Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 6.5 - which one

I have a 257 Roberts, a 7-08, a 30-06, and a 30-30, which are used for hunting whitetail deer in Missouri. The 30-06 is definitely more than I need, so I am thinking of rebarreling to a smaller caliber. So far the 6.5 seems to be what I am looking for, but which one?
Without getting too crazy, I am thinking about the 6.5x55(always a favorite), the 6.5-06, and the 6.5-284(Winchester or Norma version). Oh yeah, and the 260 Remington. I have no experience with any of these, and looking through the reloading manuals, it seems that the performance differences are marginal, and mainly splitting hairs.
I would be interested in which of these you would choose, and why, mainly for a fun gun(minimal recoil that I can shoot a lot when I go to the range) and for taking the largest possible whitetail deer in Missouri, inside of 400 yards(if I can ever find a place to shoot at one from that far!) Oh yeah, I do reload so finding factory ammo is not in the equation, but cost of brass and dies would be considered(but not a major factor unless the price is way out of line)
So what would you choose, and why? And it doesn't have to be a 6.5 caliber, just under 30 caliber, with minimal recoil.
Thanks for the input.

I own an '03 springfield rebarreled 6.5-06. there is something to say for the availability of brass for it. i can walk out on any gravel pit and walk away with 20-100 mixed headstamp, .270 win/30-06/whatever else. this particular rifle lives on 140 hornady's and has been killing deer, since long before i was born (in the hands of my grand-dad). the 284 version will be more accurate probably, but lets be honest about ourselves here. most of us are never gonna take a deer at a range that the little bit of advantage the 284 version offers will make the difference. if for no other reason i would take the -06 version. even better brass availability for the .260 remington, but i think if its gonna be in a standard length action, you may as well fill it up.

I had a 6.5-06 built about 15 years ago and it was an outstanding performer on game and at the range. I was fortunate enough to take everything from coyotes, pronghorn, deer, bear and elk and never had any issues. Sadly that rifle was stolen a few years back. I have thought about replacing it with a 6.5-284 for the simple fact that there is quality brass available and in a long action it would allow me to shoot some longer bullets. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the 6.5 for most game in the lower 48. Good luck.

I really like the 6.5-06 at least what I read about it on paper! I can see one in my collection one day and who knows maybe someone will offer it as a factory round which in all the craze of everyone wanting to release a new caliber I cant believe it has not been done!

The other thing I would seriously consider is not a 6.5 but a 7mm being the 280 AI and you can get brass from nosler with no fireforming. All the benefits of a magnum ( ballistically equal to a 7 mag) without the felt recoil and extra powder.

Of course you can get 6.5-284 brass from both nosler and hornady

Just a thought

Go 6.5x55. In my mind it's the perfect mild mannered, deer killing machine, and you could even go to bigger animals with a simple bullet change. Brass and dies are both cheap and plentiful. I'm a 6.5 slut, but just can't warm up to a 6.5-06. I'd just do a .270 and be done with it if I were going that route.

I'm in this camp too. I have both the 6.5x55 and 6.5-06. Go with the 6.5x55. It's fun to shoot, easy to shoot (in every respect)and as noted, is a killing machine. I let a friend hunt with my CZ 6.5 last season after he trashed his scope on opening day. He shot a nice deer at about 150 yards, one shot, etc. Now he wants the rifle. Talking about it again last week.

I have a 6.5x55 Tikka T3. It is in a long action so loading out long or toward the lans is available. Deadly accurate and that goes for the caliber not just Tikkas. I have loaded both Speer hot cores and Barnes TSX, both 120 grn pills. Easily shoots MOA @ 200yds. Velocity with RL-19 max. book load is just under 3000fps. Have shot a 250# Mule deer @ 150 yards. Two staggering steps and down. Massive engine room damage, jello. Something about the smaller caliber Barnes TSX they really do internal damage. Light recoil, I could shoot all day @ the range. Ability to load to 140grn.and 160grn although I would probably use my 30-06 if I need a 160grn. in the 6.5x55. I have shot several deer with 140grn. Nosler Partitions and they were both bang flop. I have reloaded some new Deep Curls in my 30-06 and they were awesome accurate so when they come out in a 6.5, 120grn. I will load them for them for the Swede because they are bonded and 100 ct. box for $28.00. If you want more velocity you are going away from the light recoil you say you seek. This is such a great all around caliber. With my Barnes TSX 120 grn load 2.5 high@ 100yds., dead on @ 200yds., just under 9" low @ 300yds. Makes for easy deer shooting, hold dead on out to 200 yds., 300yds just on the top of the back maybe an 1" into the hide. Range your hunting area and then hunt no need for a fancy scope in most hunting situations. There is something about this caliber it kills like a bigger caliber, don't really know why but it is nice. I have always thought that you have to use a lot more powder and have quite a bit more recoil and muzzle blast plus a longer barrel to get maybe 250fps more velocity. If most of your hunting is under 400yds I think the 6.5x55 is a real sweetheart with deadly results on game. IMHO Buckfever1

buckfever - I have observed the internal damage from the 6.5s as well. I shot a nice buck a couple of years ago - just above the left rear hip. The bullet remnants lodged against the right front shoulder. The shock damage was pretty amazing. That seems to be consistent. I shoot Hornady and Sierra 140s and the deer go nowhere.

I have several 6.5 x 55s, a 6.5 x 57 ( my favorite cartridge) and several 260 Rems...

for ease of availability for reloading components ( read Brass) etc, the 260 is the most versatile..

it gives up little if anything at all to the 6.5/06 with bullet weights under 140....or the 6.5 x 284... which has brass availability issues at times..

the 6.5 x 55 is a traditional round.. but a 260 in a short action is more handy in my opinion... I have a Ruger in each caliber...

while my favorite is the 6.5 x 57 ( or just a necked up Roberts case) on a long action... it is 100 % a hand loaders proposition..however I like it for its unique-ness and few people carry one.. yet it has a very rich history being made before the 30/30.. or before the 7 and 8 mm Mausers..( some will argue that point..) but for brass, all I have to do is neck up very available 257 Roberts brass ( an All American Cartridge)... and it is essentially a Roberts with bullet availability from 85 to 160 grains...which covers a lot of territory...

and in a long action, it will keep up with any 6.5/06 and gives up little to the 264 Win Mag...while using a lot less powder along the way...

any of the above can add a little velocity by Ackley Improving the shoulder, but I haven't seen a need for it in the field myself...

but ANY 6.5 bore will get about any job in the lower 48 you'd ever need done...

and if you have one built.. get the one in 8 twist... it will stabilize ANY bullet weight...the one in 9 used by some, will stabilize ANY bullet weight below 129 grains.. over that, it becomes "iffy"....

With the recoil restrctions you mentioned I would go with either the 6.5x55 or the .260 rem. Both are easy on the shoulder and hard on what they hit. Since it is in a long action I would stick with the 6.5x55.

As an aside, I am shooting a modified type 38 Arisaka in a mannlicher stock with a williams foolproof aperature and thin front post in the original 6.5 JAP. It is quite the shooter with pretty much anything from 100-140 grains I have tried. Currently, I'm tweeking a 100 grain Nosler partition load right now. So far only two deer with it, both fell almost immediately with very little recoil. Pretty cool little round.

I would go the .260 route.

Go with a 6.5-06, it's the easiest conversion and a great performer, you can load it down to perform like a 260 or 6.5x55, you can neck up 25-06 brass which is readily available,and I can't think of a better western antelope/mule deer caliber.

I'd go with the 6.5x55. Using a modern action and Lapua brass, it's a very capable round with modest recoil.

I'd do a Swede and call it good.

Best Regards

With the long action, I would go 6.5x55 if recoil is a factor, but if I want a little more go, then the 6.5-06. I have all the cartridges you are considering and like the 6.5-06 the best. I'm not a big fan of recoil either and don't mind the push of the 6.5-06, especially with 120-125 grain bullets. And I can load the 6.5-06 down to 6.5x55 velocities but cannot load the 6.5x55 up to 6.5-06 levels.

I'd turn the 30-06 into a 6.5-06. The 6.5-06 never fails to impress. Why?

Minimal recoil, High BC values, easy to top 3000 FPS accurately, EASY to reload for, etc.

Order dies (no big deal), sell the 30-06 brass and buy some 25-06 brass and neck up to 6.5 (much easier IMO).

CLB

Unless you're just wanting "something different", get the .260 and call it happy. You'll be killing stuff long after the various barrel burners are history and in the case of the 6.5x55, if you reload, you'll need to buy european brass to get the proper head size. And, of course, a different shell holder.