Best 6.5 for Hunting?
- Thread starter WisBorn
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25-20 WCF
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This must be a troll thread….
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Boomholzer
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The heavy sarcasm was missed by a few, not even with a quote from Fletch or a comparison to the Nosler .280/7mm and .277. I have nothing against the Creed itself, I'm more a critic resultant from the multitude of discussions and misconceptions from hunters when comparing it to both other 6.5 brethren and more traditional cartridges like the 308. The ballistics are inherent to the 6.5 pill. If one was going to tell me that the bulk of the CM shooters were just *itching* to get their hands on a higher BC, SD, 6.5mm load chambered in available Farm 'n Barn rifles, I call BS. It solicited a emotional response, which was not the original indent but somewhat to my point or opinion on the matter. Excellent marketing on Hornady's behalf and great rifle manufacturer support.
I am partial to (use) the 6.5x55, 6.5-08
, 6.5-284, 264WM. The PRC doesn't really do much over the Norma. The 26 Nosler is getting a bad rap for throat erosion or eating barrels. The last hunting rifle I put together was a 7mm-08. My 6.5 use is a carry over from LR shooting. For Midwest hunting, it's hard to dismiss the balance in a 7mm pill. Maybe time to resurrect a .284Win.
I am partial to (use) the 6.5x55, 6.5-08
, 6.5-284, 264WM. The PRC doesn't really do much over the Norma. The 26 Nosler is getting a bad rap for throat erosion or eating barrels. The last hunting rifle I put together was a 7mm-08. My 6.5 use is a carry over from LR shooting. For Midwest hunting, it's hard to dismiss the balance in a 7mm pill. Maybe time to resurrect a .284Win.
troy fairweather
Member
you for got the manbun.I don't have the Chuck Norris beard, plus I look like an idiot wearing the Tac glasses and camo cargo pants so that's why I don't own a 6.5 Creedmoor..
The .284 is one of my favorites, that being said, the .280ai easily fills that roll and has a great running start already. The .284 was/is an excellent example of ahead of its time efficiency, just not quite in the right era or "perfect" design.The heavy sarcasm was missed by a few, not even with a quote from Fletch or a comparison to the Nosler .280/7mm and .277. I have nothing against the Creed itself, I'm more a critic resultant from the multitude of discussions and misconceptions from hunters when comparing it to both other 6.5 brethren and more traditional cartridges like the 308. The ballistics are inherent to the 6.5 pill. If one was going to tell me that the bulk of the CM shooters were just *itching* to get their hands on a higher BC, SD, 6.5mm load chambered in available Farm 'n Barn rifles, I call BS. It solicited a emotional response, which was not the original indent but somewhat to my point or opinion on the matter. Excellent marketing on Hornady's behalf and great rifle manufacturer support.
I am partial to (use) the 6.5x55, 6.5-08
DocRock
member
223 Remington or 375 H&H? Virtually the same question as asked.
Grendel has a little less reach than the others.
6.5x55, 260, 6.5 Creed etc., all more or less the same.
6.5 PRC and the Magna are different beasties and they provide more reach than all but a few people can make ethical kills with.
Grendel has a little less reach than the others.
6.5x55, 260, 6.5 Creed etc., all more or less the same.
6.5 PRC and the Magna are different beasties and they provide more reach than all but a few people can make ethical kills with.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Greer is a benchrest shooter and the rifle he used weighs 27lbs. The 6.5CM was designed for PRS matches. It shoots as flat (or flatter) as the .300WinMag without the recoil and muzzle blast, while fitting the AR10 platform. PRS requires movement and shooting in different positions at varying ranges. The rifles weigh half as much. Totally different shooting discipline.
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marksman13
Member
Currently, I own a Grendel, a Creedmoor and a X55. If I was going to choose one 6.5 cartridge to hunt a variety of game at a variety of distances though, it would be the 6.5 PRC.
Hugger-4641
Member
Pesonally, I don't hunt with 6.5cm. I prefer my 30-30 out to 200yds, my 30-06 for 200 to 400, and my 300wm for anything further. However, I have taught a few youngsters to hunt over the years. Up until a few years ago, .243 was my choice to put in hands of 14yr old first time hunter. Today it is the 6.5cm.
troy fairweather
Member
you got to do a no1 in prc, be cool if that's what ruger picks or the years production.
.308 Norma
Member
For hunting, I don’t think there was a better 6.5 before, and I don’t think there’s been a better one since than the mighty .264 Winchester Magnum - introduced in 1958 from what I've read.
BTW, that gorgeous Model 70 Westerner is stretched across the tops of two pages in one of the 1962 Winchester-Western catalogs that my mom and dad had in their country grocery store/gas station. I was 14 at the time, and I spent more time studying those catalogs (and the ballistics charts in the backs) than I spent studying my school books. It’s a good thing there wasn’t an internet with gun forums back then; I probably would have been ruined.
BTW, that gorgeous Model 70 Westerner is stretched across the tops of two pages in one of the 1962 Winchester-Western catalogs that my mom and dad had in their country grocery store/gas station. I was 14 at the time, and I spent more time studying those catalogs (and the ballistics charts in the backs) than I spent studying my school books. It’s a good thing there wasn’t an internet with gun forums back then; I probably would have been ruined.
marksman13
Member
Absolutely. Been kinda halfway looking for a No. 1 in 6.5-284, but if Ruger will drop a No. 1 in 6.5 PRC, that’s the route I would go just because of factory ammo availability.
rayatphonix
Member
Ruger did a run of 1V in 6.5 Norma’s about 5 years ago. I have one and it shoots very well. If they did the same for the PRC I’d buy one in a minute.
troy fairweather
Member
My m18 mauser will push a 147 hdy at 3100 with its 24" barrel , soft hornady brass has been the problem tho. A no1 with a 28" or 30" would be very cool. Trying to find some of the new lapua brass or adg .
someguy2800
Member
This is why 6.5 creedmoor exists. On the left is a 308 win, middle is a 147 gr hornady, right is a loaded 6.5 creedmoor. As you can see if you simply neck down a 308 case to make 260 rem, then the ogive of the bullet barely sticks out of the case mouth. If you load the bullet out longer then it doesn’t fit in the magazine. The solution is to shorten the case until the bullet fits, then you blow the shoulder out till it’s the same capacity as you started with. Viola, now you have a 260 except the bullets fit in the case, and the cases fit in the gun.
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gunmechanic
Member
troy its andy are you home yet
troy fairweather
Member
Check your pm Andy.
mgmorden
Member
6.5 Creedmoor is common and available right now so for that purpose I'd say it is "best", but from a performance standpoint there's a whole bunch of them (6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55, .260 Rem, 6.5 Arisaka, 6.5 Carcano, etc) that are all "close enough".
At the moment I only own a 6.5 Creedmoor (since they make cheaper rifles in that) and a Carcano (surplus). Honestly if I were going to hunt with iron sights that Carcano would be mighty tempting. Its quite light and points well.
At the moment I only own a 6.5 Creedmoor (since they make cheaper rifles in that) and a Carcano (surplus). Honestly if I were going to hunt with iron sights that Carcano would be mighty tempting. Its quite light and points well.
The 6.5 creed was designed and intended for the LR shooter. Some manufacturers decided to take it and market it as a hunting rifle. They did well and accomplished what they set out to do. Sell more guns and ammo. Just like back in the day when the .270 was marketed very well. They will come up up with some new wildcat in the future and do the same when 6.5 sales slow. I never bought into it. I can do anything a 6.5 can do with a .284 all day long for hunting purposes. Long live the 7-08...
JFrank
Member
The one thing about world record groups is that they are a snap shot in time, while Charles record is excellent a 6 or 10 target aggregate is even more impressive IMO.
I just witnessed a WR where the shooter didn't win the relay.
JFrank
Member
Could you translate into farm boy speak please ?
someguy2800
Member
Farmer Bill got a contract to haul square bales to a big dude ranch. He needs to deliver 200 bales a week so he bought a 7x32 foot gooseneck to haul them. But when he got home the trailer didn't fit in the shed, it was too long. So he sold it and bought an 8x28 foot gooseneck instead so he can get the shed door to close.
Offfhand
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The 6.5X54 Mannlicher was inexplicably omitted from the OP's list of 6.5's for hunting, as it is one of the all-time greatest calibers in terms of actual recorded performance, as favorites of renown hunters and even in popular literature. It was the favorite caliber of famed elephant hunter WDM "Karamojo" Bell, who killed some 300 elephant with his 6.5 Mannlicher before ammo became unavailable and he had to switch to the 7x57 Mauser. Also used by H. Duncan Dunlap collecting the vast assortment of big game specimens for the Natural History Museum in DC, and favored by James Clark in collecting the world's great sheep. Also the favorite of legendary white hunter Phillip Percival, who guided and schooled Hemingway on his first safari. And Hemingway himself, echoing Percival's recommendations, reckoned the .257 Mannlicher (as it was known in British hunting circles.) was good medicine for lions, and then proceeded to it make it Margot Macomber's caliber of choice for knocking off her husband in "The short Happy Life of Francis Macomber".
So how could anyone not put the 6.5X54 at top of the list of great 6.5's, or any lists of all the great hunting calibers? And not leaving out that the 6.5X54 Mannlichers are also among the classiest hunting rifles ever built, like this one:
So how could anyone not put the 6.5X54 at top of the list of great 6.5's, or any lists of all the great hunting calibers? And not leaving out that the 6.5X54 Mannlichers are also among the classiest hunting rifles ever built, like this one:
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OP
OP
WisBorn
Contributing Member
Sorry about missing the 6.5x54 and any other 6.5 favorites. I copied and pasted the list from the Outdoor Life article into the OP.
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