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

[Rudolph Ferdinand]

Depends what you want. Winchester/hornady is around $40 - 45 for 50. I have norma brass which I paid $115.00 for 100 x 3 . Nosler is at $75 -85 for 50

Thank you.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I'm running a 1:8 twist, I have a tendency to favor heavier bullets. I know a lot of people chose 1:9 twist and have no problem running 140 grain bullets.

And the 137s stabilize fine? I talked to Steve about running them in my 1:7.5" 6.5SS and he suggested the 131s instead of the 137s. I figured he knows best.

 

[LongProng]

I'm running a 1:8 twist, I have a tendency to favor heavier bullets. I know a lot of people chose 1:9 twist and have no problem running 140 grain bullets.

I'm thinking about trying the Hornady 153 gn or Berger 156 gn in my 6.5-06 AI. I have a couple pounds of RL26 and H1000 to do some load development.

 

[LongestShot]

I'm thinking about trying the Hornady 153 gn or Berger 156 gn in my 6.5-06 AI. I have a couple pounds of RL26 and H1000 to do some load development.

For my 6.5-284 I'm using the 137 grain Hammer Hunters, If I'm shooting anything heavier than a 140 grain bullet I'll switch over to my 270WSM or my 7x57 Mauser. For 270WSM I'll pick a 145-150 grain bullet and for my 7x57 Mauser I'll go with my 169 grain bullet. THis summer I've made the move to switch over to Hammer bullets for most of my cartridges I've found loads for these that excel and are deadly accurate. I've got a pet load and bullet for each of my rifles. I'm looking forward to October when I'll be on Safari for 9 days. It'll give me a great opportunity to test two calibers of the Hammer bullets a see first hand their terminal effects.

 

[LongestShot]

I'm thinking about trying the Hornady 153 gn or Berger 156 gn in my 6.5-06 AI. I have a couple pounds of RL26 and H1000 to do some load development.

I'd suggest trying the 139 grain Sledge Hammer when you're doing your load developments.

 

[Wild Monkey]

6.5-7x61mm & 6.5-270 not listed. The only 6.5mm choices I can find around here on the "Shelf" is the Creedmoor & it's never guaranteed. .270 & 7RM brass are the two most available donors on the shelf. So considering Internet order only makes the 7x61 Super Brass a viable option.

 

[.30cal fanatic]

I would go 6.5 PRC, 6.5 SAUM and then the 6.5x284 in that order. The PRC has excellent factory ammo if you don't want to reload, all three have the energy to do what you need em to do at distance.

 

[FEENIX]

Nice to see the .264 WM is doing well; I voted (1) .264 WM (just built one) and (2) 6.5 PRC.

 

[Greyfox]

Any of the rounds listed will work well depending on the particular conditions. I personally like a minimum of 1800FPS/1000FPE with a good expanding 140gr or heavier bullet at the maximum range I plan to hunt the big bodied northern deer. I have been running a 6.5x284 for about the last 10 years and it has served me quite well with dozens of deer under its belt from 150-1000 yards. The recently introduced 156 Berger looks to be quite promising in my rifles at +3000FPS. If they demonstrate terminal performance comparable to the 140's, I'll surely spend another 10 years with this cartridge.

 

[Varberger757]

Still looking for brass/ammo for the rimmed version.

PM me your address, and Joseph Messner will send you the brass directly. Can't do any more. Best service possible. Cheers Jens

 

[HARPERC]

....PM me your address, and Joseph Messner will send you the brass directly. Can't do any more. Best service possible. Cheers Jens.....

Thank you! You've been a great help with providing insight into cartridges I would not have known of.
Project has kind of been non linear, but I think this gives it a good jump forward!
Carl

 

[Danehunter]

The 6.5 PRC, despite being the newest cartridge on the list, has run neck-and-neck with the well established 6.5/284 Norma cartridge. I feel that in the years ahead it will outpace this and other 6.5 mm cartridges, mostly due to availability.

Recently I purchased a 6.5 PRC Browning X-Bolt Pro and am selling that same rifle in 6.5 CM that I purchased 18 months ago. Here in Nevada the 6.5 PRC just makes more sense with all the possibilities of long shots on "deer sized" game, including bull elk within 400 yards.

Eric B.

 

[Rhett Crider]

The 6.5 PRC, despite being the newest cartridge on the list, has run neck-and-neck with the well established 6.5/284 Norma cartridge. I feel that in the years ahead it will outpace this and other 6.5 mm cartridges, mostly due to availability.

Recently I purchased a 6.5 PRC Browning X-Bolt Pro and am selling that same rifle in 6.5 CM that I purchased 18 months ago. Here in Nevada the 6.5 PRC just makes more sense with all the possibilities of long shots on "deer sized" game, including bull elk within 400 yards.

Eric B.

The REAL 6.5 is hanging in there too!! 264WM!!

 

[hseII]

If it was only out to 700 yds I'd pick the 6.5x47. Mine holds just over 1000 ft-lbs at 700 yds with a 130 Berger hunting. Seems the 6.5X47 doesn't have a very large following for hunters. I personally have two of them.

With the popularity of the .308 for so many years, I went with the .260 Remington when I had mine built due to the shared components already in the cupboard.

The CM has since gained popularity & the x47 is a fitting round but it seems the other 2 overshadow it.