Well, after 13 years of hunting with my 6.5JDJ it let me down while on my antelope hunt this past october. Come to find out my hand loads I took with me were off, way off. So back to the labratory I went. Took calipers to brass checked primer pockets and necks and found much of my brass was destined for the trash heap. Now with new brass seperated and fire formed did some reloading and the 6.5 is back in action.
Took the kids to the woods yesterday and sat in some cold wet weather. As we were meat hunting yesterday my son and I sat together watching our favorite field while my daughter sat out in another nearby field. Around 0730 I here her shoot and get a text message, venison for dinner dad. Meanwhile my son and I are treated to a little pre rut strut by a beautiful wide 6 pt and a small 4 pointer. They locked antlers a few times with the 6 ptr running the little guy off. We then watched as the 6ptr walked the field edge tending his scrape line and standing repeatedly on his hind legs leaving his scent high up in the tree branches. After he left a down pour started and 5 does ran out in front of us. My son took one at the same time I took one with the 6.5JDJ. I shot her a little high as she was trotting out of the field after my sons shot. She ran 45 yards and piled up just inside the field edge. The 120grBT once again doing its spectacular job. It was a complete pass thru. Lots of tissue damageand no meat lost. Getting ready to fry up some tenderloins to have with our scambled eggs. Gotta go cook breakfast for the mighty hunting crew!! Oh and the shot was made at 145 yards according to the laser range finder.

Sounds like you and the family had a very good day. Cutting up 3 deer should keep you busy for a while.

My 6.5x30 JDJ has never let me down. The wife normally hunts with it. I am still on my original brass for it, with no failures to date. It is not shot a lot either. A few rounds to check zero, and one round during deer season is about it.

Great job. Three deer in one outing. Thats awesome. Congrats

Great hunt!!

I have been seriously considering a 6.5 JDJ barrel just to have it to go along with the 309 and 375. I've heard nothing but good things about it. Congrats on a great hunt with the kids!

good huntin!

Good for you. It is terrible when you lose confidence in one of your handguns, but it is great when you get it back.

Congrats on a great time hunting with your kids!

Congrats on your success!!!

What time is dinner?!Backstraps on the grill sound great!

Way to go buddy! To get to hunt w/ your family (kids) is the best. Those memories will last forever. Congrats on fine tuning your 6.5 JDJ.

thats great . congrats.

That is awesome!

We want pictures LOL

Good luck with the rest of the season.
My Contender still has it's muzzleloader barrel on
here, as that season is still going.
Next week, though, my 6.5JDJ#2 is going back on.

The tenderloins were fantastic.
Ernie, you are correct, it is a sad day when you lose confidence, and it was sure sweet to gain it back. My6.5 has accounted for a great number of deer over these many years. I look forward to many more. Hunting with the kids is the greatest thing on this earth. I love it and it sure is rewarding teaching and instilling something that so many humans have lost touch with. I guess so many folks have no clue what life truly is about.

WTG, Craig ...I knew you would keep on to you got that 6.5 JDJ right, Congrats, and with the kids it doesnt get any better.

Thanks Jeff. Your right! It doesn't get any better and I definately wasn't going to quit on that gun.

I'd like to hear more about the 6.5

What is the difference in the #2 version mentioned above? I've thought it would be neat to add to the others as a good deer gun with less recoil and blast. What are your thoughts overall on the cartridge/gun combo? You obviously like it as you have used it successfully all these years. Thanks!

I love it. It is a very accurate round and the number of bullets available for reloading is astounding. This little cartridge has taken many large African plains game over the years. I have taken several deer at 250+ yards. I have never had a deer travel more then 60 yards after being shot. It bucks the wind very well. The brass holds up to multiple reloads, more then most other brass. The recoil is very light, in fact I am about to let my son start using this gun as he has expressed interest in handgun hunting. He is only 12. You will like it and again it is accurate.

Thanks cfish, I've yet to hear anything bad about it

Sounds like you all hold it in high regard so there must be something to it. Will probably have to pick one up at some point. Take care and by all means, let that 12 year old whack a deer with the 6.5, he will be hooked forever

The #2 is based off of the .307 Win, instead of the .225 Win, so there is a bit more case capacity.
I guess the 6.5JDJ#2 could be called a 6.5x307 (although I think there was one of those already).
The .307 is a rimmed version, of the .308 Win. It has thicker brass, thus slightly less internal capacity. Around 10% supposedly.
A 6.5x308 already exists, its called the .260 Remington.
Due to the .307's less case capacity, you can't, of course
load exactly off of the .260 Rem's load data, although
the lower load levels is a good place to start.

Two of the three does we bagged.

Craig,
Sorry to drag up an old thread but I just realized it was your article in the Sixgunner not long ago. Congratulations on your first antelope! At least you had your other trusty gun with you to take up the slack when the ammo didn't work out in the 6.5. Also, congrats on the encore

On another note, I did pick up that 6.5 barrel I figured I'd find. Working it out now when I have time. I think I have found another one to put in the favorites catagory. Thanks for you help and explanations! GS