Is a 6.5 magnum worth it?

[long40shot]

I've been kicking the tires on doing a rifle in a 6.5 chambering in a hunting gun. A 260, 6.5cm and a 260ai comes to mind. Would it be worth going to a 6.5 saum? The thing is, i want to have enough zip left in the bullet on a long shot if one presents it self. Whitetail, Mule deer, antelope and such would be the main use.

Matt

 

[Titandriver]

On a long action, certainly. Short action…meh.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Yes the bigger 6.5's are worth it in a 'hunting' rifle. In a rifle that will see a lot of range time putting holes in paper, the smaller 6.5s are better due to barrel life issues.

I have a 6.5 Remington Magnum pushing the 140gr Berger VLD's at 3209 fps in a 26" 8 twist barrel...and im only uaing a charge weight of 52gr of RL-17. The extra velocity and energy is noticeable at long range when it impacts flesh and bone. It's also noticeably better in windy conditions. I've owned and/or still own a 260, 6.5x47 Lapua, and 6.5x55 Swede as well. Good rounds, but cannot compare to the long range energy retention and wind bucking capabilities of my much faster 6.5 Rem Mag.

The 6.5 SAUM will give similar speeds as my 6.5 Rem Mag so it is an ideal hunting rifle round as well. With just the yearly sight checking and a little long range practice, say 20-40 rounds per year including taking game during the hunting season, the faster 6.5 rounds will allow a barrel to last many years. If you start running 10 shot groups on targets or shooting a lot of rounds at the range every weekend without adequate barrel cooling time, you may only see 400 +/- rounds before the barrel is toast from fire cracking.

I don't have personal experience with the 6.5 SAUM, but I do have extensive experience with the 6.5 Rem Mag. The 6.5 Rem Mag is a very inherently accurate round that will usually shoot many different loads with excellent speed and accuracy which makes load development and tuning a breeze. Problem is brass is getting harder and harder to find.

 

[hogpatrol]

Another option is the 26 Nosler. It has good ballistics but it is not a rifle you can sit at the bench, pump rounds through it and expect it to last.

 

[Ggmac]

I've got 8 dif Reamers for the 6.5 rem mag , I loved it , past tense . It case capacity is the same as 6.5x284 so barrel life is 600-1200 rds . Must use a long action for best results . As a hunting rifle it's still a great cartridge .

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I like the 6.5saum. I built a light sheep rifle for a customer to take to AK in a 6.5saum last summer. Its great to get some speed with a shorter barrel. I think hes running about a little over 3000 with a 140 in a 24" barrel. Hes ran it faster but it shoots there.

 

[dragman]

I like them and see a lot of reasons for most people to play with them, BUT they aren't for me. All my hunting spots are 300 and under or 800 and over. So they don't offer me much since I am not a fan of their killing power past 800 (unless it's a big 6.5 then why not just shoot a 30???)
For someone who wants to hunt and a normal range is 300-500 with shots possible out too 800 or so then sure great caliber.

 

[Preacher]

I have lots of hunting rigs in 6.5 calibers and will never be without a 6.5 SAUM even if mine are 35˚ improved...
3000 fps is easy with 140 VLD's....
Accuracy is on par with any of them...
One has about 2000 rounds on it and it still shoots as good as it did on day 1...

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I like them and see a lot of reasons for most people to play with them, BUT they aren't for me. All my hunting spots are 300 and under or 800 and over. So they don't offer me much since I am not a fan of their killing power past 800 (unless it's a big 6.5 then why not just shoot a 30???)
For someone who wants to hunt and a normal range is 300-500 with shots possible out too 800 or so then sure great caliber.

Yeah my 6.5 RM works for just about every hunting application really well. But for really big game, brush hunting or places where shots could be really long on elk, I like something a little bigger. For those situations, I use a 338-375 Ruger with 250gr Berger Elite Hunting bullets.

 

[Ggmac]

Never be under gunned , my if I have to rifle is a 375 rem ultra mag Ackley improved . But dinosaur isn't on the hunt list ! Yes I've shot it from prone but not since I broke my collarbone and a few ribs . I don't think the dinosaurs will be coming back too soon , I hope .

 

[shoot4fun]

If you're going magnum go BIG! I would look at only two of the 6.5 mags; the 26 Nosler and the 6.5-300 Weatherby. Those have the ass to cut into the bite of that Wyoming wind on big Mule Deer, Elk and, especially, Antelope.

 

[Ggmac]

If you want big , I've got a complete set of Reamers that take the 460 weatherby necked down to 6.5 x2" in length or 2.5"

 

[Hal]

If you want to read up on the 6.5 SAUM do a search on the 24campfire. There is several pages to read.

Hal

 

[dragman]

If you're going magnum go BIG! I would look at only two of the 6.5 mags; the 26 Nosler and the 6.5-300 Weatherby. Those have the ass to cut into the bite of that Wyoming wind on big Mule Deer, Elk and, especially, Antelope.

But with that much why stay 6.5? 6.5wby I didn't run numbers but I bet at over 700 yards a 7stw with 180s or even a 300 win with 210s retains as much energy at those distance.
I love my 264 for shorter range fast flat hammer but even its to big to stay 6.5 imho.

 

[thekriebles]

If you want big , I've got a complete set of Reamers that take the 460 weatherby necked down to 6.5 x2" in length or 2.5"

That's more than big, it's HUGE!!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

If you're going magnum go BIG! I would look at only two of the 6.5 mags; the 26 Nosler and the 6.5-300 Weatherby. Those have the ass to cut into the bite of that Wyoming wind on big Mule Deer, Elk and, especially, Antelope.

Yeah burn 20+ more grains of powder to get an extra 100 fps and a lot of extra recoil...no thanks.

 

[Ggmac]

You don't realize common sense when 20 ish and trying to shoot with your uncle at Williamsport . Good lord those were the good days , being able to see , skin that doesn't have the thickness of onion skin .
I shrunk the 460 down to 1 1/2" body 40 deg shoulder aprx 2" case total .
It looked much better than it performed , esp with the powder available then .

 

[K22]

Before I went out and purchased a super magnum I'd ask my self what is the longest distance I can hit an eight inch circle consistently under field shooting conditions in various wind and mirage conditions. Can your field shooting marksmanship skills take full advantage of the extended range offered by such calibers?

 

[long40shot]

Before I went out and purchased a super magnum I'd ask my self what is the longest distance I can hit an eight inch circle consistently under field shooting conditions in various wind and mirage conditions. Can your field shooting marksmanship skills take full advantage of the extended range offered by such calibers?

Yes, i am a real life Bob Lee Swagger.

 

[K22]

Yes, i am a real life Bob Lee Swagger.

Then by all means go for it. Take a look at the 6.5 Creedmoor. I don't have one but the report on it are very promising.