(.577 member)

09/09/20 02:09 PM

10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Articles in the past 5 years have beaten this caliber to death..But some interesting info in here.. History, case capacity, velocity info, etc...

https://www.rifleshootermag.com/editorial/10-best-65mm-rifle-cartridges-available/383957

DarylS

(.700 member)

10/09/20 02:15 AM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Seems well written. I was surprised to see the 6.5x55 capacity at 60.7gr. I've never measured any of mine.
In a modern action, it should indeed outclass the .260 Rem. by close to 100fps if loaded to the same pressure level.
The .260 Rem at 54.8gr. was expected.

85lc

(.375 member)

10/09/20 08:36 AM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Nice write-up. Ripp, thanks for sharing.

Many cartridges seem to be very usable for specific shooting. Some cartridges are more versatile than others. The ultra high case capacity seems to serve mostly bragging rights like having a F150 with an 800 HP engine, fum to impress your buds but not that practical around the farm.

NitroX

(.700 member)

10/09/20 06:36 PM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Seeing this is NitroExpress.com I am not going to disappoint and not say ho hum.

Whuke a 6.5x55 is first mentioned. One of the best by far. And I like the .264 Win Mag being mentioned ,,,,

No mention of the 6.5x54 MS, 6.5x53R and the numerous other mil cartridges. Or the original cracker 6.5x68 or its replacement the 6.5x65.
But lots of modern reinvent the whweels wannabes.

Ho Hum.

PS Have to read the rest of the article, got bored with some Weatherby Magnum or something.

DoubleD

(.400 member)

11/09/20 01:11 AM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Huh? 6.5 Grendel.

" it’s optimized for use with 6.5mm bullets in the 120- to 130-grain range."

What do the mean by optimized? BBL Twist? No load research/developement for heavier bullets?

I think I will stick with my Swede in the his caliber.

Ripp

(.577 member)

11/09/20 01:57 AM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Quote:

Huh? 6.5 Grendel.

" it’s optimized for use with 6.5mm bullets in the 120- to 130-grain range."

What do the mean by optimized? BBL Twist? No load research/developement for heavier bullets?

I think I will stick with my Swede in the his caliber.

I believe the hopes with the Grendel were that it was to be used in a military platform.. as it is, the 6mmARC seems to have won out on that one per the information I have seen recently...

I am speculating that is perhaps part of what they were referring to.

DarylS

(.700 member)

11/09/20 01:59 AM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

I agree, DD - my Varberger does well with 120SST's as well as 160 Hornady and Sierras.

3DogMike

(.400 member)

11/09/20 11:26 AM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Nitro John nailed it pretty well: “... But lots of modern reinvent the wheels wannabes. ...”

It sells magazine column inch (waste of) space.

And since this was written for the USA market the writer ignored the 6.5x57 (.256 Gibbs Magnum is same, but neck 2mm shorter). Love the classic cartridges...They still get the job done.
Similar ballistics in the old days, 140 grain bullet at ~2600’/sec and possible to handload to higher velocities.
- Mike

NitroX

(.700 member)

11/09/20 02:21 PM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

BTW in the article I think it is stated the 6.5x55 needs a long or longer action? Is this correct? I think it only needs a standard length action.

3DogMike

(.400 member)

11/09/20 11:53 PM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Quote:

BTW in the article I think it is stated the 6.5x55 needs a long or longer action? Is this correct? I think it only needs a standard length action.

Nitro John,
Once again colloquial “American” english usage strikes......where was the editor?
The OAL of the Swede is 3.15” which fits in a “standard” length action, which is also called a “long” action here. (As opposed to “short” .223 length actions).
Not to be confused with magnum length actions.

- Mike

rigbymauser

(.400 member)

12/09/20 05:59 PM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Often the 6,5x55 from factory are made on a .30-06 length action. If one wants to settle with 120-130grain bullets a .308win length action is just fine.

From overhere perspective the 6,5x55 is by far the best taking accuracy and availability in ammunition. There might some other special 6,5mm that does 0,5% better but it ain`t worth the flip.

In regards to 6,5s..I went shooting a kurz mauser Model M in 6,5x54 here last weekend. Lovely little thing for the truly dedicated roedeer hunter who insist using a boltaction rifle.(the gun was once mine).

NitroX

(.700 member)

12/09/20 06:27 PM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Quote:

Quote:

BTW in the article I think it is stated the 6.5x55 needs a long or longer action? Is this correct? I think it only needs a standard length action.

Nitro John,
Once again colloquial “American” english usage strikes......where was the editor?
The OAL of the Swede is 3.15” which fits in a “standard” length action, which is also called a “long” action here. (As opposed to “short” .223 length actions).
Not to be confused with magnum length actions.

- Mike

Thanks. So the author was claiming the 6.5x55 used a long action and so another cartridge was better because it used the same length action? Which is exactly what I thought it said.

DoubleD

(.400 member)

12/09/20 10:49 PM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

This article brings up a point-ever notice how, with a couple of exceptions print writers tend to avoid chat rooms like this?

I communicate regularly with a couple of writers and they absolutely hate boards like this. They do not like to be questioned.

In the article linked above the comments are turned off. Wonder what would be said if they were on. We only have to look here to know.

aromakr

(.375 member)

13/09/20 12:31 AM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

I'm going to jump in here with my limited knowledge of 6.5mm's. I choose the Creedmoor, and not sorry I did. I've been a handloader over 60 years and have never found a cartridge that was easier to load for than the 6.5 Creedmoor. In my opinion it is by far the easiest cartridge I have ever loaded for accuracy. The rifle is an off the shelf short action Rem 700, that can be found in any gun shop in the country, nothing custom. It will consistently produce 3/8" five shot groups at 100 yards off the bench. Love my Creedmoor!

Bob

MikeRowe

(.333 member)

13/09/20 01:37 AM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Blah, blah, blah.
.256 Mannlichers (rimmed or rimless) have been killing game deader'n hell for well over a hundred years. That same game won't know the difference with any of these other cartridges theoretical benefits. They're not any tougher now than they were then.

3DogMike

(.400 member)

13/09/20 02:29 AM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Quote:

Blah, blah, blah.
.256 Mannlichers (rimmed or rimless) have been killing game deader'n hell for well over a hundred years. That same game won't know the difference with any of these other cartridges theoretical benefits. They're not any tougher now than they were then.

~125 years? Mike uses Elmer Keith's quote: "Hell, I was THERE!"

- Mike

85lc

(.375 member)

13/09/20 02:59 AM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Also didn't mention the 256 Newton which has stellar performance but unfortunately there are no current rifles or ammo.

Ripp

(.577 member)

14/09/20 09:49 PM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Quote:

I'm going to jump in here with my limited knowledge of 6.5mm's. I choose the Creedmoor, and not sorry I did. I've been a handloader over 60 years and have never found a cartridge that was easier to load for than the 6.5 Creedmoor. In my opinion it is by far the easiest cartridge I have ever loaded for accuracy. The rifle is an off the shelf short action Rem 700, that can be found in any gun shop in the country, nothing custom. It will consistently produce 3/8" five shot groups at 100 yards off the bench. Love my Creedmoor!

Bob

I hear that from almost everyone that has one.. AND incredibly accurate..have a Tikka modular that shoots near .5" group at 100 with factory Hornady ammo.. as time is precious, all I shoot out of it.. probably as good as I am going to get even if I reload for it..

aromakr

(.375 member)

15/09/20 12:03 AM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Ripp:

And for all practical purposes .5" group is more than needed in a hunting rifle. For myself I like to squeeze everything I can out of a rifle.

Bob

Ripp

(.577 member)

15/09/20 07:36 AM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

Quote:

Ripp:

And for all practical purposes .5" group is more than needed in a hunting rifle. For myself I like to squeeze everything I can out of a rifle.

Bob

Indeed.. Nothing wrong with that...

Remember the days when a 1 to 1.5" group was considered a great shooter??

szihn

(.400 member)

16/09/20 01:54 PM

Re: 10 Best 6.5mm cartridges available..

I like mine.
I have owned a few 6.5s in my life, but I am down to just one, and I like it better then all the others

Not because of the cartridge as much as the rifle it's in.
I have had one 260, one 264 Win mag, two 6.5 Swedes and one 6.5 Grendel but I like my 6.5X56 M/S more then the others. Not because of the cartridge as much as the rifle it's in. But the 160 grain RN bullet starting at 2330 FPS is killing everything I have shot with one round each.

It's a lot of fun to hunt with and gives me a feeling of accomplishment when I take game with it, which I have done now ......several times.
Here is one I got just a few years back.