6.5mm - 25cal = .007"

[Deleted member 107796]

I know this will be a bit subjective based on individual preferences and experiences but, in the end aren't there 25cal calibers like the 25-06, .257Roberts improved, 25wssm, etc., that meet or exceed the ballistic performance of many 6.5mm loads?

I bring this up because I see the 6.5mm as nearly a twin of the 25cal, and more worthy of ballistic comparison to each other vs comparison to the 270 and 7mm near twins.

 

[elkaholic]

I would say they meet but I'm not sure they exceed. The problem with the .257's has always been bullet selection. As you pointed out; .007" is not much difference given equal bullets.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

When loaded to their full potential I would say the equal, both exceeding each other in different areas. Take the new 131 black jack and it makes the 25 cal a different critter. However, despite their advertising claims the difference between it and a 6.5mm with a 150 smk aren't as much as they say. I've ran the numbers for multiple scenarios and the 6.5mm always hits with more energy at long distance with pretty much identical wind drift. The 25 cal will always have the advantage of speed, and less recoil.

 

[Mikecr]

Difference is bullets available. For no particular reason the market has chosen even cals over odd cals (20,22,24,26,28,30 -vs- 19,21,23,25,27,29).

It actually seems strange to me that odd cals, and most cartridges, have not condensed to the relative few covering all else.
Truly, we need no more than a handful of cartridges and cals to cover everything we do.

 

[Pdvdh]

Easy. It lacks 0.007" bore/bullet diameter.

And a dearth of bullet availability.

And factory barrels most suitable for stabilizing varmint weight bullets.

All and all, makes the 257 a good gopher rifle and mid-range mid-sized game rifle, unless a guy goes after-market barrels and custom bullets.

An uphill climb, a swim against the tide, for guys focusing on LRH.

 

[Deleted member 107796]

Ok, got it. I was actually wondering if any new 6.5mm are ballistic game changers or some of it is 6.5mm madness. I just didn't see any data stand out to tell me that was the case.

 

[Longtooth32]

270 (.277) and 7 mm (.284")

= .007 too...weird stuff...

 

[gregsjt]

Ok, got it. I was actually wondering if any new 6.5mm are ballistic game changers or some of it is 6.5mm madness. I just didn't see any data stand out to tell me that was the case.

Look at the BC's of the most popular 6.5 bullets and then try to find a 25 cal bullet that's even close?

 

[elkaholic]

Look at the BC's of the most popular 6.5 bullets and then try to find a 25 cal bullet that's even close?

131 Blackjack!!

 

[Benny338]

I have to get some of these for my 257 STW! That might become a problem for deer sized critters

 

[Mach 1]

The 257 cal chambers will do anything the 6.5 will do, they just suffer from a poor bullet selection, but not that many years ago the 264 cal stuff didn't have a great bullet selection either. If hornady would have made a .257 creedmore the market would have trended in the 257 direction. I personally think the 6.5 cal is obsolete. The 6mm is arguably better to 1000 yards and past that range the heavy 30 cal bullets start to do well ballisticly

 

[elkaholic]

And if Remington would have come out with a 6.5-06 in 1970 instead of the 25-06, we wouldn't even be talking about this!

 

[Benny338]

Then we would have had a 25 creed. Cause someone was try to fill a different imaginary gap

 

[Mach 1]

And if Remington would have come out with a 6.5-06 in 1970 instead of the 25-06, we wouldn't even be talking about this!

Sure we would. The 257 Roberts is a good round. The 25-06 just ballisticaly out performs the 257R. FYI the 6.5-06 is a round and has little to no following.