To 6.5 or not to 6.5 that is the question!

[25 Sharps]

Interesting reading your case capacity on the Creedmore.
On my 6.5x55 swede, using LAPUA cases I measure the capacity at a midge under 60 grains.

That’s why people argue the 6.5x55 loaded to modern pressures is better. But at that point it’s not strictly a 6.5x55…..

I have 6.5x55 ackley dies sat in the loading room and will be getting an ackley barrel put on my swede when I kill the current one or I have a spare £800 knocking about.

 

[a_seth]

Just to tag onto the original question (as a newbie to this) I was thinking of getting a 6.5cm to use on muntjac/roe/fallow and a .270 to use on bigger deer for the extra knockdown power (inside 300 yards it doesn’t seem dissimilar to a 6.5 prc and much more available). Reading comments it seems handloading 6.5cm might make the .270 redundant and/or that I should really just be looking at a 6.5x55? (And handloading it)

 

[VSS]

Just to tag onto the original question (as a newbie to this) I was thinking of getting a 6.5cm to use on muntjac/roe/fallow and a .270 to use on bigger deer for the extra knockdown power (inside 300 yards it doesn’t seem dissimilar to a 6.5 prc and much more available). Reading comments it seems handloading 6.5cm might make the .270 redundant and/or that I should really just be looking at a 6.5x55? (And handloading it)

Just get a .270 and be happy!

 

[a_seth]

Just get a .270 and be happy!

I was thinking that but hoping the 6.5cm would make less of a mess of muntjac/cwd?

 

[VSS]

I was thinking that but hoping the 6.5cm would make less of a mess of muntjac/cwd?

Mess is caused by bullet design and shot placement, rather than calibre.

 

[a_seth]

Mess is caused by bullet design and shot placement, rather than calibre.

I do understand the shot placement point, I just thought the speed of the 270 would probably not really help with smaller game? If you have real world experience of both I would be interested to hear, thanks!

 

[tackb]

Creedmoor will kill every deer the uk has to offer easily , and is easy to shoot which will make it easier to put the round exactly where you want

270 is not required

 

[VSS]

270 will kill every deer the uk has to offer easily , and is easy to shoot which will make it easier to put the round exactly where you want

Creedmoor is not required

Corrected that for you

 

[Envillegc1]

Is the king.

Although 6.5x55 AI may just be, The One!

Maybe, but I have since found the 6.5 Sherman!!!

 

[Envillegc1]

Correct, to a 16 inch barreled PRC. Which isn't made to be shot through a short tube... Use it for what's it's made for, sending a 140g north of 3k fps

So I have just found the ultimate 6.5mm! Its the 6.5 Sherman

 

[Envillegc1]

Just to tag onto the original question (as a newbie to this) I was thinking of getting a 6.5cm to use on muntjac/roe/fallow and a .270 to use on bigger deer for the extra knockdown power (inside 300 yards it doesn’t seem dissimilar to a 6.5 prc and much more available). Reading comments it seems handloading 6.5cm might make the .270 redundant and/or that I should really just be looking at a 6.5x55? (And handloading it)

Which is where I got to on my 6.5 journey, till I came across the 6.5 Sherman this week!!!

 

[Envillegc1]

Mess is caused by bullet design and shot placement, rather than calibre.

Is this not back to the debate as to why we stalk? Are we doing it for management purposes or to harvest meat?

I always find the fact that rifle calibres are quoted as a minimum calibre and we are to humanley dispatch the allocated quarry.

Thus should we not all be pinging 50 BMG down range?
No goes up the cryas thats over kill!
I am sure the deer is far from caring whether its just left with a smouldering couple of hoofs and a nose if hit by a 50 cal, compared to a 240 Wetherby!
Which is the more humane round!

Just saying!!

 

[25 Sharps]

Just to tag onto the original question (as a newbie to this) I was thinking of getting a 6.5cm to use on muntjac/roe/fallow and a .270 to use on bigger deer for the extra knockdown power (inside 300 yards it doesn’t seem dissimilar to a 6.5 prc and much more available). Reading comments it seems handloading 6.5cm might make the .270 redundant and/or that I should really just be looking at a 6.5x55? (And handloading it)

Hand loaded creedmoor and 6.5x55 are going to be one and the same, the creedmoor will be more available and short action if that is your thing, 6.5x55 rifles will be cheaper second hand if that’s a consideration.

.270 will hit with more authority it may be too much for smaller deer but with copper bullets probably not.

I shoot 25-45, 6.5 x55, creedmoor, .308 and .280 (the calibre the .270 always wanted to be but basically the same).

The 2 larger calibres run 350-500 ft-lb more with bigger bullets, they just hit harder. But the 6.5s will kill everything you’ll shoot at in the uk, including boar.

So it really comes down to if you want to run one rifle or perhaps have one light rifle for stalking / hill work and one heavy as a stopper at range. They’ll all do the job though (and all benefit from hand loading other than perhaps .308).

 

[25 Sharps]

So I have just found the ultimate 6.5mm! Its the 6.5 Sherman

Looks good. Just need to get hold of a reamer and dies.

In reality what will it buy you for shooting deer over a .280 or 7 PRC?

 

[VSS]

Is this not back to the debate as to why we stalk? Are we doing it for management purposes or to harvest meat?

I always find the fact that rifle calibres are quoted as a minimum calibre and we are to humanley dispatch the allocated quarry.

Thus should we not all be pinging 50 BMG down range?
No goes up the cryas thats over kill!
I am sure the deer is far from caring whether its just left with a smouldering couple of hoofs and a nose if hit by a 50 cal, compared to a 240 Wetherby!
Which is the more humane round!

Just saying!!

Carcass quality first and foremost for me. That's why I stalk.

 

[a_seth]

Hand loaded creedmoor and 6.5x55 are going to be one and the same, the creedmoor will be more available and short action if that is your thing, 6.5x55 rifles will be cheaper second hand if that’s a consideration.

.270 will hit with more authority it may be too much for smaller deer but with copper bullets probably not.

I shoot 25-45, 6.5 x55, creedmoor, .308 and .280 (the calibre the .270 always wanted to be but basically the same).

The 2 larger calibres run 350-500 ft-lb more with bigger bullets, they just hit harder. But the 6.5s will kill everything you’ll shoot at in the uk, including boar.

So it really comes down to if you want to run one rifle or perhaps have one light rifle for stalking / hill work and one heavy as a stopper at range. They’ll all do the job though (and all benefit from hand loading other than perhaps .308).

This is really helpful, thank you. I had assumed that boar would be .270 minimum and that 6.5cm would be borderline on red stags, but I suppose as VSS said it’s where you put it. I do like the idea of a lightweight 270 for hills and an mid weight 6.5cm for the rest/range… I imagine many rifles could be a slippery slope however!

 

[Dickie]

Is this not back to the debate as to why we stalk? Are we doing it for management purposes or to harvest meat?

I always find the fact that rifle calibres are quoted as a minimum calibre and we are to humanley dispatch the allocated quarry.

Thus should we not all be pinging 50 BMG down range?
No goes up the cryas thats over kill!
I am sure the deer is far from caring whether its just left with a smouldering couple of hoofs and a nose if hit by a 50 cal, compared to a 240 Wetherby!
Which is the more humane round!

Just saying!!

No such thing as overkill as you can’t get deader than dead.
How many available expanding bullets are available in the uk for the 50 bmg especially factory and non toxic for those with ground that the owners/leaseholders will only allow then there is the likelihood of being granted it from you local FLD.
However you then consider that the idea is also to gain a substantial quantity of quality meat from the carcass then any legal calibre with the right constructed bullet put in the correct place should tick the box.

 

[VSS]

This is really helpful, thank you. I had assumed that boar would be .270 minimum and that 6.5cm would be borderline on red stags, but I suppose as VSS said it’s where you put it. I do like the idea of a lightweight 270 for hills and an mid weight 6.5cm for the rest/range… I imagine many rifles could be a slippery slope however!

Don't listen to me. I haven't got much experience of different calibres, and I mostly don't know what I'm talking about!
However, I am completely won over by the 270.
Mine is a cranky old rifle that cost me £175, and looks like it ought to be in a museum. It wears a basic scope (fixed parallax, 3-9 mag, simple reticle) and no mod.
But the beauty of it is I just point it at the deer, squeeze the trigger, and they drop down dead!
I don't have to worry about holdover or dialling or any of that nonsense: Any deer up to about 250 yards is just point and press. Beyond that I do not know, as I haven't tried, and probably never will.

Honestly, what's not to like?

 

[a_seth]

Don't listen to me. I haven't got much experience of different calibres, and I mostly don't know what I'm talking about!
However, I am completely won over by the 270.
Mine is a cranky old rifle that cost me £175, and looks like it ought to be in a museum. It wears a basic scope (fixed parallax, 3-9 mag, simple reticle) and no mod.
But the beauty of it is I just point it at the deer, squeeze the trigger, and they drop down dead!
I don't have to worry about holdover or dialling or any of that nonsense: Any deer up to about 250 yards is just point and press. Beyond that I do not know, as I haven't tried, and probably never will.

Honestly, what's not to like?

You do make a good point!

 

[jack243win]

6.5x55 has been around since 1894… It’s still around… Let that sink in. With that being said, for the sake of shooting deer, any caliber 6mm and above within sensible stalking ranges is adequate. It is absolutely all down to bullet design choice and placement. Keep things simple!