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

Looking for opinions on a hunting rifle build chambered for .264(6.5). Eastern, mountain/field carry. Ease of reloading, under $1500, 23"-25" bbl, long or short action, able to push 140's over 3000 fps.

I'll mostly be using 125 Nosler Part.
130 gr Accubonds or Scirocco II's
140's of different makes.

I have availability of
Sauer 100
Remington 700 early 90's LA
Tikka T3X actions

T3x in a 6.5 PRC is the most simple path forward.

Better start gathering reloading components right now though. That’s a far bigger hurdle than the rifle build.

Dave

If I go that route , what cartridge should I buy as a donor? I know, I'm hoping it's going to be better finding things by Spring. I have a few sources if they don't dry up.

For the buck, the Eurooptic Mauser 18 in 6.5 PRC for $429 is a screamer of a deal. Those guns shoot.

Google it.

DF

For your specs, I would have to say the 26 Nosler fits your bill about the best. Try to find a Remington 700 RUM action so you have the right bolt face and magazine with follower. Mine has a Rock 5R barrel on it I got on the classifieds on this site finished at 25" and shoots great with the 140 Accubonds. Nosler books says they are pushing around 3200 fps, but haven't had a chance to chrono them yet.

Bob

You either need a longer barreled 6.5-284, 6.5 prc, or a magnum of some sort based on your requirements.

6.5-06, 6.5-284, 6.5 RPM will do what you want on a long action with a standard boltface.

6.5 Rem Mag, 6.5 PRC, 6.5 SAUM are still short action, but magnum boltface.

264 Win Mag, 26 Nosler will do much more on a long action with magnum boltface.

The suggestion to just buy a m18 in 6.5 PRC is a very good one.

Failing that, the T3X actions are ideal for the PRC/SAUM and 6.5-284 with the right factory magazine.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/14310776/1

dave

I built mine on a shot out 7 RM Rem 700. Had to widen the space between rails for the fat case to pass. Used a RUM box. Shilen SS 26” barrel.

DF

i have enough custom hunting rifles at my age, but if i was building another custom hunting rifle 26 Nosler would be my choice. my choice of action would be a Ruger #1 , laminated stock,Brux #4 barrel 28 inch length,Picantinny mnts.,Nightforce scope,i would also change the trigger out too. if you have plenty money have NULA rifles build you one in a bolt action ?

Your 3000 fps requirement takes some fine hunting cartridges out of the running, as you no doubt have considered. You're going to require a fat cartridge or a long action. The Golden Child of American hunting cartridges (.260 Rem) and his over-gilded twin (6.5 C) both fall short of 3000, but are excellent with 140s.

I am liking the 6.5x55 mine in a Forbes 24. With MRP and R26 I can run the 129-130 grain bullets to around 2,950 fps easily with R26 and doable with a max load of MRP loaded to SCANDI pressures.

To get your velocity goal with the 140s you need to start at the 6.5 Weatherby RPM and then go up from there. The 6.5 WSM (PRC) and 264 Win. Mag are the first cartridges to reach that velocity with out really pushing them. I have not hunted in the East much but a few places in Maine and New Hampshire could require a longer shot, but most areas a 300 Savage or even a 30-30 would be plenty of rifle. I would gladly hunt with the Swede but something faster would be fun to play with.

if your just buying a good rifle buy a new 7 mm Rem. mag. in a Remington rifle, the 7 mag. rifle will do everything most bigger 6.5`s for accuracy maybe more and ammo is easy to find for a 7 Mag. always. when the barrel is burned out build a 6.5 then ?

I’m intrigued by the 6.5 RPM, but it doesn’t seem to be gaining all that much traction. It would work well in your LA 700.

.264 Win mag

Just curious, but where in the east would you hunt where you will be in mountainous terrain and need to reach out over a quarter mile?

Power line ROWs and clear cuts?

Just curious if anyone has done a trajectory comparison with the PRC vs say a 7RM with 150 BT?

Wondering as I have not run #'s........

Maybe it was written or read wrong. In the mountains and farm fields, soy bean, cornfields...25-700+
I would only feel comfy out to about 500yds.

Yes, but SPECIFICALLY WHERE in the eastern U.S. would you be likely to encounter mountainous open country like that?

A beanfield rifle fired from a prepositioned stand of some sort typically calls for a whole different rifle than most people would use for hunting in mountainous terrain. I can't think of many places were game animals and open mountainous terrain overlap east of the Mississippi.