Best long range 6.5mm/.264 caliber for hunting deer sized animals

[lancetkenyon]

This poll is moot without the 6.5SS, 6.5SST, and 6.5 SS Max.

 

[LongestShot]

The 6.5-284 is just a great cartridge. There are so many great bullets you can reload to obtain remarkable accuracy and terminal ballistics.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

Well if it was me, 6.5 CM with a 140 eld @ 2948fps out to about 700. Past that 6.5 prc from those choices, but that's why I own a 7mm rem mag

 

[lancetkenyon]

How hard are you running a 6.5CM to push a 140 @ 2950?

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

How hard are you running a 6.5CM to push a 140 @ 2950?

With rl-26, that's perfectly safe. That's a full grain below what I maxed out with and never actually pressured out because I ran out of room in the case without a drop tube. In Peterson brass or ADG I cant get those velocities due to less capacity. On average I lose 90 fps over my loads in hornady brass. I'll eventually go back to hornady when my other stuff is used up.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Got it. I don't run RL26 in anything any more. I find it is like RL22, and it gets hot when temps hit 85*+. When hunting temps can run from below zero to 115+, I can't use it. If it stays below 85*, it works awesome.

 

[silverhair]

I would say 700-900 yards. Further if you're extremely well practiced and conditions are right.

That's an entirely different scenario. 6.5CM is good to around 400 yds, maybe a little more, and is a VERY good choice to that range. But when the ante is upped to > 700 yds, then the solution changes.

 

[LongestShot]

6.5-284 using 137 grain Hammer bullets with a stout load of RL17 pushing the bullet at just under 3,000 fps and you've got a leathal combination to take deer at almost any range.

 

[257Tony]

264 win gets my vote. Good options for brass, 3200 is doable with a 140, or you can load mild to around 3000. A tier faster than the 284 or PRC, without being super overbore like the more or 6.5-300 Weatherby. My other vote would have been 6.5/257 Weatherby.

 

[MudRunner2005]

.260 AI, or 6.5x284 Norma.

 

[Quintus]

I too immediately thought 6.5-06, but not available. Same same as the 6.5-284. I voted 6.5 PRC. I have just really gotten into mine I got in April and it is pretty impressive with the advantage of the short action.

 

[TXAoudadKlr]

Good conditions mild 5-7 full value wind id send it to 600 with the 6.5cm

 

[Pappabear]

I'm beating a dead horse, but at 900 yards im thinking 7mag or 300mag. Its fun to pop steal with 6.5 to 1000 but is it got enough *** left at 900 yards, I sincerely don't know.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I don't see the 6.5 Sherman or 6.5 SS on the list... Both solid performers.