Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Anyone out there shooting a 6.5 WSM?

I've always wanted to build a 6.5 WSM to shoot the 140gr Bergers... even assembled all the components save the barrel, just hadn't gotten the nerve to pull the trigger and complete the build.

Anyway, I found a lightly used 6.5 WSM built almost exactly like what I was going to do, so I bought it instead.

27" fluted Pacnor 3groove supermatch barrel
McMillan HTG stock
Wyatt's box
Vais brake (would have preferred Holland QD)

Loaded up the 140gr Bergers around 5 thousandths into the lands (COL 2.970) over Reloader 25.

Started with moderate charges, 61 grains, working up from there.

Got to 62.5 grains powder, 5 shot group around .6" with 3294 FPS av velocity, but extreme spread only 7 fps! Decided to stop there, even though I've got a little more room to work up based on brass sign.

Now for the questions... anybody out there got quickload to run the pressure data for that load? I wasn't really expecting that kind of velocity with a 'moderate' charge of such a slow burning powder. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled with the results, absolutely smoking the old 264 Win Mag.

Guys out there with the 6.5 WSM, what kind of velocities are you getting with the 140's

I was running the 140 gr Sierra at 3200 fps out of my 26" Lilja but decided to back off a grain just to be sure my pressures weren't going to shorten the life of my brass. No obvious signs, just precautionary.
3300 fps sounds pretty fast for a 140, even with a 27" barrel. I wonder if the 3 groove rifling has anything to do with it?

sambo, which powder and how much for your 140's?

Looks like a good load.

H1000, don't remember the exact charge off hand without looking it up. I'm thinking around 65 grains. As always, start lower and keep an eye on your brass and chronograph.