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6.5 Cal questions??
williamsagconsulting
Member Posts: 12 ✭✭
I have been lookin to build a rifle in 6.5 cal but am confused on which one to go with. 6.5x55 6.5x284, ect. I have also talked to my gunsmith about this and am planning on going with rem 700 action schillin barell and mcMillan stock. My real question is does anyone know about any oddball 6.5 cartriges based on something like a 300 mag case. My gunsmith has tried to explain to me that the balistic coeficent of this particular cal is excellent and has also said that he has experimented with something based on the 300 mag cases acheiving load densities that approach 100%. I am very intersted in this but cal and its "Theoretical Potentials" but am having trouble finding info. Anything Will Help. Thanks Alot Yall
Comments
You can go nearly as large as a .300 Win mag case by going with the .264 Win. That will give you plenty of power for the 6.5 dia. caliber. Now, if you are looking to compete that may be a bit overbore. The 6.5 has very efficient ballistics and therefore doesn't necessarily need to be pushed super hard. I think you would find the 6.5x55 or the .260 Rem very suitable. A step up in power would be the 6.5x57 and possibly the wildcat 6.5-06. There are also Ackley versions of those that blow the shoulders out to .459" and move it forward to make a 40 degree shoulder. This gives more capacity and the case walls grip the chamber walls better. A compromise in this is the new 6.5 Creedmoore. nononsense has been dealing with this particular round and could possibly give you better insight as to it's functional ability. JustC I know also has a 6.5x55 Ackley. Two very good sources to start with here...as well as a few others who've dealt with these rounds.
Personally, I have a 6.5x55 in a CZ-550 and I like it a lot. It's not super accurate but will hold one MOA most any day I can call the wind right. I find it's not as good on velocity as I hoped. But the bullet efficiency helps. I prefer 7mm's but 6.5's have a lot of good bullets to choose from for long range shooting.
Between the two suggested cartridges either will be superb in standard length barrels. I've had great success with the 6.5 x 55 Swede in barrels of moderate length at 26" or 27" for hunting and competitions. The 6.5/284 Norma performs better with longer barrels and slightly slower powders. This adds to the barrel life. I choose not to decide so I shoot both. The 6.5 x 57 Mauser and the .260 Rem. are in the same class as the Swede.
Newer cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmore and the 6.5 x 47 Lapua have slightly lower case capacities, maximizing the velocities from smaller cases, gaining barrel life without sacrificing any accuracy. Lots of these are being used by F-Class shooters for the reduced recoil from the prone position.
The big guys start with the '06 capacity cases like the 6.5 x 06, 6.5/284, 6.5 Rem. Mag. and the 6.5 x 65 RWS. These are better with the heavier bullets obviously.
The next step up is the 'magnum' capacity cartridges like the .264 Win. Mag., the 6.5/300 Win. Mag., 6.5/300 Weatherby Mag. better known as the 6.5/300 Weatherby-Wright-Hoyer Magnum and the .264 Thor which is the 7mm STW necked down to take .264 bullets. The Europeans have standardized on the 6.5 x 68 which is a terrific but little known cartridge here. Dave Tooley has Improved this cartridge and is using it as the basis for his Boo-Boo series of competition cartridges.
You're going to find that when the case capacity goes up with the bore volume limited to the .264 bullets that you need significantly longer barrels to achieve improved velocities. There is a performance limit for each group of cartridges based on the barrel length. In essence, if you want to stick to a particular barrel length, you should try to pick from a group of cases that will be efficient with that length. More case capacity will not get you a substantial increase in velocity. Some balance can be brought back by using the heavier bullets available from Wildcat Bullets up in Canada.
As far as the 6.5/300 Win. Mag. is concerned, plenty of information for consideration can be gotten by studying the .264 Win. Mag. as they are close enough. This is also similar to the 6.5 x 68 cartridge.
Best.
ADDED:
I left out the 6.5 Heaton (WSSM case) and the 6.5 WSM. Then you could neck down the new 300 RCM or the .338 RCM and try those.
Best.
Stick to the 6.5x55 with a min spec chamber,..or the improved version,..as well as the 260rem or the improved version,...or on the top end,..a 6.5x284 or 6.5-06 or the improved version.
Upon an e-mail conversation with one of our fine moderators(nononsense), I asked about a cartridge based on the WSSM with a 6.5 bore. He very quickly pointed me in the direction of the 6.5 Heaton. I just finished about a month ago the rifle based on a Browning SS A-Bolt WSSM length action, with a medium weight, 26 inch barrel. I have not had a chance to sit down for serious load development yet, but I will say this...I thought the 260 was accurate out of the crate from the factory, but this is truly amazing, and it is not a noted BR type action.
I truly feel bad for you, as you have so many good options to choose from, and more are getting added every post...those damn moderators anyway!
Thanks again
One thing to consider tho, Lapua brass for the Swede has a very narrow extraction groove, and can be troublesome in SOME 700's. It is made for the claw extractor type action like the Mauser. The American made Swede brass has a groove/rim that works fine. I had to modify my Lapua brass to work well in my 700.