6.5.... the 6.5 x 57.

a hair older than the Swede, why I like it better, especially on this side of the Atlantic..

ya just neck up plentifully available 257 Roberts brass, .007 ( 7 thousandths).. and put in on a long action...

my long range rifle is a 6.5 x 57 on a Model 70 long action, with a 28 inch Pac Nor barrel, heavy magnum contour and 1 in 8 twist..

I lover it for the rarity of it, yet the simplicity of it, and the availability of consistent brass, as compared by the Swede...

but I wouldn't be without a Swede and a 260 either... but if I had to pick only one to keep, it would be the 6.5 x 57..

I am not too concerned about barrel life. 1500 rounds should give me at least a decade of good use, but the muzzel blast and recoil of the big overbores in a light rifle has eliminated them. The idea is to re-barrel a 6 lug Wby Mark V Ultra Lightweight with a 24" Broughton in 8.5 twist. I think it's down to the 6.5-06 or the Swede, although the 6.5x57 is one I hadn't considered, and would be pretty slick.

I have had a 6.5 x 284 that I really liked but made a 243 out of it for my daughter.
I have a 6.5-06 now that I really like.
For what it's worth,
Doug

quote:

Originally posted by Quintus:
I am not too concerned about barrel life. 1500 rounds should give me at least a decade of good use, but the muzzel blast and recoil of the big overbores in a light rifle has eliminated them. The idea is to re-barrel a 6 lug Wby Mark V Ultra Lightweight with a 24" Broughton in 8.5 twist. I think it's down to the 6.5-06 or the Swede, although the 6.5x57 is one I hadn't considered, and would be pretty slick.

I think the 6.5x65 will serve you even better than the 6.5-06.

For all intents and purposes the .260, 6.5x55 and 6.5x57 are ballistic twins. The former being more popular tilts the scales in their favor IMHO.

However, since you state "smaller than Elk" I see no need for anything other than a .260 or 6.5x55.

My "light" Mauser 98 based 6.5x55 sports a 21" barrel, tips the scales at only 6 lbs and I wouldn't hesitate to shoot Elk either.

In a modern short action I'm sure you can easliy best that with a .260.

Since the question was the best case, IMO there is little to argue about. I think it is amazing that the answer in 1894 is the same today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6.5%C3%9755mm

I think the only reason to not use the 6.5x55 is if you just want to use a short action.

KB

For the stated purpose, I'd probably pick the .260 Rem if you want to make the rifle as absolutely light as possible since you can shave a few ounces off by going with a short action. With the .260, you can probably get away with a 22 inch barrel (whereas I'd go at least 24" for the 6.5-06 and 26" for something on a WSM case) without giving up too much velocity, so you can save an ounce or two there too.

And I'd go with the .256 Newton. It's a shortened 6.5-06, which was popular in America and loaded by big ammo companies until the .270 Winchester came along and pushed it aside.

Was nothing wrong with it then and is nothing wrong with it now. With modern powders and bullets it would be a real jewel.

I still think Winchester or Ruger should bring it back as a catalogued number and that Winchester should provide ammo for it.

In the meantime as I only hunt with handloads anyway 98% of the time, I would be perfectly willing to load for it.

Quintus-

In my humble opinion the two best cases for 6.5/.264 are as follow:

Short Action: the 6.5/.264 WSM (a.k.a .264 Leopard, I believe).

Regular Action: .264 Winchester Magnum, my personal favorite. Anything bigger, case-wise, is a waste of time, effort and money.

The caveat that I would follow up with is that both of these rounds are for the reloader. If you are not going to reload, you may want to consider some of the other rounds mentioned above.

Keep it simple with the 260 Remington. With a 308 parent case components are near endless.

6.5x55 Swede.

260 rem
6.5x47 lapua
6.5x55

Simple answer, there is no best case for the .264 bullet. There are lots of great choices though

Terry

6.5x284 end of story!

What!?! nobody mentioned my personal favorite... 6.5x53r.

Mine too Lee.
I didn't mention it because I was sure no one here had one or even knew what action was required for it.

So where does the 6.5 creedmoore fit?

I'd probably do a ultra light in .260 Imp or a Creedmoore. If factory it'd be a Kimber Montana in .260 so all I had to do was touch the chamber.

260 is nice, simple, plenty of sources for brass.

How bout 6.5X57?

quote:

Originally posted by Quintus:
I am not too concerned about barrel life. 1500 rounds should give me at least a decade of good use, but the muzzel blast and recoil of the big overbores in a light rifle has eliminated them. The idea is to re-barrel a 6 lug Wby Mark V Ultra Lightweight with a 24" Broughton in 8.5 twist. I think it's down to the 6.5-06 or the Swede, although the 6.5x57 is one I hadn't considered, and would be pretty slick.

I am a great fan of the old 6.5x55, but I am an even bigger fan of the 6.5-06.

It is a great cartridge.
I have owned one for 19-20 years now and I still have not been able to find anything better in that niche, no matter how many different cartridges I have tried.

Easy to load, flat shooting, low recoil, very accurate and very efficient on game.
It hits way above its weight class
I use mine for everything from Hares to all kinds of deer and also Moose.

I have a Shilen Select Match Grade barrel in mine and I have shot 3000+ shots in it and it still shoots sub 1/2 MOA 3 shot groups.
I have just made sure to not shoot it very hot all the years I had it.

There are a couple of F Class shooters down here in NZ who shoot 6.5 x 55 Ackley Improved, and they get velocity approaching the 6.5 x 284 but better barrel life so they are saying.

quote:

Originally posted by Quintus:
What is, or would be the ideal case for a 6.5mm hunting round? **** I am trying to decide on a case to make the ultimate - smaller than elk, mountain rifle. **** Thoughts?

6.5 X 47 in a short action. Smaller than Elk?? That's all you need. Light blast and recoil. Killer to 300 yds. Plus. roger

One of my next rifles to build for myself is going to be a 6.5 of some sort. I've just completed a 6.5x55, and a 6.5x284 for a friend and I've shot both of them and they shoot really well. I think I'm stuck between 6.5-06AI, and 6.5x55 AI. Either one should make me happy performance wise, but I hate buying expensive brass, so I'm leaning more to the 6.5-06AI.

If you don't mind a long action then 6.5X55AI

If you want it in a short action then .260AI

I have a Tikka M65 action in storeage. Guess what it will be used for?

6.5x47 Lapua for a target round.
6.5 WSM for a race-horse and long range. (I've used this cartridge, for up to elk, with fine results)
6.5x284 for the best all around.
6.5-06 (AI is even better) is easy to form, load, control, build and it performs well if you have a long action.
Or, use whatever floats yer boat! It's really that simple.

Zeke

I have a bunch of 6.5s, 6.5WSSM,6.5X284,6.5X-06IMP, 6.5WSM, 264 Win Mag and my favorite is the 260 AI. It will do anything you want with less headaches. All are nice but I think the 260 or 260AI are best.

260 AAR !!!!!

Hmm - nobody mentioned the 6,5 x 68

quote:

Originally posted by Burkhard:
Hmm - nobody mentioned the 6,5 x 68

While I like its big brother, the 8x68, the 6,5x68 doesn't offer enough additional over the 6,5x65 to warrant the effort. If brass were more available and not as sporadic, I might think differently. Here, teh .264 Win Mag makes more sense even though I prefer the 68 case. I consider both the 6,5x68 and the .264 WM overbore and feel the 65 achieves a better balance of velocity, economy, and barrel wear.

No doubt the 68 is very capaable and if I were seeking the highest velocities possible, that's where I'd look.