Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Best 6.5 build for hunting

The 6.5 PRC is the easy button for 140's at 3000+......finding components is another issue.......

I’m going a little higher-velocity. I just ordered a 6.5-300 Wby Accuguard with a 1:8” twist 26” bbl. I can’t get ANY ammo right now, but hopefully that will ease up eventually, or I will have some custom loaded, as I don’t reload. Once I get some ammo, I will chrono it first and see what the rifle shoots best, but I am intrigued by these numbers based on the Wby MV specs:

My 26 Nos will do similar, maybe the edge to the Wby. I like SSII's, currently loaded 156 EOL with Vv 570.

For a lighter gun, lighter round, a 6.5 Creed with 130 NAB is a deer killing combo. And, it'll reach out pretty well...

DF

Yeah, I was about to get a 26 Nosler. DoubleTap makes some loads for that that they claim exceed the 6.5-300 Wby velocities for the same bullets. For example, they claim to produce 3,600 fps with the SSII 130gr.

The reason I bought the Wby was because I found an Accuguard chambered for it that was a lot cheaper than any comparable rifle I could find chambered for the 26 Nosler IMO.

What is your barrel twist, and what weight-range of bullets does your rifle seem to prefer?

Makes sense to me. I went down this rabbit hole myself (I'm still in it actually) looking for a little more downrange 6.5mm punch than can be had via a Creedmoor or a Swede.

First up was a 6.5 SAUM in a BigHorn SR3 short action with a fixed box magazine and braked varmint weight Bartlein 1/8 barrel. Great shooter capable of 3000 fps with 140 bullets although I usually run it a little slower. It was a real chore to get it to feed/eject properly, so if you decide to go the 6.5 PRC/SAUM route a detachable box magazine platform will likely make things easier. I built this rifle just before the 6.5 PRC introduction. Had the 6.5 PRC been available, I would have done a PRC.

Recently I've been experimenting with the 6.5-280 AI in a Model 70 (sporter with no muzzle brake) and a BAT HR (varmint style with a muzzle brake). Haven't shot these two much yet, but early indications are very promising, especially in the Model 70 which has a shorter throat. Proper feed/eject in the long action with the longer cartridge is much easier. In fact, it was no work at all (in my experience). Making the cases is super easy from Nosler 280 AI brass, but with the following very important caveat; that is be sure to use a STANDARD style full length sizing die (custom from Redding), not a repurposed 280 AI bushing die, to form the brass from virgin Nosler 280 AI brass because the bushing die will NOT resize the neck all the way down to the neck/shoulder junction. If the neck isn't sized all the way to the shoulder junction it probably won't chamber (I know the WTO website says otherwise). However, once the brass has been resized and shot, the 280 AI bushing style die can be used.

I like them both so I can't say which will be my favorite right now. Both can reach the 3000 fps with 140 grain bullet performance plateau, which is what you're after.

I have no experience, nor any interest in the 264 WM and 26 Nosler.

I just ordered everything for the 6.5 PRC. I guess I'll come as close to perfect as I can with a 24" tube.

Perhaps because I am still confused. Hunting in tree covered mountains seems like a very different scenario than over-watching farm fields where optimized gear would be correspondingly different. A NULA for the mountains or a Jarrett for the valleys.

Or, perhaps because I'm bored and feeling a bit contrarian?

Or you are "Big Stick" in disguise? It's really not hard to understand. When I go to camp, I take 2 rifles for 2 different needs. Usually a 270 or 280 and a 338-06, 338 Federal or 35 Whelen. I use those mostly for brush and in the laurel thickets from 200 in. We don't drive in to a lot of the places we go so we don't bust deer out of the fields. We walk about 1.5 to 2 miles into the mountain. The deer will leave the fields before shooting light and move into the mountain. We catch them in between food and bedding areas. Occasionally we have someone watch the fields from a stand that also gives you the ability to shoot 200 yds up lanes into the mountain and also shoot forever in the field. A 270, 280, 257 WBy would do all I'm looking for. That wasn't even the reasoning for the base topic. I wanted a 6.5 without being a magnum to push 140's. Period.

I'm write in American English, not authentic Craig, AK, frontier gibberish ala Gabby Johnson and I never insulted you, so the answer to your first question seems as obvious as a rat turd in a bowl of sugar.

You have provided more information, the sort of information that my previous posts were seeking to extract. I don't see the added practical value of the cartridges that you are seeking information about doing anything that your 257 ROY doesn't already provide in spades, but I'm probably the last one to question redundancy of rifles and cartridges. Heck, my favorite long action 6.5mm bore cartridge is the 256 Newton.

Good luck with your build and good luck with your mountain, valley, farm field deer harvests in the Old Dominion State.

Thanks!

I’m glad you finally provided enough information to get the approval for a new rifle. It would just be crazy for you to just want a new rifle because you just want a new rifle. No one does that around here....grin. I hope you enjoy your new gun.

Thanks Kaleb! I'm sure it will be about right. I mean a few rifles would be boring even if they overlap.🙄

A guy with 25 260s, 15 6.5 CMs, and 10 6.5x55s isn't likely to argue against redundancy, go forth and churn.

If I had to narrow down my herd down to one rifle for hunting it would be my 6.5x55. Fun to rock steel with the 264 win mag though, but not as handy to carry. Luckily I haven't had to choose.

best answer and simple ^^

It never can just be simple...There are always a turd in the PT....hint...lol

It's sure funny how you always look for an excuse to let us know here on 24 HC how many rifles you own. It's hilarious...

I Had a Tikka T3 in .300 Win. Had Shaen Meagan re barrel to 6.5PRC. Feeds perfectly ,shoots well.

Theirs not much you can't do with a good 140 at 29-3000.


Lefty

Happy birthday. I bet that is a real nice rifle. I was kinda against a Tikka for a long time, until I tried one. Have a few now and have recommended them to several friends and family members. Everyone is happy with them.

Actually when I first saw the thread I thought "Why not just buy the T3 in 6.5 Creed and be done with it for $875?"