398: 6.5mm Cartridges: The Ultimate Guide

398: 6.5mm Cartridges: The Ultimate Guide

Author: John McAdams November 20, 2025 Duration: 1:47:40

I discuss all of the 6.5mm SAAMI standardized cartridges (plus a couple of other noteworthy CIP rounds) in this episode. As always, I'll talk about their history, design characteristics, performance specs, their strengths and weaknesses, and their recommended uses in detail. Where appropriate, I'll also share some personal anecdotes involving these rounds as well as some observations involving various cartridges by noteworthy gun writers as well.

Cartridges covered: 6.5x52mm Carcano, 6.5×55 Swede, 6.5x57mm, 6.5x50mm Japanese, 6.5x54MS, 6.5-06, 264 Winchester Magnum, 6.5mm Remington Magnum, 260 Remington, 6.5-284 Norma, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor, 26 Nosler, 6.5-300 Weatherby, 6.5 PRC, 6.5 Weatherby RPM

Sponsor: Support me on Patreon to see the terminal ballistics analysis of the Kennedy assassination (which involved one of these rounds discussed in this episode) conducted by an experienced trauma surgeon. Supporters also receive access to my other bonus material.

The Third Bullet by Stephen Hunter

Rifle Cartridges For The Hunter by Richard Mann

Resources

Episode 172: 6.5 Creedmoor vs 300 Win Mag For Elk Hunting

Episode 282: 6.5 Creedmoor For Grizzly Bear?!

Episode 366: Modern Cartridge Design With John Snow

Episode 286: 30 Caliber Cartridge Roll-Up

Episode 291: 270 Caliber Cartridge Roll-Up

Episode 297: 9.3mm and 375 Caliber Cartridge Roll-Up

Episode 300: 40 Caliber Safari Cartridge Roll-Up

Episode 328: 25 Caliber Cartridge Roll-Up

Episode 329: 50, 60, & 70 Caliber Safari Cartridges With Kevin Robertson

Episode 338: 338 Caliber Cartridge Roll-Up

Episode 345: 7mm Cartridge Roll-Up

Episode 345: The "Other" 30 Caliber Cartridges: 303 British, 7.x62x54R, etc.

Episode 358: 35 Caliber Cartridge Roll Up


John McAdams hosts the Big Game Hunting Podcast, a conversation grounded in the realities of pursuing game across continents. Each episode feels like a detailed campfire talk, moving from the technical specifics of terminal ballistics and caliber selection to the raw, unforgettable narratives from the field in Africa, North America, and beyond. McAdams brings together a global community, with voices ranging from seasoned industry professionals to fellow hunters who call in with their own experiences. The focus is always on practical knowledge and authentic stories, stripping away any pretense to get to the heart of what hunters actually want to discuss. By sharing his own journey of learning and improvement, McAdams creates a space where curiosity and respect for the wilderness drive the dialogue. Tuning into this podcast means joining a serious yet accessible exchange where the complexities of the hunt are explored without filter. New conversations are released every Thursday, offering a consistent dose of insight and camaraderie for anyone passionate about the pursuit.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!
Podcast Episodes
410: Best Cartridges For Hunting Africa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:27
We're talking about the best cartridges for hunting Africa in this episode: plains game, thick-skinned dangerous game, cats, etc. The cartridges I list in this episode are based off the results of surveys I've recently c…
409: 49 Years Of African Safaris With Craig Boddington [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:47
Craig Boddington joins me on the show today as we discuss trends he has observed since his first African hunting safari nearly 49 years ago. Craig and I talk about countries that have opened and closed hunting since his…
408: Best Bullets For Hunting Plains Game In Africa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:47
We're talking about the best bullets for hunting plains game in Africa in this episode. I've hunted a lot of plains game with a wide spectrum of bullets, so I'll talk about some of my noteworthy experiences with those di…
407: New 35 Whelen & 9.3x62mm Rifles From Ruger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:20
Lipsey's and Ruger have teamed up to release a couple of new Hawkeye and No. 1 rifles in 35 Whelen and 9.3×62. Those are outstanding rifles (especially in 9.3x62mm) for hunting the whole spectrum of game ranging from whi…
406: Gemsbok Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:32
Kevin Robertson shares some insights on gemsbok hunting in this podcast interview, focusing on gemsbok biology, where they live, what they eat (and how that affects their behavior), how trophy quality varies from region…
405: 405 Winchester-Roosevelt's Medicine Gun For Lions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:13
We're talking about the 405 Winchester today, which is President Theodore Roosevelt's legendary medicine gun for lions. To this day, that statement remains one of the most effective presidential endorsements of any produ…
404: 404 Jeffery With Phil Massaro [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:14
Phil Massaro shares some insights on the 404 Jeffery in this podcast interview, focusing on the history of the cartridge, its performance specifications, and some fascinating stories about his hunts equipped with the 404…
403: Muzzleloader Elk In Arizona With Andrew Marlin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:19
I got the chance to sit down with Andrew Marlin from The Dove Guy podcast in this episode and he shares the story of his successful, muzzleloader self-guided elk hunt in Arizona this year. Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPo…
402: Worst & Best Creedmoor-22 vs 6mm vs 25 vs 6.5 Creedmoor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:58
Here are my thoughts on the entire Creedmoor family: the 22 Creedmoor, the 6mm Creedmoor, the 25 Creedmoor and the 6.5 Creedmoor. We'll discuss how they stack up next to each other on paper, how they perform afield on ga…
401: Best Cartridge for Hunting Darn Near Anything With Richard Mann [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:41
Richard Mann is back on the show and we discuss a subject I know you'll enjoy: our favorite cartridges for hunting virtually any species of big game. We're play little game where Richard and I each list our favorite cart…