



Left to right: .308, .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x47 Lapua Why 6.5 mm ? Shooters who compete in "practical" rifle matches have been migrating to 6.5 mm calibers for several years. While "tactical" shooters can be a dogmatic bunch, often sticking to conventional choices like .308 and .300 Winchester Magnum, practical competitors are in it to win, and the advantages of the lightweight but high-BC 6.5 mm bullets didn't escape their notice. The long-range practical matches I've shot and administered in the last five years have common themes of physical exertion, shooting from weird positions under time stress, and difficult UKD targets.

To match the BC of the 6.5 mm 139-gr Lapua Scenar (#2 from left, 0.615), the .30 has to step up the 210-gr Berger VLD (#3 from left, 0.631). Also shown: .30 175-grain SMK (left, 0.496) and the .338 250-grain Lapua Scenar (right, 0.675). But 6.5 mm is not just a range toy. The 6.5x55 mm Swede has a long history in hunting in Europe, and it sufficient to take moose if shots are chosen carefully. These new 6.5's can duplicate the classic 6.5x55 loads, so with the right bullet selection, they can get the job done on game. This article isn't intended to sell 6.5 mm or to give a thorough account of each of the three calibers. I aim to explain how the three cartridges were tested and the summary of the results I was able to achieve with each one. I recommend reading the full articles for more background.