Author Topic: 6.5 rem mag (Read 748 times)

jr meredith · « **on:** February 01, 2006, 02:31:33 PM »

is the 6.5 rem mag overlooked or not that popular? i am not a reloader but the remmington book shows that the 6.5 r m is faster than a 25-06
and the 6.5 is bigger
thanks in advance jr

Don Fischer · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2006, 06:10:09 PM »

There's two problems with the 6.5 Rem mag. First is the rifle it was introduced in, the 600 series Remington. Some people called them ugly and some of us had quite afew of them. But they were a short action and bullet's had to be seated to deep to clear the magazine. Then about the only load you could get, that I know of, was the 120gr load. Then there was one more problem, it was a 6.5 and american shooter's just never took it serious. But try and get one away from someone that uses one!

In a long action rifle that could be a good cartridge except I'n not sure how easy it is to get cases for. Actually it's big advantage over the 25-06 is that went the 25-06 run's out of good hunting bullet's, the 6.5's are just getting going.

If your thinking of getting one I'd say not to. Problem is you don't reload and likely any ammo you find will be loaded to work thru the old short actions. Finding ammo may also pose a problem. Your better off with either the 25-06 or the 7mm-08. To bad, I think the 6.5 Rem should have been a great cartridge. Oh, Remington did finally chamber it in the 700 but it was to little to late for a calibre that's never been overly popular. Funny thing, most guy's that study these things think that one of the best balanced cartridges we ever had was the 256 Newton, a true 6.5/264 cal!

Slamfire · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2006, 11:53:34 AM »

The 6.5 Rem Mag is a pretty good cartridge in a long action rifle. You can get a usefull velocity increase over the 6.5x55/6.5x57/.260 which are all pretty much the same. However, the same velocity is available with the 6.5-.284 or 6.5-06 so why put up with the belted case? The .256 Newton would fall somewhere in between the two groups, hence be of no particular value one way or another. :wink:

anthony passero · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2006, 02:37:43 PM »

Hello,
I thought the 256 Newton was the 6.5 06. That is why Winchester came out with the 270 as Western made the 256 Newton ammo.. I love 6.5s. The 6.5 Remington was released in the 700 Classic. If that was a long action, it would be a heck of a combo. 6.5s just seem to kill deer sized game better then anthing else. The only problem is in standard offerings as in the 6.5x 55 and the 260, it is a 300 yard rifle. The 6.5 Rem in the 600/660 is a lousy combination. 264 Winchester is the best prairie round there ever was but was overshadowed by the Rem 7 Mag. Good luck with whatever you decide. Anthony

Lone Star · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2006, 03:52:53 AM »

The myth of the 6.5s and their magical effect on deer-sized game is hard for a reasoning man to understand. There certainly is no magical difference between bullets only a few thousandths of an inch different in diameter. I saw no difference in performance on deer between my .260, .270 or .300 Savage, or between the .264 and .257 Weatherby. With the right bullet in the right place they kill the same. I like them all. Now the .45-70, that's a different critter alltogether....

From Remington's website:
Cartridge........400 yard fpe
.260/140CL......1217
.264/140CL......1389
.270/140CL......1212

As can be seen, all give approximately the same performance at 400 yards. No animal will ever know the difference between 1217 ft-lbs and 1385 ft-lbs. I've owned all three, but man, that .264 can sure burn up some powder!

anthony passero · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2006, 06:28:16 AM »

Lonestar, it must be the sectional density of the 140 grain bullet in the 264. That and good bullet design for deer sized game. They do seem to kill better. I love the 270 and 280 both, but a 6.506 would be to me the ideal deer medicine. They don't kick much either so people shoot them well. Also they tend to be a gun cranks cartridge so the owners tend to be better with them. I do know my 264 dropped game quicker then my 270 or 7 mag. Then again it was also the most accurate big game rifle I ever owned. Anthony

Don Fischer · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2006, 08:55:18 AM »

If you really like the rifle your shooting and you shoot it well; if you've had good success with it, then it becomes old death and distruction. I love my 6.5x06 but It kills no better than a lot of other cartridges.

By the way, I suspect that the 256 Newton, slightly smaller than the 6.5x06, was probally a bit more user friendly. Least we forget, we used to kill deer with things like the 250 Savage quite well. But that was when we were able to get within a couple hundred yards or less wasn't it. :wink: Today's deer are indeed tougher and smarter and damn near impossible to spot at less than 500 yds!