I normally hunt with a .308 Win, and have been gravitating twords the lighter bullets in the calber 130-150gr. I have started thinking about moving down a couple notches in caliber so I can throw those same bullet weights with much greater efficiency. Naturaly I looked at the .243 (bullets too light) and 7mm (too close to .30. So I am looking at the 6.5mm. I really like the .260 Rem or 6.5 swedish.

Most factory .260s have very short barrels. I am wondering which factory rifles can make the best use of the short action 6.5s?

260 is a great round, acually I bought one for my wife but she decided not to hunt anymore. I bought her a new Sako finnlite, so I guess I'll sell it and get me something.

On a short action I think you will have 260rem, or a 6.5x284. The 6.5x55 will have to have a standard action, I think a MRC 1999 short will fit though. I love the 6.5x55 also!

Ed

Owning both, they are pretty interchangable..

the 260 will operate in short action, the 6.5 x 55 won't....

the 6.5 x 55 has readily available ammo when compared to the 260...

if you are a handloader it isn't a big deal...

Myself having both calibers in several rifles... I use the 260 for bullet weights of 120 grains and down usually and the 6.5 x 55 for bullet weights of 129 and above...

I made the switch (sort of) to 6.5 a little more than 10 years ago. I did some research and selected as the first a 6.5-06 Ackley Improved. The primary basis was sectional density. The 6.5x55 has killed about everything on the planet even at 2300 MV. The reason is penetration due to a good sectional density. The secondary reason is that I live in open country, and long distances are commonly encountered. I shot a cow elk 3 years ago at 475 yds with one shot. The Barnes-X did its job perfectly. I've shot coyotes further, a Dall closer, deer and antelope. All with the same effect. Once in a while I call it "Meat in the Pan."

It has a 26" Shilen Select and can put bullets (even Barnes-X, I'm currently working up a load for the 130 TSX) into an inch and a half at 300 yards. It shoots velocities right with the 264 Win Mag. Berger now makes bullets for it. Its easy to make. Use 270 brass as you can tailor the length for your chamber length

If I had it to do over I might select the 6.5-284 or the 6.5x55 BJ Ackley. The BJ stands for Bob Jourdan, a contributor to Precision Shooting Magazine. He wrote several articles for the magazine back in the 90s about this caliber range. Although I don't see how I could beat what I already have.

I shoot three 6.5s...
A 19# 260 AI built on a s/shot Savage action w/8 twist Pac Nor barrel (26" x 1.230") 4200 Tactical glass..consistant 25"-.35" groups
A std 260 Rem built on a Savage FP trued repeater action w/9 twist Pac Nor (26" x .930') glass is 4200 4-16 x 40...consistant .40"-.50" groups
Also an out of the box 6.5x55mm Tikka SS/laminate..8 twist..w/Nikon 3-12...this thing amazes me with the 1/2 groups it punches...feed it loads with RE22 & VVN560 along with 140 NPT or 130 NABs...I like the 6.5s and would encourage you or any one else to give 'em a try..good bullet/brass selection...

I have been wanting to build a 6.5-06 AI but ended up acquiring a Remington M700 Sendero chambered in .264 Winchester Magnum that shoots like the Hammers of Hell. Fabulous rifle and cartridge combination.

quote:

Originally posted by bernieb90:
I really like the .260 Rem or 6.5 swedish.

Most factory .260s have very short barrels. I am wondering which factory rifles can make the best use of the short action 6.5s?

In short actions the Remington 700 and M-7 both are available in .260 Remington......a very fine caliber and deadly on deer and pronghorns and anything in the 400 pounds and under ( and a lot more than that too) Check their website for barrel lengths however I'd not hesitate to grab a 20" .260 Re,mington.....

The 6.5 X 55 Swede has fast become one of my favorite cartridges but will like a full length action. Mine is on a VZ-24 with a Douglas 21" barrel......and I dearly love this thing.....

I think either of these 6.5s will trip your trigger.

OOPS...I just checked and didn't see the M-700 short action in the .260!

I've used an array of 6.5s over the years, and that bore diameter still dominates our gun safe. Both the .260 and 6.5x55 are fantastic cartridges, and given a quick (at least 1:8) twist in a good barrel, they are peas in a pod.

I actually prefer the single shot format, and if you go with an Encore, you can have a 24" barreled rig that handles like a bolt rifle with a 20-inch tube.

If interested, matchgrademachine.com gets my highest recommendation. They may even have what you are looking for in their existing inventory, eliminating any waiting for a true custom barrel. Even if they don't, the turnaround is generally 5 weeks or less with most MGM orders.

Just ordered a new Rem 700 CDL SF Limited Ed in 260 rem for my 18 yr old daughter. UPS tried to deliver it on Friday but we were out. Hopefully today, Columbus Day, we can fetch it. It has a 24" stainless steel fluted barrel.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_r..._limited_edition.asp

TRemington no longers makes them in 260 Rem but If you're patient you might find one of the Rem 700 Mountain LSS on one of the auction sites and hopefully win the bid. I was "thankfully" out bid just over a week ago. I had buyers remorse after my final bid of $838. The winner got it for $850. Too rich for my blood.

Alan

.......... I have been researching the 6.5,s lately and discovered Ruger all but quit makeing the 260 Rem ...... But there still are the Compacts in 260 ... Last Sunday I was shooting my wifes Compact 308 win , and produced 1 3 shot .43" 3 shot group and 1 5 shot group that measured .68" . I was shooting Federal 165 gr Nosler Partitions , not the HE just regular velocity factory loads ...........

If the 260 Rem in the Ruger M77 Compact Stainless shoots that well.... That will be my fur rifle ..... If I can get some , I will try the 93 gr GS SP bullet ... It should do 2900 fps even from the short barrel .....

Bernieb90,

You might want to consider the 6.5rem mag for the short action. I have been shooting the 6.5rem mag in my 1000 yard guns for many years. It will drive a 142gr MK as fast as needed (even to the point where they come apart). A 6.5mag will definately out perform a 260 or Swede!!!

Bike Rider

6.5 Grendel

I went Grendel cos I wanted to run it in my Stoner pattern rifles. Bolt rifles or Contenders/Encores and I'd have chosen differently and gone with one of the better performing wildcats.

I truely love the 6.5s but if you stand back and look at it, it really is hard to come up with anything better than the std. .270.

The .264 Mag has a definite edg e.roger

What can I say that hasn't been said before:
Std Action - 6.5x55
Short Action - .260 Rem

If you really want to wax nostalgic - 6.5x54 MS

Tagline says it all

quote:

Originally posted by BlackHawk1:
What can I say that hasn't been said before:
Std Action - 6.5x55
Short Action - .260 Rem

If you really want to wax nostalgic - 6.5x54 MS

Tagline says it all

Dittos!

I have two 6.5x55's a single shot Blaser K95 Stutzen that shoots everything sub .5moa and a 22.7" barreled R93 Semi-weight, that loves the 95gr V-max and 130-140gr stuff just as much. I use it for long range prairie dogs and everything else you would want a repeater for.

quote:

Originally posted by bernieb90:
I normally hunt with a .308 Win, and have been gravitating twords the lighter bullets in the calber 130-150gr. I have started thinking about moving down a couple notches in caliber so I can throw those same bullet weights with much greater efficiency. Naturaly I looked at the .243 (bullets too light) and 7mm (too close to .30. So I am looking at the 6.5mm. I really like the .260 Rem or 6.5 swedish.

Most factory .260s have very short barrels. I am wondering which factory rifles can make the best use of the short action 6.5s?

I would lean toward the .260 Rem. in their Model 7. Great cartridge, excellent short, light rifle....

I like the .256 Newton, which uses a .264" bullet.

I've recently rebarreled my 270 Ruger to 6.5 Swede...

Love it!!

Much more pleasant to shoot, as it doesn't have the 'whip' recoil of the 270... and as I've gotten older, and old injuries, wear and tear are starting to catch up with me, that matters!!

I don't know why I didn't 'twig' to it years ago.

if you won't shoot anything heavier than 140gr, i would go with a .260

6,5x68 shoots as flat as kansas and a little more...

L