260 Rem Vs. 6.5-06

[dwm]

You know, after reading through this thead again, I would recomend a straight up .270 for the type of hunting you want to do.

I have a .260, it is a great round, plenty capable, but if you feel it is not quite enough, the .270 is a great choice also. A .270 will do everything you said you wanted to do very well, does not recoil much, and has a great off the shelf loaded ammo selection in case you need some when out of town / state.

The .270 is not a cool high performance wildcat, but it is a great performing hunting round and is easy to load for.

Something to consider, ...

 

[4bycamper]

You know, after reading through this thead again, I would recomend a straight up .270 for the type of hunting you want to do.

I have a .260, it is a great round, plenty capable, but if you feel it is not quite enough, the .270 is a great choice also. A .270 will do everything you said you wanted to do very well, does not recoil much, and has a great off the shelf loaded ammo selection in case you need some when out of town / state.

The .270 is not a cool high performance wildcat, but it is a great performing hunting round and is easy to load for.

Something to consider, ...

+1 on that !

 

[Alfred Crouch]

+2 on that. The 270 isn't new and exciting like some of the new fad calibers but it is as excellent one. It has been proven over many years.... reasonable recoil, excellent performance, wide range of bullets available.

 

[Locknload]

I own two 6.5x06 guns and five 260 guns. Forget the AI version of both as a waste of time. Just compare the 264 to the 6.5x06 and think 68 grains VS 82 grains and 100 to 150 fps increase in velocity. You do not have to have a PHD in rocket science to figure this out. A 5% increase in capacity with the AI is going to do what for you?

Go with the 6.5x06 it is has the same capacity as the 6.5x284 and it is a toss up as to which one is most accurate. The 260 will cut both in group size but is a 3,000 fps round with the 140 VS a 3100 fps cartridge in the 6.5x06. Yes, I get 3,100 FPS with a Barnes XCL in my 6.5x06.

Just make shure you go with a 1-8 twist barrel.
Best,
Ed

 

[elkaholic]

What barrel length and load do you use to get 3100'?

 

[Locknload]

My 260 rifles and the 6.5x06 rifles all have 26 inch barrels. I have a 1-9 twist in each caliber and all the rest are all 1-8 twist.

The load used to get to 3,100 fps with the 140gr Barnes XCL was with IMR-4350. I started at 51 grains (2,982 fps) and worked up. The problem with the 140 XCL is that it left a mess in the barrel with serious copper fouling. I did not like the process of shoot a couple of shots, clean and shoot a couple of shots. If you did not do so, the groups went to 4 inches very quickly. The Hornady Interloc while slower, never was a problem with copper fouling.

Hope this gives you the direction you were seeking. If you follow this path, be careful about fouling it will jump your pressures.
Best,
Ed

 

[Chas1]

Since there are only 2 choices for this poll I'd go with the 6.5-06 little more punch. IMHO I wouldn't concern too much about barrel life as before you know it you may want to shoot further and will do as many here have done and be buying another gun....but that's good and fun. Putting the 2 choices aside +3 on 270.

 

[captacademy]

I would also have to vote for the 6.5-06. I have one and it shoots well. Killed a mule deer with it.

However, that said, I would go with either the 270 or 280. I have both, but like the 280 as it seems to do everthing I want it to do, more bullet selection. I use it as my main antelope gun and have taken goats just past 500 yards. It works very well, very little recoil. The 270 would be basically the same, the 280 is just my preference.

 

[Chopaka81]

This is going to have a bit of what is best considered sacrilege and worthy of being burnt at the stake.

Every year at about this time I go thru a phase of researching F-class rifles and dreaming of having a full blown F-open rifle built. Like many I tuned in on every post I could find on the 6.5's specifically the 6.5x284 Norma. There is no question of the 6.5x284's success.

Recently I came across this article on the 284 Win. Record-Setting .284 Win F-Classer
The issue of a 6.5x284 only being good for 1000 to 1500 rds whereas the 284's barrel life being double that or better caused me to stop and ponder.

For some competitive shooters, barrels are considered consumable items – for "Average Joe's" this is a major league big deal. There is no question that these small bore cartridges with large powder capacities are hard on throats. However for "Average Joe's," we will never put 1000 rds down the bore in a season of competition. Typically 80 to 100 rds will be run thru the rifle dialing in a reload and then maybe 20 to 40 rds per year thereafter, resulting in a fine hunting rifle that will last a long range hunter a lifetime.

To be honest – I am receiving outstanding performance from my Tikka T-3 Lite in 270 Win. I think I have a whopping $600 into that rifle. A buddy has a 270 WSM and he is getting the same too.

Have Fun and choose wisely.

 

[wildcat westerner]

For what it is worth: Most of my hunting since the 1960's has been with a 6.5 Remington magnum in a custom rifle which had all the advantages the factory weapons did not. My competition shooting at 600-1,000 has been with the 6.5 x 284. When I compare the problems the magnum brass caused at higher pressures compared to the 6.5 x 284 I wished I would have had the 6.5 x 284 chambering in both all this time.

Most shooters who may choose the 6.5-'06 have not owned one. It is not a bad cartridge. With modern powders you can virtually duplicate its performance with the .260. One hundred feet per second difference can't be seen on a three hundred yard target and no animal you wish to hunt could ever tell the difference. An elks' lungs and heart are large, push a modern expanding bullet through either organ and that elk will die.

Accuracy, can you get enough of it? If you know the distance to the target and know your trajectory shoot that which recoils less and does not affect the five different nerves that run through your axilla ( armpit) region. Human beings respond to being punched in the shoulder, so moreso, some less. It takes time to really get to know a rifle. Learn about the rifle with the cartridge/barrel that lasts longer. In the long run, if 'smithed correctly you will grow to appreciate the .260, long after the concerns over some small amount of velocity are long forgotten.

Good Luck in your search.

 

[Chopaka81]

Gene,
I am curious, since You have been shooting a rifle (or rifles) of similar throat pressures to the 6.5x284, how has barrel life been for you? What are experiences?
Just curious,

 

[wildcat westerner]

Hello Don,

WE moved from Seattle to northern New Mexico in July and visited Whittington yesterday.

With regard to throat and throat life in the 6.5's: My light hunting rifle was a much modified 6.5 Remington magnum on a short Mauser action whose magazine made a lot more sense with regard to seating out the 140 grain bullets than the Remington 600 series ever did. Anyway that rifle has always shot very well, better than such a weapon should shoot, compared to my target rifles. When I had it throated to accept the 140 grain Speers ( at that time) it lost its gilt edge accuracy but allowed for usage of a better bullet for hunting. That barrel is still on that rifle and I don't believe it will ever be changed. The problem with that rifle was always the brass. it was a "fast" barrel, which you get sometimes and in that mush younger era was always attempting to get .264 Winchester velocities out of it until I finally wised up. I had to Full length resize those belted cases to the absolute max to get them back intot he chamber. Now I realize the problem was mainly me, not the brass.

I have had several weapons in 6.5 x 284. My target weapons loose their finite accuracy at between 800-1,000 rounds when loaded to a 6.5 x 284's maximum, right around 3000fps with the Sierra 142 gr. bullet. Several powders worked well, I prefer 4831 SC over RL22. When you drop 200 fps barrel life seems to last considerably longer.

This is why I suggested the 260 to the person who originated this forum question.

Good Shooting to you,

 

[6BR4ME2]

Hello Don,


"I have had several weapons in 6.5 x 284. My target weapons loose their finite accuracy at between 800-1,000 rounds when loaded to a 6.5 x 284's maximum, right around 3000fps with the Sierra 142 gr. bullet. Several powders worked well, I prefer 4831 SC over RL22. When you drop 200 fps barrel life seems to last considerably longer."





A lot of good points all ready made in this thread

however I would vote for a 260 or a 6.5x284 as well with for emphasis on the 6.5x284 vs the 6.5-06

6.5x284 has a lot better options going for it

 

[fireroad]

My vote is for the 260, that's what i ended up choosing when I was looking for a 6.5mm. I have shoot both and just found the 260 to be both more accurate and more enjoyable to shoot (accuracy is is always dependent upon the rifle, load, and shooter of course). The 260 also scored better with availability of brass and dies. As for the speed difference, with todays powders it's a lot less then you think. If you really need more power skip the 6.5-06 all together go for the 264 WM, it's one hot 6.5mm!