Here's a new build that I'm just getting it on paper and testing some loads out with it.

6.5 Rem Mag, I had this rifle built around the Berger 140 VLD.

I wanted a rifle with a 24" that would push 140 VLD's at lower pressures than the 6.5x284 at the same speeds and even higher speeds if I wanted. Something with enough speed that would open up the Bergers with enough impact velocity to work on game to a 1000. Not that I plan on shooting them that far, that was just my benchmark.

I could have gone 264 Win Mag but after owning 3 of them. I know I just don't need that much speed to make it happen at long distance unless I planned on shooting past 1000.

I also thought hard on the 6.5 SAUM but didn't want all the sizing hassle.

So, 6.5 Rem Mag was it. Brass is very difficult to find though and you have to pay a premium for it.

Rem 700 LA action, Coal is 3.160
Bartlien #3 8 twist 24" flutted (thanks to Grizzly) (I sent it to Bartlien for them to flute.)
Mcmillan Game Scout EDGE tech.
Stock painted Olive (LOVE the stock! fits great!)
Metal is Cerekote "Sniper Grey"
Leupold VX3 4.5x14x40 LR w/ M1

weighs 8lbs 8oz




Coal 3.160

Nice my friend -

That should work nicely -

Ditto, very nice. Interesting to see a Game Scout!

Bob

There is not much load data for the 6.5 Rem Mag with newer powders so I had to start lower and work up.

The 6.5 RM holds 5 more grains of powder than my 6.5x284 and 4 more than the 6.5-06.

Here are some loads with newer powders.

140 Berger VLD

7828sc 57.0 3,150
Retumbo 62.0 3,019
RL 17 54.5 2,900 I really like this load easy on recoil and accurate.
Superformance 54.0 3,010
W780 55.0 2,622 very accurate but disappointed with the speed.

This is the powder so far for best accuracy. Shot a one hole group with this one.
N560 54.0 3,050

Nice! I'm liking the looks of the Game scout. Must have a short forend? Or it's the picture angle?

Nice build.

N560, 3.160, Berger 140 VLD #26505, 24" barrel

QL prediction @ 70 degrees:

58.4 Max
63080 psi
3072 fps

Looks like you are pretty close.

Nice Looking Rig.

My original Remington barrel 660 preferred RL19 and 120 Sierra's. Re-barreled with a 23" Pac-Nor I needed to switch to RL22 and 130 Accu-bonds 59.0 Grains gets me around 3100fps and 0.6" groups. 140 Sierras shoot about as good but the powder isn't too new. H4831 was the best choice with 140's for me.

My original Remington barrel 660 preferred RL19 and 120 Sierra's. Re-barreled with a 23" Pac-Nor I needed to switch to RL22 and 130 Accu-bonds 59.0 Grains gets me around 3100fps and 0.6" groups. 140 Sierras shoot about as good but the powder isn't too new. H4831 was the best choice with 140's for me.

Here is the 140 on a caribou last year. The Sierra pro-hunter expands pretty well and often core separates but not until near the end of travel. If you take neck shots it doesn't matter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHIp3M8j68U

That turned out to be Beautiful! nice but subtle...
nothing fancy, but very practical... I like your style...

with brass availability being a small but inconvenient obstacle, how hard is it to make brass out of other cartridges? seems like it would just take spare time and patience...

when I was looking at that route, I went with a lowly 6.5 x 57 on a long action, for a batch of reasons...

brass was cheap and available.. gave up nothing much on the 6.5 x 284, 6.5/06 and 6.5/06AI I got to test that friends owned...sure they could run a little faster MV, but that got compensated by another couple of clicks on the scope adjustment and I found the best accuracy with the Sierra Match bullets I was running at the time, was in the 2800 to 2900 fps range, regardless of their weight...

if she shoots half as good as she looks, ya got yourself a real winner there!

My rifle is too short actioned for the Berger VLD. It works ok with accu-bonds though. They shoot flat enough for 500 yard shooting and the 130 version is matched perfectly to the A turret on the old Redfield accu-track system. RL. 22 works like a charm. RL. 17 and 19 were not as good. I'll try some N560 next time it comes available. I began using CCI 250 magnum primers over standard primers and they seem to help especially in cold weather. If you want to stretch the 6.5 to bigger game the 130 TSX penetrates very well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJOT1c9u_yo

Tagging this thread as my next build is going to be a 6.5RM with a 23" LVSF contour on a model seven action. I'll probably be relegated to the 130AB and 120 BT given COAL constraints but that'll do real well for my uses

great video there '61!

good on you taking out the young man....

hope he gets a nice caribou...

PS - any idea on the weight of that stock? 8.5lbs strikes me as a little heavier than I would have guessed

Well...we will give it a go. He is turning into a good shot and the Rossi Ranch-hand converted to a carbine (legal in Canada) is a great, accurate little shooter. Not a long range gun but pretty good to 125 yards or so. We will keep James to 50 yds and if the caribou cooperate this might be the year.

With all the talk about the 6.5 SAUM, it might be worth a shot to try H-1000 is this one also...

It's picture angle.




If I remember correctly, the stock weight was 26-27 oz. I'm sure it would have gone over 2lbs if it was not an Edge.

The rifle does balance nicely though for even off hand shooting.

I don't like or see the need for heavy long range rifles.

Sounds good, Correct me, but I think the 6.5 Rem Mag is thee original short mag?


Also, I think Buffalo Arms? sells brass. 350 RM necked down to 6.5 RM.

Ya may want to try some RL-17. A friend gets 3175 with the 130's

Thanks, I did try some with the 140.
I came up with this....


I'll try some 130 VLDs out too. I have seen some guys into that 3,200 range with them burning RL17. RL17 may be a better powder for the lighter bullet.

That would be a flat shooter.

Nice nice setup.

Hodgdon's website shows great results with H4831 with 129 and 140 grain bullets; if I ever acquire a 6.5 Rem I will be sure to try that powder. Your results have me hankering for a 6.5 again.

Always appreciate data like that.

In my 6.5-284, 48.8 gr. RL-17 gives top accuracy and 3,000 fps with low SD's. I can push it to 3,100 fps, but accuracy suffers. One would think the larger 6.5 RM case would do even better.

I have Vv N-560, just never tried it.

I wish there was more Superperformance data available.

DF

DF, yes, no doubt I can push the 6.5 RM harder. But, do I really need to? For long range shooting?

Maybe for some 120's to 130's to make it a flat shooter.

You really have to lean hard on the 6.5x284 getting it to 3,000.

I wanted to get there with lower pressures, hence, the 6.5 RM.

At 1000 it should open up Bergers at 1,600 fps. That's all I need.

Question, What practical gain do you get shooting a 140 VLD over 3,000 mv?

BTW, I tried Superformance in the 6.5x284, it does not like it! At least for the heavier bullets.

In my 260 Ackley it shoots 130 VLD's in a short action to 3,000 mv with 49.0 grains of SF.

SF powder seems to like light bullets.

Awesome build SU!

You 6.5 guys have got me thinking....

How did the 7828 load shoot? That's excellent speed...

I was using Vv N-165 with great results at 2,950 fps. That was my accuracy node and I got that info thru the target folks. When I started with RL-17, I was able to get similar accuracy and at higher velocity. My 6.5-284 will shoot those 140 VLD's at 3,000 fps without breaking a sweat. Pushing the RL-17 to around 50 gr., pressure signs begin to appear and the groups open up.

I may be pushing it, shooting those 140's at 3K, as I don't know the pressure. I do know this rifle will maintain half MOA precision out to 400 yds and almost that good out to 600 yds, as in 4 1/2". It's a hunting rifle and isn't shot enough to toast the barrel. I should get several years of barrel life with this load.

It's a 26" Krieger SS match barrel and cut rifled barrels may (if you believe everything you read) out last button broached tubes. It is showing early throat erosion at 400 rounds, but with load development complete, shooting the next 400 rounds could take a while.

DF

PArd,

When the 129 grain LR Accubonds come out, that would be a dandy to try in this rifle.

Very promising...but I am going to back off a 1/2 grain or so, it's been 90 degrees here.

RS Magnum totally sucked for accuracy. I was hoping that would be the powder.




Indeed, I hope to get some when they come out.

Cool! At 3100, that 140 is formidable...

Shot the rifle again this evening, I'm getting a real feel for the rifle and really like how it performs.

130 Bergers
RL 17 56.0 3,225

140 Bergers
7828 SC 56.0 3,090 mv
RL17 55.0 gave me 3,120 mv
RL 22 56.5 shot 3,100 mv

All three loads were .5 or less in a strong cross wind.

I shot the rifle to a thousand and even in that strong cross wind it hit minute of rock out there with authority.

I can nip at the heels of the 264 Win with a lot less powder and recoil.

Yeah, you can chase a .264 WM with those loads.

I'd rather have that than the WM.

Just saying.

DF

What are you using for dies?

Redding FL dies

Bro, nice!

Thanks Chuck,

You could shoot 120's at 3,300 out of the 6.5 RM with its higher BC that would smoke any 270/130, even in a short action.

Think about it....:)

My curiosity has me needing to ask about the accuracy of the Bergers, when going past 3,000 fps MV...

I've been shooting Sierras and A Maxes, but I have found, just as the Sierra Tech guys said, the best accuracy with their 6.5 match bullets, regardless of weight, was between 2800 to 2950 fps...
the 140 A Max followed suit, in each of my 6.5 calibers ( 260, 6.5 Swede and my 6.5 x 57 )..

maybe I need to try some of the other bullets besides the Sierra and the A Max... but they have more than done their jobs in the accuracy depts.

SU35,
Thanks for putting up your informative post! Given your experience with the newer powders, what would you guesstimate to see in velocities if you were shooting these loads in a 20" tubed Mdl. 660?
Many have written that the 660 in this caliber was handicapped by the the shorter barrel, do you feel that the newer powders may help overcome this perception?
Thanks

BD

I have a 673 Remington in 6.5RM that shoots really well and was going to build a rifle for that cartridge on a long action I had, but I never got it done. My thoughts were it would nip at the heals of the .264 with less powder and recoil, just what you are finding. N560 has worked really well in the 6.5's for me over the years. As I read about the successes Pat and the guys have had with H1000 in the 6.5 SAUM, I wondered how it would work in the 6.5RM....It looks like you are well on your way to bliss with this rifle!

I loved my 660 with it's original 20" tube. However the new 23" replacement barrel is a big step up. 150 fps is a noticeable improvement and it is still a handy unit. The Nosler handbook 8 has some great loads in it. Great place to start. None of the new partners makes up for the short barrel.

That may be a target shooter's optimal velocity range, but for hunters, not that critical, IMHO.

My 6.5-284 shoots 140 gr. Hunting VLD's as tight at 3,000 fps with 48.8 gr. RL-17 as it did with an optimal load of Vv N-165 at 2,950 fps. The Vv 165 wouldn't maintain accuracy above 2,950 fps, where as the RL-17 did and does.

DF

What is not to like about that -

Very, very nice...

With the post about pushing 140 VLD's over 3K, I see you're up to 3,120 fps, which is impressive.

At what point would it be prudent to swap to target VLD's with their slightly thicker jackets, when pushing the Berger VLD's over 3K? Looks to me like the target version may hold together better at that velocity.

Or stated another way, at 3,120 fps, would the Target VLD be a better hunting bullet than the Hunting VLD?

DF

It's a neet sweet kinda sexy cartridge. I thought long and hard about it at one time.

But the belt and short neck gave me hessitation and it's really a short 6.5-06.

The speeds are impressive but how's the accuracy at those speeds?

I saw a post by a Fire contributor who had experience with the 6.5-284 and the 6.5-06. He preferred the latter because that round has a longer neck and different shoulder geometry that he said was easier on the throat. The 6.5-284, as you know, has the a barrel burner reputation. I would think the 6.5 RM would be as bad if not worse. My thinking, in a hunting round, that may not be so critical.

It would be interesting, however, to compare throat errosion between the 6.5 RM and the 6.5-06 AI. That's not quite apples vs. apples, but would be an interesting comparison. The AI would change the '06 shoulder geometry, but the longer neck would still be a factor.

DF

I have the 6.5RM, 6.5-06, 6.5-284 and 6.5x55 and for hunting they are pretty much peas out of the same pod, especially the first three. I use them for hunting so throat erosion has not been an issue. Favorites? Swede and 6.5-06.

My two are a M-70/Krieger 6.5-284 and a 98 FN Mauser/Shilen 6.5x55.

The 6.5-284 is set up for longer range Whitetail and Pronghorn hunting, the 6.5x55 for general purpose hunting.

DF

No, John Burns is shooting the hunting VLD out of his 264 at least another 100 fps faster.
I think his success speaks for itself.


It's a bit more than a 6.5-06, it holds 4 more grains of powder and 5 more than the 6.5-284.

That allows me to send the same bullet weight and speed with less pressure and throat wear than both the 6.5-06 and 6.5x284. My goal was to have a lower pressure round in a 6.5 with the ability to up the speed if I wanted to.

I am not a belt fan but being able to load and go/shoot without necking brass up or down won out over the 6.5 SAUM.

I've had two 6.5x284 and to get 3,000+ you really have to lean on it hard.
If DF is getting close to 3,100 in his 6.5x284 not doubt his pressures are really up there, over 65K.



I strongly doubt that, more myth than fact. Also, the 6.5 RM and the 260 Rem are just about the same length neck with the 260 having a 20 degree shoulder compared to 25 degrees for the 6.5 RM.
You don't hear about the 260 Rem having problems and I doubt I will with the 6.5 RM.

Again, I will be shooting the same bullet at the same speeds you are with your 6.5x284 but my 6.5 RM will be doing it with a lot less pressure.

Are you shooting your 6.5 RM in a long action with a COAL of 3.160?

Or, is it in a short action with a a 2.820 COAL?

Makes a big time difference.

Thanks for that info.

You're right. At 3,100, the 6.5-284 was showing strain with those 140 VLD's. Pressure was probably North of 65K, maybe higher. At 3,000,fps, no sweat. I think that's a tribute to RL-17.

Isn't the .264 WM a barrel burner as bad as, if not worse than the 6.5-284? I hope the 6.5 RM isn't a barrel burner, but it could be. I'd like to look down that tube with my Hawkeye after 4-500 roungs...

DF

I strongly doubt it. My goal is 3,000 mv with a 140 and my pressures will be a whole lot lower than your x284.

I would have to up my speeds another 100 to 150 fps to approximate your pressures.

And really, as far as being barrel burners. We aren't shooting F class here. These are hunting rifles. We take care of them and don't fast shoot them, they'll last many hunting seasons.

I hear ya.
I can get to 3000 pretty safely with the 6.5-06. THat's about all I'll ever need from a 139-142 class bullet in the hunting rig.

I agree with the up/down sizing but at least with the 6.5-06 it's pretty simple. I HATE to FF brass.

I'll have to agree with the shoulder geometry and short neck thing you quoted above. I think you'll find the life of such will be reduce more than the 6.5-284. However is should be a great deal of fun!

IF it wern't for the belt I might own one.

Burns has had great success.. but... build 2-3 more and if they have as much success I'll be a believer.

I hate FF'ing, too. That's the main reason for building a .22-204 instead of a .223AI. But, that's another story.

How much advantage, if any, would you expect from a 6.5-06AI vs. a std. 6.5-06? Would it be worth the effort?

The '06, reportedly, doesn't improve very much with AI, but the 6.5 version, who knows...

DF

I hate belts too! But went with them anyways, seeing them better than the alternative.

Here are the neck lengths of the
260 Rem .259
6.5 RM....261
264 WM...254

The 260 on paper, has a shorter neck. Does anyone here think it gets poor throat life as a result?

Also, I look at it this way. I've owned 3 264's and got barrel life up to 2,000 to 2,500 rounds with plenty of hunting accuracy. I babied those barrels.
If my 6.5 RM gets me within 100 fps of the 264, burning 12 to 15 grains less powder with less recoil.
I have a winner!

That is a main reason Burns likes the 264 WM, it has less recoil than the other larger caliber magnums.
For long range hunting, less recoil works better for him and others.

I really checked into that one big time. I came to the conclusion of a Big Time No!

Just asking, as I hate FF'ing.

Sounds good to me.

DF

260 has a short neck BUT considerably less powder burnt too...

In my book the 06" AI version wasn't even worth the effort.

the 6.5-06 isn't new and sexy but is surly fits the "work horse" bill once the right boolit for the application is applied.

No, my 6.5RM is a factory 673.... it was my intention with a long magnum action I had to build what you did but didn't get it done before recoil started to be an issue for shoulder problems. I have enjoyed following your thread on your new adventure!

Love my 6.5 rem mag

Browning BBR 300 win mag donor action
Douglas XX #4 contour 1 in 8 twist 26" barrel
McSwirly stock
Zeis 4.5x14x44 RapidZ 800 scope
130 gr SSII at 3175 fps with 54.5 gr RL17





Building on a long action is definitely the way to go, seat those long 6.5 bullets way out there



I have a fairly tight neck at .292" which means I have to do a full neck turn down to .0125". Have yet to lose a piece of brass even running 140's up to 3100 fps.

About time you showed up Woods.

Thanks for the photos and load data.

What is your COAL?

It is a sexy cartridge

Yes, it is, even with a girdle on!

Are we looking at the same as a 6.5 Gibbs? It seems to me that they are about 4-6 grains also.

Just maybe, In the 90's I talked with some boys in PA who shot and LR-hunted the 6.5 Gibbs often.

They loved it.

Any feeding issues going from the .300 Win Mag to the 6.5 Rem Mag?

DF

Anyone mention barrel life? Seems on snipershide guys are touting the SAUM vs RM and said longer life? Neck length and pressure? Not sure.

Thoughts? Thanks.

The WSSM I thought always looked cool but reaming necks and 260 performance gave no reason other than looks. The RM performance wise has been a good round and no doubt like the 284 is best in a LA. Is Big Green still mfg. brass?

Not with mine, absolutely none! feeds slicker than__________!

I actually thought of going to Pacific Tool and Die and having them build me a reamer based on the 6.5 RM with a 32 or 35 degree shoulder.

Decided not to, I wanted a round that had no feeding issues what-so-ever.

Here are is a quote from the Berger Load Guide from highly regarded Mic McPherson who has designed his share of cartridges.

"The 6.5 Rem Mag is a worthwhile chambering.
In a gun with a 24" barrel, performance is impressivley close to the 264 Winchester Magnum performance. Also, the 6.5 Rem Mag does this using far less propellant; thus generating less recoil and muzzle blast, and giving many-times greater barrel life."



No, and good luck finding it.

Well, you were doing such a good job I didn't really have anything to add. Then decided that a little gun porn wouldn't hurt.

The OAL varies per bullet but the 130 AB in the pics are at 3.100". That is what the dummy cartridge I sent to the smith was and told him to ream so that length was .025" off the lands IIRC.

The SSII OAL is at 3.065" which is a jump of .060"







None. I also did one for a friend rebarreling his 300 WM Wtby Vanguard and he also has no feeding issues

OUCH on the Brass mfg. issue. Thought that might be the 'case' no pun.

It's a worthy round no doubt.

IF the 6.5-06 ever became commonly chambered would they be same/same performance wise?

From what I can see, so far, the 6.5 RM will out perform it.

More or same speed with less pressure.

The brass situation could be a deal killer.

Guess it would be pretty hard, forming 6.5 RM brass from another belted mag case. The shoulders would have to be set back, etc.

What's your back up plan on brass?

DF

I think Redding has a form die for $90.00 +/- that lets you make it from 7 MM Rem. Push it in and cut the excess neck off with a hack saw. Boom done.

Thick necks that will then need turning...??

DF

I am not sure about the neck thickness issue. I have a 6.5 Rem and several hundred brass. I love the cartridge and will be faced with the same issue at some point.

Yeah, if SU35 gets something started with the 6.5 RM, then a bunch of guys will be trying to squirrel away the limited supply of remaining brass...

Unless he's got a cache already stashed, he may be shooting himself in the foot...

DF

One more thing

My gunsmith reamed the chamber to have zero headspace. IOW it is hard to measure on a belted case but I figured out how and it is indeed zero, the case belt is tight to the chamber belt groove on a chambered case. But it still has .017" gap between new case shoulder and chamber shoulder.

With the case availability problem it would not be a good thing if you had a factory chamber with .008" headspace and then the typical belted mag case shoulder gap of .020" to .030". Would decrease case life

Have been shooting and reloading for my 1974(?) vintage Rem. model 700(24") since 1980 and have tried 15+ powder/bullet combs an never found anything that would beat 59gr H4831sc with a Hor. 129 sp.oal 71mm wwlr primers for speed and acurracy (130 Nosler AB close but not needed). as far as brass go , have enough to last me a long time. 200 cases are necked down 350 rem. mags that work just fine, the trick was to neck to 30cal first then to 6.5 or they would split (shortened a 300 win. mag sizer die to make the 30 cal step down)out of 300 cases lost three (gave 97 to a friend with a 660). Killed lot of Ca. black tails with that load.

Also have a 260 rem., 6.5X55 and had and liked a lot a
6.5/06 (cousin has it now still get to shoot it).

DF, no doubt the brass issue is valid, and re: turning, well I did some reforming once and got in trouble when my Swede brass OD miked .310 vs. .297 spec on loaded ammo, pressure skyrocketed and I cracked the threads on a '96 mauser as the striker bottomed out from gas pushing it back from blown primer and ruptured head. It was a close call.

Sure 100-300 cases can wear out a barrel, so shooters can scrounge I'd imagine. I like K.I.S.S. and it would be nice if Rem would stop killing every round and keep production, but they don't care. It probably is why many are slow to adopt new rounds. Concern over future supplies of ammo/brass, etc.

Loonys get by one way or another

I had great luck with the 129 Horn SP as well. Unfortunately I bought a new lot and COAL was all over the place from 2.8-2.825" and accuracy is mediocre at best. Not happy!

I was set to do a 6.5 RM but the brass situation on this side of the border wasn't good and I wasn't going to buy Rem factory loads for $50 to get brass, went with the 264 WM instead. Very cool round however, it would have been nice to try.

I have 400 pcs of the stuff and no none of it is for sale.:D

Realize that with the longer COAL I was hoping to go to slower powders not just to get speed but get lower pressures.

I'll be trying H1000, though I was hoping that RS Magnum would work.

If you wanna go slow try RL22 or RL25



DAMN THOSE FLYERS!

This is slow...

3000 fps 139 scenar from an 6.5-06 at 550 yards. It'll do better.

hopefully not redundant info:

http://www.nosler.com/65-remington-magnum

This is really slick rig, and at 8lb 8oz a rather handy LR package.

Nice rig!

Any of you 6.5 guys ever try the Woodleigh 160 gr. PP SN? I've ordered some to try in my 8 twist FN Mauser/Shilen 6.5x55. I can push them to 2,650 fps and they have a B.C. of .509, which is pretty impressive. Woodleigh recommends 1,900 to 3,000 fps.

I was thinking they'd be good for larger critters. On paper, in the 6.5x55 round, they drop only 3-4" more at 400 yds. than 140 gr. bullets at 2,800 fps., and with 1,420 ft. pounds of K.E. at that distance.

Not sure how fast they could be pushed in a bigger case. If they could be started at 3,000 fps or so, that could be real impressive. .264 WM data tops out at around 2,900 fps. It would seem to me, with the new powders, that a case the size of the .265 WM could push that bullet to 3,000 fps.

DF

There is also a 156 gr. Oryx by Norma(?) maybe that Muledeer likes a lot.

The old 6.5x55 made its name with long, heavier bullets at modest velocity.

6.5mm, IMHO, is a great caliber and we don't see much info about the heavier bullets. The trend seems to be lighter bullets at higher velocity.

I'm wanting to try the heavier bullets and see how they perform. My 6.5x55 is an 8 twist, so it should do OK. I have an 8.5 twist 6.5-284, but it's alrealy set up for long range with 140 VLD's. May be interesting to see what it would do with 160's.

DF

I've played with a lot of cartridges over the years and I am REALLY liking this 6.5 Rem Mag. It's quickly heading to all time fav.

The speed it gets, the recoil level, ease of loading, it is not fussy at all.

A 140 partition loaded for a short action at 3,100 would be all you would need for elk. ... And I am thinking of building a short action in one.

Wish I had that SA Ti I sold a few years ago!

The only thing that would concern me is the SA. I know you can get a longer mag. My 6.5x55 is in a LA and it works great with the heavier bullets loaded long. And, that's the way it's chambered. My 6.5-284 is on a LA and I like that set up, too.

Otherwise, I'm with you. The brass availability may be the main down side to the 6.5 RM, but that can be overcome. The belt doesn't bother me, one way or the other.

DF

Following this thread, PM me in 6 months and I'll send you pics of a sa TI 6.5 RM, just waiting on my Mcm edge

Thanks! You make me sick!!

What barrel length and contour are you going with?

Can the Edge hold 3 in the belly?

I know the Classic in Edge can.

My mcschnabel edge holds 3 rounds of 350RM in the belly no problem

My short list was

6.5X55
6.5-06
6.5 Rem Mag

kinda know where I ended up.

I picked the least sexy but most practical for me.

I never regreted not going with the swede but often thought about the mag.. but never got past the belt.

don't be worried about a short action. The thin bullets don't take up much powder room and you lose very little speed. Most bullets work well except for the VLD types, the 160 Hornady and 140 Rem CL. My Rem 660 likes the 130 Accubond and RL22. Phenomenal round.

What the hell else you gonna do with a 300saum? Lol

It's a 24 inch number 3, .625 @ muzzle that will be fluted and turned down a bit in the shank area. 8.5 gain twist to shoot 127 lrx and 130 swifts and accubonds.
I'm hoping it will hold 3, it's getting a Wyatt's cf extended box to load out to 2.91 or so. Should do 3100-3150 with these bullets I think.

Cheers

Seems 6.5 Shooters from the Grendel thru the largest mag cases, can't be displeased It must be a Magic Caliber!

Shot more test loads in the 6.5 RM yesterday.

So far, H4831 wins out for accuracy and low ES, less than 12, at an average speed of 3,050.

That is a nice load.

RS Magnum shows great promise with a primer change.

Can't find any H1000 to try out.

I'll be revisiting W780 in then next batch.

Less than 12 is NICE! I wouldn't wrinkle up your nose at the speed either.
What does your verticle at 300/500 look like?

FWIW...

H4831sc has the lowest ES in the 6.5-06 (8) verticle at 550 yards was @ 1"

I may try standard H4831 to fill the case a bit more. My theory is a fuller case = more consistient.

Try IMR 7828 and 7828ssc many times it'll give you more velocity.

No, that is a perfect speed, all I would ever need. And I'll take that ES over another 100 fps.

I haven't stretched this rifle out yet to distance on paper.

Your graph is spot on except I'm at a COAL of 3.160.
I've been trying out 7828 SSC
57.0 grains for 3,157
56.0 grains for 3,122

Accuracy has not quite been there using it though.

I was going to buy some regular 4831 at Brunos yesterday, till I saw the cost. They wanted $35.00 a lb. That is over my handloading threshold. I won't pay that much for powder.

My accuracy was better with 4831sc as well. I was about 65 fps slower compared to 7828 but with 1" verticle and an itty bitty 3 shot group at 550.. I called it good ;-)

You guys sure are making me itch...

A 129 LR Accubond at 3,250+ would be pretty special...

Hey Greg

You should only expect to reach 3200 fps with a 130 gr bullet in the 6.5 rem mag and a 26" barrel will help

Now a 120 gr or the 125 gr Partition will get there

Ok, thanks -

Realisticly, how much more does the .264 Winchester Magnum offer over the 6.5 Rem. Magnum?

I've had 2 of the 264 win mags and in either I would start getting pressure signs at ~3350 fps with the 130 gr bullets. So I would guess that the 264 WM has as much as 100 fps +

But that may have been individual characteristics of those particular rifles.

I have never loaded hot enough to get to pressure signs in the 6.5 rem mag so I don't know what the top end is. I would assume it would be close to 3250 fps like you said. But to me I don't like skating on thin ice.

The thing is that 3200 fps in a 130 gr bullet and 3100 fps in a 140 gr bullet should be sufficient without putting up with all the overbore characteristics of the 264 WM. IMO

To me the 264 WM was finicky and tricky and hard to find a load for while the 6.5 RM seems nice and easy.

YMMV

Good stuff - Thanks.

Totally agree from what I have seen so far. I have had 3 264's and what I like about the 6.5 RM is less recoil and it is really easy to load for, not finicky or quirky at all. It offers all the steam you will ever need for long range hunting.

Finally got out this evening in 100 degree heat to do some field testing.

Loaded 20 rounds, ran a JBM data, and hit the hills for some rock busting at distance.
I was pushing 140 VLD's at 3,060
with 54.0 grains of N560. A light recoil, low pressure load.

With my wife as spotter, I picked out a 2'x2' rock give or take an inch, at 862 yards, (yonder light brown hillside in pic) and hit it 4 times out of 4. This rifle is so easy to shoot!


Rifle is very portable at 8lbs 8oz loaded with 4 rounds.


I was expecting the 140 VLD to blow up this jack and send meat all over the bushes. Exit hole says it all, no blow up.



The 6.5 RM round and this rifle have easily become my all time favorite.

Nice!

Well done, Bob, I have had great luck with N560 over the years but no longer use it since the price went up to double the other powders. I would try R33 in it as well.

Dennis

I did the same build last year,on a 7SAUM,rebarreled to 6.5 Rem Mag in a 24"Shilen #2(Mickey is inbound.),and a Wyatt box.It shoots 0.25" at 100 with 120 BTs. Monashee

More load testing this evening with the 6.5 RM. ( all loads used the Remington standard primer) COAL was 3.160.

It seems I've narrowed it down to what I really like and could go with.
The 6.5 RM is very loader friendly and not at all finicky. You could choose from many powders and be happy with it.

I finally found some H1000 to try out. I spoke with George Gardner of G.A. Precision about his 6.5 SAUM and his loading. He said,
"3k+ with the recommended loads. 61gr H1000 on 140 , 63gr H1000 on 130. You want to add horsepower there is plenty of room but your mileage will suffer."

I decided to try 60.0 grains of 1000, a grain less than what George uses.

I averaged 3,025 and an ES of 6. shooting the 140 Berger VLD. This could easily be a target load as accuracy is excellent.
George gets pressures in the mid 50K's with his load, I would think my load is very close and would be good for barrel life.

Burning H4831 56.5 grains for the following speeds.
3,047, 3,051 3,048, talk about great ES and accuracy. I could easily go with this load but feel I would get better barrel life with H1000.

Another powder that performed great was W780, on paper it was the most accurate.
It shows a slighter slower burn rate than H4831. I wanted to test it out so I also loaded it at 56.5. Speeds averaged just under 3,000 at 2,990. I can up it another .5 grain at get another 35 fps which I already have done.

Now here is some good news. I was getting real frustrated with RS Magnum and its accuracy. I realized that Magnum likes a max load to really make it perform like it is supposed to. At least that is what I have found using this powder in the 264 WM and and the 6.5x284.

So, I started by taking a max load from an RS Load Guide for the 6.5x284. That was 62.0 grains at just under 65K.

Loading 62.0 grains brought these results for the 140 VLD.

I shot an average of 3,200 mv with an ES of less than 20. And great accuracy.

Bolt lift was easy and no marks on the case head or any other signs.

This should be a great hunting load for the 140 bullet!

And, just 50 fps less than my 264 WM hunting load using a 26' barrel. (A lighter, shorter, less recoil load.)

I followed up this evening target session by shooting the 6.5 RM out to 950 yds using the W780 load. The Berger BC held true and I had no problem hitting at that distance.

I have now put 100 bullets down the barrel of my 6.5 RM. I am impressed with it more than ever.

I have plans on building another.
A lightweight 6 lb rifle with a 23" barrel. Maybe in a short action shooting 130 VLD's and 123 Scenars. But could be just as happy with the long action.

That's awesome SU. It sounds like you've found Nirvana, and I'm really intrigued.

Your idea of a lightweight packer is really cool.... Would you use a Wyatts for that purpose?

I could see my SA 700 243 AI easily becoming one of these, but the COAL thing kind of turns me off. Maybe something shorter like a 6.5 Creed would be better suited.

Tanner, I think I would avoid the Wyatts and load to 2.825.

Copy that... how deep down would that put the 123s and 130 Bergers? Ogive still up above the case mouth?

It should easily, but be close.


edited, and on second thought,
I could be just as easily happy with the longer action. No fuss or muss.

Tanner,

I use the Wyatt box w/ my Stiller .260. I had to tweak the magazine spring to get it to feed correctly, but that was easy to do, and now that its done, feeds as well as any short 700 I have ever used. If you wanted to stay with the standard box, I'd go with a CM case. That being said, a the ogive of a 130gr VLD will be above the case mouth in a .260 at 2.8", but not by much...

John

And the one that Monashee's talkin about looks like this (at 7lbs 1oz pictured):

deleted

rem338win - do you mind sharing the specs on that beauty? great rifle!

Well, it was a rifle commissioned by Monashee and built by greydog to start. The action was a SAUM to start, unfired. Ol' greydog likes to order Shilens and do some custom contouring himself and this one's a beaut. Its 24" and is a shade lighter than a Kreiger #2. Shank is 1.2" Action was worked over and opened for a Wyatt CFE box so I can seat out to 2.95". The bolt was spiraled and the handle lighted by a great guy from up nort' here.
The handle is a McMillan Hunter, 13 7/8" LOP with a black Pach.Olive with tan and black specs. And she is a shooter....

[/quote]I did the same build last year,on a 7SAUM,rebarreled to 6.5 Rem Mag in a 24"Shilen #2(Mickey is inbound.),and a Wyatt box.It shoots 0.25" at 100 with 120 BTs. Monashee [/quote]



Yeah I talked to you on HBC a couple years ago. I was just waiting for a right donor action and then I could start gathering pieces. I had bought a NIB 700Xcr 270wsm I was gonna use then traded up into this TI. Talked to Rem338win a bit this spring too.
The stock will be 3 months still, so I got some time to get the trigger, bottom metal, firing pin/shroud (j-lock delete) and mag box. Hoping to be 7.1/2 or so with the new zeiss 3-15 z800. Dies came last week so all I need is powder and primers - and some 129 lr accubonds...lol

Sounds good TuffBuff,looking forward to pics!I'm very pleased with the one Greydog put together...Cheers,Monashee

Those targets are nice! Sounds like a great build.

Let's see pics of the rifle.

I'll get better pics up on the rifle soon.
Range testing with the 140gr AB and RL22 over BR2s has been phenomenal. It been in the 80's at our range, but even struggling through mirage its been sub MOA all the way. 56-57.5gr range from 2985fps to 3080fps. It seemed to like 56.5 the best, at a 2.925" OAL. Its easy 0.5MOA with the 56.5 at 3010fps proven by two groups at 100yds and one a 200 (.48, .55 and .89 at 200).
SU35's LR rig is starting to look a lot cooler.....

Cool stuff, thanks for sharing.

that's some good info!

Old thread, I need a 6.5 Remington mag

Take a look at the 6.5PRC it is the 6.5Rem. Mag with out the belt and brass is available. You will thank me later. Cheers NC

Brass for the 6,5 Ren mag can be formed from 264 or 7 mag.. From what I've seen the 6.5 PRC is dying . No main line rifle company will produce it. Ruger, Savage say no. It requires that limited special expensive brass. Get a set of forming dies for the 6.5Rem mag from RCBS & your brass problems are solved. The 6.5 Rem mag will do any thing the 6.5-284, 6.5x06 or 6.5PRC can do. I'm not a fan of long range shooting on game. Prefer to stay under 300 yds. One thing to shoot targets off a steady bench. Completely different situation shooting a live animals from a make shift position in the field. To easy to wound & loose.

Yeah, brass at less than $1.00 each and factory ammo at $1.75/round is sure limited, special and expensive...

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/3...unition-65-prc-143-grain-eld-x-box-of-20

Wow!!There is plenty of brass and loaded ammo for the 6.5prc and I'm sure more companies will be jumping on board. How many companies still chamber a rifle in 6.5rem?
Also if you're not a fan of long range shooting on game then why are you in the long range hunting forum!

Me & mine have been taking deer & elk for many years . To many to remember.. We have witnessed numerous game animals wounded by those taking long range shots. You always hear about the successful long shots from hunters , but never hear about the wounded & lost game. No one brags about that. There are those who spend the time firing hundreds if not thousands of rounds a year to perfect their long range skills. They are very few. Most hunters barely fire their rifles during the off season.,. Having worked as a hunter safety instructor for 20+ years & the site in days at the local range it is my opinion that there isn't one shooter in a 100 that can make a clean kill at over 300yds in the field. Most are challenged to shoot a decent group off the bench at 100yds. Having put hunters on game at ranges of less than 100yds & watched as they put multiple shots into them before bring the elk or deer down.. Leg shots , gut shots, every where shots. I see an ethical shot in the field as being based on the individual's ability to be absolutely sure of the shot. To many hunters see game at ranges father out than their ability to be sure, but take the shot any way.. Ethics are suppose to be a strong consideration of a true hunter. These are my opinions base on a life time of hunting & shooting. We all are allowed are point of view. To me 300yds is long range, especially in the field.

I agree with you that most hunters barely spend anytime at the range and yes rarely shoot over 100 yards. Heck many go buy whatever ammo Walmart has on the shelf and shot a few shots to "sight in" and then proceed to go hunt. I've even witnessed people shooting and can't hit the broad side of a barn but the "box" says their bullet is going a certain velocity and should be so many inches low.
There are a number of hunters/shooters that do practice extensively with their rifles and spend hundreds of hours fine tuning them. Many of these rifles are custom built and very capable of great accuracy. It's obviously a personal choice and everyone has their own opinions.
IMO I bet more game is wounded by the hunters you say put multiple shots into them like leg shots,gut shots, everywhere shots than are wounded by true long range hunters.

We agree on a considerable amount of ideas. You are probably a lot like me. Considerable thought goes into the selection of bullet type for game being hunted. Finicky about accurate loads by maintaining uniformity of components , dimensions. & practice , practice, practice. I know I am spoiled because I have my own range & shoot regularly. Most shooters are restricted to occasionally getting to a range,. This is a distinct disadvantage. Many shooters just cannot afford to shoot regularly especially those who do not reload. Components are constantly rising in cost but it seems to me loaded ammo is going up faster.
When you see a hunter emotionally hyped by the sight of game you realize the trigger is going to be jerked by this emotion rather than squeezed by a rational thinking brain. I see hunters making 100yd or less off hand shots at game that wound . Hunting ethics are completely ignored when game is sighted. These same hunters can't shoot a decent group off the bench at the same 100 yd range. Then will ask me about making a 200 to 300 yd. shot Some ask about a 500 yd. shot. I cringe at the thought.
As another point I am a dedicated 6.5 shooter. 6.5x308 , 260 Rem , 6.5x55. 6,5x06 & 264 mag. I love the 6.5. I realize this is off the point a bit but thought I'd share this with you.

It mystified me why Remington had not tried to re-introduce the 6.5 Rem Mag with the current trend and popularity in everything 6.5. Then I remembered I was talking about Remington. Nice rig and thanks for posting it. Enjoy and good luck hunting with it.

Tag

I like 6.5’s, got a couple Creeds, 6.5 mm-06, 264 win mags, 26 Nosler.