Cartridge comparisons and the law of diminishing returns.

[jerkface11]

I'll see your .50bmg powder and raise you the 20mm cannon powder I use in the .264.

 

[rockydoc]

Remember, the original .264" 140gr factory load was a 2-diameter bullet.

Are these 2 diameter bullets still available? They would work well in my .260 Rem. which has a VERY short throat

 

[Old Time Hunter]

Now figure this...a 6.5 X 55 Swede utilizing a 120gr SPBT and 39.0 grains of Varget will push that pill almost 2900fps. Maybe cartridge design has something to do with it.

 

[jerkface11]

That sounds like the load a .260 would use to get the same velocity. So maybe it doesn't.

 

[Skyshot]

You can always load the .264 Win mag down to duplicate the other 6.5's but you can't load the "efficiant" 6.5's up to the mags level. A couple of hundred feet per second is a good bit more energy on target. Yes, overbores are powder and barrel hungry. But, a 260 is not a 264 Win mag a 7mm08 is not a 7mm rem mag and and a 308 or 06 is not a 300 win mag. Everyone has thier favorites, but the smaller 6.5's won't have that knockout factor the big 264 has.

 

[bailer]

I plan to always have at least one .264 for open country hunting in the west. When it's not needed I happily use the .308 or 30-06. I could never bring myself to do it to a gun with sentimental value, but my Savage 99 .308 in my safe would make a fantastic .260 for my kids.