6.5 vs .257 cartridge question

[Bill Norris]

The new 25 bullets have put a low recoiling rifle into almost magnum ballistics. Watching the 25s shoot with the 300s at 1k, they are not that far behind now. Now Im not talking the big 300s, but stuff like the wsm. Its true there's not a lot of bullet options, but when you look at bullets that win matches, there are not a lot of options in any caliber.
For competition, I would say there's not a big difference between a 25 or 6.5. Both are doing well. For hunting I like the 25. I personally don't consider either big enough for elk so if I scratch elk off the table then Im thinking mid range deer and antelope. For that, Id rather have the extra speed of the 25 if we compared say a 25 prc vs a 6.5 prc.

Yea, so far I'm liking the 25 X 47 Lapua. Hoping to get it out to 600 or 700 yds. once this heat backs off somewhat to see how true the ballistics charts are. Sometimes what we see on these programs don't actually paint the true picture that the target does. Me and SVT_Tactical saw a good example of that a few months back when we compared the 115 gr. Tubbs 6mm bullet in 243AI to the 140 gr. 6.5 Berger bullet in 260AI at comparable M V at 700 yds. Ballistics said the 115 gr. was better at maintaining velocity and wind drift but in the real world we did not see that at all in app. 10 to 15 mph winds. I'm hoping the 25 X 47 Lapua will paint a different picture on paper but that remains to be seen.

 

[Bill Norris]

When it became reality there was going to be more then just a couple mid 130's .257 bullets available to us the RSAUM case size seemed like it would be a really good fit for this caliber and weight class. Having a few hundred pieces of new ADG 6.5 RSAUM brass sitting on the shelf I started acquiring parts to have a 25 RSAUM built. Dropped everything off at my smiths and a few months later I had a 25 SAUM that was launching 134 ELD-M's down range at just a tick under 3200 from a 22in Bartlein barrel and I couldn't be happier with how well it shoots. I think once it gets a few more rounds through it it'll likely end up settling in somewhere slightly over 3200.

The 25 WSM's and 25-7PRC's shoot the same bullet/s a little faster but they're also using a fair bit more powder to get there too. I've never been one to be overly concerned about barrel life or "efficiency" but I think the RSAUM case size and .257 caliber makes for a really happy combo without going quite so overbore as the WSM, 7 PRC or even 257 Weatherby.

Yea I feel the SAUM case would be max. if I decided to build one. Barrel life comes into play.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I like the prc case for the 25 for hunting. Pushes that 130+ class over 3200 in 24" barrels and they hammer. I have a bunch of them out there and I like those cartridges that are easy. And you have Lapua brass. I also like the 25-300 wsm for lapua brass too and 257 Weatherby capacity. I am not a Weatherby guy but I like the 257 W for some reason.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Yea, so far I'm liking the 25 X 47 Lapua. Hoping to get it out to 600 or 700 yds. once this heat backs off somewhat to see how true the ballistics charts are. Sometimes what we see on these programs don't actually paint the true picture that the target does. Me and SVT_Tactical saw a good example of that a few months back when we compared the 115 gr. Tubbs 6mm bullet in 243AI to the 140 gr. 6.5 Berger bullet in 260AI at comparable M V at 700 yds. Ballistics said the 115 gr. was better at maintaining velocity and wind drift but in the real world we did not see that at all in app. 10 to 15 mph winds. I'm hoping the 25 X 47 Lapua will paint a different picture on paper but that remains to be seen.

I do think theres a little error in our current ballistics calcs. I dont think we give mass enough credit. Then theres also some bullets than just cut wind. We have theories, but BC and velocity are not the be all end all for wind drift IME. Its just a rough estimate.

 

[bobcat93]

Wow!..i didnt think any one would even respond to my post.
At one point i owed 6 different 22cal rifles all different cartridges.
It was pretty cool and easy to see what different power level can do. And fun to have so many choices..
I still have 223, 221, 22lr its 3 different power levels. Not to financially painful to reload or purchase rimfire ammo.
My only knowledge of the 6.5 caliber has been gained by shooting my 6.5 creedmore
I really miss having a 25-06 or even a 30-06.
I had them and after awhile they collected dust. So i sold them.
I like having multiple cartridges for the same bullet diameter.

A 6.5 fireball, 6.5 creedmore, and 6.5-06 could be pretty useful line up to have. And just alot of fun
Maybe more economical to have the 6.5 grendal but the 6.5 fireball would look just awesome with a long bullet. Haha..and probably be more useful then a 300black out

 

[WyleWD]

The 6.5-06 is a fantastic cartridge. Performance wise it is everything the new 6.5PRC claims to be. 140 class bullets at 2900 plus with relative ease, light on recoil and excellent accuracy and ballistics, with a great selection of bullet weights for any purpose. My personal opinion, and the reason I love a good 6.5 is because its the goldilocks of calibers. To me it's just right. Load the 6.5-06 with a Berger 140 vld and kill anything you want with it.

Totally agree^^^.

A fellow from Arizona and I were talking one day about 25 years ago and he told me that about any thing you could build based a 30-06 or 308 case could be made a VERY good shooter. His pick of the litter was the 6.5-06. I had one built and it's the most accurate hunting rifle I have ever owned or shot. Low recoil, easily tuned, and exceptionally accurate with an array of different bullets. But accuracy wise the 120gr NBT, 129grSST, and 140gr Gameking have been the most impressive. JME. WD

 

[JEFFPPC]

Pick a sport and what do coaches say. Speed kills. I belive that applies in our sport also.

 

[STOMP442]

Totally agree^^^.

A fellow from Arizona and I were talking one day about 25 years ago and he told me that about any thing you could build based a 30-06 or 308 case could be made a VERY good shooter. His pick of the litter was the 6.5-06. I had one built and it's the most accurate hunting rifle I have ever owned or shot. Low recoil, easily tuned, and exceptionally accurate with an array of different bullets. But accuracy wise the 120gr NBT, 129grSST, and 140gr Gameking have been the most impressive. JME. WD

We Arizonans know what we are talking about I guess. My family have been 6.5 folk long before the Creed was ever thought up hell, even the .260. My oldest brother used a a scoped M38 Sweede Mauser loaded with 140 Sierra Game Kings to kill Coues deer with growing up. I have long seen how effective the little 6.5s could be and probably why I am such a fan of them today.

 

[Albany Mountain]

What about twist rates for the heavier 257 bullets? I'm sure older rifles can't enjoy the benefits without changing barrels.

 

[choprzrul]

I had a 26" Ruger #1 in 25-06 using 90gr Absolute Hammers at 3600+ at the barrel. VERY efficient on deer with very little bloodshot meat.

I plan on doing a 25-284 and am hoping for 3700+

 

[Tangent]

What would be the optimum car size for target work for the heavy 25's? I'd have thought a .308 sized case would get sufficient velocity?

 

[SKWERLZ]

The 6.5-06 is a fantastic cartridge. Performance wise it is everything the new 6.5PRC claims to be. 140 class bullets at 2900 plus with relative ease, light on recoil and excellent accuracy and ballistics, with a great selection of bullet weights for any purpose. My personal opinion, and the reason I love a good 6.5 is because its the goldilocks of calibers. To me it's just right. Load the 6.5-06 with a Berger 140 vld and kill anything you want with it.

I don’t even own a 6.5 now but I learned so much from shooting one for many years.

I think the new high bc .257 bullets are really neat.

I have a nagging urge to do a barrel for 25WSSM or something similar.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Pick a sport and what do coaches say. Speed kills. I belive that applies in our sport also.

I thought it was Smoothness is Speed.

 

[Bill Norris]

What would be the optimum car size for target work for the heavy 25's? I'd have thought a .308 sized case would get sufficient velocity?

Not real sure about optimum but this 25 X 47 case is working pretty good. A couple of NRL guys have built it and was hoping to get @ 2900 FPS for their use and I have already exceeded that actually by app. 100 FPS but I don't feel we will push it quite that hard. I believe we will probably stop at around 2950 FPS to try at 600 yds. I don't think these speeds would be possible without the special reamer our builder has come up with.

 

[Bill Norris]

What about twist rates for the heavier 257 bullets? I'm sure older rifles can't enjoy the benefits without changing barrels.

Yea, these .257 heavies will require at least 1 - 8 tw. but even better would be 1 - 7.5 tw. in my opinion.

 

[SKWERLZ]

Yea, so far I'm liking the 25 X 47 Lapua. Hoping to get it out to 600 or 700 yds. once this heat backs off somewhat to see how true the ballistics charts are. Sometimes what we see on these programs don't actually paint the true picture that the target does. Me and SVT_Tactical saw a good example of that a few months back when we compared the 115 gr. Tubbs 6mm bullet in 243AI to the 140 gr. 6.5 Berger bullet in 260AI at comparable M V at 700 yds. Ballistics said the 115 gr. was better at maintaining velocity and wind drift but in the real world we did not see that at all in app. 10 to 15 mph winds. I'm hoping the 25 X 47 Lapua will paint a different picture on paper but that remains to be seen.

25x47 sounds fun!

 

[Bill Norris]

25x47 sounds fun!

So far I am pleased with it. Hoping to get it out to distance once the heat backs down somewhat.

 

[SKWERLZ]

We Arizonans know what we are talking about I guess. My family have been 6.5 folk long before the Creed was ever thought up hell, even the .260. My oldest brother used a a scoped M38 Sweede Mauser loaded with 140 Sierra Game Kings to kill Coues deer with growing up. I have long seen how effective the little 6.5s could be and probably why I am such a fan of them today.

A 260 with 130’s is murder on a coyote at 1000 yards.

I’d never shoot a deer that far but the deer aren’t pestering the cat and the chickens.

My Viking friends shoot moose and bear with round point heavies in 6.5x55.

 

[SKWERLZ]

So far I am pleased with it. Hoping to get it out to distance once the heat backs down somewhat.

What powders you running?

 

[Bill Norris]

What powders you running?

Briefly looked at Varget and H4350 but VV-N540 is where I have spent the most time. Probably will stay with it for now as it has done well.