After hearing about the wonders of the 6.5 I checked to see if G.S.Custom makes a bullet for me. They do. The jump in BC caused me to order a new barrel, reamer and a few hundred 6.5 106 grain bullets (.516 BC). These will replace the .257 85 grainers (.383 BC) I now use.
Based on doing so many wildcats I think the velocity of the new bullets will be about 3,650 feet per second. Although the .257 starts 150 feet per second faster it looses quickly even in the short run. Arbitrarily I chose 2,200 feet per second as the minimum impact velocity. That means the .257 bullet runs out of steam at around 625 yards. The 6.5 bullet exceeds that by about 200 yards
! Wow
! The slower higher BC round, on paper, matches the faster lower BC round about 200 yards as far as velocity goes. Windage is better by the time they get to 100 yards
! The 10 mile per hour wind drift at 600 yards for the .257 almost 25�. At the same range the 6.5 wind drift is only a little over 17�. 50% more for the .257. Really no contest.
These ranges are unrealistic for me at this time, but I�m putting my money where my desire is. Besides I think wildcatting is a disease I have.