Which 6.5 ????????

[sniperjwt]

I want a 6.5 but so far I'm not too sure which to choose. Looking to shoot targets and deer. Let me know what you have and why you like it better than the others. Thanks

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I want a 6.5 but so far I'm not too sure which to choose. Looking to shoot targets and deer. Let me know what you have and why you like it better than the others. Thanks

260 remington will do what you want to a point.

I want to build a 6.5WSM or 6.5x284 in the future to push the bullets over 3100 fps just to extend my killing range a bit further.

Give us a max range on deer you would be shooting?

 

[Frank7mm]

I have several 6.5 wsm and 3200 with a 140 vld is easy. The first I built has over 800 round down the tube and still shoots great. If weight is not a factor I'd get a long action that way you can get a little more case capacity. I used a long ultra action and they feed perfectly. The second was a short action ultra both guns love 65gr H1000. Just my .02 cents

 

[cfvickers]

My vote goes toward get one of each, thats what I am working on, but I am trying for three of each. So far I have 3 6.5x55's and 2 6.5-284's Next will likely be the wsm or maybe a 30 inch tube in 6.5 Creedmore for the Encore. or possibly 6.5-06 ackley with a 9 1/4 inch twist for lighter bullets. If I were new to 6.5s I would likely look at the 6.5x55 just to prove to yourself that 3200 FPS is not necessary when your BC is over .500 it will show the real potential of the 6.5 bullets. My oppinion is that 6.5mm is the perfect caliber, it has high BC's, light recoil, can be extremely efficient in the right cartridge, and it kills game like a lightening bolt. yeah, I guess I am biased but heavier bullets from 7mms and up cause unnecessary recoil for any discipline other than the largest of game.

 

[coyotezapper]

I want a 6.5 but so far I'm not too sure which to choose. Looking to shoot targets and deer. Let me know what you have and why you like it better than the others. Thanks

I am currently building a 6.5x47 Lapua and this is why I chose it:
1. It was designed as a competition cartridge. Lapua knows a little about this
2. Very close to a 260 rem in performance with less powder. Very efficient
3. Less powder means longer barrel life. I shoot alot.
4. Able to get good performance without a barrel that resembles a broom handle. Mine will be 25" and be used primarily for Antelope.
5. With a case shorter than a 260/308 I will not be limited to COAL with my handloads.

 

[pablo]

We have two 6.5's in the family. One is a 6.5-284 built for mainly long range prarie dog shooting and a 260 AI that was built for my 12 year olds first big game hunting rifle. The 284 is fed strictly 140's and the 260 120's. My young son doesn't like the recoil of the 140's. I load both cartridges to 3000 fps. give or take a bit and the 284 shooting the 140's is flatter and has less drift. Having said that the 260 AI shooting 120's is very good. He hasn't connected on a prarie dog at 600 yet but if he had been shooting deer he probably wouldn't have missed the kill area on any of his shots. I think the bullet selection that gives flat trajectories and low wind drifts spoil us. The 260 is supposed to give longer barrel life than a 6.5-284. Most shooters with a lot of experience with the 6.5 284 say they will go appx. 1200 rounds before accuracy goes south. I don't know yet. I think if I was choosing a cartridge I would factor in how many rounds per barrel I considered acceptable, and how flat I needed it to shoot. If it really needed to be real flat I would probably go with the 6.5 WSSM, if 3100 is enough go with the 6.5-284 etc.
My next big game rifle will be a long action 6.5-284 throated with the 140 out to get max case capacity. I was taking some 700 yd. shots today at prarie dogs with my 6.5 284 and the performance was very impressive. This rifle is heavy enough that I can watch the strikes. We had a variable 9 to 11 oclock cross wind that would really drive you nuts. Whatever you choose I bet you will like it.

 

[Popapi]

264 WinMag.......

 

[sniperjwt]

[/QUOTE]

Give us a max range on deer you would be shooting?[/QUOTE]

hmmm. I would say the farthest I would ever shoot it would be 1000-1100 yards. Might be only paper but if it shoots well enough a whitetail might catch one in the boiler room.

This is what I was afraid of. The callibers mentioned so far is:

6.5 WSSM
6.5 WSM
264 win mag
6.5-284
6.5-06 AI
6.5x55
260
260AI
6.5 Creedmore
6.5x47 Lapua

I think that is it. Let's see if we can't narrow it down a bit.
I want to shoot a 140 grain bullet at 3000fps or more. I want to get at least 1000 rounds out of a barrel. Let's start with that what do we have that fits that criteria?

 

[Frank7mm]

There are a few on that list that won't do 3100. The best all around would be a 6.5-284. Good brass ,lots of load data, dies are aviable and cheap compared to some custom sets. As for barrel life if you don't shoot 15-30 shot strings you should get over 1200 rounds

 

[300R]

6.5-284 for me.

 

[Kobra]

Another .264 WM vote

 

[BobbyL]

264 WinMag.......

Better yet a 6.5-300 WBY. Absolute hammer of a caliber!!!

 

[BCinKS]

I myself am leaning towards a 260 AI. I have had a couple of 6.5/284 and they were pretty awsome but i think i want something a little different.

 

[Popapi]

Better yet a 6.5-300 WBY. Absolute hammer of a caliber!!!

I would agree!