What 6.5 is the best?

[Greg Nolan]

I'm seriously thinking about a 6.5 to replace the 270 WSM and I figured the 6.5 club would be a good place to check out what's what. Wow :shock:
So many calibers and rifles. I was thinking a 673 in 6.5 Rem mag or 6.5-284 and then I saw the 6.5 Creedmore in a Savage long range hunter and I've always wanted a 264 Win and the cdl with a 26" barrel looks cool. I nievely that that was the choices before reading the 6.5 club posts. Holy cow. So many choices. SO,
which is best for hunting antelope and smaller deer. Carrying it over hill and dale in thin air and popping the odd coyote. I need some higher levels of expertise to get me through this one. :? Oh yeah, stylish is good.
Thanks
Greg

 

[DrMike]

Greg,

Are you intending to build or buy off-the-shelf? Does proper headstamp matter? Or are you looking for the "cool" factor? The 6.5 Creedmore and 260 Remington are ballistic twins. The 6.5-284 and 6.5 RM allow you to be slightly out of the mainstream without entering into the realm of the esoteric. If you are prepared to form your own brass, of course you can recommend all sorts of wonderful cartridges. It'll be fun watching you as you weigh the options.

 

[rjm158]

I was at Cabelas in Kansas City last Friday and saw a Winchester 70 in 264 WM in very nice shape for $499. It had been hunted and had some scratches on it but nothing horrible. If I didn't already own one, it would have followed me home.

I would also consider the 6.5x55 cartridge as one with mild recoil, excellent accuracy, easy to load, and will suffice for the coyote, deer and antelope categories you mentioned, unless you want a magnum sized case.

Ron

 

[HeathSexton]

I would go 6.5x55 Sveed or .260 Rem if I was not after magnums.


6.5/06 or 6.5WSM if I needed more pony power.

 

[6mm Remington]

My vote for cool and practical factor would be for the:
6.5 x 55 Swede or the 6.5-06 which can easily be formed by running 25-06 cases over an expander ball.

The 264 WM or 6.5 Remington magnum would be neat also if you were leaning that direction.

Decision: 6.5-06 for me I think, and I believe I need to build one!

 

[chet]

ditto on the 6.5-06........ but I already own a 25-06 and a 270win....... what will a 6.5 do for me? :lol:

 

[6mm Remington]

ditto on the 6.5-06........ but I already own a 25-06 and a 270win....... what will a 6.5 do for me? :lol:

Talk about splitting hairs Chet! Now why would you make such a big thing out of such a little thing? :mrgreen:

 

[JD338]

Greg,

Any of the 6.5 mm's will take care of deer and antelope.
What range do you want to shoot?
Long or short action?

I am really digging my M673 Guide rifle in 6.5mm Rem Mag. :mrgreen:

JD338

 

[onesonek]

Greg,

Any of the 6.5 mm's will take care of deer and antelope.
What range do you want to shoot?
Long or short action?

JD338

Ditto

 

[Ridge_Runner]

My vote for cool and practical factor would be for the:
6.5 x 55 Swede or the 6.5-06 which can easily be formed by running 25-06 cases over an expander ball.

The 264 WM or 6.5 Remington magnum would be neat also if you were leaning that direction.

Decision: 6.5-06 for me I think, and I believe I need to build one!

actualy just champher a 25/06, and seat a 6.5 boatail, no sizing needed.
RR

 

[Greg Nolan]

I like the 264 but Im wondering if the barrel might be worn on a used one. The new cdl with 26 " barrel is nice in blue or stainless but I don't care for the stock much. A Boyd's lightweight thumbhole would be nicer. The Ruger Hawkeye in stainless is cheaper with only a 24" barrel.

 

[JD338]

Greg,

If you decide on a 264 Win Mag, get the 26" barrel.

JD338

 

[BK]

ditto on the 6.5-06........ but I already own a 25-06 and a 270win....... what will a 6.5 do for me? :lol:

For starters, it won't be a .270!
















Just kidding. :twisted:

 

[chet]

my local cabelas has a used 6.5-284 rem 700 with a grey boyds......... good thing it's a remington or I might have to go pet it....

 

[DrMike]

good thing it's a remington or I might have to go pet it....

Now, you are trying to stir up a fuss. It's funny, however. Just don't expect everyone to see the humour in your observation. Nevertheless, I'm smiling.

 

[SJB358]

I vote 264WM Greg. Pretty neat cartridge and really puts some heat on those little 6.5 bullets. If I was to build one, RR's 6.5 Gibbs would be pretty hard to look past. Scotty

Here is a cool picture, on the left is the 308 BAER, Center is the 264 BAER and the one on the right is the 6.5x284 for comparison. Scotty

 

[Desert Fox]

Greg, get a 6.5-284 or 6.5-06 or maybe a 6.5-55 Swede. Yeah, 264 Mag has more punch but at the expense of more muzzle blast, and accelerated barrel wear. The 260, 6.5 Creedmore are great but lacking versatility. So you left with either 6.5-06 or 6.5-284.
I'm a Bob Milek disciple. When I decide to acquire a rifle in certain caliber, I always look for the most efficient cartridge in that caliber. The only overbore cartridge I have in my battery is the 300 Weatherby.

 

[Greg Nolan]

Scotty,
I saw something about the Gibbs in an add. Isn't it a big beltless case? And what cases are the BAER rounds based on. You've certainly caught my attention on those. I'm going to check out the Gibbs too.
Thanks
Greg

 

[Greg Nolan]

Rommel
I'll check out the 6.5-06. I looked at the 6.5-284 and it looked pretty good. I'm not necessarily looking for the most speed(although this may be the first time) just something classic and fun to carry and shoot with enough power for long range out to say 500 yds. That's what I sight in out to. I've never made a shot on game over 423 yds and probably only 2 over 350 yds in my life but I used to shoot sillouete out to 550 yds with the 300 Wby. Velocity is like a Siren calling to unwary shooters and I have visited that place many times.
Thanks
Greg

 

[SJB358]

Scotty,
I saw something about the Gibbs in an add. Isn't it a big beltless case? And what cases are the BAER rounds based on. You've certainly caught my attention on those. I'm going to check out the Gibbs too.
Thanks
Greg

Greg, RR said the Gibbs is based off the 30-06. He uses the 270 Win and it ends up with the shoulder pushed forward and improved about as much as an 06 case can be.

Those Baer rounds are based off the 340WBY. Here is what the guy that sent me the picture said about the 6.5 BAER.

"The 264 baer with 87g of H1000 will propel a 140 berger vld at 3500 fps. Barrel life 500 but you can kill a ton of stuff with 500 rounds."

Pretty neat rounds. I just loaded up some more 264WM this evening. Took it right up the max QL projects for Retumbo. Hoping something comes out as a good shooting load. Scotty