which 6.5?

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Looking for your thoughts.

I am planning on rebarreling my 223 browning Low Wall to 6.5. the question is, which one? The rifle was available in 260, so I know the action is safe for those pressures. I have been looking at three options:

260
6.5x55mm - same ballistics as 260, but lower pressure
6.5 BRM - slightly lower ballistics, low pressure and rimmed. That mnakes it a little easier in the low wall, as it has no ejector (unlike the high wall)

Which would you oick and why. Feel free to suggest alternative.

The goal is a light drop block that will be used primarily on white tail. As the rifle is only 6.5 pound I want something without a bruising recoil that is accurate and useable out to about 400 yards max (150-250 yards is typical shooting range where I hunt)

Thanks
 
With a single shot rifle like that I think I'd rebarrel it in 6.5x55 Swede because you can easily increase the pressure to modern cartridge levels with complete safety, and approach so called Magnum performance with much lower powder requirements.

The deal would be to figure out which bullet you'll use most often and have the barrel throated for that bullet. That might enable you to use the long 160 grain bullets with their high ballistic coefficient. You might have to specify a tighter twist for the long bullets.
 
I'm not worried about 'magnum' velocity. The velocity of the standard factory Swede or 260 is fine. My reason for picking the 6.5 Swede would be to get lower pressures than the 260 by using a bigger case.

I plan on a 1:8.5 twsit so I can use heavies if I want to.
 
I'm leaning towards the Swede, because the low wall was never meant to be a super strong action. I know that with modern steels, higher pressures are safe in this action, but the low pressure of the Swede is appealing.

Anyone have experience with 6.5 BRM? I'd really like a rimmed case if i can find one I like. Forming cases is not an issue.
 
6.5 swedish if you reload, if you don't and don't plan on it, then may as well go with the .260, most factory loads I've seen are a little bit faster in the .260.
 
do reoad, but if I reload Swede, it will be to factopry specs. Not looking for a supermagnum. Just a nice, accurate and low recoiling deer rifle.
 
what about the grendel? wolf makes ammo for this, and it is a great round. next I would do the 6.5 swede. cheaper and lots of available ammo for it, than a 260.
 
I want you to go with the 6.5 BRM just so we can all hear about it. I have a soft spot in my heart for rimmed cartridges AND 6.5s. It looks like a classic round for a classic rifle to me--if what they've said about it on the internet is true.
 
Grendel cheaper than 260? Available? I have yet to see Grendel in any sporting good shop around here. 260 and Swede are easy to find.
The other problem with Grendel is the odd rim size, 0.452. There's no extractor for the low wall to fit it, and it's rimless.

Really not an option.
 
I have to admit I am interested in the 6.5 BRM. I'd like a rimmed cartridge and was considering 6.5/30-30. But 6.5 BRM has already formed brass from Eabco. I just have no experience with the round, and haven't heard from anyone who does. Also looking for reamers.
 
Tod,

I shoot the Swede in F Class competition. Quality brass (Lapua, Norma, etc.) is available for the Swede; not so for the .260 Rem. Don't know anything about the 6.5 BRM.

Don
 
Yeah, the 260 brass situation sucks. I've been resizing WW or Lapua 308 to 260, that how much I like Remington brass. I hear Federal and Norma will be making 260 brass. I don't know of Lapua will bother, since they have their own 6.5x47.

In any case, this is going to be strictly a deer getter. I'm not worried about super prrecision. I'd like to deliver a 120 gn TSX at about 2600 fps. As this is a 6.5 pound rifle, I don't care to be beaten up by recoil. If I can get 1.5 to 2 MOA, that will work. In it's current 223 form it does subMOA. I plan on using something like a Lilja 1:8.5, so i think my expectations are easily met.

The more I look at the 6.5 BRM, the more I think it well suited to this rifle. Brass and does are available from eabco. My main concern is finding a reamer.
 
the swede is an excellant hunting round. it gives high sectional density and ballistic coefficient is good. it really punches above it's wieght in 140 gr loads. in the UK it is very popular.

steve
 
I really don't have a suggestions, this is more of a post to find out how it works. I really have been considering building a single shot Sweede as deer rifle. So I am interested.

I like the 260, but just have a soft spot in me heart for the 6.5X55.

Good luck.
 
Swede has some advantages in an older action. Because Swede is a larger case, it can deliver 260 performance at a lower pressure. If you handload, you can also run 6.5x55 to higher pressure for better performance.
 
I don't have any info on the 6.5 BR. Personally, I would go with the 6.5x30-30. Been around a long time, so there is loading info on it, cases are easy to find and easy to form. Neat round that not everybody has. Easy on the shoulder, and still puts out a 6.5 caliber bullet with plenty of authority.
 
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