I have a donor Rem 700 LA that I want to build into a LR 6.5 hunting rifle. The bolt face is .473", or 308/3006.

I already have a 260 Rem and a 6.5x47 Lapua, both short actions.

I'm thinking something not too hard to work with, load and something that is "NOT" a barrel burner. It usally takes me about 500 rounds to finalize on a great load and I'd hate to burn 1/2 to 3/4 of my barrels life doing so.

I've got a 30-06 Ack Imp and have been down that road.

So what am I looking at?

6.5-06
6.5-06 AI
6.5x55
6.5x55 SKAN
6.5x55 Improved 40 deg
6.5x57 Mauser
6.5x284

Am I missing something?

I'd like to use great brass such as Lapua, Norma, Nosler.

Also, my action went on a diet and is pretty slim. Thus, my intent is to keep the overall rifle weight down.

Alan

Considering all your criteria I'd add the 6.5-284 but think I'd pick the 6.5/06 AI.

The 6.5 X 55 will put a fair sized bullet out of the barrel as fast as you need to stop any lower 48 animal in his tracks. No barrel burner there and it will handle the heavier bullets far better than your .260. roger

6.5x284 gets my vote

6.5-06ai sounds real nice to my ears.....

I shoot a 6.5x55 for just about all medium game. The 6.5-06 is my want to build!

6.5-06 AI is what I'm going to be building next myself.

The old classic 256 Newton, a 6.5-06 shortened a little bit.

http://www.ammo-one.com/256Newton.html

Drawing here:
http://stevespages.com/page8d.htm

Bruce

264 Hawk

.264 Win Mag.

6.5x55 will do the job on anything including European elk -even though I usually use a 9.3x62 for that. I´ve shot at least 30 deer with that caliber and good shotplacement has always led to a one shot kill.

Ask yourself what you need it for, what ranges you´ll be shooting etc and take itfrom there.

quote:

Originally posted by Jpat:
I shoot a 6.5x55 for just about all medium game. The 6.5-06 is my want to build!

Great minds think alike!

The 6.5-284 has a following with a lot of data which could save you shots. You do have an LA and this is a strike against the 284 based case. You are losing one of it's benefits.

The 6.5 x 55 is great as is. The LA will permit great case cpacity if you have it throated correctly (long) to permit this.

The 6.5 x 57 sounds like a winner. I would Improve that and also use 257 Roberts +P cases. I hate wildcats too close to something bigger, i.e. 7 x 57 as there is room for confusion down the road, i.e. next owner when you're gone.

I would say 6.5-06 but don't think I would Improve that one. It would be pretty close to a 264 Win Mag but I never knew anyone with a 264 WM that kept it long. The logical case choice would be 270 but I hope you never mistakenly load a 270 Win in it. 264 WM are too fussy and also too hard to reach published velocity and I belkeive the 6.5-06 Imp would have similar issues.

#1 6.5 x 55 in my book and possibly Improve it if you want.

I have a 6.5-06AI and a 6.5-284 and if I had it to do over again, I would go with the simple 6.5-06. It is easy to make, no need to fireform, no potential feed rail issues, just performance.

Gee....I don't know, maybe a 270 Win... just might do the things you are looking for

quote:

Originally posted by larrys:
I have a 6.5-06AI and a 6.5-284 and if I had it to do over again, I would go with the simple 6.5-06. It is easy to make, no need to fireform, no potential feed rail issues, just performance.

Larrys, Dr. Lou, I look at the ballistics and the 6.5-06 just says build me and put meat on the table. I like the BC of the 6.5 projectiles better than a 7mm or .270. The .270 never floated my boat because of the limited bullet weights a given rifle fires accurately. Most only shoot 1 weight well from my limited experience.

Jpat, I agree, that is why I have one of each 260, 6.5x55, 6.5-284, 6.5-06AI and 264WM. Yes, I know I am the Department of Redundancy Department, but they are sure fun. The fun part is that they all like different bullets. The 264 likes 125-129 bullets, the 6.5-284 and AI like the 120s, the 6.5x55 loves 140s and the 260 likes 100s. They are all 1:9 except the 6.5-284 which is a 1:8 twist. I am still playing with that one since it carries the second barrel for it.

I like the 260 for it's "not fussy to load for" attributes and brass availability is endless if actual "260 brass" is not available. It does not burn barrels up incessantly while only giving up 100-180fps to the 6.5x 284. That being said, necking down the old tried and true 30-06 case to 6.5..........6.5-06 looks very interesting!! Considering when it was taken down .007" more it created GOD'S chosen caliber!!......25-06. But with the myriad of high BC quality bullets available today, a 6.5-06 would be easy to find brass for(make your own from endless supply), bullet selection and bullet performance and not burning barrels up! GHD

how did you come to the 6.5-284 needing a long action? I have a 700 SA with a 22-284 barrel on it and loaded rounds feed just fine.

Rich
DRSS