Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 6.5-300 WSM questions

For you 6.5-300 WSM handloaders.

In necking down 300 WSM to 6.5 do you have any difficulty in sizing with one pass to 6.5?

Why not use 270WSM brass? Same body dimensions, less sizing.

Because 6.5-300 wsm dies are cheap and I have a bunch of brass.

I would also rather go 7mm wsm necked down than 270.

You might have problems with the 7 WSM brass as the shoulder is farther forward on the 7 brass. I have some 270 WSM brass if you would like to try a few.

Jim

270WSM brass and 300WSM brass are the same except for the neck diameter, but, as JimD mentioned, 7WSM brass is longer (so it won't chamber in the 270WSM).

Sizing the 270WSM down will be easier with the same (or better) result than the 300WSM is why I mentioned that.

As far as any issues with sizing down the 300WSM brass in one step, I don't know - never tried it.

I have been thinking of a .257WSM myself, and would use 270WSM brass.

you can run 270 WSM brass into the 6.5-300 WSM dies and it'll work just fine (that's what I do).

If you use 300 WSM brass, most will resize just fine down to 6.5 in one pass if you've got it well lubed, but you will likely have to turn necks afterwards due to increased thickness of brass in the neck area...

I've only ever used 270 WSM brass as starter material, too. My guess is that new 300 WSM brass will size alright in one pass, but fired brass I'd anneal first. As you surely already know, WSM brass is THICK and tough, and it doesn't work/form as easily as some other brass.

I haven't measured neck thicknesses of different WSM brass, mainly because I only shoot 1 WSM (the 264 WSM), but to me it seems reasonable that all the WSM brass would start with the same button, so neck thickness wouldn't be any different whether you started with 300 or 270. I could be wrong, though.

Thanks, all good feedback.

I figured it would take a set of different dies to make the 7mm wsm work and confirmed that I would probably have to turn necks of which I don't want to do.

I have a 6.5 Rock barrel showing up this week, the WSM is an option I was looking at.

Why make it hard on yourself? The 264 Win has even a little more case capacity than the WSM's. The only thing you would gain with a WSM is a short action and given the length of 6.5 bullets, that might not be a good thing. Of course you can spend a lot more money with a wildcat and in this economy that is a patriotic thing to do!

I dunno, Ricky...

The 6.5 WSM I recently bought is giving me 3300 fps with the 140 Bergers if my chrono is correct (I'll be double checking it with a oheler in a couple of weeks) out of a 27" barrel.

The gun has a shorter overall length than 26" barreled long action rifles I own which is nice as well.

So, in essence, I'm getting better velocity with less powder and excellent accuracy to boot.

As far as cost, dies are the only extra expense in a custom rifle (and a Wyatt's box for the short action that wouldn't be needed for the LA .264 mag).

3300 is somewhat unrealistic

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth..._Can_anyone_run_quickload_on#Post3861015

Sounds like a fun gun.

I don't quite understand how a half inch shorter action will give a shorter overall gun with an inch longer barrel. Your stocks must be different lengths of pull.

You may be bumping some pressure so be careful.

Ricky, I already have a 700 short action ready and willing and a Wyatts box to stretch coal to 3.00".

If it was a long action it would be a 264.

My barrel is a 27" fluted light palma.

Sounds like fun! Let us know how it shoots. BTW, I always figured on basing off a 7 wsm case for the capacity if I ever wildcatted a wsm, but it might be of little advantage.

I don't have a problem with this and I like to be somewhat cautious.

What is your coal for this?
And are you using a 700 sa?

I can't remember the article or magazine but the author Wild Catted a .257WSM and called it the 25 Pronghorn.

Here's a silly question: What's the difference? 6.5 Rock, 6.5 Leopard, 6.5-300 WSM, 264 WSM (I call mine that 'cause I like American better than European designators)... all look like different names for pretty much the exact same thing. ??

I'm sorry I should be more clear.

I have a Rock Creek barrel in 6.5 caliber showing up.

264 WSM sounds good to me.

Me too.

Me Three!!!!