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Robin
from Tucson, AZ

The most fun I've had to date with 6.5's is a round called the 6.5 Grassl Rimmed. This is a 7mm International rimmed necked down, or rather a 30/30 with a 38 degree shoulder necked down. It was a re-chambered t/c contender 6.5 TCU super 14 barrel. When I did my part, 100 yd groups were one enlarged hole. A case of me not being able to shoot to the guns potential.

Anyhow, I agree with the sentiment that being able to handle the heavier bullets is solely a function of barrel twist. I don't believe there is such a thing as an ultimate round. The best approach is to figure out what velocity you want, what type of action you want to use, then see what case will achieve that performance.

For long range accuracy, very few are using bullets heavier than 140 gns in competition. The Sierra 142gn bullet has the same BC as their 155gn bullet, so the majority use the 142 and take the extra velocity. I have personally used the 140gn Amax bullets to good affect and have also seen the 139gn Lapua�s shoot very well in competition.

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http://www.angelfire.com/ab/fergus

It's hard to beat the 6.5x55mm -- especially if you have one of those great old Swedish rifles to work with. Their like will not be seen again. You shouldn't even think of re-barreling one unless the original barrel has been ruined somehow.

On the other hand, if I was starting from the ground up with an in-the-white Sako action, I would possibly opt for 6.5-08 A-Square (a.k.a. 260 Rem). That's practically a ballistic twin of the 6.5x55mm, but it's shorter, it will go in a short action. It's a necked-down 308 Win, really.

The 160 grain roundnoses should be made to expand at realtively low velocities, so you don't need monster case capacity to push them fast enough to perform well. You do need a fast twist barrel.

A surplus Swede Mauser will handle the chore quite nicely and has a long enough magazine and throat to handle long-seated bullets. I have one and am quite fond of it.

The .260 Rem will easily generate enough velocity to make the heavies expand properly, but I don't like shoving lots of bullet shank down into the powder space of a case. So, the .260 Rem would only be my choice for heavy bullets in either a single-shot (a la TC Encore) or a bolt action long enough to feed the ctg. with the bullet seated out.

My dream is that a commercial manufacturer will start making a bolt action with a magazine length of 3.1-3.15 inches. It would be great for .257 Roberts, 7x57, .284 Winchester, 6.5x55, .300 WSM with heavy bullets, .260 Rem with heavy bullets, etc.

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Guns cause crime, which is why there has never been a mass slaying at a gun show.

quote:

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Originally posted by Zobeid:
I believe a 6.5mm is at its best as a versatile, general-purpose cartridge. It belongs in the middle ground: I wouldn't try to push it to extreme ranges (6.5 STW??) or use it for a purpose-built varmint rifle or big/dangerous game rifle.

It's hard to beat the 6.5x55mm -- especially if you have one of those great old Swedish rifles to work with. Their like will not be seen again. You shouldn't even think of re-barreling one unless the original barrel has been ruined somehow.

On the other hand, if I was starting from the ground up with an in-the-white Sako action, I would possibly opt for 6.5-08 A-Square (a.k.a. 260 Rem). That's practically a ballistic twin of the 6.5x55mm, but it's shorter, it will go in a short action. It's a necked-down 308 Win, really.

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Dejan P

quote:

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Originally posted by Dejan P:
You might not like to hear this but... every Grundealer here in Sweden have some army 6.5x55 handed over to them for destruction. At all time. They are easy to buy for, say, 30$. I'm going to destruct mine soon.

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Dear Dejan, sell it mail order to Germany (no big problem in the EC) - you'll get between 300 and 500 Deutsche Mark. Literally every shooter here wants to have one, and the market is drying up.

Regards, Alexander

Alexander and Matt are right, ship the blasted thing if you don't want it.

Pecos

Can you say twist?

I have been shooting 6.5 rifles for something like 45 years. My second centerfire rifle was a 6.5X55, and my favorite deer rifle is a 6.5-'06.

The 6.5-'06 is a 9" twist , and it will stabilize 160 grain Sierra RN bullets, but not the old style Barnes 165 Semi Spitzer (gives 4" groups at 100 yards). I usually shoot 120 grain to 140 grain bullets in it. You have to go to 7" to 8" twist to shoot heavies (I think the European standard is 7.87", or 200 mm -- maybe one of our European correspondents can confirm or deny).

The ultimate 6.5 when I was a young pup was the 6.5 WWH, or Weatherby-Wright-Hoyer, which was used in 1,000 yard matches in an earlier day.

I think I would like to try the 6.5X68 as Alf recommended...jim dodd

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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."

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Robin
from Tucson, AZ

Bye
Jack

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From my cold, dead hands!
Thanks Chuck!

What kind of velocities were you getting with the 6.5/30-30 improved and with what bullets? I am thinking a Contender in one of these would be great for deer hunting.

quote:

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Originally posted by 1_pointer:
PaulH-

What kind of velocities were you getting with the 6.5/30-30 improved and with what bullets? I am thinking a Contender in one of these would be great for deer hunting.

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I was pushing 120 gr balistic tips 2300-2400 fps. Same as a 6.5 JDJ, but with a few grains less powder. I did have problems with case head seperation after a few loadings. You might come accross just such a barrel, it is called the 6.5 Grassl Rimmed, I got it and the dies for $150, but sold it a year or so back.

I would get a 6.5X50R if I were doing it again, better brass, and no risk of stretching the frame from high back thrust, the 30/30 is really at the hairy edge with the contender frame.

This is an excellent forum. Was just going to post asking about the 260 Remington cartridge and it appears the 6.5 diameter is alive and well here!

Just want to thank everyone here for the great insight into the many cartridges named in this thread.

Though I have no real experience with any of the 6.5's other than some limited shooting with a 6.5 TCU, I've become very intrigued with this bullet diameter.

Paul, you mention the 5.6X50 Case and that's what I'm having the TCU barrel Contender barrel reamed out to but in the rimmed configuration. Should be an interesting round to work with.

Regards

Thanks

Dog

Well, if you mean cartridge, I'd have to say the .264 Win mag is my favorite, although for hutning deer where shots will be under 200 yards, I find myself using my daughter's .260 Rem more and more.

I have rifles chambered in six different 6.5 mm calibers - .264 Win Mag, .256 Newton, 6.5-06, .260 Rem, 6.5x55, and 6.5-284. Out of all of these, I'd say the most practical, efficient, all around usage favorite would be the 6.5-284. It's a short action, high capacity, flat shooting, and accurate round that can do anything the .264 Win Mag can do with bullets up to 129 grains.

I ahve laoded extensively for all of these rounds, and the advent of slower burning powders like RE 25 and H870 are a godsend to the .264 Win with heavy bullets. I can smoke 140 grain Partitions out the 26" tube at over 3,300 fps, and with the high bc and sd these bullets have, this is one flat shooting, deep penetrating round.

My next project is a rifle chambered in 6.5WSM.