Thoughts on a 6.5 for deer

[montana_native]

I have a #4, 8-twist McGowen blank that will finish up to 26". I have been debating on what to chamber it in for a hunting rifle for my wife. The action is an old Model 70 pushfeed so I can go either long or short action.

I am already set up with 6.5x47 Lapua components so I was thinking of taking that route. Does anyone have experience taking deer with this round? I can't imagine her shooting beyond 600 yards.

I am also interested in the 6.5x55 Swede. It looks like it can get a 140 grain bullet to nearly 3000 fps when loaded to modern pressures...unless I have been misinformed.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[JRS]

You won't generate 3000 fps with 140 GR bullets from the standard 6.5x55.

 

[2506]

To really simplify things and get a really great 6.5 I would go 6.5-06 or Ackley Improved. With your action you will have no feeding problems and with that 26" barrel you can get near the velocity a 264 Win mag does out of a 24" barrel. For deer you can use 120 gr bullets and for game as large as elk 140s. Recoil is relatively light with the 120s and if you use a 120 Nosler ballistic tip and keep the impact velocity under 3000 fps it is one deer killing bullet waaaaay out there. To make the 6.5-06 case take a 30-06 case and run it into a FL 6.5-06 die or take a 25-06 case load with a few grains of pistol or shotgun powder like Red Dot and fill the case with cream of wheat with a little candle wax dripped on the case mouth to hold in the cream of wheat and fire them. You will have perfectly fire formed cases. H4831 works really well in this case but if I were a betting man I would bet that Retumbo may just do wonders. ;D

 

[Erik Cortina]

To really simplify things and get a really great 6.5 I would go 6.5-06 or Ackley Improved. With your action you will have no feeding problems and with that 26" barrel you can get near the velocity a 264 Win mag does out of a 24" barrel. For deer you can use 120 gr bullets and for game as large as elk 140s. Recoil is relatively light with the 120s and if you use a 120 Nosler ballistic tip and keep the impact velocity under 3000 fps it is one deer killing bullet waaaaay out there. To make the 6.5-06 case take a 30-06 case and run it into a FL 6.5-06 die or take a 25-06 case load with a few grains of pistol or shotgun powder like Red Dot and fill the case with cream of wheat with a little candle wax dripped on the case mouth to hold in the cream of wheat and fire them. You will have perfectly fire formed cases. H4831 works really well in this case but if I were a betting man I would bet that Retumbo may just do wonders. ;D

Your description of "simplify" is obviously different than mine. ;D
You forgot to mention that he would need custom dies.

I shoot a 47 for deer, I shoot 123 AMAX at 3,000 fps from a 25" barrel. Perfect for deer.
If you already have the dies, brass, and components for the 47, it doesn't get easier than that.

 

[Preacher]

I shot a nice fat doe yesterday with my 6.5x47 AI @ 126 yards with a 130 Accubond, she never moved except down..
Don't let the small case size fool you, it is a deer killing machine.....

 

[JRS]

As Eric and Preacher have said, use the 6.5x47 you have.

The 120 GR Barnes TTSX or 120 GR Nosler Partition is deadly poison

 

[Down South]

130 gr VLD in the 6.5 X 47 is a deadly combo as well on whitetail, i was running them 2875 ish in a 25 inch 8.5 twist with outstanding accuracy.

 

[effendude]

To really simplify things and get a really great 6.5 I would go 6.5-06 or Ackley Improved. With your action you will have no feeding problems and with that 26" barrel you can get near the velocity a 264 Win mag does out of a 24" barrel. For deer you can use 120 gr bullets and for game as large as elk 140s. Recoil is relatively light with the 120s and if you use a 120 Nosler ballistic tip and keep the impact velocity under 3000 fps it is one deer killing bullet waaaaay out there. To make the 6.5-06 case take a 30-06 case and run it into a FL 6.5-06 die or take a 25-06 case load with a few grains of pistol or shotgun powder like Red Dot and fill the case with cream of wheat with a little candle wax dripped on the case mouth to hold in the cream of wheat and fire them. You will have perfectly fire formed cases. H4831 works really well in this case but if I were a betting man I would bet that Retumbo may just do wonders. ;D

I am tired just reading all the simplifying steps. Build a 6.5-47 or 6.5-284 and never look back. Brass, dies, bullets are all proven performers. No recoil issues. My wife and I have used a 6.5-284 all over North America, South Africa, and I even used it on a huge Alaskan moose this fall when the wheels came off a 7RUM a couple weeks before the trip.
Scott

 

[Chuckhunter]

Montana, as Preacher, Eric, and a few other posters have indicated, the 6.5X47 L, is very easy to load for, easy on barrels, light on recoil and extremely accurate from short to long range and since you have all the componants already, why not go for it. I have taken whitetails as close as 50 yds and Antelope as far as 545yds with my 6.5X47L, shooting 130 Berger Hunting VLD's all bang flops, as Preacher said it's a killing machine. Good Luck with whatever you choose and let us know what you decide.

 

[jr600yd]

I use a 260 Rem. Why? Because it's what I got. 6.5/47 or 260 deer don't know the difference..

 

[captben]

It is now hard for me to Imagine a more Perfect ALL Around Cartridge (FOR A HANDLOADER) Than a 6.5x47L.

Great for Targets and a Hammer on Deer, Hogs,Etc.

Why not use a Competition cartridge you have supreme confidence in.

I Do a Lot of Cull Shooting on MLP Ranches in Texas and I now almost exclusively shoot a 6.5x47L.(Have shot Hundereds)
Have used 130 Hunting bergers exclusively.
Never had one take a Step.
Granted most cull shooting is at Relatively close range, (250yds or less).
Some though, considerably farther.

Very little recoil and supremely accurate and ALL the deer were edible with very little meat damage.

No Rifle is a be all do all, But this one is close.

I wouuld certainly choose one for my wife if she would hunt.

Just My 2cents.

Ben

 

[nosualc]

I just rebarreled my beloved Sako .308 into a 6.5x47L. I had Jon Beanland chamber it with a 24" Brux bbl, #4 contour barrel. I purpose built this rifle to be a deer rifle. Weights in at about 9 1/2 lbs with a 14 power Leupold Mark 4 scope.

I did some load work on it last weekend, and between 38.0 and 40.9 gr of H4350, it averaged < 1/2" groups with the 130gr Berger Hunting VLD. The best load twice shot under 1/3". This is before fine tuning for powder charge, or seating depth. Still have some work to do, but early results are encouraging.

I'd stick with the 6.5x47L if I were you. I'm thinking about building another I can't wait to use it on deer.

-nosualc

 

[Hydenseek]

6.5 x 47 and forget the rest

 

[MrMajestic]

Man I really hate saying this but, Erik is r r r rrr right. :-[

 

[Clod-NC]

Hi Montana hi all
I'm OK with everyone's advice except,for whichever reason,nobody seems to know and recommend an old and good one that's the 6.5x57(7x57 necked down to 6.5),Sellier Bellot,Norma,RWS have cases for it,the 120 ProHunter from Sierra and Nosler BT in 120 will be all your lady needs to drop any deer she aims at if she shoots good,Forster have dies for it.The case capacity is about 12% over the 260 Rem,if your donor action is long you will be able to use the long Berger hybrids or VLDs,and it kicks just as much as a regular 243.Your 1/8 twist barrel will be perfect,it's a fantastic cartridge,in case you have problems finding cases,257 Roberts cases can be expanded (check OAL though,I know there's something with the Roberts that need be addressed in such a situation).I believe JGS have the reamer to cut your chamber,the rest is just money to invest or not,but the cartridge is really worth it,even though it's european.

 

[Drop Port]

I've used a 264 Win, 6.5-284 and currently a 6.5x47 to take more deer than I can keep track of. I wouldn't hesitate to use any or the 6.5's just pick what ever turns you on and have at it, the deer will never know which cartridge sent the bullet.

I currently use the 47L for almost everything.

 

[Exercion]

Can you get near the 3K velocity with a Swede and 140's? Yes, but it does depend on the barrel length, action and brass of course. Do you need 3K to whack Bambi? Nope. 6.5x55 has been hammering game in Scandinavia, including their moose for 120 years at the standard velocities 2700-2800+. It is very famous for accuracy and mild recoil, and the name of the game isn't brute power it is shot placement and penetration, which the heavy 6.5 bullets excel at.
Probably can't fault the 6.5x47 either, but personally I prefer the heavier pills.

Eric

 

[jbarnwell]

I'll put in another vote for the 6.5x47 Lapua. I built a new hunting rifle on a Defiance action this year and have been very pleased with it's performance on whitetails. Have been shooting the 120 Ballistic Tips at 2950 fps over a charge of VV N540. This has proven to be a very accurate load and most of the deer have been DRT.

 

[BobLor]

I too have used the 6.5x57mm Mauser cartridge for deer hunting for the last 10 years. I use the Sellier & Belot factory ammunition. 131gr exposed lead bullet. Works great on White tail deer. My rifle is a VZ 24 action that some German gunsmith turned into a very nice hunting rifle, double set trigger, claw mount scope with the three heavy post German reticle. I purchased it at a very reduced price because the local gun shop did not think ammunition would be available in the U.S.
But if you do not want to spend a few minutes on the internet buying a supply of ammo or brass, I would go with a 6.5 mm ctg that is more standard in the USA. I also have a 6.5x06 that is deadly on deer.

 

[XTR]

If you reload I can't imagine why you wouldn't be happy with a 6.5x47L, unless you just wanted the availability and slightly greater capacity of a 260Rem. There are lots of bullets available to choose from, lots of reloading options, brass is usually available.

I shoot a 7-08 for a hunting rifle (when I'm not shooting a 50Cal smokeless muzzle loader or a 45-70) but I wouldn't hesitate to build a 260/6.5 as a deer rifle. I just have the 7-08 because it looked like a good fit with the 7mmRM.