6.5 long action hunting rifle opinions

[Riflehunter1776]

Just one additional thought, the cost to rent a reamer from 4D reamers is only $35. So him not having the reamer shouldn't be an issue.

yep, that's who I've rented from in the past.

 

[Riflehunter1776]

For me the 6.5x284 is the current measuring stick for 6.5's. It's right at the crossroads of being enough-without being to much.

He certainly has valid points, and I'm sure it will make a fine rifle.

For me it would depend a lot on what style of rifle I was building. In medium weight classic style hunting rifle the 6.5-284 is a solid choice, but there are a number of solid choices, with the Sherman's and AI's in the mix

In a good rifle excellent hunting accuracy can be obtained by more intense cartridges. I would prefer more case capacity, as they pay off with the heavier 6.5 bullets available now, and on the horizon. Higher retained velocity yields better terminal performance.

Whichever way you choose I'd make sure I got a barrel with enough twist to use the full line of 6.5's out there.

Good Luck!

thanks. the barrel is a krieger 1/8"

 

[Trevor Ogden]

I would suggest the 6.5x284 or the 6.5 GAP4s. Those are my two favorite but I don't own either yet.... I am also a big fan of being able to buy factory brass and easily which some people don't really care about. Why I would agree that a good smith should be able to make either one shoot good. I know the 6.5x284 is inherently a good accurate cartridge. I don't know much about the 6.5-06ai.

 

[Riflehunter1776]

6.5 Sherman pushing a Berger 155 Elite Hunter

I was thinking about a 120 or 130 gr bullet with any of these 6.5's. I don't need to go with an extreme long range projectile because 600 yards is about the max of how far I can see on huntable land here. Maybe up to 700 but that's getting into real heavy tangles of undergrowth. Anything beyond those bordering woods, and I'm looking onto neighboring properties which have their own hunters.

 

[Barrelnut]

I don't need to go with an extreme long range projectile because 600 yards is about the max of how far I can see on huntable land here.

With those parameters, why not just go 6.5x284 and make things easy on yourself? That is nothing that a 6.5x284 cannot handle. Any additional repeatable performance and accuracy from the others is always questionable.

You can buy a 100 count box of Lapua brass that 95 out of the 100 will weight within 1 gr. of each other. The other 5 might be 2 gr. difference.

 

[Deleted member 25294]

I was thinking about a 120 or 130 gr bullet with any of these 6.5's. I don't need to go with an extreme long range projectile because 600 yards is about the max of how far I can see on huntable land here. Maybe up to 700 but that's getting into real heavy tangles of undergrowth. Anything beyond those bordering woods, and I'm looking onto neighboring properties which have their own hunters.

I shoot a 6.5 SAUM and really like it
I would recommend sticking with the 6.5-06 Ackley, or the SAUM except I see you plan on shooting lighter bullets.
If you don't plan on shooting 140 grain plus on Elk sized game then the 6.5x284 probably does make the most sense

 

[Timnterra]

I helped a buddy do load work for a 6.5x284. We found his best accuracy at 2850. We found another accuracy node around 3000 but it was 1 MOA, this was a factory Remington 26 inch barrel. I haven't been real keen on 6.5x284 after doing that load work. I would be curious to see what velocity you find your accuracy once you get that 6.5x284 up and running.

I was really surprised when they told him the velocity of 2750, I just knew they had stopped before trying to find a higher node and basically robbed my friend. I assumed there would be no problem getting 3000 out of the 06 case. Either way, I will never send those guys a rifle for load development, that's for sure.

 

[Timnterra]

If i was shooting lighter bullets at a max of 600yds. I'd sell the long action and build a 6.5x47 lapua or a 6.5creedmoor on a short action. Both cartridges are very capable within that distance, they use less powder, the brass is cheaper, they have excellent factory ammo, the barrels last longer, they have a lot less recoil, and are thus more fun to shoot. I have taken deer from 140yds out to 980yds with a 6.5x47 lapua. Though I will not take a shot that long, with that rifle again, it did it's job.

 

[Riflehunter1776]

If i was shooting lighter bullets at a max of 600yds. I'd sell the long action and build a 6.5x47 lapua or a 6.5creedmoor on a short action. Both cartridges are very capable within that distance, they use less powder, the brass is cheaper, they have excellent factory ammo, the barrels last longer, they have a lot less recoil, and are thus more fun to shoot. I have taken deer from 140yds out to 980yds with a 6.5x47 lapua. Though I will not take a shot that long, with that rifle again, it did it's job.

I might eventually build a 6.5 creedmoor on one of my 308's that is nearing the end of it's barrel life, or even on that rem 673 that I had in the classifieds, if I can't get my money out of it. But I already have a couple of 6.5x55 swedes in that performance ballpark, and I want to use these actions and stocks which I already have on hand rather than start from scratch.

 

[Timnterra]

I might eventually build a 6.5 creedmoor on one of my 308's that is nearing the end of it's barrel life, or even on that rem 673 that I had in the classifieds, if I can't get my money out of it. But I already have a couple of 6.5x55 swedes in that performance ballpark, and I want to use these actions and stocks which I already have on hand rather than start from scratch.

I understand completely, it's hard to guess what's going on behind the scenes. (Like you already owning a 6.5 Swede.) In my opinion, there is always a good excuse to build another rifle in a good long range caliber!

 

[CMP70306]

What about the .264 Win Mag, how does that compare to the 6.5-06AI?

 

[MudRunner2005]

I was thinking about a 120 or 130 gr bullet with any of these 6.5's. I don't need to go with an extreme long range projectile because 600 yards is about the max of how far I can see on huntable land here. Maybe up to 700 but that's getting into real heavy tangles of undergrowth. Anything beyond those bordering woods, and I'm looking onto neighboring properties which have their own hunters.

You don't have to shoot 155's in the 6.5 Sherman... You can shoot 130's and 140's.

From the way it sounds, you would do well with a .25-06 AI with a 115 Berger for inside of 600 yards.

 

[257Tony]

What about the .264 Win Mag, how does that compare to the 6.5-06AI?

Its' faster, but uses more powder obviously. 3200 with a 140 is pretty easy with modern powders. Same case capacity as 7mm RM.

 

[Riflehunter1776]

You don't have to shoot 155's in the 6.5 Sherman... You can shoot 130's and 140's.

From the way it sounds, you would do well with a .25-06 AI with a 115 Berger for inside of 600 yards.

I thought the sherman was basically an 6.5-06AI?