What is the most popular 6.5mm cartridege? I am going to put a new Pac-Nor 8T5L barrel on my Weatherby Mark V and sell it unfired. The barrel matches the Weatherby contour. What barrel length is most popular? I ordered the barrel to be 26" so it can be at least that long, but shorter if that is the consensus.

Any opinions are appreciated.

edited to correct for wording!

In Norway it is the 6.5 x 55. In the USA and with the appropriate action length the 264 winchester. That would be my 2 cents.

6.5x284 or 260.

C-A-R-T-R-I-D-G-E ....

What was the original caliber ?

Weatherby magnum ? Bolt face diameter ?

If it is a full length action, 6.5-284. Short action, .260 Remington.

I really like the 6.5 X 55. Easy on recoil. With those long heavy bullets they are absolutely deadly.

I would appreciate it if you would make that a 6.5-284 for me Rich. Throating to be determined...

I'm getting a 6.5x284 re-barreled to 6.5x284 now, but maybe because I have a couple 6.5x55's, too. Can't go wrong with either, but a 6.5x284 or 264 Win Mag would fit and sell in the Mark V Weatherby, a little better I would figure.

Thank you

I'd go with a 6.5 or 264. Maybe get real crazy and make it 260.

6.5x47 Lapua

Who would want a rifle chambered in a .260 Rem. class cartridge built on a Mark V? The real question is, what makes the most sense on that platform, and .264 Win. for the win, hands down.

Then there's always this:

It is my .257SLR based on .280 Rem and .270 Win brass.



No. .470"

Presently the rifle weighs 6lb 13oz with a Pac-Nor .25 caliber barrel and a Swarovski z5 BT 5-25X52 in extra high Talleys. It's been fired about 600 times and is still a one minute performer with it salt bath nitride barrel.

You are going to rebarrel it and sell it unfired, is that correct?

If so, I would chamber it in a round that a non-reloader is more likely to buy.

264 the only choice IMO..."Mag" being the key word especially mated with Weatherby.

It is going to be rebarreled because most don't want a wildcat that requires hydro formed brass. I am ready for a new rifle even lighter than this one.

On second thought, how about the 6.5-06.

I would probably chamber it in something easier to sell. There may be a bunch of loonies on here, but if you are going to put it on an auction site, a factory -06 based case may sell quicker. Barrel length no longer than 24". Just my opinion.

Why would you even buy a .26 caliber barrel if you're going to sell it unfired. 7mm or .30 caliber would get you more buyers.

+1

Don't know why anyone would wanta a Mk V action w/ puny 06 case in it, but if I were trying to do what you're proposing that's how I'd tackle.

Seems like a massive waste of money to me. Find a factory take off & sell it that way, sell the blank here in classifieds.

Ringman is this an older Mk.5 with a .473 boltface or a six lug action?

If a 6 lug "small" action, then either 6.5-06 or 6.5x55.

If a 9 lug "big" action, then something like a 9.3x62 would be a better use.

The title of the OP's thread implies: "What (cartridge in a) 6.5 caliber?

Sell it as is, or without a barrel. The funds you will invest in a barrel and smith work? You will never recoup that. Let the next owner build what THEY want. They are happy, and you are ahead.

Since you have a .473" bolt face i would locate a buyer first.
Someone who wants a Wby action with a .264" barrel screwed on.
Let the buyer decide what case they want you to chamber.....give them the sense of "individualism"....."uniqueness".


Good luck.

It's hard to beat one that will do this consistently from 1000 yards:

6.51000 by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

This was 15 rounds. The next 10 rounds I fired the 1 3/4" through bolt holding the white plate on was shot up to the degree the plate fell off!

6.5x47 Lapua shooting 130 gr. Berger VLD with 38 gr. Varget.

RicksTacRifle by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

Yes, after he edited it.

Not sure why a 6.5 barrel would be picked for a Mark V action. You simply don't see the 2 together often at all. If it is indeed .473 and not .532 it would be even more odd, and limit it to ONE chambering IMO, that would be worth a $hit, the 6.5-06. Now you are looking for a handloader only, who................

ABORT MISSION

It would be cheaper to have the barrel set back and have it rechambered to 25-06 or 25-284. More money in your pocket and and easier sell IMHO.

Bob

I really like your idea. The problem is the barrel has been salt bath nitride treated so it can no longer be machined.

I purchased the 6.5mm Pac-Nor barrel because I was going to change the .257SLR to a 6.5SLR based on a .270 Winchester case. Then I discovered the 9.3X64 and ordered a reamer that sorta matches the .264 Win Mag without a belt with a longer neck. The 'smith thought there is not enough shank for the larger diameter so I decided to use the barrel in the manner in which this thread started.

Presently the rifle weighs 5lb 9oz including the Talleys but without the Swarovski z5 5-25X52BT (which is not for sale at this time). The action weighs twenty-six ounces. The 6.5mm 26" Pac-Nor barrel weighs forty-one ounces without cutting the chamber or threads or trimming to some desired length. The present stock weighs twenty-four ounces.

If someone wants to buy the rifle as is, and the 6.5 barrel, I will throw in the hydro-forming and reloading dies for the .257SLR. That way they could fire another thousand rounds and wear out the .257 barrel before they chamber the 6.5 barrel to whatever cartridge they want.

That's what I'm doing. That's why I have a Pierce titanium action and MPI stock on their way.

RM if the action will accommodate it, you might be able to capitalize on the 26 Nosler craze.

In general custom rifles are a very personal thing. If a person is going to pay the money to go custom, they might as well get EXACTLY what they want, and not buy what someone else made.

Last time I bought a custom rifle it was unfired and I paid about 1/3 what it would of cost to make.

26 Nosler is magnum size bolt face..........

You might want to check with a machinist on the machinability of the barrel. I'm betting with good carbide tools the barrel could be machined to a point it could be rethreaded and chambered. I would think it would only be surface hardened and once the first cut is made the material would be no different from any other barrel material in machining.
But I could be wrong.....

Screw the 6.5 bull and get a 7x57 barrel. Thank me later (plus I'm off for q week on a pheasant hunt and won't have to read th 6.5 flak). Lucl to whatever you decide.

antelope_sniper,

Thanks for that suggestion. The .26 Nosler is even larger than the 9.3X64 case. I measured several of the heads on the latter. They were only .495" and that was enough to scare my funsmith: Thus the whole new project.

Rich, why not just sell the action, or barreled action or complete rifle. Make package deals on the goods and i bet it will sell. People here love to build their own goodies.

Thanks, ironeagle_84, I will start there. Sometimes we overlook the simple.

I'll go with either the 6.5X55mm or 260 Remington.

Are you sure you wouldn't rather have a 6.5x284?

Yeah, its cheaper and turnaround is FAST.

Some decisions make themselves.