Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Which 6.5 for primarily deer hunting???

Looking to buy or build an accurate semi long range (4-600 yrds) deer rifle in 6.5 cal. Which would you go with and why, in these choices?

6.5'06
6.5/284
6.5 creedmore
260 rem.

Thanks for any input.

long action........6.5x55

short action......260...

6.5 creedmoor over the 260, no mag length issues with the heavier boolits.

do you hand load?

+1 "do you hand load?"

6.5x55 swede. Signed sealed delivered. Caveat: I am an old cartride nutbag 'cause they work.
Randy

Have 3 260's and love the cartridge...but if were looking at 400-600 then I would step up to the 6.5x284, just a little more gas and if built on a long action no problems with long heavy bullets.

Long action - 6.5-284

Short action - 6.5x47

I had a 6.5/06 built for a "once in a lifetime" deer hunt in Texas. I wanted a rifle that I was comfortable making a fairly long range shot with, but was fun to shoot. No magnums. I didn't know if the shot would come at 150 or 500 yards and couldn't get much of an answer from the guide. (Mainly...I have always liked the 6.5/06 concept and thought this hunt was a good justification for building one.) The rifle turned out great and the shot came at about 80 yards. I could have shot the buck with my iron sighted 30/30 or any other rifle I already had.

Any of your choices will work. Don't over think it, just pick the one you like.

>>>.270 Win>>>>

Seriously, 6.5-06 seems simple, easy, no complications, brass everywhere.

+1 on 6.5x55 or 260.
I own both and in the 260 I shoot bullets 130 or lighter in.
The 6.5 Swede is a modern action so I load it to the same pressure as the 260 and is a bit faster, plus it will shoot bullets up to 160 gr very accurately, and because it is built on a long action you can seat the bullets way out there and fill the case with powder with no magazine issues.

That's the same reason I have the 6.5 X55!

Me too! Always been more than enough at any range.
Cheers

6.5 bullets have killed game like Elk over 600 yds, inc. the Creedmoor. Pick one. I would be happy with any quality rifle in any of those, assuming I had a good set of dies, and plenty brass. I don't like forming these days, so would avoid the 6.5/06, NICE round, but simpler to grab a 270.

My pick would be a short action, the 47, C, 260, and -284 all do a nice job. Barrel life is an issue w/the latter, but not so much if you only sight in and hunt.

260, 120TTSX, 6x42 will do it....

6.5x55 Svede on a Mauser!

Mine is in process; lightweight "in the bow" guard, high Tech Spec stock, Talley LWs, and FXII 6x36mm w/ dots.

Yes.

As has been said before many times, "there are no fly's on the 6.5" I do not think that the SA only 6.5's are the best, they can not get all that is available in bullet weight. The 6.5-06 is a good one, as is the 6.5/284 but they are a bit over bore and can be hard on barrels. My favorites are the 6.5X55 and my current one, a 6.5X57. Good for varmint's to Moose.

16bore - you screwed the pooch on this one. Blue tape man, blue tape. No wonder there's nothin' dead in the pic except the stump.

Since your game is primarily deer, any of the mentioned cartridges will be plenty and out to ranges most hunters wouldn't try a shot.
I have (2) 260's, (1) 6.5x55 and a 6.5x284. If I have time to reload, I'll grab the 260. Otherwise, I can close my eyes and grab one of the others.