Home › Browse Calibers › 6.5mm Rem. Mag.
Common uses: Hunting, Long Range
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 140gr HSM Trophy Gold Berger Match Hunting VLD |
| Muzzle velocity | 2868 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 2558 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.6 |
| Published G7 ballistic coefficient | 0.307 |
| Case length | 51.8 mm |
| Overall length | 71.1 mm |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2868 | 2557 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2711 | 2284 | 0 |
| 200 | 2560 | 2037 | -3.2 |
| 300 | 2414 | 1811 | -11.8 |
| 400 | 2272 | 1605 | -26.3 |
| 500 | 2136 | 1418 | -47.5 |
At 1,000 yards, 6.5mm Rem. Mag. (140gr at 2868 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 27.9 MOA / 8.1 MIL, retaining 1531 fps (supersonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 2414 | Supersonic | -11.8 | 3.8 | 1.09 |
| 400 | 2272 | Supersonic | -26.3 | 6.3 | 1.83 |
| 500 | 2136 | Supersonic | -47.5 | 9.1 | 2.64 |
| 600 | 2003 | Supersonic | -76.5 | 12.2 | 3.54 |
| 700 | 1877 | Supersonic | -114.1 | 15.6 | 4.53 |
| 800 | 1755 | Supersonic | -161.6 | 19.3 | 5.61 |
| 900 | 1640 | Supersonic | -220.2 | 23.4 | 6.80 |
| 1000 | 1531 | Supersonic | -291.9 | 27.9 | 8.11 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The 6.5mm Remington Magnum is best remembered as one of the first short belted magnums and as a commercial disappointment rather than a mainstream hunting round. Its concept was sound: a hard-hitting .264-bore cartridge in a light, handy short-action rifle suited to deer and larger game at moderate range. In practice, the short barrels of the carbines it was paired with bled off much of its velocity, so it rarely showed the advantage over standard cartridges that its case capacity promised. Factory ammunition and rifles became scarce, and today it survives mainly as a handloader's cartridge and a collector's curiosity. Enthusiasts value it for its efficient, flat-shooting character when loaded to potential in a proper barrel, but limited component and load support keep it well outside the modern 6.5mm mainstream.
Introduced by Remington in 1966, the 6.5mm Remington Magnum is a belted, bottlenecked cartridge formed by necking down the .350 Remington Magnum case, which itself descends from the shortened .375 H&H family of belted magnums. It was designed to deliver 6.5mm magnum performance from a compact short action, and was chambered in the short carbine-length Remington Model 600 and later the Model 660. Despite sound ballistics on paper, it sold poorly and was quickly overshadowed by the earlier .264 Winchester Magnum, and it never achieved lasting factory support.
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