Author Topic: 6.5/06? (Read 1048 times)

Steelhead · « **on:** March 22, 2004, 03:01:46 AM »

Who out there plays with one? I was just curious as to some of the velocity's you have got with different bullets. So far 120's are doing 3150, 125's right at 3000, 129's 2900. 140's and 48gr of Imr 4831 are at 2650, which is the one I find odd. Anyway just wondering from other users.

So far this has been the LEAST troublesome rifle to make shoot. It likes every load I have tried, with no particular favorites.

hillbilly · « **Reply #1 on:** July 04, 2004, 05:20:37 PM »

one quick question if you're using a 6.5-06 what is the main advantage (other than the fact that most gun folk love to tinker or the latest new thing, me included :grin: ) over the 25-06 or the venerable 270 win both aren't much different in dia. than the 264. and the availibility of factory ammo must be considered a plus.

Mikey · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2004, 04:10:40 AM »

hillbilly - this is not to answer for Steehead but I can tell ya'll that the 6.5-06 is very highly thought of in long range benchrest shooting and is a favored 1K cartridge. It also makes for a better varmit round than the 25-06 and, in my opinion, will simply outshoot the 270. Loaded with heavy bullets in the 155-160 gn range it should easily take anything on the continent. The standard 140 gn loads in the 6.5 Swede is easily good enough for Elk, Moose, Hog and medium sized Bear, and the 6.5-06 outshines the Swede by a fair margin.

It has a lot of all-around versitility. Just my 2 cents worth though. Mikey.

Steelhead · « **Reply #3 on:** July 09, 2004, 07:22:08 AM »

I like the 264 caliber bullet. I like the better weight selection over the 25/06 and to date it has proven to be the least picky of any rifle I have owned (custom or factory). It likes EVERYTHING.

I will not say it is magic, but I like it.

As far as factory ammo, I haven't shot a factory loaded round in a RIFLE since 1986, so it isn't an issue.

hillbilly · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2004, 11:27:04 AM »

absolutely! you're both correct the 6.5 or 264 is a wonderful caliber and any cartridge that'll shoot or rather "handle "wilcat or factory it should and can be a wonderfully effective hunting and target round for example the 260 rem was first desighed by Jim Carmicheal as a strictly target round he called it the 6.5 panther. and we've all heard of the 6.5-284. it's a real ptiy that north american shooting public hasn't really accepted what that europeans have known for years a medium sized(dia.) bullet with a high ballistic coefficient (.450-.500) at moderate velocity ( 2600-2800fps) will cleanly and humanely take game at reasonably long range (400 yds). and as for me i've just rediscovered the 264 in my old 6.5x55 swede. it was the rifle that my brother, sister, and i all used to take our first deer, after a little research and tinkering with loads it's now become my number one varmint gun replacing at least temporarily my 22-250, the favoured load for this rifle is a 140 A-max over 44grs of IMR4831, for a muzzle velocity of 2690fps. the 140 is excessive for coyotes but it'll drop a wolf at 400 and no hide ruining exit wound. and steelhead i think the 6.5 is magic! :grin:

bufflernickl · « **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2004, 01:24:31 AM »

Hillbilly,

one more (probably unnecessary) comment: The 6.5mm cal. has bullets both lighter and heavier than does the .270. The real value of the heavier ones is the tremendous SD for penetration on heavier game. Yes, this really is a grizzly-capable round for the expert rifleman, though I'd never shoot one with a 6.5 myself :-) I've never taken a boar with one, but I'll bet that 160gr RN will drop a hog like a .444 Marlin load.

And Steelhead, There are a half-dozen 6.5s in the family and we've had more of 'em in the past. They *all* seem to work as yours does; very tolerant of load, bullet, etc, but each rifle/bullet has its sweet spot where group size falls to a minimum. That sweet spot seems wider (changes in powder weight) than with most mid-caliber rounds, though.

All-in-all, 6.5 seems to be *the* ideal all-round caliber for the NA shooter. I'm getting ready to comvert my Swede to 6.5-284 Win., not because I need more ballistic performance (the original chambering is an excellent 350 yd antelope round with 120-130gr poly-tip bullets), but in order to get a tight chamber (esp. the neck, and a new throat for greater accuracy. There just isn't enough meat in the bbl flange to set the bbl. back far enough to rechamber in 6.5X55, or I'd do *that*.

Cheers/buffler
who likes 6.5mm cal., esp. the old Swede, just uncommonly well