How do you choose between 6.5, 6.8, and 7mm?

[viking499]

I never had a problem finding 6.5x55 ammo locally. And I've also found it easily online from Grafs and AIM Surplus as well. I think Prvi is still making production 6.5 ammo also. I'll agree it won't be as common as mainstream calibers, but it's not exactly scarce either.

I like the fact that the 6.5x55 performs better in the field than it would appear on paper. It is about the mildest recoiling deer caliber I've ever shot and it's unique. I really enjoy the round.

+1.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

The European designation for the .30-06 is 7.62 X 63mm. I do believe you'll find that the 7mm Express, aka the .280 Remington, is a much closer match to the 7 X 64mm Brenneke than the .270 Winchester. When the ought-6 is necked down to 7mm it basically becomes the .280 Remington. And the .280 is a much more versatile cartridge, owing to the vastly superior bullet selection, than the .270 (actually .277") Winchester. Just my opinion, but if the .280 had come on the scene first, and Jack O'Conner had been a fireman instead of a gun writer, the .270 wouldn't exist. No great loss either.

900F

 

[Cleveland48]

I have had great success with the 6.5's and the 270. I killed 20 deer with 260 performance was excellent. Now I own a 6.5 Swede have killed 4 or 5 with it. The performance between the two on deer was identical. So that would come up between short/ long action for u depending on preference. I killed 24 deer with 270 shooting old power points and old silvertips, out of those 24 only 2 resulted in following very short blood trails. Since u handload I would choose the Swede or 270 both can be loaded up in safe actions. Killed a couple with 7 mag and honestly was not that impressed for cost to shoot and recoil. I prefer the 7mm-08 over it for these southern deer. My personal opinion is the 270 is one of the greatest if not the greatest 300-400 yard deer rifles. But honestly everyone you mentioned would be just fine and work great. My personal pick is my model 70. Classic featherweight in 6.5 x 55 shoots flat unbelievable penetration, and hardly any recoil.

 

[WestKentucky]

I chose .270 win 14 years ago as a good balance of power and capability. Rest assured that the .270 is not outdated and more than 9mm and 38spl are. With 6.8mm growing in popularity and the already good base of .277 hunting bullets your options are actually growing. Bullets I have used have been everything from 75gr. To 175 gr. and can be tailored for anything from groundhogs to elk. Barrel lengths run from 18 up and guns can be had in pump, semi, bolt, single, auto, and double.

My vote is .270win.

 

[valnar]

srawl,
Plinking 6.5x55 is easy to find. It's Prvi Partizan. Granted its not cheap (anymore) but what is these days?

I settled on 6.5x55 Swede, but for you I'd recommend the 7mm-08. The biggest reason I chose 6.5x55 is I bought m/38 and m/96 surplus rifles first, so getting a CZ in 6.5x55 was a no-brainer. I'm also of Swedish ancestry, so there's that.

If you don't want a Swedish Mauser for nostalgia and will only get the single rifle, I'd go with the 7mm-08.

(All this assumes a bolt action, of course. AR15 rifles have other 6.5 & 6.8 choices).

 

[MistWolf]

When the ought-6 is necked down to 7mm it becomes the .280 Remington

The shoulders are also pushed forward. What really hurt the 280 Remington was the decision by Big Green to keep pressures (and thus velocities) lower than the 270 so it would be safe to use in the Remington pump action and self loading rifles. A real bad decision as both rifles were also available in 270 Winchester.

The 280 Remington is one of my favorite calibers

 

[Legionnaire]

I voted 6.5. For me, a .260 Remington.

I have hunted with a .308 for years, and had a long-range rifle built in that cartridge. While I'm not particularly recoil sensitive, I found that I just didn't enjoy long range sessions with the .308. In contrast, I can shoot my .243 all day. Research showed that the various 6.5s are very popular in long-range practical tactical competitions. I wanted a true short action, and liked the fact that I can form .260 brass out of the sizable stash of .243 and .308 cases I have amassed. So I settled on .260 Remington. I now have a long-range rifle in that caliber, and just picked up a yet-unfired Model 7 in .260 for hunting.

(Still have a couple of .308s, though.)

 

[razorback2003]

If you are concerned about ammo availability, then I would look at 270 or to possibly 7mm 08. You can find 270 just about anywhere just like 30-06 or 308. 7mm 08 is less available and more expensive than 270 but you can still find it. The others are hard to find unless you have a Bass Pro or Cabelas close to where you are at, order online, or a gun store orders ammo for you.

If I wasn't concerned about buying ammo, I'd go with 260 because there are good reloading components available.

7 rem mag to me is a decent cartridge but there are some downsides to 7 mag. 7 rem mag ammo is sometimes 50% more than similar 30-06 or 270 ammo. The brass life is not as good as standard cartridges like 270 or 7mm 08. Brass itself costs more than standard cartridges. There is a slight advantage on paper for 7 mag over say 30-06 but in the real world of hunting distances, I don't think it matters. The ammo is available though pretty much anywhere.

 

[627PCFan]

6.5 vs 7mm, both are slippery bullets. My second criteria, weights and bullet design. What am I trying to do with it? 3rd but maybe just as important. Brass. Can I get quality brass when I need it?