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Today's Crop of 6.5s
These five cartridges perform well both in competition and in the field.
Why We Love 6.5s Has this underrated caliber finally arrived?
Diehard fans of 6.5mm bullets and the cartridges they’re built with—and I include myself among their number—are a lovesick lot. Something about those long sleek bullets, with their impressive ballistic coefficients, high sectional densities, reputation for accuracy, legendary game-taking ability and generally mild recoil, makes us swoon. We are similarly puzzled as to why so many hunters, in the U.S. at any rate, have been reluctant to embrace these cartridges with a similar fervor.
But perhaps this is changing. A spate of modern 6.5s, starting with the .260 Remington, introduced in 1997, have caught on with competitive shooters, who’ve been racking up wins with them and dominating certain long-range disciplines. What those shooters know, and what more hunters are discovering, is that 6.5s make for exceptionally balanced cartridges that are accurate, easy to shoot and adaptable to any number of tasks. Perhaps the day is coming when 6.5s will shed their reputation as the most underrated class of cartridges in America. AdvertisementRelated PhotosSUBMIT YOUR PHOTOSADVERTISEMENT |
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Photo Gallery Comments (7)
IMO I don't think many will really accept the 6.5's. There are too many proven calibers that it has to contend with. I know that I would stick with a .270, 30-06, 7mm mag or 300 mag., not to mention that all of those are easy to get bullets for, and a wide varity at that.
The 260 Remington is a good cartridge for deer sized game and smaller especially for women or younger shooters. I would not recommend this cartridge for moose. Nothing smaller than a 30 caliber is a good idea for moose. In my opinion the 6.5's are too small and don't offer enough stopping power. If you want to get into a discussion on why the 35 caliber is not more popular I will buy into that!
Remember, the moose in Sweden/Scandinavia are a smaller species than the North American ones!
The 6.5 is actually getting a lot of respect. With a ballistic coefficient that exceeds most if not all of the more "popular" rounds, it is hard not to pay attention to this .264 bullet. Remember, we are not going after a 1,000 lb Elk here, but my 6.5 Grendel with a 123gr Sierra MatchKing hollow point boat tail is deadly on small to medium size big game. It is unbelievable on varmint as well. The round is still supersonic out to ~1,000 meters, and hitting a tennis ball is no problem at 600 meters with a good scope and bipod. It shoots much flatter than 30cal, with nearly the same impact results as the 7.62 round. But,... with a recoil that is more like a .223. What's not to like? Competitive shooters have always loved the results of the 6.5mm. The 6.5 (.264) rounds I have mostly seen are between 90gr and 142 gr. Lot's of game choices there. My rifle shoots less than 1/2 MOA at 100 yards with the 123gr Sierra MatchKing. Thank You Les Baer.
Dang it, just when I rebarreled a 700BDL to 22-250 Akley improved I discover this jewel on a prarie dog hunt in eastern Wyoming. The B.C. of the bullets are remarkable making this one flat shooting son-of-a-gun. I just haven't figured out which case I want to go with. I want to enjoy a 600+ yard shooter with minimal recoil. I think that once people see just how good this caliber is matched with the proper case it is really going to catch on. As far as an elk gun, I have a friend that has shot a 6.5x300 Weatherby wildcat for the past 23 years and has killed an elk with it every year. It is the flattest shooter I have ever seen. I suppose that the 7mm STW is pretty close to it.
I don't want one that fast or with that kind of recoil but the 308 case might miss a little for variables.
I bought my wife a 260 Rem when she decided to take up hunting 9 years ago. I've stole it on more than one hunt. We've both harvested a lot of deer and antelope with it. I swear the 140 grain bullets will out penetrate a 180 grain 30-06. We have recovered only one bullet. Suffice it to say, a 140 grain bullet penetrated lengthwise through that deer at a range I will never put in print (the deer had been wounded by another hunter, it was do or die, the deer was barely in the bottom of the scope, nearly blocked out by the reticle. Like I said, he was already wounded, it was try that shot, or lose the deer. That 140 grain bullet penetrated completely lengthwise through that deer; bullet was a perfect mushroom just under the skin in front of the opposite front shoulder.) If that isn't penetration, I don't know what is!!
Like many others my experience with the 6.5's came by way of the Swedish Mauser Model 95 in 6.5 X 55 MM. Those military rifles could be purchased cheaply and were of good quality. However, the cartridge could not be loaded to its full potential with that action as it lacked the strength of the Mauser 98. Nevertheless, it proven to be an exceptionally accurate round with a light recoil that belied its hitting power. I know the .260 has found a following and it is a reputation well earned, but I doubt it can be loaded to the potential of the old 6.5 X 55. I believe the 6.5 was available in the Winchester Featherweight Model 70 at some point and I would loved to have owned one and had the opportunity to experiment with some loads. For deer and midsize game the quality 6.5 bullets are great performers. It just seem like a lot of fuss and bother to juice the little 140 gr bullets up to higher velocities in order to take down bigger game. Taking the mid sized game at greater ranges by way of the higher velocities in various 6.5 wildcats makes sense to me but expecting it to do the job on big game that is better served with bigger calibers is a mistake. Years ago in central British Columbia I was camping with my two young children when a grizzly bear took exception our presence in the middle of the night. Awaken by the growling and commotion, I chambered a round into the 6.5, told the kids it would be fine and waited for all hell to break loose. The bear expressed himself by working over a rotted stump then it went quiet..... not quite quiet as I recall my heart was beating pretty hard. Lessons were learned that night. It is all well and fine to suggest that little pill will do the job on a big critter but when it is on the line bigger is better. So save the bravado of taking BIG game with smaller calibers and do yourself and the animal in question a favor and "use enough gun'! So said,, I see boxes of 6.5 bullets on the shelf of my loading room with no rifle in the gun cabinet to serve them.... maybe it is time to check out one of those Tikka rifles??
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The 6.5 is actually getting a lot of respect. With a ballistic coefficient that exceeds most if not all of the more "popular" rounds, it is hard not to pay attention to this .264 bullet. Remember, we are not going after a 1,000 lb Elk here, but my 6.5 Grendel with a 123gr Sierra MatchKing hollow point boat tail is deadly on small to medium size big game. It is unbelievable on varmint as well. The round is still supersonic out to ~1,000 meters, and hitting a tennis ball is no problem at 600 meters with a good scope and bipod. It shoots much flatter than 30cal, with nearly the same impact results as the 7.62 round. But,... with a recoil that is more like a .223. What's not to like? Competitive shooters have always loved the results of the 6.5mm. The 6.5 (.264) rounds I have mostly seen are between 90gr and 142 gr. Lot's of game choices there. My rifle shoots less than 1/2 MOA at 100 yards with the 123gr Sierra MatchKing. Thank You Les Baer.
IMO I don't think many will really accept the 6.5's. There are too many proven calibers that it has to contend with. I know that I would stick with a .270, 30-06, 7mm mag or 300 mag., not to mention that all of those are easy to get bullets for, and a wide varity at that.
The 260 Remington is a good cartridge for deer sized game and smaller especially for women or younger shooters. I would not recommend this cartridge for moose. Nothing smaller than a 30 caliber is a good idea for moose. In my opinion the 6.5's are too small and don't offer enough stopping power. If you want to get into a discussion on why the 35 caliber is not more popular I will buy into that!
Remember, the moose in Sweden/Scandinavia are a smaller species than the North American ones!
Dang it, just when I rebarreled a 700BDL to 22-250 Akley improved I discover this jewel on a prarie dog hunt in eastern Wyoming. The B.C. of the bullets are remarkable making this one flat shooting son-of-a-gun. I just haven't figured out which case I want to go with. I want to enjoy a 600+ yard shooter with minimal recoil. I think that once people see just how good this caliber is matched with the proper case it is really going to catch on. As far as an elk gun, I have a friend that has shot a 6.5x300 Weatherby wildcat for the past 23 years and has killed an elk with it every year. It is the flattest shooter I have ever seen. I suppose that the 7mm STW is pretty close to it.
I don't want one that fast or with that kind of recoil but the 308 case might miss a little for variables.
I bought my wife a 260 Rem when she decided to take up hunting 9 years ago. I've stole it on more than one hunt. We've both harvested a lot of deer and antelope with it. I swear the 140 grain bullets will out penetrate a 180 grain 30-06. We have recovered only one bullet. Suffice it to say, a 140 grain bullet penetrated lengthwise through that deer at a range I will never put in print (the deer had been wounded by another hunter, it was do or die, the deer was barely in the bottom of the scope, nearly blocked out by the reticle. Like I said, he was already wounded, it was try that shot, or lose the deer. That 140 grain bullet penetrated completely lengthwise through that deer; bullet was a perfect mushroom just under the skin in front of the opposite front shoulder.) If that isn't penetration, I don't know what is!!
Like many others my experience with the 6.5's came by way of the Swedish Mauser Model 95 in 6.5 X 55 MM. Those military rifles could be purchased cheaply and were of good quality. However, the cartridge could not be loaded to its full potential with that action as it lacked the strength of the Mauser 98. Nevertheless, it proven to be an exceptionally accurate round with a light recoil that belied its hitting power. I know the .260 has found a following and it is a reputation well earned, but I doubt it can be loaded to the potential of the old 6.5 X 55. I believe the 6.5 was available in the Winchester Featherweight Model 70 at some point and I would loved to have owned one and had the opportunity to experiment with some loads. For deer and midsize game the quality 6.5 bullets are great performers. It just seem like a lot of fuss and bother to juice the little 140 gr bullets up to higher velocities in order to take down bigger game. Taking the mid sized game at greater ranges by way of the higher velocities in various 6.5 wildcats makes sense to me but expecting it to do the job on big game that is better served with bigger calibers is a mistake. Years ago in central British Columbia I was camping with my two young children when a grizzly bear took exception our presence in the middle of the night. Awaken by the growling and commotion, I chambered a round into the 6.5, told the kids it would be fine and waited for all hell to break loose. The bear expressed himself by working over a rotted stump then it went quiet..... not quite quiet as I recall my heart was beating pretty hard. Lessons were learned that night. It is all well and fine to suggest that little pill will do the job on a big critter but when it is on the line bigger is better. So save the bravado of taking BIG game with smaller calibers and do yourself and the animal in question a favor and "use enough gun'! So said,, I see boxes of 6.5 bullets on the shelf of my loading room with no rifle in the gun cabinet to serve them.... maybe it is time to check out one of those Tikka rifles??
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)