I am new to highpower shooting, looking for a starting point and any info on 6.5BR
Anyone have experience with this caliber and any load data you would want to share?

I don't know anyone using that caliber for Silhouette, but that doesn't mean there isn't anyone out there doing it.

You might find some load data over on the forum.AccurateShooter.com forum.

Best of luck.

Mark Pharr shot one several years ago. I don't think that he shoots it anymore. There may have been others, but he was shooting it when I was spotting for him some years back.

He tried it with the Berger 153.5 or 156, I can't remember. I think that the challenge was sizing up the 6mm BR brass and turning necks or something.

Tony Tello and Agustin Sanchez used one for a number of years with good results.

Their version was called a 6.5mm Viking, a 6.5br improved, reamer from Pacfic Tool and reloading dies from Hornady.

For 6.5br you can find load information in older reloading manuals or try the IHMSA fourm.

https://www.ihmsa.org/forum/index.php

Probably better to try a 6.5 Creedmore, a lot less hoops to jump now a days.

Dennis Ostler

I've used one quite a bit . Theres no issue with having to neck turn as long as you have a .295 neck in your reamer. You want at least a 1 in 7.5 twist. One in 7 wont hurt. I used 123 Lapua and Sierra bullets for CPT. 150 Sierra MK for rams. Use enough Varget to get 2400fps for both bullets. You can go higher in velocity but no need to. I prefer CCI 450 primers due to their thicker cups. I've used both Lapua and Peterson Brass with equal sucess. Keep in mind that loads will likely not be interchangeable. The Peterson brass has less case capacity and will show pressure sooner. Hodgdon has load data.

If you are new to highpower, stick with the regular 6mm br. Easier loading, easier kicking and less wind drift. Don't worry about knock down power at rams until you are hitting 20/30 on CPT. The 6br will knock down plenty if you hit them

This is my first year shooting high power silhouette. I shot std rifle in the nationals and std rifle at the sierra classic. So 5 - 40 shot matches so far. I’m shooting a 6br, 115 berger vld’s at rams. I’m shooting in the low 20’s and have yet to ring a ram. Every one i’ve hit went down. I’m sure it’ll happen but it doesn’t seem to be a big issue. It’s sure a fun gun to shoot!

Meanwhile a buddy i was spotting for rung one with a 6.5 creedmore and 140 gr bullet.

The 6.5 TCU performs exceptionally well. No special loading issues whatsoever. Brass , bend over and pickup .223 brass at any public range for free. Run it into the sizer, load shoot. More modern powders improve its performance but any old published data from its popular hand gun days works fine. You will see about a 200fps gain out of the rifle. Any bullet weight from 130 up takes Rams without a fuss. Even 120’s work fine but no need to give up the BC of the heavier bullets.

Tried a season with the 6TCU also. It works on par with the 6BR and like the BR gives up a few Rams. I couldn’t tell the difference in recoil between the 6 or 6.5, If I shoot HP in the future it will be with the 6.5TCU. Maybe the .25 is the sweet spot splitting the baby but 6.5 bullets are so common why bother. It just works.

If you want low recoil, easy loading, cheap brass that effectively does everything a HP Silhouette rifle is expected to do it’s worth considering.