6.5mm cartridges are popular in Europe and European shooters have several 6.5mm cartridges that are virtually unknown in North America. Despite the fact that no 6.5mm/.264 cartridge has ever become a best seller in North America, probably because of our long time love affair with the .270 Winchester, we in the New World have a reasonable selection of such cartridges from which to choose. Some are imports and some were designed in the US.

In recent years, the popularity of the 6.5mm caliber seems to be increasing; partly (I like to think) due to the reach and influence of Guns and Shooting Online. We have published numerous favorable articles about the caliber and I am, personally, probably identified with the 6.5mm bore more than any other contemporary gun writer.

According to the copy of the Shooter's Bible on my desk, factory loaded 6.5mm cartridges available in North America include (in roughly increasing order of power) the 6.5x50 Jap., 6.5x52 Carcano, 6.5x55 SE, .260 Remington, 6.5-284 Norma, 6.5mm Remington Magnum and .264 Winchester Magnum. The Shooter's Bible overlooked the 6.5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer, but it is also available in new factory loads. An idea of the international acceptance of 6.5mm caliber rifles can be gleaned from the places the cartridges named above originated. These include Austria, Italy, Japan, Sweden and the United States. Even though some of these numbers date from the end of the 19th Century, they are all modern looking, rimless designs that are suitable for use in modern hunting rifles.

All of these 6.5mm cartridges have substantial necks and can handle bullets weighing between 95-160 grains. Because they are cartridges of the modern type and have necks of adequate length, they are ideal for reloaders. Anyone can significantly expand their 6.5mm load horizons by handloading at least some of their own ammunition.

For most big game hunting purposes, all of the 6.5mm cartridges mentioned above are probably at their best with 140 grain bullets. Although small in bore diameter, the 140 grain .264" bullet (SD .287) is a full hunting weight projectile that offers excellent sectional density (SD) for unusually deep penetration and a high ballistic coefficient. It is a very hard bullet to beat.

The 6.5x50, 6.5x52 and 6.5x54 (with appropriate bullets) make particularly soft shooting CXP2 game cartridges that practically anyone can learn to shoot well. For shooters on a budget, all three are available in relatively inexpensive military surplus rifles. In addition, the 6.5x64 was a popular chambering in the famous Mannlicher-Schoenauer sporting rifles ("The World's Finest Rifle").

These cartridges generally launch a 140 grain bullet at a muzzle velocity (MV) between 2200-2400 fps. Because they can handle full hunting weight bullets that will easily penetrate to the vitals of any CXP2 game animal, they are far more deadly than their modest paper ballistics might suggest. The 6.5x54, in particular, has been used to harvest practically every game animal in the world, including African elephants!

The "middle" (or general purpose) 6.5mm calibers are the 6.5x55 SE, .260 Remington and 6.5mm-284 Norma. Despite the latter's having been standardized under CIP rules by Norma of Sweden, it was originally an American wildcat based on a necked-down .284 Winchester case. The .260 Remington is based on a necked-down .308 Winchester case. Both Remington and A-Square (who called it the 6.5mm-08 A-Square) applied for SAAMI standardization, but it was Remington's application that was accepted. The best known of all 6.5mm cartridges is undoubtedly the 6.5x55mm. Introduced in 1896 for use by the armies of Norway and Sweden, it is based on a unique case that is just about the optimum size for a 6.5mm cartridge and it was very quickly accepted as a big game hunting cartridge. The 6.5x55 has been offered in many fine hunting rifles and is often seen in fine surplus Swedish Mauser Model 1896 military rifles at bargain prices.

These are moderate recoil big game cartridges ideal for all CXP2 game and they can be used to harvest CXP3 animals in the hands of a careful shooter. The 6.5x55, for instance, has harvested more Scandinavian moose than any other caliber. These three are also renowned for use in long range target rifles, so their potential accuracy is unquestioned. They can launch 140 grain hunting bullets at MV's of about 2700-2900 fps.

The 6.5mm belted magnums include the short action 6.5mm Rem. Mag. and the standard or long action .264 Win. Mag. The former can duplicate .270 Winchester or 6.5x68mm Schuler velocities with 140 grain bullets (around 3000 fps MV), while the latter is one of the premier ultra-long range cartridges and can duplicate .270 Magnum velocities with 140 grain bullets (about 3100 fps). With proper bullets, either qualifies as an all-around (CXP2/CXP3) big game cartridge. The .264 Win. Mag. burns a lot of powder and it was introduced in a special Model 70 rifle with a 26 inch barrel named the "Westerner." A 26 inch barrel is still a good idea for this cartridge. The .264 Win. Mag. is offered by several rifle makers, while the 6.5mm Rem. Mag. has been chambered primarily by Remington, with a few Ruger rifles produced in the caliber for good measure.

Practically anyone who is not prejudiced against small bore rifle cartridges in general can find happiness with one or another of these 6.5mm cartridges. All are available from at least one major ammunition manufacturer and several smaller, specialty ammunition companies, such as Stars and Stripes. If you have not yet owned a 6.5mm rifle, you are in for a pleasant surprise when you finally do.

NOTE: All of these 6.5mm rifle cartridges are covered in detail in individual articles on the Rifle Cartridges page. Some are included in rifle comparison articles.