Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 6.5 Weatherby RPM Mo betta than a 6.5PRC??

Weatherby has also published data comparing the 6.5 WBY RPM to other 6.5mm cartridges. For example, the 6.5 Weatherby RPM is capable of pushing a 140-grain Nosler Accubond bullet to 3,075 fps which, according to the company, is 146 fps more than .264 Win Mag (2,929 fps), 325 fps more than 6.5-284 Norma (2,750 fps) and 420 fps more than .260 Remington (2,655 fps) cartridges loaded with the same bullet.

With a reported case capacity that is nearly identical to the 264 WM (and the edge going to the 264) I'm dubious of the rpm besting it by 150 fps ...

Speaking of dubious, check out the 'comparison' velocities they list for the other cartridges.

I have no doubt the Wby 6.5 RPM will out run the 264. The two diameter throating in the 264 makes seating one diameter bullets deeper using up some powder space. the 6.5 RPM is a standard throat .2645 in diameter .188 long giving more powder space. Time will tell. Just sayin.

Velocity listed for the 6.5-284 Norma (2,750 fps) is bullschit.

All comparisons are odious and Weatherby's add copy writers like to stack the deck. The technicians should write the factual numbers. Look at the 6.5x300 trajectories, they use a 3 or 400 yard zero and compare it to other cartridges with a 200 yard zero. Also they use factory loads compared to hand loads. What pressure is the Weatherby? I bet it is 65,000 compared to 64,000 for the 264 Win.

They would not be the first to embellish stats on new cartridges and rifles. On the other hand, all the Weatherby factory loads I fired in 7mm and .300 wby met the advertised velocity over a chronograph. Ymmv

Don't you guys remember when a 300WSM would out run a 300 WM despite less powder capacity simply due to efficient case design. Sounds great in all the magazines despite it defying physics.

My 26” Kreiger 6.5-284 will push 140’s at 3K fps over 48 gr. RL-17. No problem with half inch groups and no pressure issues. Primers OK, effortless extraction. Lapua brass not stressed.

DF

22” barrel 260Rem will do 2750 with a 140 Hornady. That’s not leaning on the powder scale either. Bad choice of marketing strategy.

This should shed some light on where it sits in the 6.5 family.

Seems to me like a nice place to be.

I doubt they're trying to take over the world with this, just appeal to Weathery-minded folks who want something "special". If the rifle I saw is what they're hanging their hat on for this, price alone will keep it from becoming a standard of any sort. What really matters is: will they make money on it, either on its own or by the enthusiasm it creates in Weatherby stuff in general?

I'm long past the point where I believe a new cartridge is going to change my life. BTW, has anyone figured out how many 6.5 caliber cartridges are out now? Gotta be nipping at .30's heels at least, counting ones currently for sale anyway.

Just looking at cartridges of the world there were at least 18 in the 7th edition from 1968 and this pre-dates the 260 Rem. 6.5 Rem and at least a dozen more not counting the less mainstream wildcats. So well over 30 is best guess.

Just looking at cartridges of the world there were at least 18 in the 7th edition from 1968 and this pre-dates the 260 Rem. 6.5 Rem and at least a dozen more not counting the less mainstream wildcats. So well over 30 is best guess.

Those water capacity numbers look like to the neck so with a bullet seated the Weatherby may be closer to the 264 or at least the short chambered ones.

It depends on where they take their info from. The Hornady reloading manual lists 2700 for a 140 out of the 6.5x284. Nosler lists 2953. Of course WBY is going to take info that makes their product look better. My .264 WM easily gets 3100 and WBY numbers show 2929 even though factory loads are rated to be better than that.

I'll bet that Weatherby ammunition is going to be $70/box too. I'll stick with $33/box 6.5 PRC.

Yep, $65 on their site for the accubond.
Still wondering about the actual case capacity. The screengrab Whelen posted from the shooting times article is all over the place with it’s purported capacities for known cartridges.

I'm wondering how the 145 gr eldx hornady cartridge in 270 WSM at a listed 3100 fps would compare.

The 6.5 WBY RPM is running higher pressures is my understanding

Still waiting to hear an independent verification of the case capacity. That shooting times table is all kinds of fubar.