ok it has been a long time since i have posted here. my hunting battery consists of a .17 hmr, a .338 winnie, and a .458 winnie. I keep seeing a gap that needs filling, I think I have narrowed it down to a 6.5x55 swede or a .264 win mag. I know all of the bad pub that the winnie has got, but it still intrigues me. the swede stands on its own merit. so I am looking for opinions here please.

thanks in advance
gabe

I load for my Buddies 264. I have loaded right at 2000rds for him. Not counting factory he has fired. No problem with the barrel. Just don't over heat it. Completly different actions required. Even loaded to 63,000 the 6.5 will give up 4-500FPS to the 264 with a 140. Maybe a little less with lighter bullets. The 264 will give you flat shooting long range medium game rifle.

Gabe
What do you intend to do with the rifle?
If it is primarily a whitetail hunting rifle or if you do not intend to wail away at 300+ yards then the 6.5 swede is your choice, no need for the extra muzzle blast. If you intend to take the long shots and stretch your limits then go with the .264 Mag, however don't be shooting at game any further than you have practiced at and proven to yourself you are capable of making those shots ethically.
In my opinion most guys out there during hunting season have no business taking a shot beyond the 200 yard mark, most people would do well with a 6.5x55 and never see its limits.

quote:

In my opinion most guys out there during hunting season have no business taking a shot beyond the 200 yard mark, most people would do well with a 6.5x55 and never see its limits.

I agree with that 120%. I probably shoot as many rounds at 400yds as I do 100.

Simple! A 6,5X55, heaps of fantastic brass, bullets and fairly easy to find ammo in most corners of the world. A great woods calibre with 155 grain bullets, and quite flat shooting with 100-140 grain bullets.

My own choice for long range/mountain/prairie terrain would be a some sort of 7mm or 300 mag.

Cheers
/JOHAN

this is going to be primarily a coyote/deer gun. I would ultimately like to practice to be proficient out past 300 yards, however to date the longest shot I have ever taken on a white tail is around 225. this will likely be a over kill varmit gun and if I head west for pronghorn this would get the nod. I really don't have a need at the present just itchin for something to play with.

Judging from the usage you describe, I'd say the 6.5x55 would be a better fit. More pleasant to shoot, accurate, yet enough oomph to get the work done at the distances you operate within. I use a 260 remington for much the same purposes. Good nuf for me.

SBB

I agree with the others that the 6.5X55 is a great choice, however, given that you own two heavy kickin' magnums I think I'd go for the 264. Obviously recoil isn't a problem, but if you're wanting some economy, give the 6m/m, or 25-06 Remington a hard look too. Any one of them would make a devistating long range varmint rig.

If you are dead set on a 6.5 then dont forget the 260 rem or 6.5x284 and a few others.

Also cartridges like the 270, 7mm-08, 25-06 and a heap more that will fill the void between the 17 HMR and the 338 win mag.

If its out of the 6.5x55 and the 264 win mag then the 6.5x55 would handle anything until you require the 338 and be pleasent to shoot for a change.

quote:

Originally posted by gabe:
ok it has been a long time since i have posted here. my hunting battery consists of a .17 hmr, a .338 winnie, and a .458 winnie. I keep seeing a gap that needs filling, I think I have narrowed it down to a 6.5x55 swede or a .264 win mag. I know all of the bad pub that the winnie has got, but it still intrigues me. the swede stands on its own merit. so I am looking for opinions here please.

thanks in advance

gabe

Sense you can handle the 338 and 458 go with the 264 win mag.

gabe,
Since you are thinking of heading "out west" for antelope, I think your choices just got narrowed down to one! The 264WM is a superb open country long range antelope and deer getter! Nuff said!

I just used my 6.5X55 to take a couple antelope does and a nice old mule deer buck in Wyoming. It worked to perfection with 129 grain Hornady SSTs. It, like the .264, is really a handloader's cartridge though. If you don't handload, you'd be far better served with a .270 or something with plenty of readily available factory offerings.

I am biased, I'll admit it. My recommendation would be a 6.5x55. Moderate speeds combined with high sectional density with 140gr loads gives you a very capable "300 yard" medium-game cartridge that barely nudges your shoulder. Slow down, chill out, and enjoy some backstraps

Althoough I dearly love the 6.5x55----for your intended hunting?? Get a good 264 Win and don`t look back.
Aloha, Mark

I am using this as a partial excuse to get more into reloading. If I have a cartridge that is primarily a reloaders chambering then it will force me to dust off the press. Honestly I have always been fortunate enuff to find factory loads that shot very well in my guns, which also meant that laziness and other more pressing issues got in the way of the reloading bench. I appreciate everyone's input

gabe

Do not buy a used .264 Win. Mag. because they usually have a bad barrel. I know from experience. They also have a muzzle blast that sounds like the earth split. Accuracy was erratic in the one that I had, two or three shots in a tight group then a flier, as much as a foot at 100 yds.

The 6.5x55 is the better caliber. with proper loads it will kill anything in north america.


Jim

I have had 2 264's, I have 1 6.5x55. The 6.5 is going to do anything you ask of it. The 264 is a really good novelty piece, but finding brass can be difficult. But if you want the 264 go for it, it is an interesting round.

The 6.5mm Swede is grossly more practical than the .264, end of discussion!!!! So the Swede does not go 3400 fps, it's not needed!!!

LLS

I have never owned a Swede, but had a 6.5-06 and have a 264 which would be the last gun in my small collect that I would part with.

6.5x284 or 6.5-06 AI are probably the most efficient cases, but I am thinking Torika, 458, 338 and 264. In a perfect world they would all be pre-64 Model 70's.

I probably have misspelled Torika.

Saludos...Frank

6.5x55 or 264 Win Mag? Kinda like asking if you should get a corvette or a corvair to go shoping with!

I have my third 6.5x55. Used a couple 264's, didn't like either. To violent for me.

For what it's worth; I've owned a number of 6.5 x55s, 6.5 Carcanos and a 6.5x284 and was satisfied with all. Always figured the .264 got a bad rap. Some of the cowboys that had them that I knew swore by them especially when loaded with the heavier bullets. Fred Barnes had one that he made to handle a 190 gr. bullet that he made. He said he wasn't 100% satisfied but it really was a killer.

The .264 may not be absolutly needed but it was a better performer than history will give it credit for.As far as being absolutely needed today I guess the same could be said of the 30-06. I'll bet that touches a nerve or two. roger

I've owned both a 6.5 X 55 and a .264 Win Mag and for what I used the .264 the 6.5 X 55 will do just as well and with 5" less barrel to boot.

The .264 Mag is a long range deer and antelope cartridge.....but I'm throwing the 120 grain Northfork from the 6.5 X 55 at 3045'/sec and that reaches as far as I can shoot anyway.

As Time goes on and I get older the magnums just do it anymore.

I can find no reason to own a 300 Mag over a 30-06 or a 7 Mag over a 280 or a 257 Mag over a 25-06, and I sure can't find a reason to own a 264 Mag over a 6.5 X 55.

Uh, no need to worry about brass if you decide to go with the 264WM. Brass is generally available in a steady by jerks fashion, usually somebody has some if you look around. But no need to fret, 7mmRM brass works fine, just size it in your 264 dies and go on about your business! Since 7mmRM brass is available any where, and will be for many years, there is no need to give brass a second thought for the 264!!

Well, I would consider both of these as UNDERRATED as hunting cartridges. Both will do a fine job on most anything you intend to hunt. However, if it were me I'd give the nod to the .264---a bit flatter shooting, and a bit more oomph. Somewhat more versitile, though not by much.