Nimrod71
Senior Member
I went to see and old friend yesterday and as I looked over his assortment of rifles a custom build caught my eye. I have never been much for custom built guns because of the cost and I never really thought they were that much better when you figured in the cost. I have hunted with my standard off the shelf guns and they have brought down just as many animals as the custom guns my friends and clients used.
But back to the rifle I am looking at, Harry told me it was a 6.5 mm 06 he had built several years ago. I ask him why he just didn't buy a 6.5 C.M. and he told me that when he had the rifle built there were no 6.5 C.M. This rifle was built in 1991. He told me he got the idea from reading an article about hunting with the 6.5 mm in Finland. He bought a Sako in 6.5 and liked it but he said it didn't kick enough, he wanted something more. After trip to a gun show he said he decided to have the 6.5 - 06 built an the rest is history. He showed me pictures of hunts with the rifle and it has worked well from local white tail deer to elk in Idaho.
Now back to me. I am on fire to get a new rifle and I have resisted the 6.5 craze up until now. At this time I can't make up my mind which rifle I want 6.5 or 6.8 or something else. After reviewing Harry's loads for his 6.5 - 06 I only need a barrel, dies and bullets to put a new rifle together.
Now the question I am asking. Do any of you fellow Riflemen have any experience with a 6.5mm - 06, or what of your thoughts on having one built versus what is currently on the market in 6.5.
But back to the rifle I am looking at, Harry told me it was a 6.5 mm 06 he had built several years ago. I ask him why he just didn't buy a 6.5 C.M. and he told me that when he had the rifle built there were no 6.5 C.M. This rifle was built in 1991. He told me he got the idea from reading an article about hunting with the 6.5 mm in Finland. He bought a Sako in 6.5 and liked it but he said it didn't kick enough, he wanted something more. After trip to a gun show he said he decided to have the 6.5 - 06 built an the rest is history. He showed me pictures of hunts with the rifle and it has worked well from local white tail deer to elk in Idaho.
Now back to me. I am on fire to get a new rifle and I have resisted the 6.5 craze up until now. At this time I can't make up my mind which rifle I want 6.5 or 6.8 or something else. After reviewing Harry's loads for his 6.5 - 06 I only need a barrel, dies and bullets to put a new rifle together.
Now the question I am asking. Do any of you fellow Riflemen have any experience with a 6.5mm - 06, or what of your thoughts on having one built versus what is currently on the market in 6.5.