Laurie already mentioned the 6.5X55. There is excellent brass, it uses medium to slow powders, will produce fine accuracy and good velocity in a modern action and a variety of dies are readily available. Some standard .473 bolts will accommodate the larger case head with no problem, some won't. That is really the only issue with the cartridge.
6.5mm round
- Thread starter calib
- Start date
BigDMT
You already named a perfect "medium power" case friend. The 260 AI!
Or maybe you could try the 6.5X55 Swede
And the 6.5-284 is not what I would call a "high velocity" 6.5mm round. It doesn't come close to pushing bullets as fast as the rounds I mentioned earlier. The smaller 260 AI even rivals the 6.5-284 in speed
Or maybe you could try the 6.5X55 Swede
And the 6.5-284 is not what I would call a "high velocity" 6.5mm round. It doesn't come close to pushing bullets as fast as the rounds I mentioned earlier. The smaller 260 AI even rivals the 6.5-284 in speed
[br]calib said:
Well, it holds about 15 grains more powder than a 6.5-284. I would say the prospects of long barrel life are not good.
I agree with bozo699.
W/regard to distance shooting, the 260AI has perfect capacity for 140gr bullets at good & rational pressures, excellent brass(now), and excellent in case design(for reloading).
IMO, there is no better in a new build to going more, or less, in this cal, with 140gr bullets.
And it all begins with the bullets..
You're just overbore above it, or over pressure below it.
W/regard to distance shooting, the 260AI has perfect capacity for 140gr bullets at good & rational pressures, excellent brass(now), and excellent in case design(for reloading).
IMO, there is no better in a new build to going more, or less, in this cal, with 140gr bullets.
And it all begins with the bullets..
You're just overbore above it, or over pressure below it.
6.5 Super Long Range. 260 Rem done right.
And because I had to recommend another caliber to this post!
And because I had to recommend another caliber to this post!
BigDMT
There "IS" a way to get the best of both worlds my friend.
You find a load that uses blistering speed on a heavy bullet for hunting
Then find a load using a lighter bullet at slower speed with great accuracy for target shooting
Or maybe get lucky and find a load using the same powder at different charges with the same bullet
All you gotta do to increase barrel life is lower the pressures and slow the bullets down.
A large capacity cartridge can shoot every bit as SLOW as a small capacity cartridge, BUT a small capacity cartridge can NEVER shoot as FAST as a large capacity cartridge.
Think of a 'hot rod muscle car' (large cartridge). You can give the hot rod to your wife to take the kids to soccer practice and it will do that task just fine. Just might look odd
Then you can take your hot rod to the drag strip and blow the doors off when you get the need for speed and it will do that fine as well. A 'Toyota Prius' (medium cartridge) can only complete one of those tasks Understand?
BTW calib. We haven't shot the 6.5 WSM enough to determine barrel life and it is a seasonal big game hunting rifle so it may be many years before the 140gr Berger gets sent down the barrel at 3180 fps enough times to start considerably wearing on the throat
You find a load that uses blistering speed on a heavy bullet for hunting
Then find a load using a lighter bullet at slower speed with great accuracy for target shooting
Or maybe get lucky and find a load using the same powder at different charges with the same bullet
All you gotta do to increase barrel life is lower the pressures and slow the bullets down.
A large capacity cartridge can shoot every bit as SLOW as a small capacity cartridge, BUT a small capacity cartridge can NEVER shoot as FAST as a large capacity cartridge.
Think of a 'hot rod muscle car' (large cartridge). You can give the hot rod to your wife to take the kids to soccer practice and it will do that task just fine. Just might look odd
Then you can take your hot rod to the drag strip and blow the doors off when you get the need for speed and it will do that fine as well. A 'Toyota Prius' (medium cartridge) can only complete one of those tasks Understand?BTW calib. We haven't shot the 6.5 WSM enough to determine barrel life and it is a seasonal big game hunting rifle so it may be many years before the 140gr Berger gets sent down the barrel at 3180 fps enough times to start considerably wearing on the throat
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
No my friend I don't understand, I buy a Geo metro when I want fuel mileage (small cartridge) I never try to look like a idiot and hot rod it because it WILL NOT HOT ROD!! And when I want to hot rod I get my Corvette out, (Large cartridge) I never lug it, it is to the floor boards everywhere I go, I keep BF Goodrich in business as the rear tires need replaced continually! and the wife is NEVER allowed behind the wheel!! PERIOD!! Same thing with guns, I work up a load and NEVER change it, I buy however many bullets of the same lot to burn the barrel out then proceed burning it out, the barrel is no different to me then powder and bullets, completely expendable, I NEVER use one gun for multiple purposes, I just build another gun for another purposeBigDMT said:There "IS" a way to get the best of both worlds my friend.
You find a load that uses blistering speed on a heavy bullet for hunting
Then find a load using a lighter bullet at slower speed with great accuracy for target shooting
Or maybe get lucky and find a load using the same powder at different charges with the same bullet
All you gotta do to increase barrel life is lower the pressures and slow the bullets down.
A large capacity cartridge can shoot every bit as SLOW as a small capacity cartridge, BUT a small capacity cartridge can NEVER shoot as FAST as a large capacity cartridge.
Think of a 'hot rod muscle car' (large cartridge). You can give the hot rod to your wife to take the kids to soccer practice and it will do that task just fine. Just might look odd
BTW calib. We haven't shot the 6.5 WSM enough to determine barrel life and it is a seasonal big game hunting rifle so it may be many years before the 140gr Berger gets sent down the barrel at 3180 fps enough times to start considerably wearing on the throat
When I first started out with precision in mind I had a 25-06, I had 75 grain V-Max for varmints, I had 100 grain bullets for deer and 117's for elk and 120 hp bullets for target shooting and 95 grain solids for pelt hunting : 
:-\ I decided once I could afford to build a few guns I would never put up with this BS again and I haven't either, if I want to go pelt hunting at normal ranges I take my .223 with 69 grain FMJ bullets if I need to hunt pelts long I get out my .408 Cheytac with 406 grain solid bullets and so on and so forth! IMHO there is no such thing as fuel miser hotrod and there is no such thing as a do all rifle,...especially when you don't have to Wayne.
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
P.S to my last post.
I never look down on someone who can only afford one rifle or auto as I was young once with a family at home and can remember what it was like, it wasn't all that long ago!!,... If you can only afford one rifle but have multiple shooting needs then by all means make the loads you need for the purpose and go for it, I just don't have to anymore so I don't, not rich by any standard just can afford more then one rifle, for those of you who cannot do what ever you have to to keep on shooting
Wayne.
I never look down on someone who can only afford one rifle or auto as I was young once with a family at home and can remember what it was like, it wasn't all that long ago!!,... If you can only afford one rifle but have multiple shooting needs then by all means make the loads you need for the purpose and go for it, I just don't have to anymore so I don't, not rich by any standard just can afford more then one rifle, for those of you who cannot do what ever you have to to keep on shooting
Wayne.
The .260 AI would have a 40° shoulder and shorter neck. It is an improved cartridge which means that a factory round can be fired in the AI chamber, resulting in the AI case. The 6.5 Super LR is a wildcat cartridge which means that some manipulation must be done to the case in order to fire it and no factory round can be fired in the chamber.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.