I forgot to add that none of the deer or antelope took a step and dropped in their tracks, one elk dropped in its
tracks and the other elk went less then 50 yards. Its my belief that Winchester is producing the short magnums in an
effort to sell powder - this 6.5 is all you need from prairie dogs to elk.
My dad and I have always been fans of the "smaller" .270 & .280 calibers for everything from antelope to elk
which is "too light" by most peoples standards. With the new WSM's being the hot item to have the 6.5 seemed like a step
backwards when I ordered it last year. I reload for a buddy that shoots a 270 WSM and working up a load and sighting in
is just flat painful after 20 rounds - not to mention the amount of powder that goes through the hopper.
It's almost fair to say that both elk dropped in their tracks. The one pictured that my wife shot literally fell
on the log she was standing on. The elk I shot went 50 yds but only because I was in heavy heavy timber on a sever
slope that was close to 70 deg... I think momentum carried her downhill until she slid into a
tree.
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October 2007 - This year I tried 2 different loads - the first being a 140 Hornady AMAX on top of 38 grains of VV N160 and the 2nd
being a 140 grain Berger VLD match bullet on top of 38 grains of VV N160. I didn't group it at 500 this year and instead
busted cinder blocks as its a little more exciting then paper targets and I know when I hit. The Berger is a flatter
shooting bullet but as far as performance goes I still haven't decided - none of these animals took more then 5 steps
with high shoulder shots (preference). As always the gun is a pleasure to shoot with almost zero felt recoil - you will
have an order for a 2nd one in 6.5 for my son shortly. |