Having a 6.5 decision debacle.....

[Rprecision]

I have been sitting on the sidelines with the 6.5 cals for along time.

I have decided to build a light handy 6.5 for hunting. My dad has recently retired and I think some more hunting is in store for us. Elk, deer, antelope maybe hog. My personal ethics, skills etc put a 600 yard cap on shots conditions depending. I enjoy ringing steel further out!

I run suppressed and want a barrel length of 20-22" to keep everything reasonably portable. I reload heavily for other calibers. (.308 .300 wm, etc.) I intend to reload using a 130 to 140 class bullet ( probably 143 eldx). I dont want to have to fire form or turn necks, ain't nobody got time for that!

The way I see it I have two direction's caliber wise.

1. 6.5 creedmoor, 260 rem, 6.5 x 47. All are around the same class netting 2800 on the high side, mid 2700's more practicality.

2. 6.5 PRC, 6.5-284, 6.5-06, 6.5 X 55. These would net roughly 3000 fps, excluding the Swede, mid 2900's with barrel length.

3. 264 win mag, 26 nosler, 6.5 saum, the boutique various 6.5 Sherman's (sorry elkaholic) and similar Wildcats. Probably could break 3100-3200 but is a significant amount of overbore waste for barrel life and components used, chasing velocity on a short setup.

I ran the numbers on a 143 eldx at my altitude, 10 mph drift, energy, etc. Sorry I work in mils.

2800 fps @ 600 yards 3.5 mil / .8 / 1427lbs

3000 fps @ 600 yards 3.0 mil / .7 / 1667lbs

I didn't run anything at 3200 because I know its getting silly for the cost.

I have never shot any game with a 6.5 bullet. I like performance, but I'm trying to be practical, I cant imagine game is going to care about 200-300fps?

I really have had my eye on a PRC. But in running the numbers it doesn't seem to offer that much more. I have seriously given the 6.5 284 a thought as well as the .264 win mag. There's obviously pros and cons to both.

Component availability is a very real thing as well. 6.5 creedmoor is everywhere, cheap! With the exception of the PRC it's all out there at a cost. Perhaps in 5 years that's a different story. I dont think the PRC will go completely extinct but who knows.

I'm having a difficult time settling in on the right caliber for me and my needs.

 

[tmmcampbell]

At 600 yards it won't mater for deer size animals. I'd want the additional horse power for elk at that distance.

 

[26Reload]

Yep...the first reply said it all....deer out to 600 I personally wouldn't go less than 65284...
Elk....that little extra is very beneficial....my 26nosler will do every thing i need of it out to well beyond that range....
But go figure....most of my hunting is in the trees.....lol....
I carry my 280ai inside the trees.....
65284 has a 24.5" shilen barrel
280ai has original 22" Remington noodle barrel
26nosler is a 26" factory patriot...

 

[AFraser]

With your limit of <600 yds, my experience says 6.5 Creedmoor will do it all.
It's only if you go further that the faster cartridges are necessary.
Good luck!

 

[scottishkat]

The shorter barrel is going to make a difference with the SA rounds you list they start to become 400 yard deer rifles IMO with 20" the longer barrel 24" and above make them 600 yard deer rifles.

6.5 -284 6.5-06 6.5 PRC just plain work. I would think if you are leaning 6.5-06 that 6.5-270 is the way to go you gain the long neck and powder column and you're probably going to be fire-forming anyway.

Good luck and shoot straight yall

 

[FEENIX]

My personal choice from your list would be the .264 WM. Finalizing a .264 WM build with 1:7" 5R 26" and loading it with either 140/156 Bergers.

 

[gohring3006]

I would do a lapua or creed.
It seems more appropriate for the shorter barrel.

 

[Greyfox]

Having hunted with several of those mentioned, while they will all work well for your requirements, I'd go with the 6.5x284 or 6.5 PRC. Better ballistics and the versatility should you ever decide to extend your range, a real possibility when you experience the performance of these rounds.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

If it was only whitetails I would say 6.5 creed. But since you said elk is on the menu I'd run a 6.5 prc. I'm sure the creed would do it, but theres no sense in having marginal horse power on a big critter like an elk.

 

[Viking264]

Re: the 6.5x55, I have used one for many years, and it will drop elk no trouble at the max range that you are listing, using Barnes 127 LRX or 130 TSX. The brass is the least expensive of all those mentioned by the likes of Lapua and Norma due to the fact that the cartridge is the one used in the Scandi countries for national marksmanship competitions, so they produce a massive quantity.

I honestly don't recall the total number of rifles that I have had chambered in this round through the years; more than 10, I believe. I have pared my selection down to two hunting rifles these days, chambered in the Swede and in .284 Win. Average barrel length for the former has been 24" +/- 0.10". In all but the 1896 era Swedish Mauser actions, I have loaded to ~58K psi. My current rifle with a 24" barrel will launch the both 127 LRX and 130 TSX at ~3000 fps, using Reloader 26, and this is below the 58K psi figure. In all of the years that I have been loading for this cartridge to the max 58K figure, I have not experienced issues indicating brass fatigue due to overpressure.

 

[CVCOBRA1]

Look at the .260 Rem. You should easily hit mid 2700's with 140g bullets in the shorter barrels you want. Not over bored at all. Can get 260 brass or roll your own out of 243, 308 or 7mm-08.

 

[J E Custom]

I went through the same process and decided on a 260 AI so i could shoot factory ammo or fire formed AI ammo for another 1 to 200 fr/sec if I was going after large game.

The 260 Rem AI will push a 130 over 3000 ft/sec with ease and the 140 is very close to 3000 ft/sec. Its like having two rifles in one. Plus there will always be a supply of 308, 708 , that can be used for the 260 with a simple neck sizing.

I also though about doing a 6.5 CM AI to take advantage of the cheep ammo. but when Lapua put their 260 brass on sale, the decision was made. $70.00 a 100 was to good to pass up so I bought 300 cases.

I wanted a short action rifle and also considered the 6.5 Rem Mag. It is a powerhouse in a short action and is very close to the 264 Win Mag in performance, but brass is becoming hard but not impossible to get.

Just some other choices

J E CUSTOM

 

[lancetkenyon]

You can always load a .264WM/6.5PRC DOWN to 6.5CM/6.5x47L speeds, but not vice versa. Pick something a little hotter, and run two loads. A mild target load, and a hot hunting load.
I have a few 6.5s.
6.5SLR w. 28" 1:8" pushes a 140 HVLD @ 2820 mild load, 2950 hunting load.
6.5SLR w. 22" 1:8" pushing a 130 OTM @ 2890 hunting load.
6.5SS 25.5" 1:8" pushing a 140 Hyb @ 3120 hunting load.
6.5SS 26" 1:7.5" pushing a 156 Elie @ 3025 hunting ( new rifle, new barrel, should speed up).

I have loaded for a lot of other 6.5s. In all reality, for 600 yards, take your pick. Light and easy, 6.5x47L, 6.5CM, .260 Rem.
If you want speed but still have decent barrel life, skip the monsters. 6.5SS, 6.5SAUM, 6.5x.284 Norma, 6.5WSM.

 

[BEEMAN]

If you hadn't mentioned elk, I would if said the 6.5x47. Mine have 25" and 26" barrels though. The 26" runs 130 berger hunting at 2950 fps. The 25" runs 130 Accubond at 2880 fps. Both work great on deer. Maybe the PRC would be a better way to go for you. I have no experience with it though.