6mm's vs 6.5mm's
- Thread starter bme27
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anothernewb
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6.5X55 Sweedish, myself.
+1 on that.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Sort of apples and oranges. .243 is mostly deer and smaller. .256 is a bit above varmint use and, depending on case capacity, gets into elk territory.
Seems more about a user's intent rather than individual merits.
Seems more about a user's intent rather than individual merits.
USSR
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+2.
Don
243winxb
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Reloadron
Contributing Member
Scooter22
Member
Depends on what you want it for. Your comparing apples to oranges. 6mm bullets range from 70 to 105 or so grains. 6.5mm 100 to 160 or so.
barnbwt
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This. I'm not expert (yet) but it certainly seems that the transition between 'full size' and 'little bitty' bullets occurs at around 6.25mm diameter or so, at least for most common profiles. Volume/mass decreases with the square of the radius, and with a jacket already taking up some of that, my guess is the slope of the equation starts getting steep right around there (at least steep enough that the differences between adjacent calibers aren't so pronounced going from 7mm to 7.62mm, for instance)
6mm is nice that it's a small size (recoil) yet still happens to have a lot of good high-BC bullets made for it --something that many similar or smaller sizes don't have available (market forces, not physics laws). Wider bullets of the same weight (recoil) definitely don't have that option.
TCB
browningguy
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My current long range rifle is a .243, when it's time to rebarrel it will become 6.5 Creedmoor.
farmerboy78
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I'll say 6.5 Creedmoor as I have one in a savage lrp
Steel Horse Rider
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My first rifle was (and still is) a Remington 788 in 6mm Remington. Whomever thinks it is low recoil has a skewed sense of recoil.... I also have several other rifles in the 6.5mm including but not limited to the Swede, multiple Type 38 Arisaka's, a Carcano, and a Type 44 carbine. The 6.5 is definitely an accurate cartridge as all of my 6.5's attest, BUT, do not think the 6mm Remington is underpowered nor marginal for anything the 6.5 is capable of killing. It is an erroneous assumption.
Gtscotty
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The .243 is the only 6mm I've had, and it was a good deer gun. I'm really liking my 6.5 Creedmoor these days, so far only for target purposes, but I hear the siren call of a nice light similarly chambered deer rifle. I've also been down the 6.5x55 road, but couldn't figure out what that cartridge did that the stumpier 6.5's couldn't do just as well. If I'm going with a long action I prefer 6.8mm and 7.62mm to 6.5mm.
Hokkmike
Member
I have shot the 6.5x55, former Olympic target caliber - *hint *hint, for over 35 years. GREAT SUCCESS.
It is probably the idea deer rifle round. It is also flat enough for varmints.
The Swede has the performance of a .270 with the recoil and manners of a .243.
Other good choices would include the .260 Remington, .257 Roberts, 7mm08, and the venerable 7x57.
It is probably the idea deer rifle round. It is also flat enough for varmints.
The Swede has the performance of a .270 with the recoil and manners of a .243.
Other good choices would include the .260 Remington, .257 Roberts, 7mm08, and the venerable 7x57.
Marty B
Member
Another vote for 260
Reloadron
Contributing Member
I still go with the 6.5 X 55 Swede or the .260 Remington (the 6.7-08
) That is unless your last of Big Game includes really thick skinned big game. Ron
there are really just 3 or 4 considerations
6mm has significantly less recoil and is easier to see your own trace
6mm can be pushed (in popular short action non-magnum cartridges) fast enough that it is within a tenth of the 6.5mm dope also comparing short action non-magnums. i.e. it makes up in velocity what it loses in BC
6mm has significantly less umph, kicks up less dirt when you miss, moves targets less when you hit and every match there is someone complaining about getting a hit on a 1000+ yard target that the ROs didn't see with a 6mm. this is only a consideration for steel, not paper or electronic targets if that's your game
6.5mm has significantly better barrel life. roughly 2x. if you figure a barrel costs $600, then you're looking at 20 cents a shot for 6.5 vs 40 cents a shot for 6mm, give or take, just in the cost of steel and gunsmithing, not counting ammo components. of course, you can push the 6mm slower and get better barrel life.
6mm has significantly less recoil and is easier to see your own trace
6mm can be pushed (in popular short action non-magnum cartridges) fast enough that it is within a tenth of the 6.5mm dope also comparing short action non-magnums. i.e. it makes up in velocity what it loses in BC
6mm has significantly less umph, kicks up less dirt when you miss, moves targets less when you hit and every match there is someone complaining about getting a hit on a 1000+ yard target that the ROs didn't see with a 6mm. this is only a consideration for steel, not paper or electronic targets if that's your game
6.5mm has significantly better barrel life. roughly 2x. if you figure a barrel costs $600, then you're looking at 20 cents a shot for 6.5 vs 40 cents a shot for 6mm, give or take, just in the cost of steel and gunsmithing, not counting ammo components. of course, you can push the 6mm slower and get better barrel life.
For coyotes, deer, and the like 6mm. For deer, and larger game, and long range target work, 6.5
My dad chose a 6mm to shoot coyotes back in the day. He said he wanted a 6mm Rem because it could be loaded faster than 243. He chose 6mm as a dedicated coyote outfit, because of the speed and small holes in the fur which he would sew up after fleshing. He shot 87 gr. Hornady and used H380. Weaver K6 wide angle, Ruger M77V 24" barrel. He was never let down by that combination. And I watched him drop a running buck in its tracks.
My dad chose a 6mm to shoot coyotes back in the day. He said he wanted a 6mm Rem because it could be loaded faster than 243. He chose 6mm as a dedicated coyote outfit, because of the speed and small holes in the fur which he would sew up after fleshing. He shot 87 gr. Hornady and used H380. Weaver K6 wide angle, Ruger M77V 24" barrel. He was never let down by that combination. And I watched him drop a running buck in its tracks.
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