Lindcott Armory Rifle · SAAMI
6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum
The fastest commercial 6.5mm cartridge ever produced.
- Caliber
- 0.264″ · 6.706 mm
- Introduced
- 2016
- Case
- Belted
- Parent
- .300 Weatherby Magnum
- Primary use
- Hunting, Target
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 2016
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Weatherby
- Manufacturer
- Weatherby
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Specialty
- Case capacity
- 115 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:8
- Primer
- Large Rifle Magnum
- Case type
- Belted
- Max pressure
- 65,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 800 yd
- Max range
- 2000 yd
- Recoil
- 6–9 ft·lb
Ballistics
Real trajectory computed from a representative load — Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X 143 gr, 3,350 fps, BC 0.320 G7 · 100 yd zero.
| Range | Velocity | Energy | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 yd | 3349 | 3561 | -1.5″ | — |
| 100 yd | 3194 | 3239 | 0.0″ | 0.0 |
| 200 yd | 3043 | 2939 | -1.9″ | -0.9 |
| 300 yd | 2894 | 2659 | -7.6″ | -2.4 |
| 400 yd | 2750 | 2402 | -17.3″ | -4.1 |
| 500 yd | 2610 | 2162 | -31.8″ | -6.1 |
| 600 yd | 2473 | 1941 | -51.3″ | -8.2 |
| 700 yd | 2339 | 1737 | -76.5″ | -10.4 |
| 800 yd | 2210 | 1551 | -108.1″ | -12.9 |
| 900 yd | 2085 | 1381 | -146.7″ | -15.6 |
| 1000 yd | 1963 | 1224 | -193.5″ | -18.5 |
Point-mass G7/G1 drag model, standard atmosphere — within ~2% of reference solvers to 1000 yd; real barrels and conditions vary. Open in Ballistic Compare →
Performance
Buy links open 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 6.71 | 0.264 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 7.49 | 0.295 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 12.57 | 0.495 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | — | — | |
| Base ⌀ | 13.00 | 0.512 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 13.50 | 0.531 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | 13.50 | 0.531 | ✓ |
| Rim thickness | 1.30 | 0.051 | ~ |
| Neck length | 7.61 | 0.300 | ≈ |
| Case length | 71.76 | 2.825 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 91.44 | 3.600 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum is highlighted below.
Missing a dimension for 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum? Some case measurements aren't in a published SAAMI/CIP drawing yet. Have a factory or reamer print? Send it → — verified hard-to-find data earns a free Lindcott sticker.
Factory loads
In production — 13 active loads across 6 brands. Top 13 shown.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weatherby | Select Plus ELD-X | 127 | ELD-X | 3,531 | 3,515 | 0.238 G7 |
| Weatherby | Select Plus Barnes LRX BT | 127 | LRX BT | 3,531 | 3,515 | 0.238 G7 |
| Weatherby | Select Plus Hornady ELD-X | 127 | ELD-X | 3,531 | 3,515 | 0.238 G7 |
| Weatherby | Select Plus AccuBond | 140 | AccuBond | 3,395 | 3,582 | 0.260 G7 |
| Hornady | Precision Hunter ELD-X | 143 | ELD-X | 3,350 | 3,563 | 0.320 G7 |
| Barnes | VOR-TX | 127 | LRX BT | 3,531 | 3,515 | — |
| Weatherby | Select Plus Nosler AccuBond | 127 | Nosler AccuBond | 3,530 | 3,513 | — |
| Norma | Oryx | 130 | Oryx | 3,500 | 3,535 | — |
| Nosler | Trophy Grade | 130 | AccuBond LR | 3,500 | 3,535 | — |
| Federal | Terminal Ascent | 130 | Terminal Ascent | 3,450 | 3,435 | — |
| Barnes | VOR-TX LR | 140 | LRX BT | 3,395 | 3,582 | — |
| Nosler | Trophy Grade | 142 | AccuBond LR | 3,350 | 3,538 | — |
| Norma | Bondstrike | 143 | Bondstrike | 3,350 | 3,563 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Suitable powders
8 reloading powders listed for 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum
10 models in the database chamber 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Weatherby introduced the 6.5-300 in 2016 to ride the 6.5mm wave sweeping the precision rifle market. Their approach was characteristically Weatherby: take the largest viable case and neck it to 6.5mm. The result is dramatically faster than 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, and even .26 Nosler. The flat trajectory and high BC of 6.5mm bullets combine with Weatherby velocity to produce a long-range hunting cartridge of exceptional reach. The cost is barrel life — at these velocities, throat erosion is aggressive, and many owners report 1,000–1,500 round barrel life. For hunters who shoot a few hundred rounds per year, this is irrelevant. Weatherby chambers the Mark V exclusively.
FAQs
- What twist rate does 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum use?
- 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum typically uses a 1:8 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum?
- 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum uses a 0.264″ (6.706 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum still in production?
- 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum is active; typical availability is specialty.
- What is 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum used for?
- 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum is primarily used for hunting, target.
- What is 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum based on?
- 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum is derived from the .300 Weatherby Magnum case.
- What are the best powders for 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum include N170, Reloader 25, Reloader 26, IMR 7977, among 8 suitable options.
Sources & provenance
- StandardSAAMI — SAAMI cartridge & chamber drawing — 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum
- StandardSAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawingsarchived
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 13 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →