[doopt22]

I am looking in to building a 6.5. I was thinking 6.5-284 or a 264 win mag.
what luck have you had reloading for thease.

[Oldnamvet]

What are you going to use it for? The 6.5 x 55 is a great deer cartridge and very accurate. I used to have a .264 magnum. It seemed like it was either too much (in factory loading) for some game (deer at 100 yds) or not enough for others (like moose). More of a long range cartridge for things like deer and antelope at 300+ yds. Just my opinion, others will disagree.

[dfaugh]

Depends on the intended use, as mentioned.

I'd like to build a 6.5-284----just to play around with long range shooting (this seems to be a favorite with many long range shooters)

.264 Win--Great hunting cartridge--had a chance to buy a gorgeous Mannlicher-Schonauer carbine some years ago, still kick myself that I didn't (but the budget, as a college student, just couldn't handle it). A very underated and under-appreciated cartridge IMHO.

And the original 6.5 x 55---nothing wrong with it for most purposes, accurate and reasonable recoil.

[doopt22]

I am going to use it for long range plinking or yote hunting. This will be the first gun I have built. so if I am going to spend the money. I dont want it to be invane. If you think there is a better cal. or case please let me know.

[dfaugh]

I am going to use it for long range plinking or yote hunting.

Well, then (and I still don't know what you consider long range---for me, witha rifle to be used for hunting anything that's a max of 400 yrds., and realistically more like 300 yards.)

6.5-284 requires you to handload---don't know if you're set up for this

.264 Win Mag is serious coyote overkill--and expensive to feed if you don;t handload

6.5x55--cheapest to shoot,least recoil and still way more than you need for coyote.

I too, and looking for a "long range" (see my definition) rifle, especially for coyote...and I'm probably gonna go witha Savage in .22-250. With the Savage, if I want to change calibers, I can easily change out the barrel (and one of them may be 6.5-284), with some basic tools, and a set of headspace gauges.

[USSR]

doopt22,

I had a rifle built in 6.5x55 for 1,000 yard competition. If you are a reloader, there are several advantages to this cartridge, such as quality brass (Lapua and Norma) and a longer barrel life than a 6.5-.284 and .264 Win Mag.

Don

[esheato]

Don't overlook the .260 Remington. Lots of info available using the search tool.

Ed

[Gewehr98]

The .260 Remington/6.5-08 will get there, but not with a lot of spare steam.

I'd recommend the 6.5-284, but you'll have to either form your brass, or wait your turn for the batches being imported. Evidently the Hornady stuff isn't that great.

Myself, I went with a 6.5-06 about 10 years ago, but only because I use long actions. I can get the same ballistics as the .264 Win Mag, but with less powder and throat erosion, plus no belted case.

Then there's the 6.5x55, and 6.5x57. They have very long legs, too. ;)

[highlander 5]

there's another 6.5 that has not been mentioned 6.5 jdj this round is strictly handload but formed cases can be had. If you can live with a T/C contender or encore this is a very good long range cartridge.

[michael_aos]

Another plug for 260 Remington.

http://homepage.mac.com/michael_aos/.Pictures/Guns/700P/700P-7.jpg

Mike

[terry264]

The .264 win. mag. is the best production made 6.5 that was ever made, in my opinion. It can be loaded any way you want for velocity with a number of bullets so it won't be underkill or overkill. Brass is easily obtained, just use 7 mm Rem. Mag. Brass, one trip through the resize die is all it takes, don't even need lube as it only reduces the neck dia. .020", they don't need trimmed or neck reamed=nothing. It can be loaded hotter than the other 6.5's mentioned and performs flawlessly. Mine has the 26" Douglas Premium barrel with 1:9 twist and I use the Sierra 140 gr. Gameking for about everything. Have some other bullets I was going to try for the heck of it but never did, no real reason to. Just my opinion but for versatility, if you want to put that bullet out really fast, you can, or if you want to stick to "starting loads" to equal some of the other 6.5's mentioned, you can do that too........Terry.

[Ol` Joe]

I`ve a 260 Rem, 6.5x55, and the 6.5x284.
I would go with the 6.5x55 just because of brass and loaded ammo availablity if you don`t reload and low recoil with proven accuracy. The round has been used for target and hunting in Europe for the last 100 years. The Swedes have even used it on game up to moose although it better suited to smaller deer, goats, ect. 1000 yd benchrest shooters also use it in a "improved" form for long range target. The std factory round, like the 260 is a bit slow for 1000 yds. The swede also handles lighter wgt bullets in the 87gr - 90 gr range for varmites, and on dogs or fox should work well although it will be a bit more then is needed.
The 260 as noted is a little light for 1000 yd shooting but will do just fine as a 600 yd target and varmite round. It is my 2nd choice only because of the problem of finding ammo and proper headstamped brass. You can however make 260 brass from any 308 based case. The 243, 708, ect.
The 6.5x284 is about 100-150 fps faster then the other two. (They both clock within 50 fps of each other with similar pressure loads) and is used regularly in 1000 yd BR. The brass is available from Norma, Lapua, Hornady and now Nosler. I have tried the Lapua and picked up a box of Nosler, but haven`t loaded them -the nosler- yet. The Lapua is very good, as the price suggests it should be. The Nosler right up there close in cost with the rest of them and they now offer loaded ammo also. The 6.5x284 is also reported to be hard on barrels. I don`t how true this is, but it should be a consideration if you are planing on shooting large volumes of ammo.

[USSR]

The 6.5x284 is also reported to be hard on barrels.

Yep, 1100-1200 rounds and the barrel is toast. And a .264 Win Mag would be even worse.:eek: Also, no need to go the AI route and fire-form cases with the 6.5x55 for LR shooting. With RL22 I can push the 142SMK's at 2950fps, which is the same velocity that most of the 6.5-.284 shooters use.

Don

[BsChoy]

disregard misread USSR's post

[doopt22]

I would like to thank you all for your info. It has been helpful. I think i am going with the 6.5x55. I am set up for reloading. so what are some of your best loads. what bullets and powder do you like. thanks

[USSR]

doopt22,

Using Lapua brass and 142SMK's:

46.0gr H4350 = 2925fps
47.4gr N160 = 2925fps
48.0gr RL22 = 2950fps

Use these loads ONLY in a modern action, and not in a Mauser 96 or earlier action.

Don

[terry264]

Don't yote hunt with the SMK's. They are not designed to expand. Only for target use.

[Bob F.]

Fellow at the club range last yr had a custom 6.5-.284 built. Loaded up some rounds (dunno what) and popped off three and chrono'd. Oops, something wrong, -EXACT same fps all three rds. Checked target-one hole!

Wasn't there, didn't see it!

Bob

BTW: LOVE my 6.5x55 Model '96 and my Mod 38!!

[Clark]

I have been shooting 35 gr IMR4895 with 140 gr in an 1896 Mauser 6.5x55.

Some I hunt with is telling me that he shoots deer with 40 gr 4895 and 140gr.

But I think I have all the power I need.

[Gewehr98]

From a 6.5x55? Serious, high-pressure compressed loads there, evidently.

With RL22 I can push the 142SMK's at 2950fps, which is the same velocity that most of the 6.5-.284 shooters use.


I'm at a smidgen over 3000fps with the same bullet from my 6.5-06, and that case is almost 9mm longer than the Swede's. That's hardcore! :what:

[USSR]

Gewehr98,

LOL, filled pretty much to the brim, but not what I'd call a compressed load. The 6.5x55 will hold about 49gr of powder, as long as the bullet isn't seated too deep. While it's beyond the low SAAMI pressure listed for the 6.5x55, it's in line with the pressure generated by more modern cartridges fired in currently made rifles. That's why I said "don't fire this in your '96 Mauser. I'm using a Terry Cross built Winchester CRF long action with an 28" Obermeyer barrel and a McMillan Prone stock.

Don
http://people.clarityconnect.com/webpages3/ussr/Win6.5x55.jpg

[Gewehr98]

I run 59.0gr of drop-tubed H4831SC in my 6.5-06 with the 123gr Lapua Scenar, and the bullet does a mild compression on that powder column at the base of the neck, for 3200fps. For the 142gr MatchKings and 139gr Lapua Scenars, my powder column is still close to the shoulder at 54 or so grains. I feared I might be running pressures too hot, and I use reformed RWS 7x64 brass for safety's sake. I understand you're running the hotrod Swede in a Model 70 action, I'm just curious what your pressures are like. :eek:

[USSR]

Gewehr98,

Not to worry pressure-wise. I had a friend run the load thru Quick Load software, and it's a safe load. Also, no high pressure signs on the brass. Don't know if you've used RL22 or not, but it delivers very high velocity in both my 6.5 Swede and my .30-06. I ran into the same kind of disbelief 4 years ago when MontanaMarine and I started using RL22 to run 190SMK's out of our Tactical .30-06's at 2900fps. People would say "why, that's factory .300WM velocity". We'd simply smile and say "Yeah, it ain't your grandpa's '06, is it".

Don