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6.5 gibbs ??
thechad
Member Posts: 12 ✭✭
any info on this caliber? Just picked up a beautiful target rifle in this caliber , it also has the large free floating 6-24 bausch and lomb rifle is about 20 years old , and looks like new, weighs about 20 pounds
Comments
Welcome to the GB forums!
The 6.5 Gibbs is probably the most famous of the Rocky Gibbs collection of suped up improved '06 cases. The case shape differs from the Ackley Improved case in that the shoulder is moved forward into the neck leaving a short neck and the shoulder angle is 35 degrees. This has been noted as being the maximum size and capacity that can be gotten from the '06 parent case.
This is a fairly complete history with loads:
http://www.riflemagazine.com/catalog/detail.cfm?ProductID=822
These are a few loads:
http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=317
.270 Win. / 6.5 Gibbs
what would be the effective range for this caliber
So tell us, what are you planning to do with your new rifle?
Effective range has a lot of variables involved in that determination. Bullet weight, bullet design, velocity achieved by barrel length, calculated energy from the velocity, quality of the scope and mounts, quality of the rifle rest and most important, the shooters ability given the best of the above. Your effective range can be very different from, let's say, mine. Mine can be very different from another shooter's. So really it's hard to say what that might mean.
Pure numbers from some of my notes indicate that this cartridge loaded with a 140 gr. Berger VLD has enough energy at 900 yards to use for deer hunting. That most assuredly does not mean that we can all attempt to shoot deer at 900 yards. It means what I wrote, the energy is available, no more. Your ability sets the limit not what the extreme ballistics and math works out to be.
Before starting to work up any loads be sure to have the chamber cast so you know exactly what the chamber dimensions are. This is critical since there aren't any standards for these types of chambers.
This can be an exceptional cartridge but it can also be real hard on the cases. It can also be hard on the shooter if he or she doesn't pay attention to reloading. These improved cases do not show pressure signs in the same ways that standard cartridge cases do. You really need a chronograph to work up loads. I started with Lapua cases since I had experience with them and they have a reputation for being harder and more consistant than the other manufacturers cases.
If you have the chance, I'll bet that a bunch of us would really appreciate a couple of good pictures of your rifle.
Best.
As I said, my e-mail address is in my profile. You can send the photos to me and I'll post them.
Best.