Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 6.5-270 = 6.5-06 = 6,5x64 Brenneke ?

Are the 6.5-270, 6.5-06 and 6,5x64 Brenneke just three different names for the same identical cartridge?

BBerg

If I am not mistaken, the 6.5x64 Brenneke is a necked down version of the 9.3x64 case--a beltless, long action magnum case if ever there was one. If I am not mistaken, it practically duplicates the .264 Win Mag's performance.

The 6.5-.270 and 6.5-06 are virtually identical performance wise but there is a small variation in the shoulder/neck dimensions.

War Eagle,

You are mistaken, but only slightly.

The dimensions of the 6.5/.270 and 6.5x64 Brenneke are identical. And further, the only difference between them and a 6.5/06 is that the former has a .050" longer neck. Headspace gauges are the same. (Actually the same as a .30/06.)

I own two rifles so chambered. And I use standard 6.5/06 dies to load for them. The difference in neck length is only a consideration if you want to crimp the bullets... Which I don't...

The reason I chose the .270 case, is because I also own rifles in .25/06. A lot of folks like to neck expand .25/06 cases to 6.5/06. The DOWNSIDE to this is that one may inadvertantly confuse the ammo and try to chamber it in a .25/06. I'm not saying it will work, but there is a possibility that in a sloppily chambered .25/06 it might chamber. If fired, it would definitely wake up the shooter, and may even ruin a perfectly good firearm.

However, if inadvertantly fired in a .270 chambered rifle, it won't hurt a thing, but it likely won't be very accurate. The longer neck will prevent it from being chambered in a .25/06 by mistake.

I always figure if one may err, 'tis much better to err on the side of caution... Not only for myself, but for whom ever may end up with my rifle... (Perhaps even one of my grandsons...)

Others mileage may vary...

GH

It is all very confusing. This is my understanding. The 6.5x64 isn't the 9.3x64 necked down - it is actually a standard diameter case and unrelated (i think it is actually the 7x64 necked down - which is essentially the european 280 Rem). There is a 9.3x64 necked down to 6.5, but it is actually the 6.5x63 Messner. And just to confuse things, the x63 designation normally denotes the 30-06 case. The 6.5x65 RWS is a different case again, and is very close to the 6.5x06. It is also available as a rimmed case.

The Europeans love the 6.5, and there are a lot of 6.5. If i was looking for something similar to the 6.5-06 with factory loadings, i'd be looking at the 6.5x65 RWS.

DHG is right: the 6,5x64 is NOT a necked down 9,3x64 (6,5 Messner) and the 6,5x65RWS and 6,5x64Brenneke are different cartridges, with the former having a longer headspace and a shorter neck, apart from other minor differences.

In fact, time ago I had a 6,5x65R RWS and, not liking its short neck, I swapped it (an interchangeable barrel in my Blaser K95) for a 6,5x57R...

So the question is still there, gentlemen... Are the 6.5x270 and 6.5x06 identical and equal to the 6,5x64 Brenneke?

Thank you for your contributions.

BBerg

I think for all intents and purposes, the 6.5x64 is the same as a 6.5mm-06. The 7x64 is essentially a 7mm-06, but it actually didn't evolve from the 30-06 as i understand it (at least not for copyright purposes!). The case dimensions are here:

http://www.municion.org/6Mm/6_5x64.htm
http://www.municion.org/7x64B/7x64B.htm

Bizarrely, when you look at those dimensions it isn't quite a 6.5-06 nor a 6.5-64. It is closer to a 6.5-06. My Spanish isn't good enough to understand the legend, but looks like it is a new cartridge. My guess is that it was developed to use both 30-06 and 7x64 brass.

If anyone doubts what I have written, Please see Nosler Manual #4. Pg #216. In the preface to the 6.5/06, Writer Charles Benke states that the Eurpeon 6.5x64 Brenneke is: the standardized form of the 6.5/.270

Writer BENKE also wrote it up in Handloader Magazine issue #176(pg: #36). Dimemsions for the 6.5x64 Brenneke are the same as the .270 right down to the 17 deg., 30' shoulder angle, and .473" rim diameter and .471" base diameter.

In Handloader #179 (pg. 28) Writer; Benke gives the baase diameter of the 6.5x65 RWS as being .474" and a shoulder angle of 20 deg. He also states that RWS designed the 6.5x65 RWS to be able to completely clean up a 6.5x57 chamber!

When I built my 1st 6.5x64 Brenneke, I conferred with Mr. Benke and followed his suggestion of having the rifle built by Ray Montgomery of Ray's Gunsmith Shop in Grand Junction, Co. (of which I have no regrets of doing so...)

GH

Grasshopper, maybe you wrote 6.5x65 Brenneke instead of 6.5x64 Brenneke... and that is where the confusion comes from.
BBerg

So, the three of them are identical except for the 6.5-06 having a 0.05 shorter neck, right?

BBerg

GH is correct. The 6.5x64 = 6.5-270. I have a 6.5x64 on a Mark X with a Lothar Walther barrel. I just resize 25-06 brass and bang away.

To check and see if .270 brass will work, resize a case, seat a bullet and try to chamber, it it won't chamber you have a 6.5x63 which is a 6.5-06.

Easy enough.

Pretty much the same cat. There was a brief period when I was exploring the Brenneke. I eventually went with a 240 Weatherby instead.

Then of course there is the 6.5 Vom Hofe just to add more confusion.

I knew it wouldn't be long before someone corrected me.

6.5x284 will surpass either.
6.5 Schuler is a SERIOUS 6.5 !

Yep the Schuler should be a barrel burner..

I have a Steyr ProHunter in 6.5X57 that I got for a song when they changed distributers. Was thinking about the 6.5X65 RWS but can not find a gunsmith willing to rechamber a Steyr.

I shoot a 6.5-284 and I'm not sure that's true. The 6.5-284 and 6.5-06 have nearly identical case capacity and the performance is essentially the same. It would take the 6.5-06AI to better either one.

DF

With case capacity being so similar, I don't believe neither you nor anything that you shoot at will see any difference.

I do not like the way the x284 fits in a short action... it just doesn't feel right to me, and I see no point in using a long action in such a stubby little cartridge, therefore my preference for the 6.5-270.

Also, the 6.5x284 has a reputation for being harder on barrels.

BBerg

Gee! I thought hitting the woods with a 6.5x55 was "exotic."

I agree on long action 6.5-284's. I wouldn't have a SA 6.5-284. It would limit the use of long bullets, seated out where they need to be.

I wonder if the 6.5-284 is actually harder on barrels than the 6.5-06 or similar ctg.? If one doesn't let the barrel get too hot and controls carbon build up, I think those barrels should last most hunters a lifetime. Target shooters, that's another matter. For them, barrels are an expendable commodity.

DF