6.5-300wby

[Alberta Bigbore]

Thoughts on where this cartridge fits in a persons battery? Lol

Anyone here own one for a specific hunting purpose?

[catnthehat]

high velocity long range deer cartridge, better long range bullet selection than the 257, capable of ushing a 140 grain bullet past 3,300 FPS with super slow powders.
Also capable of washing out a throat in an extremely short time if a person tries to shoot groups with it!
Cartridges like the 6.5/300 and the 6.5 STW are not for everyone, and there comes a point in the cartridge overbore category where the law of diminishing return is approached or passed , and I am a firm believer that the two I mentioned are in there.
At that point a person is better off going up in caliber to the 7mm.
If you look in the dictionary under absolute 6.5 Gun Nut you will see my name, but even I know when to say " ENOUGH"!
They sure are fun to shoot, but are a hand loader's cartridge for sure.
Cat

[elkhunter11]

I started shooting the 7mmstw in 1980, but I never bothered necking the case down any smaller. The 7mm bore is already marginal for a case of this capacity, the 6.5mm bore is just too small to burn that much powder. All that you really gain is more throat erosion. To me the ultimate 6.5mm is the 6.5 Nosler, almost as much performance, and more reasonable throat erosion. So while I like to experiment with cartridges, I just don't see any point to the 6.5x300wby. But if you want to burn out barrels quickly, and gain very little, have at it.

[W921]

I think the old plain jane 300magnum Winchester shoots a 130grain at 3400 and a 150 grain at 3300.

[aulrich]

I think barrel life on a 26 Nosler is 800 rounds IIRC. It is something like 1500ish on my new 6.5prc, and it's only marginally over bore capacity.

Would be fun though, while it lasted. I wonder how fast you could get 156 Berger to go.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by aulrich

I think barrel life on a 26 Nosler is 800 rounds IIRC. It is something like 1500ish on my new 6.5prc, and it's only marginally over bore capacity.

Would be fun though, while it lasted. I wonder how fast you could get 156 Berger to go.

I rebarreled my first 7mmstw at around 1500 rounds. It held 1/2moa for over 1000 rounds, then it started throwing fliers. By 1500 rounds it barely held moa.

[Dean2]

I agree with the others. It is objectively, too small a bore for that case. I have a 7 RUM and it is already WAY past the point of diminishing returns. However, outside of one shot to verify zero prior to the beginning of the season, and one shot per game animal, it doesn't get shot, so should be good for 500 years hunting, or 400 years after load development. Your 6.5 might only last 300 years.

For target practice, BAD idea, to kill stuff, pick your poison. That and a new barrel is only $500. You will spend a TON more than that wearing a barrel out.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Dean2

For target practice, BAD idea, to kill stuff, pick your poison. That and a new barrel is only $500. You will spend a TON more than that wearing a barrel out.

Exactly, after load development and zeroing. The 6.5STW goes hunting , otherwise it doesn't get shot
Cat

[Alberta Bigbore]

It was just an idea... saw one for a smoking deal and have extra left over in the toy fund after my purchase next week. My brain wants a 6.5 of some kind But dunno if need one owning a 270win already. Being so close to a 6.5prc

And maybe too close in gap to the 257wby. Ugh

[rugerfan]

I’ve been shooting one since it was introduced (commercially anyway). It’s exactly what others have said, high velocity hunting cartridge. I’m using the 142gr accubond lr at just shy of 3400 fps. It has been extremely effective for me on everything from antelope to elk.

[3blade]

Better BCs with the 140 class projectiles, by a fair bit….seems like a good antelope or sheep cartridge. If you shoot 100 rounds a year and let it cool between shots, it’ll work just fine.

Dont understand why guys worry about barrel life in a hunting rifle. You don’t shoot matches with something like this, so who cares.

I say go for it.