I got a Mauser action, 6.5 brass, all I need is a barrel and stock. My question is if I chose a 24 inch barrel and shooting 120-130 grain bullets, about what velocity would I be gettin. I am not sure what powders I'd be using. Its gonna be a Mule Deer and Antelope rifle.

For one; AA4350 at 2700 fps. + roger

you should be able to push the 120's to 3,000 if you so desire. RL22 will do it.

3000 w/ IMR 4831 also. My 1600 likes 129gr and they cook.

I Haven't tried RL22 yet, but my 6.5x55 likes 120 NBTs and RL19. I will try RL22 with 140s and heavier. Lou

I use IMr 4350 or 4064 and IMR 4985 in my loads...

any powder will run a 120 grainer at right about 3000 fps...

don't get hung up on max fps tho...

6.5 bores are aerodynamically very flat shooting.. without redlined MV...

I can push 120 grainers to 3200+ fps out of my 29 inch barreled Mauser....however compared to 2800 fps out of the same barrel with the same bullet, one does not notice any less capability of the bullet or ability to hit a far distance target, or to kill game upon impact...

most 6.5 bullets are happiest around 2700 to 2800 fps MV for the best accuracy...

there are no real bad 6.5 bullets unless the shooter misapplies their application...

eg, don't elk hunt with an 85 grain HP Sierra with an MV of 3500 fps..

Don't worry about mv, it's a better cartridge than the 270, and a damn sight more pleasant to shoot.

Dunno why, but it kills like the hammer of Thor.

Before anyone flames me, I rebarelled my Ruger 270 with a Pac-Nor 6.5 Swede barrel (1:8 twist) and it's more accurate, more flexible, isn't sensitive to bullet weight and as I said, it kills.

quote:

Don't worry about mv, it's a better cartridge than the 270, and a damn sight more pleasant to shoot.

I'm not sure this is totally true, but damn close to it. For sure it's more pleasant to shoot!

And yes, it's a deadly killer.

Thanks for the responses guys, will be going in my load book.

I honestly prefer the 140 grained pills at 2,800 fps than the 120's at 3,000 fps. The longer bullets have much better sectional density and penetration, and you're only losing a couple of inches at most at 300 yards... I guess a couple of inches when hunting prongorn might be an issue, but the extra enrgy and penetration of the 140 grained bullets seems to be worth it in my opinion. I also think, at least in my experience, that the heavier longer bullets will proportionally lose less velocity and trajectory the further along the bullets get.