I have not read all the post to this one as it is already 9 pages by the time I see it. I have not gotten in too the 6.5's as they just don't trip my trigger, nothing wrong with them just not me. I prefer "older" more traditional to very old American rifles and cartridges. With that being said if you look at the old 6.5's witch are European cartridges they used up to 160gr. round nose bullets, witch is a long heavy bullets for 6.5 caliber, there for they needed a faster twist to stabilize them. As long range shooting has gained in popularity and the more research been done we have fond long heavy bullets work better for long range, kind of like the old timers liked heavy bullets for the old big bore slow moving cartridges, they worked better in that application as well. So as they looked at long heavy for caliber bullets and fast twist to stabilize them the 6.5's were all ready made for them, they just wanted to use a "modern" case. Most 6.5's are all so in standard or short actions so with that and a small caliber they have light recoil, and most people today seam to be recoil shy. No offence meant here, I was just taught how to hold the rifle take a good stance and not even think about the recoil and I have come to enjoy it. Of coarse being a gun guy I enjoy shooting all my guns from the .22LR up weather the have recoil or not.6.5 bullets vs 270,284,308. Why has the 6.5 taken off and if you believe the hype - taken over? I have been sucked into the hype with one 6.5 PRC with a second to follow. Is it just bullet type and availability? The 270 bullets just can't keep up because they don't exist yet? The 284 must be heavy for caliber like the 308 to compete with the 6.5? Why why why is the 6.5 the new "King"?
Just wondering....
Back to the subject, the 6.5's just were easy and a natural to make long rang rifles out of before the others because so many of the old 6.5's all ready had a fast twist for long bullets, most of the others have to be made with a "new" faster twist. Just take a look at the .223, the older ones have a slow twist and now we can by .223's in three or four different twist. I hope my rambling makes sense to some one. May we all enjoy our guns for a long time!!