Suggestions for lightweight 6.5 hunting rifle

Am getting older and desire lighter rifle. 6.5 is caliber, but am open as to chamberings. Want to be able to effectively shoot deer at 500 yards. If conditions perfect might try shot at an Elk that far away. 130 and 140 grain bullets.

Rifle alone prefer 6.5lbs weight; is this possible?

Factory rifle suggestions?

Custom barrel for M70 action suggestions?

Chambering suggestion?

thanks

Fred in Boise

Yes, can be done and I would do a 6.5-300 wsm to fit that criteria. It is an excellent cartridge that works well in a short barrel light rifle.

So, what are your suggestions for getting it done???

Fred in Boise said:

Am getting older and desire lighter rifle. 6.5 is caliber, but am open as to chamberings. Want to be able to effectively shoot deer at 500 yards. If conditions perfect might try shot at an Elk that far away. 130 and 140 grain bullets.

Rifle alone prefer 6.5lbs weight; is this possible?

Factory rifle suggestions?

Custom barrel for M70 action suggestions?

Chambering suggestion?

thanks

Fred in Boise

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A realy good round for what you are looking for is the 6.5x47 Lapua. (Look at the ballistics).

Very accurate, very little recoil,great brass,fits is any short action,ETc.

I would use a # 4 or #5 contour 1 in 9 or 1 in 8 twist stainless barrel 22" to 24" long.

You could go a little lighter on the barrel But I wouldn't.

Get a good stock and a light weight scope (12 oz to 20oz) and the weight should be fine.

Just something to think about.

J E CUSTOM

My dad built a 6.5 Sherman last year on a M70 and it's impressive!!! http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f17/first-season-6-5-sherman-85980/

The 6.5x47 is a real keeper and there are great bullets, the case design is awesome and Lapua makes them. Some say it will shoot anything, they are awesome, even factory ammo shoots 1/2"

Lots of good barrels, but Broughton would be my choice. Make sure to have them flute it for you, they have a nice treatment system to stress relieve it.

Ok heres my take:
Mcmillan game scout stock with edge fill 26oz
Pierce titanium action with titanium recoil lug 40% lighter than steel
1 piece alluminim ringmounts from pierce eng
Aluminum bdl bottom metal
Jewel trigger
benchmark #4 fluted 25" 1-8 twist

Cartrige would be 6.5x47lapua or 6.5x284 and shoot the 140 or 130 berger and use lapua brass. I would have jim pierce build it and ceracoat it.

There you go! Expensive but this would be a hell of a cool setup. Jim pierce is a super nice guy you should give him a call.

Or just buy a tikka t3 in 6.5 x55 swiss

There are quite a few options that will work for your deer hunting scenario like the 6.5x55 (this would be my choice), 260 Rem, 6.5x47. But adding to it the elk scenario and IMO you need to go with one of the big 6.5's. I get a little squeamish with elk and small calibers in general, not saying they can't do it but just that you are increasing your odds significantly if things go wrong to have a lost animal.

So maybe look at the 6.5-284 and up in the power department and stick with the heavy for caliber bullets.

Scot E.

I have a 6.5x284. It is light. McM stock, Jewel trigger, Bartlein #3 SS bbl 24" long. It has a Stiller Predator action.

Another option is a 270 Weatherby Mag necked down to 6.5mm. Call McWhorter Custom Rifles as one of the guys there has a lot of experience with this one and it is also undeniably an elk round as well.

Will someone tell me what a 6.5 Sherman is?

With all the praise of the 6.5x284, I will likely keep to that chambering in the 6.5 diameter. Plus, I really enjoyed the article about it here: 6.5-284 Cartridge Guide Plus, the good thing about this caliber is the Lapua brass and Norma brass. Can't go wrong.

JB at Accuflite has chosen this caliber as his favorite and hunts elk frequently with the 150 grain Mega bullet. JB specializes in Sako rifles.

Fred in Boise said:

Am getting older and desire lighter rifle. 6.5 is caliber, but am open as to chamberings. Want to be able to effectively shoot deer at 500 yards. If conditions perfect might try shot at an Elk that far away. 130 and 140 grain bullets.

Rifle alone prefer 6.5lbs weight; is this possible?

Factory rifle suggestions?

Custom barrel for M70 action suggestions?

Chambering suggestion?

thanks

Fred in Boise

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.260 Rem or 6.5x284, Lilja, Bartlein, or Kreiger. Get them to match the contour of the new Coyote models, but go with a 24" length. Best of all worlds.

If it's a short action call winchester and see if you can order the Coyote Outback Stock, or find out who is making them for Winchester and call them direct.

I remembered this rifle from the LRH classified section.

It's right up your alley and awfully close to your desired weight.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f25/cooper-excalibur-6-5-creedmoor-nib-93064/

This one would certainly meet your criteria.

Remington 700 ADL 260 Rem - Sniper's Hide Forums

Here's another.

Beanland/Stiller 6x47L (new price) - Sniper's Hide Forums

Those should give you some ideas if nothing else.

Derek M. said:

I have a 6.5x284. It is light. McM stock, Jewel trigger, Bartlein #3 SS bbl 24" long. It has a Stiller Predator action.

Another option is a 270 Weatherby Mag necked down to 6.5mm. Call McWhorter Custom Rifles as one of the guys there has a lot of experience with this one and it is also undeniably an elk round as well.

Will someone tell me what a 6.5 Sherman is?

With all the praise of the 6.5x284, I will likely keep to that chambering in the 6.5 diameter. Plus, I really enjoyed the article about it here: 6.5-284 Cartridge Guide Plus, the good thing about this caliber is the Lapua brass and Norma brass. Can't go wrong.

JB at Accuflite has chosen this caliber as his favorite and hunts elk frequently with the 150 grain Mega bullet. JB specializes in Sako rifles.

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Derek...the 6.5 Sherman is a cartridge that I created a few years back when I shot the barrel out of my 6.5 A.I. Since I was building a wildcat anyway, I decided to improve on the A.I. (IMO) I used a .270 case to take advantage of the length to gain case capacity without sacrificing the neck length too much. I blew more taper out of the case and moved the shoulder farther forward. The result was a case that holds almost as much powder as the WSM and still has a .300" neck.I can reach 3200+ with 140's in a 26" barrel but accuracy and case life are good at 3150'. This cartridge will equal or beat a factory loading of the .264 mag with far less powder. It is very accurate and deadly at some pretty hefty ranges......Rich

I have not shot the Sherman but I can verify the cartridge will shoot very near the 264 winchester velocity wise by owning and testing other similar cartridges. My 264 Gibbs and 6.5-06 AI will shoot right with the 6.5-300 wsm. I started to recomend one of those but your lightweight criteria pushed me to the short action wsm. The past three days I have been shooting quite a bit and developing new loads for my 7mm JRS which is all you can get out of a 280 remington case. It will shoot right with a 7mm remington magnum. They will do everything hunting wise the '06 magnum length cartridges will do with less powder and a shorter, lighter barrel which are both important when considering a lightweight rifle. That is why these blown out 270 and 280 cases got so popular in the 60's and 70's. With the new components on the market now they are only better. They are more powerful cartridges than the ones off the smaller 284 case and would be better to support your elk criteria.

LTLR......do you have the specs on the JRS? I'm pretty sure the 280 Sherman has slightly more capacity......Rich