Favorite 6.5 Cartridge

[MontanaRifleman]

Just had to lay up my 7mm STW, (waiting on a new barrel) so I'm using my 260 Rem Tikka T3 and not feeling handicapped at all.
For a straight factory rifle it would put some custom rifles to shame and it is not fussy with what you feed it. (the one exception being the 123gr A max.)
Current load is 140gr A max's @2580fps which shoots 1/2" @ 290yds.
Shot a sika hind @409yds last saturday.

Regards Steve.

Sweet

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

Wow, that's impressive. That rifle is a keeper!

 

[hypersonic]

Voted other cause I did not see .260 Rem then I scroll down and see youur correction post oh well. Have too many loads to list from 100 - 140 such an easy cartridge to load for not the top of the heap for reach or power but I have killed deer moose elk and bears with it and will continue to do so with somewhat boring, predictable and consistant results day in and day out. I can't ask for more than that.

 

[Bear 9362]

Wow, that's impressive. That rifle is a keeper!

Yeah nearly fell over when I went down to check the target, with an earlier load of 120gr Ballistic tips 2 of my daughters shot 3 shots into less than an inch @ 100yds 5/8" and 7/8" Not a bad effort for their first time behind a center fire rifle?

I apologise with my last post as I wrote that I shot a 1/2" group @ 290yds when in actual fact I only shot a 3/4" group @ 290yds. Sorry about that.

Found the target when I was looking for my girls targets.

Regards Steve.

 

[limige]

Either way that's astounding. I read an old article they tested a savage f/tgr rifle and it shot a 1" group at 500 yrds factory.

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

Voted other cause I did not see .260 Rem then I scroll down and see youur correction post oh well. Have too many loads to list from 100 - 140 such an easy cartridge to load for not the top of the heap for reach or power but I have killed deer moose elk and bears with it and will continue to do so with somewhat boring, predictable and consistant results day in and day out. I can't ask for more than that.

What load do you use for elk and moose. ??

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

Bear; that is still amazing for a factory rifle .

 

[Bear 9362]

Hey Hypersonic,
What bullets are you using on bear and how did they perform?

The 6.5mm has always been a accurate round and consistant in killing game, which I think is atributed to the bullet sectional densitys and it's common 1/8 twist rate.lightbulb

Regards Steve.

 

[lloydsmale]

I voted 264 mag. After all this is america and faster is better!!!

 

[hypersonic]

What load do you use for elk and moose. ??

Well first Moose and Elk taken with my .260 were both cows and both were taken with the 125 partition over H-4831 using CCI 200 primers using Win 7-08 brass necked down and all the other prep work. Charge weight 49.2 grains have switched since to nosler brass and charge weight is down to 48.3 with the 125. Now I have a 140 partition load that I am pretty happy with and it kills well, but to tell you the truth I can't really see a marked diference from the 125 guess it is just a mental thing with the heavier bullets. With the 260 I like the high shoulder shot on Moose or Elk cows quick anchor and the .260 does not tear them up too bad but still puts them down quickly. Took a couple of Black bears with the 125 load too but have gone to the 140 partition for bears. Still use the 125 for whitetail and mule deer if I can get my wife to give the rifle back to me while hunting season is rolling but you guys know how it is! have to keep the Mrs happy.

 

[hypersonic]

Hey Hypersonic,
What bullets are you using on bear and how did they perform?

The 6.5mm has always been a accurate round and consistant in killing game, which I think is atributed to the bullet sectional densitys and it's common 1/8 twist rate.lightbulb

Regards Steve.

Nosler 125 and 140 grain partitions on black bears in the 6 foot to 6 and one half foot range with shoulder shots all bullets performed as they should and most bullets found stuck to hide on the off side beyond 125 yards. Now use 140 grain partitons when hunting bears as we hunt bears only in the fall season they are getting pretty heavy and thick with fat, probably more mental on my end as the 125 worked on fall bears with no issues and no lost animals but the 140 just gives a bit more warm and fuzzy feeling when you are squeezing on a 400 pound plus bear.

 

[elkaholic]

Well first Moose and Elk taken with my .260 were both cows and both were taken with the 125 partition over H-4831 using CCI 200 primers using Win 7-08 brass necked down and all the other prep work. Charge weight 49.2 grains have switched since to nosler brass and charge weight is down to 48.3 with the 125. Now I have a 140 partition load that I am pretty happy with and it kills well, but to tell you the truth I can't really see a marked diference from the 125 guess it is just a mental thing with the heavier bullets. With the 260 I like the high shoulder shot on Moose or Elk cows quick anchor and the .260 does not tear them up too bad but still puts them down quickly. Took a couple of Black bears with the 125 load too but have gone to the 140 partition for bears. Still use the 125 for whitetail and mule deer if I can get my wife to give the rifle back to me while hunting season is rolling but you guys know how it is! have to keep the Mrs happy.

Unless you are talking really long range, my bullet of choice in the 6.5, was, and is, the 140 partition. Killed a lot of bulls with that bullet....Rich

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

I'm going to try the 130 gr TSX. See if my Creedmoor likes them. . May try the 140 AB also.
It's not that I need to use it for moose. My 9.3x64 is really perfect for moose. And if I come on a big grizzly it's even more ideal. Using it on brown bear is more of a stunt. But one that I can do.

 

[Outlaw6.0]

I'm going to try the 130 gr TSX. See if my Creedmoor likes them. . May try the 140 AB also.
It's not that I need to use it for moose. My 9.3x64 is really perfect for moose. And if I come on a big grizzly it's even more ideal. Using it on brown bear is more of a stunt. But one that I can do.

You may consider the 127 LRX over the 130 TSX. Boattail for better BC & polymer tip for more reliable exansion. The AB would probably do ok as well.

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