6.5 mm

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I am looking into getting something in the 6.5 mm range. I am just wondering what case offers them most potential in the 140 Gr range. I am leaning towards 6.5x55 in a rifle capable of handling the hotter modern loads but am wondering if i could get more speed out of a .264 win mag case. Any suggestions?
 
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Yes the .264 Win Mag would be a better choice at 500-600 FPS faster according to the Lyman manual and more if you load them even hotter.

I am partial to the .264 Win Mag as this was my first centerfire and is works excellent on antelope and deer as well as elk and moose.

I have shot moose with this rifle using 140 gr Nosler Partitions and it worked like a charm.

Having said that there are many other options in the 6.5 category including some of the new WSMs and such that may interest you.
 
A super cartridge, albeit a wildcat is the venerable 6.5-06. It has about the ideal volume; it is not over the diminishing return hump and is far easier on barrels than the .264 Mag. It tends to be a well-behaved cartridge and is a good all round hunter.

I had a 6.5 WSM built when the short mags first appeared, and while that is fun cartridge, the 6.5-06 doesn't give up an awful lot. I use the ancestor of the the 6.5-06, the .256 Newton out of an original Newton 1st Model sporting rifle and am more than satisfied with its performance!
 
Target or Hunting?
Long action or short Action? Rebarrelling or factory rifle ?
Factory ammo or reloading?
Each answer to the questions asked would or could change a recommendation.
It IS a great caliber.
Ont0001
 
If you are wanting just about 6.5-284 ballistics without quite the throat erosion characteristics, I would recommend the 6.5x55AI 40º. Very easy to load for, and easier on barrels than the 6.5-06 or the 6.5-284. Even the 260 Remington Improved does a good job out well past 1000 yards. Regards, Eagleye.
 
260 rem is a great calibre. I have had two of them, both very light, short action rifles, the 6.5x55 needs a long action. Can get 2850-2900 form a 125 gr partition and 2700 from a 140.
 
Tikka T3 Lite in 6.5x55 light, accurate, handles bullets from 95 grain to 160 grain with ease. The Tikka T3 action is as strong and stiff as any out there and the 6.5x55 actually has a little more powder capacity than the 260 Rem and can be loaded to similar pressures in the T3.
I've owned 260 Rem rifles in Winchester and remington, and really liked both of them. They have the advantage of being able to buy full pressure loading off the shelf in just about any full service gunshop.
The 264 Win Mag and the 6.5/284 are handloading only propositions as is the 6.5/06.
The Remington and Winchester rifles have a 1-9.2 twist rate and don't like bullets over 140 grains.
The Tikka T3 has a 1-8.5 twist rate and will handle all of the bullets right up to 160 grains. The twist rate is a little to fast for the 95 grain varmint bullets and will only push them at 3100 fps accurately. Everything from 120 grains and up is no problem at all.
I have two 6.5/06 rifles, one on a Mod 70 Win and one on a Rem 700. the Rem 700 has a 1-9.5 Gaillard barrel and won't 'accurately' shoot anything over 130 grains, everything else the accuracy is phenomenal. The Mod 70 has an unkown makers barrel on it with a 1-8 3/4 twist and will stabilise 140 grain bullets very well.
Now, this information is for comparison purposes only, but in the end the 6.5x55 when loaded to similar pressures as all of the above with same length, 24 inch barrels. all shoot within 150 fps velocity of each other.
Again, the 6.5x55, loaded to these pressures, is normally unavailable off the shelf in North America and is a handloader only item that should be kept separately and well marked "away" from standard velocity/pressure 6.5x55 cartidges to avoid mix ups, especially if you own one of the weaker Swede mausers.
Norma 6.5x55 is very fast ammo in comparison to anything else available in North America and Norma states that it is within pressure tolerances for the 96 and 38 actions.
bearhunter
 
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Without question the 264 offers the most performance, the 6.5x55 will never equal the 264 ballistics. Since you have not answered any of the other questions ont0001 asked it is difficult to answer if it is the best choice.
bigbull
 
I thought it was obvious in my original post. I am looking for nothing more than the absolute fastest 6.5 out there(in 140 gr). I am weighing the speed against barrel life and such, other than that the specifics are irrelevent. Thanks for the replies!
 
Facttory, .264 Win Mag.
Wildcat? 6.5WSM, no doubt about it!
Unless you wanna go WAY big, then you can go nutz with big cases and thoat life in double digits!!:D
Cat
 
I have worked with a 264 a fair bit.Odd but Winchester factory does it's advertised speed.For the reloaders,it one of the few cartridges loaded with canister grade powder, IMR 7828. It's a good place to start. Data is very old for this caliber,and nobody has a 264 pressure barrel for any new data. I found Ramshot Magnum gave me 3150 with a 24" barrel. 3200 is gererally given as the velocity for the real slow powders and a 26"barrel.That's with a 140,the 264 was designed for the 140.Barrel life depends on the shooter.
 
downwindtracker2 said:
I have worked with a 264 a fair bit.Odd but Winchester factory does it's advertised speed.For the reloaders,it one of the few cartridges loaded with canister grade powder, IMR 7828. It's a good place to start. Data is very old for this caliber,and nobody has a 264 pressure barrel for any new data. I found Ramshot Magnum gave me 3150 with a 24" barrel. 3200 is gererally given as the velocity for the real slow powders and a 26"barrel.That's with a 140,the 264 was designed for the 140.Barrel life depends on the shooter.
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3000-3200 fps is where I wanted it, the .264 is looking good! It was the first one that caught my eye when I was snooping through reloading data.:cool:
 
There is no doubt that the .264wm will get thhere if you are looking for factory brass.
When it first came out, the rifles were bashed for having 26" barrles.
When Winchester changed to 24" the rifles were bashed for having too short a barrel!:(
Bottom line is the North American hunter/shooter is a fiinicky criiter and advertizing sells rifloes , not actual performance!

North America never really liked the .264 calibers until the .260 came along and remington aggresively advertised it.

Some of the best European calibers will never be popular here, especially the .264 and 7's, if only because we have developed similar ones on this sid of the pond.
Have fun!
Cat
 
I really like my 6.5x55 - not quite as fast as 264 mag, but Scandinavia has been happily kiling moose with it for over 100yrs. It easily equals .260 rem with 10,000 lb. less breach pressure hence less throat erosion and better barrel life. My old '96 Mauser gives very good hunting accuracy, and one would hope a modern barrel and action would do even better.
 
6.5

I have had many 6.5 Swede rifles, both military and commercial. It is my hands down favorite round. I recently had Corlanes put a Montana barrel on an FN '98 action and bed it in a McMillian Hunter's Edge stock. It is a super rifle and I feel confident in it as far as I would shoot at any game. If I want the feeling of more power I take my model 70 .300 H&H.

I think that a .264 with a good quality barrel should also be a fine performer and I have almost bought one several times. With proper care throat erosion shouldn't be a big issue in a hunting rifle. When I look at the balistics however comparing max loads in a .264 with a .270 (again max loads with equal length barrelusing 140 grain bullets) I don't see much difference. My Swede is not far behind either at normal ranges.

In the end I use the Swede because I LIKE IT and it gives me confidence. If the .264 does that for you then go for it. Any choice will be a trade off in some way and lots of people on here will advise that you should have done something different.

I hope that you find something that gives you confidence. With a good bullet put in the proper place they all work!

Regards,

Outdoors
 
B said:
I thought it was obvious in my original post. I am looking for nothing more than the absolute fastest 6.5 out there(in 140 gr). I am weighing the speed against barrel life and such, other than that the specifics are irrelevent. Thanks for the replies!
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The 6.5-284, 6.5-06, and various wildcats like the 6.5-.300 Weatherby will all give you the top performance - for a price.
 
Well I am thinking of building a 6.5 Ultra mag/ or could be called a 6.5 404, should waste a barrel in a 500-600 shots ! Velocity will be 3600 fps there abouts with 120 gr. But its a pipe dream for now, got a couple extra ultra mags kicking around. and on the back burner for now.
 
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