What 6.5 is the best?

[Ridge_Runner]

6.5 Gibbs is a 270 with the shoulder moved foreward enough to leave a .308" neck and a sharp shoulder
a 6.5 gibbs next to a 270

RR

 

[Ridge_Runner]

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

For the record, take care of a barrel and use ball powder, it'll get more life, I shoot 110 gr of WC872 in my 7mm AM, it has almost 500 rounds downrange, I have less than .004" erosion
RR

 

[SJB358]

Thanks RR. Good to know. Someday you will have to school me on those BIG cartridges. Scotty

 

[SJB358]

6.5 Gibbs is a 270 with the shoulder moved foreward enough to leave a .308" neck and a sharp shoulder
a 6.5 gibbs next to a 270

RR

RR, I dub the 6.5 Gibbs the coolest cartridge I have seen yet. Just a perfect use of a 30-06 case! Scotty

 

[Ridge_Runner]

6.5 Gibbs is a 270 with the shoulder moved foreward enough to leave a .308" neck and a sharp shoulder
a 6.5 gibbs next to a 270

RR

RR, I dub the 6.5 Gibbs the coolest cartridge I have seen yet. Just a perfect use of a 30-06 case! Scotty

yeah its not bad considering rocky gibbs came out with it in the 50's, forming is a pain but it outperforms any 6.5 with a .473 bolt face
RR

 

[WYcoyote]

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

I really like my 6.5-.284 Norma, Greg. It is becoming more popular as shooters discover how efficient, flat, and accurate it is with mild recoil. Top quality brass is readily available with no forming or fire forming required.
I gave the 6.5-06 (and the AI) a hard look, but went with the 6.5-.284 and couldn't be happier.
It's destined to be a classic IMO. (In the long action of course)

 

[Desert Fox]

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

Well in that case, the 6.5-284 or 6.5-06 is what you're looking for. Let's look at numbers.

With my Berger 140 grain loads at 2974 fps average velocity.

2285 fps - velocity left at 500 yards
1623 ft/lb. - energy left at 500 yards

Pointblank Range Analysis for a 12" target (deer)

342 yards - Zero point (this is the distance to zero your rifle)
187 yards - Top of the target (+6")
403 yards - Bottom of the target (maximum point blank range) -6"

 

[onesonek]

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

Well in that case, the 6.5-284 or 6.5-06 is what you're looking for. Let's look at numbers.

With my Berger 140 grain loads at 2974 fps average velocity.

2285 fps - velocity left at 500 yards
1623 ft/lb. - energy left at 500 yards

Pointblank Range Analysis for a 12" target (deer)

342 yards - Zero point (this is the distance to zero your rifle)
187 yards - Top of the target (+6")
403 yards - Bottom of the target (maximum point blank range) -6"

Desert Fox,,,I know you are just showing the above for illustration purposes, but to clear the air so to speak, for a new-commer in setting up a scope/load for PBR,,,,the above would be a bit less than ideal.

The above 12" PBR setting would work ok if has a load combination that shoots consistantly under 1/4 moa, and there is no shooter error (perfect hold). If it shoots, say a more typical 1 moa+, with a center vital sighting, one could conceivably miss due to the moa accuracy. Then for me, I always figure in some margin for error.
I always use a smaller PBR, usually 1/2 the intended animals vital area. This gives me more margin for error, but have gone as much as 1/2 the avg. depth from back to brisket. Yet when shooting past the PBR range, I find it easier just to add some hold over, rather than adjusting for moa and or range. But also, I have seldom taken a shot when I have had to hold off the hair, and then conditions have to be near perfect.
Over the years of reading, I have found the most general consensus for PBR settings, to be 6-7" on deer, and 10-12" on elk sized critters. I like it a bit tighter myself, just for murphy's law.

Again, not dis'ing you or your post. Just wanted to make sure someone new to PBR settings, are in practice for center hold on the kill zone,,,not to forget the moa accuracy of a rig, fore it can come into play in a major way, when pushing the extremes.

 

[Al in SC]

Marrying the caliber to the intended use as pronghorn and smaller deer is the key to this. Since I know you have other guns for larger game and your stated use of pronghorn and smaller deer doesn't require magnum performance a 260 will give all the performance you need, good barrel life, not burn lots of powder and be very pleasant to shoot. Components, including Lapua brass, are readily available for the 260 as well .... I just ordered and received a few hundred pieces of Lapua brass for mine. Pretty much allows you to "have your cake and eat it too".

Fully satisfying your performance requirements while having something that is a joy to shoot is a very satisfying situation. Staying down on the lower end of the available calibers is much more likely to do this than going to the upper end like the 6.5-06 etc.

 

[SJB358]

Al, I will say this. My 264 is a BABY to shoot. I know the 260 would be nicer in the recoil department, but the 264WM is such an easy to shoot rifle. It does bark some, but recoil is nothing really to bother anyone used to shooting bigger rifles.

You are right though, you would get much more shooting out of the 260. Scotty

 

[BK]

I find myself saying this a lot, but you guys suck.

So are Gibbs dies custom, or does somebody actually manufacture them as a production item? (Wheels are turning in my head.)

 

[SJB358]

I find myself saying this a lot, but you guys suck.

So are Gibbs dies custom, or does somebody actually manufacture them as a production item? (Wheels are turning in my head.)

Did you check Redding BK. They might make them already. Scotty

 

[BK]

I looked and didn't find them, though that doesn't mean they are not there.

 

[onesonek]

I find myself saying this a lot, but you guys suck.

So are Gibbs dies custom, or does somebody actually manufacture them as a production item? (Wheels are turning in my head.)

My redding catalog show the 6.5Gibbs as "custom". I don't know of a Mfg. that has them as a stock item. I know of one other that would make them, but I won't recommend them, as I heard the quality is iffy at best.
Stay with Redding if you go with the Gibbs.
Redding 6.5-06 and 6.5-284 are stock items. as is the Swede and .260
Although, my 6.5x257Rob AI dies are listed as custom, yet midway had them in stock. So you might look there and see if they have the Gibbs as well

 

[Ridge_Runner]

the 6.5 gibbs is listed in reddings catalog as custom dies
RR

 

[257 Ackley]

I find myself saying this a lot, but you guys suck.

So are Gibbs dies custom, or does somebody actually manufacture them as a production item? (Wheels are turning in my head.)

My redding catalog show the 6.5Gibbs as "custom". I don't know of Mfg. that has them as a stock item. I know of one other that would make them, but I won't recommend them, as I heard the quality is iffy at best.
Stay with Redding if you go with the Gibbs.
Redding 6.5-06 and 6.5-284 are stock items. as is the Swede and .260
Although, my 6.5x257Rob AI dies are listed as custom, yet midway had them in stock. So you might look there and see if they have the Gibbs as well

+1 - I was able to walk into my local crack dealer's store and buy a 6.5/300WSM set and that is listed as custom by Redding. If you have a good reloading store close that sells used dies, check there first and see if maybe they have a used set. I did that for a set of .358 Win. dies and paid $15 for a like-new set. It cost me a bloody fortune for the new custom dies ($140).

 

[Ridge_Runner]

BK, get an 8 twist!
RR

 

[Greg Nolan]

This is really becomming more compicated :? I like the Gibbs, the 264 and the 260 but the 6.5-280 and 06 sound real good. WOW :shock:
Thank you all for the info. I'm formulating my decision (incase you wondered where that noise and burned rubber smell is comming from) as to which way to go.
:grin:
Greg

 

[SJB358]

Good luck, I hadn't decided anything until the point of seeing the M70 in the used rifle rack! That nudged me along a little! Scotty

 

[BK]

Thanks, guys! I don't know if one of my M700 .270s is going to end up as a .264, .284, or .338, but having an extra choice is always a good thing... standard 6.5-06, 6.5-06 AI, or 6.5 Gibbs.

I looked online for 6.5 Gibbs dies, but Redding doesn't list custom dies that I could tell. I was bumping around the Midway site, and, strangely, you can buy Gibbs brass, but not dies. Odd.

And if I do any sort of .264, it will be an 8 twist.