6.5 300 Weatherby Ballistics – Charts & Guide
When evaluating a 6.5 300 Weatherby ballistics, shooters are looking at the fastest commercially available 6.5mm cartridge on the market. Introduced by Weatherby in 2015, this magnum cartridge is created by necking down a full-length .300 Weatherby Magnum case to accept a .264-caliber (6.5mm) projectile. Pushing high-ballistic-coefficient bullets at extreme velocities, the 6.5-300 Weatherby delivers arguably the flattest trajectory of any factory hunting rifle, making it a premier choice for long-range precision and big game hunting.
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6.5 300 Weatherby Ballistics Chart
The chart below details the factory specifications and downrange ballistic performance of the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum.
Data Note: Muzzle velocity, muzzle energy, and bullet weights represent published manufacturer specifications from Weatherby and custom loaders. Columns marked with an asterisk (*) are independently calculated estimates utilizing standard G1 Ballistic Coefficients under standard atmospheric conditions. Trajectory calculations assume a 200-yard zero with a 1.5-inch sight height. Test barrel length is 26 inches.
| Manufacturer & Load | Bullet Type | Wt (gr) | Muzzle Vel (FPS) | 200yd Vel* (FPS) | 400yd Vel* (FPS) | Muzzle Eng (ft-lbs) | 200yd Eng* (ft-lbs) | 400yd Eng* (ft-lbs) | G1 BC | SD | 400yd Drop* (in) |
| Weatherby Select | Barnes LRX | 127 | 3,475 | 3,034 | 2,635 | 3,406 | 2,596 | 1,958 | 0.468 | 0.260 | -13.5 |
| Weatherby Select | Hammer Custom | 129 | 3,390 | 2,990 | 2,625 | 3,290 | 2,560 | 1,973 | 0.510 | 0.264 | -14.2 |
| Weatherby Select | Swift Scirocco | 130 | 3,476 | 3,115 | 2,780 | 3,487 | 2,801 | 2,231 | 0.571 | 0.266 | -12.8 |
| Weatherby Select | Hornady InterLock | 140 | 3,300 | 2,875 | 2,490 | 3,385 | 2,569 | 1,927 | 0.465 | 0.287 | -16.5 |
| Weatherby Select | Berger Elite H. | 156 | 3,150 | 2,880 | 2,625 | 3,436 | 2,873 | 2,386 | 0.679 | 0.320 | -16.8 |
| Choice Ammunition | Barnes LRX | 127 | 3,352 | 2,920 | 2,525 | 3,168 | 2,404 | 1,798 | 0.468 | 0.260 | -15.2 |
| Choice Ammunition | Nosler AccuBond | 130 | 3,280 | 2,860 | 2,480 | 3,105 | 2,361 | 1,775 | 0.488 | 0.266 | -16.2 |
| Choice Ammunition | Nosler AccuBond | 140 | 3,189 | 2,795 | 2,435 | 3,161 | 2,428 | 1,843 | 0.509 | 0.287 | -17.5 |
| Choice Ammunition | Hornady ELD-X | 143 | 3,230 | 2,895 | 2,580 | 3,313 | 2,661 | 2,113 | 0.625 | 0.293 | -16.2 |
| Choice Ammunition | Berger VLD | 140 | 3,271 | 2,910 | 2,575 | 3,325 | 2,632 | 2,061 | 0.600 | 0.287 | -15.8 |
(Note: The 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum operates at a maximum average pressure of 65,000 PSI. A minimum barrel length of 26 inches is required to achieve these factory velocities; shorter barrels will see a significant drop in muzzle velocity.)
Additional Ballistics Tables
To fully appreciate the hyper-velocity nature of this cartridge, the data must be broken down by distance to show trajectory, velocity retention, and energy transfer.
6.5-300 Weatherby Velocity and Energy by Distance
Because of the high Ballistic Coefficients of 6.5mm bullets, the 6.5-300 Weatherby retains energy exceptionally well at extended ranges.
| Load Name | Wt (gr) | Vel Muzzle | Vel 100yd | Vel 300yd | Vel 500yd | Eng Muzzle | Eng 100yd | Eng 300yd | Eng 500yd |
| Barnes LRX | 127 | 3,475 | 3,248 | 2,830 | 2,448 | 3,406 | 2,975 | 2,258 | 1,690 |
| Swift Scirocco | 130 | 3,476 | 3,291 | 2,944 | 2,623 | 3,487 | 3,126 | 2,501 | 1,986 |
| Berger Elite Hunter | 156 | 3,150 | 3,012 | 2,750 | 2,503 | 3,436 | 3,142 | 2,619 | 2,170 |
| Hornady ELD-X | 143 | 3,230 | 3,060 | 2,735 | 2,430 | 3,313 | 2,972 | 2,375 | 1,875 |
6.5-300 Weatherby Bullet Drop and Trajectory Chart
This trajectory chart illustrates the minimal bullet drop of the 6.5-300 Weatherby. Calculations assume a 200-yard zero with a 1.5-inch scope height.
| Ammunition Type | 100 Yds | 200 Yds | 300 Yds | 400 Yds | 500 Yds | 600 Yds |
| Weatherby 127gr LRX (3,475 fps) | +1.0″ | 0.0″ | -4.8″ | -13.5″ | -27.5″ | -47.2″ |
| Weatherby 130gr Scirocco (3,476 fps) | +1.1″ | 0.0″ | -4.6″ | -12.8″ | -25.8″ | -43.5″ |
| Weatherby 156gr Berger (3,150 fps) | +1.5″ | 0.0″ | -5.9″ | -16.8″ | -33.2″ | -55.8″ |
| Hornady 143gr ELD-X (3,230 fps) | +1.4″ | 0.0″ | -5.6″ | -16.2″ | -32.5″ | -54.5″ |
Detailed Explanations of Ballistic Data
Extreme Muzzle Velocity and Bullet Weights
A standard 6.5-300 Weatherby ballistics chart showcases unparalleled speed. Pushing a 127-grain Barnes LRX bullet at 3,475 feet per second yields an incredibly flat trajectory. Even when stepping up to ultra-heavy 156-grain Berger Elite Hunter bullets, the cartridge still achieves 3,150 fps at the muzzle. This extreme velocity minimizes wind drift and time-to-target.
Muzzle Energy and Retained Energy
Generating between 3,300 and 3,500 foot-pounds of muzzle energy, the 6.5-300 Weatherby operates in the same energy class as the .300 Winchester Magnum. However, because 6.5mm bullets are highly aerodynamic, they retain that energy with remarkable efficiency. At 500 yards, a 130-grain Swift Scirocco still carries nearly 2,000 ft-lbs of kinetic energy—more than enough to ethically harvest elk and moose.
Ballistic Coefficient and Sectional Density
The 6.5mm (.264 caliber) projectile is famous for its high Ballistic Coefficient (BC) and Sectional Density (SD). The 156-grain Berger Elite Hunter boasts a massive G1 BC of 0.679 and an SD of 0.320. This combination means the bullet effortlessly cuts through the air to resist wind drift, while the high sectional density ensures deep, bone-crushing penetration on large game despite the small diameter.
Bullet Drop and Trajectory
The primary selling point of the 6.5-300 Weatherby is its “laser-flat” trajectory. Sighted in at 200 yards, a 127-grain Barnes LRX drops less than 5 inches at 300 yards and only 13.5 inches at 400 yards. This allows hunters to aim directly behind the shoulder of a deer or elk out to 350 yards without needing to dial their turrets or calculate complex holdovers.
How Barrel Length Affects Velocity
The 6.5-300 Weatherby features a massive powder column (nearly 100 grains of water capacity) requiring slow-burning magnum powders. To achieve the published velocities in a 6.5-300 Weatherby ballistics chart, a 26-inch barrel is mandatory. Shortening the barrel to 22 or 24 inches will cause a drastic loss in velocity (often 30 to 50 fps per inch) and produce a massive fireball, as the slow-burning powder will ignite outside the muzzle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the muzzle velocity of a 6.5-300 Weatherby? Depending on the bullet weight, factory muzzle velocities range from roughly 3,150 fps for heavy 156-grain bullets to nearly 3,500 fps for lighter 127-grain and 130-grain hunting bullets.
How much bullet drop does a 6.5-300 Weatherby have at 500 yards? With a 200-yard zero, a 127-grain Barnes LRX traveling at 3,475 fps will drop approximately 27.5 inches at 500 yards, making it one of the flattest shooting cartridges in the world.
How does the 6.5-300 Weatherby compare to the 6.5 Creedmoor? The 6.5-300 Weatherby absolutely eclipses the 6.5 Creedmoor. A 140-grain bullet fired from a 6.5 Creedmoor travels around 2,700 fps. The same bullet fired from a 6.5-300 Weatherby travels at 3,300 fps, generating vastly more energy and a much flatter trajectory.
How does the 6.5-300 Weatherby compare to the .300 Win Mag? While the .300 Win Mag fires a heavier, larger diameter bullet, the 6.5-300 Weatherby generates similar muzzle energy and shoots significantly flatter due to the hyper-velocity and aerodynamic profile of 6.5mm bullets.
What is the effective hunting range of the 6.5-300 Weatherby? Due to its massive energy retention, the 6.5-300 Weatherby is fully capable of taking deer-sized game at 800+ yards and elk-sized game out to 600 yards, assuming the shooter has the necessary skill and optics.
Does the 6.5-300 Weatherby have heavy recoil? Yes, because it burns a massive amount of powder to reach these extreme velocities, the 6.5-300 Weatherby generates sharp recoil similar to a .300 Weatherby Magnum. Many rifles chambered in this caliber utilize a muzzle brake to tame the kick.
What is the best barrel length for a 6.5-300 Weatherby? A 26-inch barrel is considered the absolute minimum to maximize the powder burn and achieve the cartridge’s advertised hyper-velocities.
What is the life expectancy of a 6.5-300 Weatherby barrel? Because it is an incredibly “overbore” cartridge (pushing massive amounts of hot powder through a small diameter bore), throat erosion is rapid. Precision barrel life is generally estimated to be between 700 and 1,000 rounds before accuracy degrades.
What is the best bullet weight for the 6.5-300 Weatherby? For the flattest trajectory on medium game like deer and antelope, 127-grain to 130-grain bullets are ideal. For larger game like elk or long-range performance where wind drift is a factor, heavier 140-grain to 156-grain bullets are preferred.
Who makes factory ammunition for the 6.5-300 Weatherby? Weatherby manufactures the vast majority of factory ammunition, offering loads with Barnes, Swift, Hornady, Hammer, and Berger bullets. Custom boutique loaders like Choice Ammunition also provide premium hand-loaded options.
