6.5x300 whby versus 26 nosler

[lhrbull]

New gun purchase in mind but can't figure out which one is the fastest and the flattest would mainly a deer and elk rifle maybe sheep if I ever draw

[Dan-o]

Tagging out of general interest....    I will stick with my sickly slow 7mm rem mag.

[elkaholic123]

The ballistics on the Weatherby are a little bit better  I have a 26 and it's pretty fast...3400 with a 129gr ABLR. Pick which rifle you like better and go with it, The 26 should be cheaper for factory ammo and a little cheaper if your a hand loader.

[sumpnz]

How far are you planning to shoot?  How much meat do you want to lose to being bloodshot?

6.5x55 Swede is plenty for deer out to 400 yards.  If you are willing to be picky on shot angles it would also do for elk out to 300 yards.  More velocity just means more loss to bloodshot meat, and if your bullet isn't chosen carefully it can also mean wounded and escaped deer when the bullet blows up and fails to penetrate.

I can understand wanting a bit more range, but really, how much more do you need?  I'd rather shoot a larger caliber on elk anyway (and I do).  My personal range limit is 400 yards anyway regardless of caliber/cartridge.  In absolutely perfect conditions I might knowingly push that just a little.  But even with specialty training and tons of practice at 500-1000+ yards I'd question the ethics of taking such a shot.  It can be hard enough sometimes to find an animal that only ran 50 yards after the shot when the original range was <200 yards.  If you can't get closer than 400 yards even in wide open territory you might want to rethink your hunting.  Mule deer can't see well past 400 yards, so if you can keep them from winding you or hearing you getting that close is relatively easy.  Not sure about elk, but their eyesight is unlikely to be a whole lot better.

I shot a 2pt blacktail with my 6.5x55 in 2009.  Range was maybe 30 yards.  The wound channel was massive with bone chips/flower all throughout. Lost probably 4-5lbs to bloodshot as it was.  That same shot with a .26 Nosler or 6.5Wby would have left me with NOTHING useful from the front shoulders.  Would have simplified tracking a bit, though as it was he ran on just his hind legs long enough to go over the top of the hill and then tumble down the other side.

[TVHunts]

Both will tip over the game you have listed very well.  Why not the .264 WM?

You should start a stretch and flex program for your wallet for either of your 2 choices unless you reload 

I'd go with the nosler 26 simply for ease of ammo and brass and that probably won't be that easy to get unless you buy on line.

Good luck on your quest

[bearpaw]

The ballistics on the Weatherby are a little bit better  I have a 26 and it's pretty fast...3400 with a 129gr ABLR. Pick which rifle you like better and go with it, The 26 should be cheaper for factory ammo and a little cheaper if your a hand loader.

  I checked both out very thoroughly, these comments are spot on. If you hand load the wtby is a good choice since the only real cost difference is buying your brass. If you don't hand load I think the 26 Nosler ammo will be cheaper. There was a new Accumark 6.5x300 that sold for $1699 yesterday on gunbroker, it was tempting!

[bearpaw]

Better check this deal!

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,197608.msg2623563/topicseen.html#new

[carpsniperg2]

The 264 is still a great choice. I looked at doing a 26 or 6.5x300 weatherby. Instead I went to the 6.5 stw and am just starting some test loads with it.

[Branden]

My brother setup a ridgeline in 26 Nosler for a buddy and it shoots extremely well. If you do go with the 26 Nos it's something you should check out.

Regards, Branden