I have had only three over the years, the Swede, the .260 Remington and the oft-criticized Creedmoor. All are perfectly useful. The 6.5 PRC strikes me as "usefuller," amid a crowded field of magnums in this caliber: an appreciable increase in velocity and energy without being excessive in recoil or powder capacity.
What say ye?

I have several 6.5 caliber rifles.

Most useful for me are the 6.5x55 Swede and the 6.5/270 I built.

Anything bigger is really pointless.

I also have the 6.5x68.

love my 6.5-06. I consider it to be a very useful case capacity for the 6.5 bore.

I have a 6.5x54, a 6.5x57 and a 6.5 Creedmoor.

Those are probably all of the 6.5s I’ll ever own.

6.5x55 Swede (*aka, the OG) is the way to go.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I have several 6.5 caliber rifles.

Most useful for me are the 6.5x55 Swede and the 6.5/270 I built.

Anything bigger is really pointless.

I also have the 6.5x68.

Come on Saeed, build us a 6.5/404! Walter would talk you into it if it was a Blaser.

Lets see,
6.5 TCU
6.5 jap
6.5 x54
256 mann 6.5x53.5R
6.5x55
260 creed
260 rem
260 rem imp
256 Newton ( my fav on a mauser action)
6.5x284
6.5 rem mag
264 win mag
Multiples of some of those, and might have forgotten some too.

In my opinion the 6.5 prc doesn't do anything the 264 mag doesn't do with the same barrel twist and lenght

6.5x357 Martini
6.5x39 Baikal SS
6.5X54MS Carcano
6.5x55 M96
6.5x55 Imp. M96...MY FAVOURITE
265 RCBS M70 6.5-06 Imp. 28 Deg. shoulder....by Larry Sims....Tony will know....

Roger

I have the 260 and the 6.5x284. The 6.5x284 does everything that I need a 6.5 to do.

I had a good shooting buddy who shot the 6.5 X 55 for years and I was always impressed with the .264 bullet and its accuracy. When the 6.5 PRC came out I got it and shot several groups and was quite pleased so I got another with a 26 inch barrel and have been greatly pleased with it. A fine Deer round to go along with my .270 WSM's and .257 Wby and 30-30. Good Shooting.

I’ve only ever had one 6.5; and since it’s a .264 Win Mag I’ve never felt a need for any other 6.5 cartridge. It shoots a 127 grain LRX as 3,220 with 0.335” groups; so why would I want any other?

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Everett:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I have several 6.5 caliber rifles.

Most useful for me are the 6.5x55 Swede and the 6.5/270 I built.

Anything bigger is really pointless.

I also have the 6.5x68.

Come on Saeed, build us a 6.5/404! Walter would talk you into it if it was a Blaser.

Well.

I did build a 270/404.

Way over bore.

Used it once on safari and gave up.

Shot a bushbuck walking away.

The whole body was one black bloody mass!

Back to the drawing board and made another one, on a shorten case.

Shot an eland with it at over 500 yards.

Using Jensen bullets.

Both bullets were on the shoulder less than 6 inches apart!

One went through.

The other we recovered under the skin on the other side.

Have a 260 Remington, 6.5-06 and a new barrel for a 6.5/257 roberts. I may make that one a 260 AAR.

6.5/284 is about as good as it gets, but I opted for the 6.5-06 instead. Ive always thought the 6.5 Remington Mag would be a good one too, never had one though. Lots of great options in that caliber.

6.5 PRC is a great round. Yes, it duplicates other ballistics but rifles chambered in it have fast twist barrels and done properly, they can utilize the long bullets seated out far enough. For a hunting rifle, I like the faster velocity you get from the PRC and the other rounds that can match it in speed. As said, recoil is relatively light.

I had forgotten a 6.5x39 imp, made pre grendal era.
And a 260 AAR, which is a great cartridge too.

I have only one, an AHR 6.5x55 that Wayne built for me in a #3 conversion of a CZ 550. It’s gorgeous. I’ve only taken one Pronghorn with it, but I plan to take it to Africa soon to accompany my 9.3x62, another #3 conversion Wayne built for me on another CZ 550. Perfect pair!

Well Saeed, if it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing

I think we’re overlooking the obvious; 6.5/300 PRC. No more impractical than the 6.5/300 Weatherby. Uses Lapua brass. No belt. It’s a no-brainer.

I am learning to love the 6.5x55 Swede and the 6.5-284 Norma. Both are lights out accurate. I have not shot them past 200yds but I like what I have right now. Low recoil, smooth feeding, good bullet selection.

Second place is the 6.5 Creedmore. As much as I would like to not like it, it shoots very well in my R8.

If Texas secedes, what will Texas do with Illegals?

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
I am learning to love the 6.5x55 Swede and the 6.5-284 Norma. Both are lights out accurate. I have not shot them past 200yds but I like what I have right now. Low recoil, smooth feeding, good bullet selection.

Second place is the 6.5 Creedmore. As much as I would like to not like it, it shoots very well in my R8.

Bill.

In the real world, there isn't too much difference between the 6.5 PRC and the 6.5x55. The PRC may be a bit easier to find ammo for now, but the Swede has been proven for well over 100 years and is not likely to go away any time soon.

I have two Coopers, a Raptor in 6.5 Creedmoor with the 22-inch barrel, and a Long Range Outdoorsman with a 26 inch barrel. Using the same 124 grain Hammer Hunter I get 2870 fps in the Creedmoor and 3100 fps in the PRC. I submit that the Creedmoor is a better .308, and the PRC is a better 270 Winchester with less recoi. Both guns meet Coopers 3 shot guarantee. When I'm having a good day, I can make that guarantee with five shots.

I played with the 6.5xo6 Ackley, the creedmore, and one other??? OK but the 270 or 30/06 always suited me as better..

I've used a 6.5 TCU on the small end of the spectrum and a 6.5-06 on the other -- and quite a few various 6.5s between the two.

I'll always have a soft spot for the Swede, but I think my current -- a 24" Contender barrel in 6.5x30-30 (aka 6.5 Bullberry) -- may rank as my favorite of available 6.5mm chamberings.

It is easy on the shoulder and pleasant to shoot and yet, with its current load of the Sierra 120 grain Tipped GK, retains close to 1200 ft./lbs of energy at 300 yards. With a 200 yard zero, it is less than 9" down at 300. Plus, there are quite a few bullets that perform like premiums in the velocity window the 6.5 BB provides.

It has a miserly appetite for powder, too. My current load uses 32.3 grains of SW Precision.

Many cartridges will turn up more impressive numbers, but inside of 350 yards, the 6.5x30-30 will cleanly kill any deer or hog that ever walked.

Have only three: a 6.5x54MS, 6.5 Creedmoor and a custom stalking rifle built on a Ruger #1 in the ever-popular 6.5x68R.

DManson

I recently picked up another Mannlicher-Schoenauer M1903 carbine, so I now have two 6.5x54s!

I made my choice, the 264 Winchester Magnum.

160 grain steel jacketed solids.

Eye candy and amazingly good killers besides.

Take it out to shoot sharks while Marlin/tuna fishing.

I do not fish.

To me, fish is a noun, not a verb.

But for the sake of argument, if I were to defend a hooked blue marlin from a shark, I would do it with a Thompson gun.

There you go.

Ok… I’ve got three 6.5’s… a 6.5x55 and a 6.5x55 and a 6.5x55. Oh… I’ve also got a 6.5 Swede.