I shoot Howa 6.5, Savage 6.5, Master Piece Arms 6.5 and a few .22 heavy barrels. This will be my first Daniel Defense 6.5 varmint and I had to order it. I find the 6.5 round better on the recoil than anything bigger. I do have a Savage .223 bolt action that is a tack driver with almost no recoil. I also shoot .22 pistol league.
When I was in the Air Force I was on the base Hi-power rifle team for one season. We had M1 Gerands and it was great. It belonged to the Air Force and I wished I owned it.
When I retired 20 years ago I got back into shooting. It is like bowling and I don't think about anything else except safety and the X ring.
What do you have from Daniel Defense?