I suspect hunters will buy the 26 or 6.5-.300 based on the rifle, since the ballistics of the cartridges are pretty close. The Weatherby has a velocity edge in factory ammo, but most handloading data has them running side-by-side--though there isn't much for the 6.5-.300 available.
I solved the choice problem by buying one of each, a Nosler Liberty and a Mark V ULW. Both shoot well; the big difference is weight. I set the Nosler up as a more specialized longer-range rifle, and with a 10x SWFA it weighs 9-1/2 pounds. Put a fixed 6x Leupold on the Weatherby. It weighs 8 pounds on the nose so will be more portable.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
