I've seen here and there a growing number of 6.5mm wildcats that are made to surpass the 26 nosler. Many are based on the RUM cases. What I want to know is if there are any named 6.5mm wildcats based on the 338 lapua. The reason I ask is I plan on purchasing a 338 lapua savage at some point and would like to build a 6.5 barrel to fit it that will take the same magazine and bolt setup as the Lapua. Yes I know the barrel life will be extremely short but sometimes life is too. Ask James Dean. I want to be able to switch barrels and nothing else to swap calibers.

I've seen one that was off the 338 Lapua and then ackley improved. Didn't find much information about it but it should have been a laser.

I like how you think! I hope you do it and report back. R-25 and H-870 will probably be good powder options to try.

Lazer-like is a good description. And, they are making new barrels every day as Dober used to always point out. That guy ate through barrels like no one else I have ever heard of

A 264 STW might be fun, too.

Check out the Allen Magnums. He used the .338 RUM case up to .270 then at 7mm switched to the Lapua case. Had to beat the 7 RUM is probably why the switch to the larger case.

What gave me the idea was a couple guys on another site that built rifles in 6.5 badger, 338RUM necked down. They were running a 160 grain matrix bullet and pushing it at 3450 fps out of a 30" tube using US896. I wanted similar performance but on a 338Lapua case rather than a RUM.

However you get there, I like the concept! Will yours be a hunting rifle (hopefully) or merely a target piece?

It will most definitely be a hunting rifle. Most of mine are.

Glad to hear it. I hope you execute this and post some photo's.

I think a call to PT&G would pay some dividends. They could give you a list of the reamers they have made. You could continue your research with the name of the wildcats. That would probably turn up more data by name.

Either way I am interested. I have a full custom 338LM that I might do some wildcatting on in the future. Please post up some reports.

Also if you haven't done some research over on LRH.com that might turn up a couple leads.