6.5 wsm or 6.5-284

[Rapier]

I am a 6.5 kina of guy and have been since about 1962 when I shot my first 6.5 rifle.

One thing you need to understand about the 6.5 caliber is that 90% of what you read is hype and active imagination. Before you jump into the deep end, study the performance data and compare it very closely.

You will find that the 6.5x284 and the 6.5x06 have the same capacity and use the same load data. The two cartridges are basically equal in performance and accuracy. The 6.5x06 makes a better hunting round because it feeds from a magazine with more reliability. The 6.5x284 might be a wee bit more accurate, that is a very big "might be" though. The 6.5x284 is simply the current king of the hype pile.

Here are your capacity numbers:
6.5 x 55 56gr
260 56.5gr
6.5 x 06 & 6.5x284 68 gr
6.5 WSM 80gr
264 WM 82gr

The 6.5x06 will come to within 100 to 200 fps of equaling the 264 Win Mag with 1/3 less powder and the 260 will come to within 100 fps of equaling the 6.5x06 with heavy bullets and will equal or exceed the 6.5x06 with lighter bullets. With the 6.5 WSM it takes 41.6% more powder to get, at the very most, 200 FPS over the 260 with a 120! I have never shot a 120 in either of my 6.5x06 guns or I would relate the numbers to you.

The reality is that the 6.5x06 or the 6.5x284 will deliver excellent results without burning out the throat of your barrel. A burned out throat is what you can get with the added powder capacity from a 264 and the 6.5 WSM. I understand that the original 6.5 WSM burned out two barrels throats for Winchester before they could even finish the test of their own powders. Makes sense and is reported as the reason why you do not see a factory 6.5 WSM.

Best,
Ed

[Redram]

I own a 6.5X55 in a 1904 M96 rifle. I guess getting a factory 6.5X55 in a modern rifle will get me what I really want with a lot less powder. My old M96 will still outshoot most of the guns in my safe.

[Rapier]

Ah, the dreaded M-96 Swede, one of my favorite guns of all time. PO Ackley said of the 96 (94, 96, 38 all same) that it was the safest action of the 95 Mauser types, having a firing pin collar and a gas port. PO also noted in his books that gunsmiths were making custom 22-250 guns from the 96 action. However PO thought that the practice was borderline.

You already have what amounts to a 260 and a chambering that might well be the closest thing we will ever see to the "do-all rifle." The Swedes use the 6.5x55 to shoot everything from rabbits to moose. It will shoot sub 1/2 inch groups; it will do 3,500 fps with an 85 Sierra as a varmint rifle and near 3,000 fps with a Hornady 140 as a deer rifle. If you stick a 160 in it, especially the cooper nickel FMJs it can be used to shoot tanks or roaming APCs.

Don't be sidetracked by the SAMMI penchant for down grading European guns/cartridges. The Swede is made from the very best steel. When a contract was made with Obendorf of Germany to produce guns for Sweden, the Swedes sent their steel to Germany to have their rifles built from. They did not like or trust the German steel!

Best,
Ed