Within the final decade, countless 6.5mm cartridges have entered the market. We’re not speaking some random wildcat hand hundreds. These have, by the numbers, grow to be mainstream cartridges – however there are just too many. Loads of them would possibly simply be fads using the .264″ bandwagon. With so many rounds crowding the house, it might probably get complicated choosing out what’s truly helpful, and what roles every spherical fulfills finest (if any, in any respect). Let’s take a look at the most effective 6.5mm cartridges.
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6.5 Creedmoor (The “New .308 Winchester”) – 6.5mm Cartridges
- Case Size: 1.920″
- Total Size: 2.825″
- Case Capability: 52.5 gr H2O
- Muzzle Velocity (120 gr): 3,020 FPS
- Muzzle Vitality (120 gr): 2,430 ft. lbs.
Of all of the 6.5mm hundreds, Creedmoor’s most likely the one you acknowledge. It could be the solely 6.5mm cartridge you acknowledge, and for good purpose: It’s grow to be arguably the most well-liked 6.5mm cartridge to return out lately, and it successfully features as a contender for changing the growing old however nonetheless cherished .308 Winchester. Due to its efficiency and compatibility with .30-caliber receivers, it’s now one of many extra common rounds present in so many .308-type AR uppers and construct.
Though virtually equivalent in size (.308 measures about 2.8″ in whole size, too). At a look, Creedmoor and .308 Win seem evenly matched: if each casings fireplace a 12o- to 125-grain load, .308 produces round 3,100 FPS – about 80 greater than Creedmoor. However Creedmoor retains extra power downrange, with a notably larger ballistic coefficient, much less drop per hundred yards and higher wind resistance. Though they’re evenly matched as much as round 600 to 800 yards, relying on the comparative hundreds, 6.5 Creedmoor begins displaying its superiority at a kilometer – it’ll drop as much as 1.5 ft much less at this distance. Regardless of its larger BC and vary, 6.5 Creedmoor’s felt recoil is virtually equivalent to .308 Winchester. Higher efficiency in change for a similar shoulder punch is all the time a plus. In some circumstances, Creedmoor’s truly a good bit softer on the shoulder sinew, providing as much as 5 kilos much less felt recoil.
6.5 PRC (The 6.5mm Laser Pointer) – 6.5mm Cartridges
- Case Size: 2.030″
- Total Size: 2.955″
- Case Capability: 62 gr H2O
- Muzzle Velocity (147 gr): 2,960 FPS
- Muzzle Vitality (147 gr): 2,782 ft. lbs.
6.5 PRC exists to meet one goal: To offer the best accuracy and efficiency of any .264″ load that isn’t strapped to an enormous casing requiring a protracted motion. With an total size about 0.13″ longer than 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC will match handily in most brief actions, whereas offering supersonic velocity at as much as 1,650 yards. To be blunt, that’s insane for any brief motion cartridge. For comparability, .50 BMG stays supersonic at about 1,500 yards.
6.5 PRC additionally manages to supply bullet drop just like lengthy motion cartridges that require far more wrangling. It’ll handle to drop simply 6″ at 300 yards, 18″ at 400 yards, and 36″ at 500 yards. That’s just like .30-06 and .300WM with out the huge actions, longer barrels, and heavy felt recoil. However for all its pace and laser trajectory, 6.5 PRC suffers modest barrel life – about 1,300 rounds earlier than you should re-barrel. However, given 6.5 PRC is commonly loaded on the planet’s costliest PRS and F-class rifles, the price of some new rifled spherical bar most likely isn’t a cloth concern for these taking full benefit of its capabilities.
6.5 Grendel (Made for The AR-15) – 6.5mm Cartridges
- Case Size: 1.520″
- Total Size: 2.260″
- Case Capability: 35 gr H2O
- Muzzle Velocity (120 gr): 2,700 FPS
- Muzzle Vitality (120 gr): 1,942 ft. lbs.
6.5 Grendel is to five.56 and .223 what Creedmoor is to .308 Winchester: An acceptable substitute for an growing old and relatively inferior spherical, carrying out higher efficiency in the identical receiver and platform, save for swapping the barrel and bore itself. The one distinction, right here, is that Grendel is definitely larger total, ditching the .22-caliber bullet for, effectively, clearly the 6.5mm at .264″ in diameter. Coupled with a 22% higher capability – 5.56 NATO gives 28.5 gr. H2O – you’re getting extra energy and nonetheless acquiring velocities just like 5.56’s heavier (62- or 63-grain) hundreds.
The ability distinction is stark at higher variations, too. Whereas 5.56 NATO is virtually efficient at 300 to 400 yards, 6.5 Grendel maintains supersonic flight at 700 yards, considerably enhancing its trajectory and ballistic coefficient at distances effectively past what the everyday AR-15 might ever hope to attain. However none of that is stunning given Grendel’s, on common, double the burden, with a a lot larger sectional density that improves wind resistance, too. The one downside is the additional recoil – however Grendel nonetheless punches softer than Creedmoor, making it splendid for changing .22-caliber receivers.
6.5x55mm Swedish (The Unique 6.5) – 6.5mm Cartridges
- Case Size: 2.165″
- Total Size: 3.150″
- Case Capability: 57.9 gr H2O
- Muzzle Velocity (120 gr): 2,810 FPS
- Muzzle Vitality (120 gr): 2,108 ft. lbs.
Produced in 1891, the unique 6.5mm cartridge stays common at the moment. Though the 6.5 craze appears to have begun in earnest only some years in the past, it was truly intensive testing performed by the Swedish-Norwegian Rifle Fee over a century earlier than that concluded 6.5mm bullets are, in reality, superior to most comparable calibers (like 8mm, 7.5mm, 7mm, and 6mm). Initially chambered in army Mausers, 6.5×55 Swedish discovered its manner into the palms of fullbore biathlon athletes – these loopy skiers who shoot rifles on the slopes – earlier than being retired in favor of .22 LR in 1975. However 6.5×55 stays a well-liked cartridge for goal capturing and searching giant sport in North America and Europe.
American gun makers Barrett, Remington, and Ruger all make actions for the Swede, whereas Blaser, CZ, Steyer, Mauser, Tikka, and Howa make actions globally. Though 6.5×55 matches in lengthy actions, the tradeoff is that it might probably technically present higher efficiency than even 6.5 PRC. The Swede makes a advantageous searching cartridge, too, with reasonably priced rifles: The Tikka T3x prices about $1,000, and most over Swede rifles are available at round this value level; some could be had for $800 or much less.
6.5-284 Norma (The Bench Spherical to Beat) – 6.5mm Cartridges
- Case Size: 2.170″
- Total Size: 3.228″
- Case Capability: 68.33 gr H2O
- Muzzle Velocity (120 gr): 3,000 FPS
- Muzzle Vitality (120 gr): 2,497 ft. lbs.
6.5-284 Norma is, as of this writing, arguably essentially the most correct 6.5mm cartridge accessible. Utilized by skilled marksman Wealthy DeSimone to set a 1,000-yard world document shot group, which measured simply 1.564″ in diameter, translating into about 0.15 MOA of accuracy. For many cartridges and rifles, this degree of sub-MOA efficiency is unprecedented at distances even only a fraction of a kilometer. Little extra must be mentioned, right here.
This degree of efficiency has, naturally, spawned a wholesome area of interest marketplace for rifles chambered within the stuff. Christensen Arms makes over a dozen variants of its Norma lengthy motion, particularly tailor-made for bench relaxation capturing. Savage additionally makes its devoted 12 Series F-Class Rifle for the Norma, full with customized, triple pillar bedding, an attractive heavy-duty laminate inventory, and an additional heavy 30″ barrel – all for simply $1700; not unhealthy for this degree of efficiency.
6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum (The Quickest 6.5mm) – 6.5mm Cartridges
- Case Size: 2.825″
- Total Size: 3.600″
- Case Capability: 98 gr H2O
- Muzzle Velocity (130 gr): 3,476 FPS
- Muzzle Vitality (130 gr): 3,487 ft. lbs.
If the Norma can set a document, it stands to purpose the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum, able to acquiring about 3,900 FPS on the muzzle with 100-grain hundreds, ought to be greater than able to beating it, proper? Though nobody has tried to, there’s little purpose to doubt this insanely proportioned 6.5mm variant.
With essentially the most case capability, the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum can be the quickest commercially accessible 6.5mm load present accessible. That is maybe essentially the most specialised – and temperamental – cartridge on this checklist, too. Barrel life is usually anticipated to common fewer than 1,000 rounds, and tender tipped bullets are more likely to mushroom and scatter, offering poor terminal efficiency in searching purposes.
However with the proper .264″ bullets, the 300 Weatherby iteration of the 6.5 is unbeatable for vary, potential accuracy, and knockdown energy. Zeroed at 300 yards, you’ll expertise simply 7″ of drop at 400 yards, with drop at shorter distances approaching principally nothing. In brief, if you would like a 6.5mm that actually shoots like a laser at typical game-taking distances – with a assure it’ll immediately drop any massive sport in North America – the 6.5-300 Weatherby is a best choice. Now that you simply’re discovered up on all of the 6.5 fads, see why 6.5 Grendel is one of the best deer cartridges.
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