Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting WHY AREN'T THE 6.5s MORE POPULAR ??

John,

I think I remember that 264 shooting in the wind...



like just a little wind....



Ya, I think you know how to shoot that old 264..

most of the nay-say'ers don't show...

John, Gunner, Pat: Thanks for responses,and that is intersting,and impressive.I would have to live in very windy country and gain the experiences you guys have where you lived,to have the confidence to hold off that far.

Shooting John's 264 to 1200 yards I was astonished at how far "off" we were holding.I was pretty impressed with the 264 for that kind of work,and suspect that particular bullet (140 Berger at magnum velocities)would beat anything in 270 for those circumstances.

If I were going to build a 6.5,that's the one I would want....I even have dies and a large quantity of WW brass here.I am not unmidful of the advantages,having seen John's rifle do its' stuff..

John actually made the most realistic point yet. Even the original poster touched on the mindset of it all.

If you can't kill an Elk with a 6.5 (anything) maybe your money should be spent on other things rather than a new gun. Bigger cartridges don't make you kill any better. A bad shot won't get better because you have a magnum.

You still have to be able to shoot the rifle you have and shoot it well. Ala "know your rifle"

Why aren't the 6.5's popular? Maybe because all the media drivel and hoopla hasn't picked them yet.

There are probably several here but I only know one of them.(Hired Gun) He can shoot darn near anything he wants.. and probably does. But.. he posted picks of Elk being killed by "little Stuff". That in itself should be enough for most anyone here...end of story.

It is all very simple. But nothing good is ever easy.

Prepare, Plan, and Perform. You'll make you own success. Regardless of caliber.

One thing you have to do.. regardless of age or location. Get out there and shoot and well..just get out there. Yeah it's winter and it's rainy, cold ,snowy, windy... but it is the best time to learn. Or you can just sit here and discus and be the armchair hunter.

But hey this gives everyone something to ummm discuss.. yeah that's what this is a discussion...

What energy is left at 1200 yds for the .264?

With a 140 vld started at 3,200 fps, depending on the variables, roughly 775 ft-lbs.

How's that compare to a .270 with 150gr VLD?

Actually, I need to clarify, those numbers are at sea level. At 5,000 feet it's closer to 950 ft-lbs. And more, with altitude.




I have no idea. How fast do you shoot your .270 150 vlds? What's the BC? You can go on Berger's website and download their ballistics program for free, it'll give you the answers.

I don't, but the topic has switched to the 6.5 being better than the .270. I'd like to see how they compare with max loads in both.

You figured out the 6.5, so, I thought you could do the .270 too.

OK, I ran the numbers, I used 3200 fps for the .264 140 and 2900 fps for the 150 vld; G7 BCs are .313 and .272 respectively. I used 25 in. Hg for the barometric pressure.

1005 ft-lbs for the 264, 665 for the 150 .270 vld at 1200 yards.

Edited to add: If you run the .277 150 vld at 3000 fps, (Don't have Berger data but this is verrrry generous using Nosler's) you get 730 ft-lbs at 1200 yards. With that velocity you get 411 inches of drop and 89.5 inches of drift with a 10 mph cross-wind, vs. 325 inches of drop and 66.5 inches of drift with the .264.



I have my own chrono'ed velocities (in an accurate load) for the 140 grain .264 vld, just guessing on the .270.

I am NOT arguing, I have GROWN WEARY of stating the obvious. Here I QUOTE you twice and that's ALL I'm saying.

If I didn't like the 6.5X55 I WOULD NEVER have bought one. I have 243 & 6mm and I know their capabilities.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I am leaving on my SUZUKI BANDIT and will return when it gets cold today.

Jerry

Well that sounds like fun, but does it really get cold in Arkansas??

I just ran them through on JBM...I'm a "meter reader", so....

.277 150gr VLD @ 3000 fps MV
1100 meters,1354fps, 611 ft. lbs.
90" drift @ 10mph

.264 140gr VLD @ 3200fps MV
1100 meters, 1677fps, 875 ft. lbs.
66" drift @ 10mph

.264 130gr VLD @ 3000fps MV
1100 meters, 1402fps, 567 ft. lbs.
85" drift @ 10mph

Of course, shooting big game at 1100 meters would be way over the top, but this is an example of what bullet efficiency is.

smokepole, our 30 degrees F and your 30 degrees F are 2 very different things.. . Throw in our humidity (93% today) and it changes dramatically. Of course you probably know that.

scenarshooter, check out the 7mm 168 gr VLD. I picked up some 150 gr VLD's from Calvin to play with for my 270. Just to see what'll happen.

That 7mm 168 VLD is a monster...so is the 180gr.

Guys, I'm not saying a .270 is out dated and useless, hell I've got a couple in the safe and have no intensions of getting rid of them. I've killed quite a few nice elk, mule deer, whitetail and antelope with my old Husqvarna .270. Dad bought that rifle brand new in 1966 for $125. That one will be passed down again...

Actually we are warmer than normal today. Monday our hi is supposed to be @40 F. NOW compared to Co, Wy, Mt, NO it doesn't get cold in Ark.

If I had my choice I WOULD BE living in CODY, WY. I love cold, snow, and CLOSE to Yellowstone. I'd love to help the wolf pop off the border of the Park.

Yes we can get cold here. Our coldest weather (contrary to weather people who have not grown up here) normally is Jan-Feb.

We have seen 0 to - 20 F in my lifetime, and I have shoe skated on creeks in Feb-March.

As to cold and riding motorcycles - figure in the WIND CHILL when riding 60-80 mpr (or faster).

I'm not at liberty to disclose where, but on the 'speedway' I have seen 140 mph, two diff. times. That DROPS the temp drastically.

My deer season ended Wed this week. I've been having WITHDRAWAL, not riding much since OCT. I have to go get my FIX.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

And I want to join BobNH saying THANKS for all the input pertinent to the subject. I don't enjoy hi-jacking.

Jerry

scenarshooter, I have never thought that personally. You and a few more on here I listen to very closely as a matter of fact. Really like it when you start posting pics! Several years ago while pouring over Federals site looking at the ballistics of different cartridges I found that the 260 Rem. caught the 270 W. on out there. I had to call my brother just to tell him. Nowadays I'm more into what our grandfathers and such hunted with. Cartridges like the 270 Winchester, 30/06, 7X57 Mauser, 35 Whelen and the 375 H&H are what really turn my screws. Oops forgot the 257 Roberts!

^^^ smart man ~!

Mashburn.....

Kick the tires and light the fires! Then listen for that thwack..boooom.

Indeed......!!