6.5wssm
- Thread starter DukeDuke
- Start date
Redding
When you order your Redding dies be aware that ehy have two versions of the 6.5 WSSM
The 6.5 WSSM is based on the 243 WSSM with a 28 degree shoulder and the 6.5/25 WSSM has a 30 degree shoulder.
The 6.5 WSSM is based on the 243 WSSM with a 28 degree shoulder and the 6.5/25 WSSM has a 30 degree shoulder.
What kind of velocities do you get from the 6.5mm in a WSSM cartridge. I'm currently shooting 260Rem and loving the caliber, but would like a little more umpf with heavier bullets. 6.5x284 would do the trick, but wanted something a little different than the rest of the crowd. Are you expecting better barrel life than the 6.5x284?
The 6.5 WSSM equals a 260AI in performance.
Just ensure you have a solid supply of brass if you go the WSSM route. There will never be a shortage of 308 based cases.
Jerry
Just ensure you have a solid supply of brass if you go the WSSM route. There will never be a shortage of 308 based cases.
Jerry
BILLK,
Thank you for responding as you have the knowledge of owning and shooting both the 6.5-284 and the 6.5 WSSM. Years ago when I was just getting started I was considering going with the 6.5 WSSM because I thought it had a better shape than the .284 case, short fat and more like a 6mmBR). I went with the 6.5-284 because it was proven.
After my 6.5-284 barrel gets fire cracking I will set it back,it is a 30" Kreiger 1.25" no taper straight) and try the cartridge. The 6.5 WSSM will give the same velocity as the 6.5-284 with less powder, more efficiency, and more than likely a better barrel life. Plus it will share the same bolt face as a 7mm WSM for the really windy ranges,Raton, Ben Avery, Bisley, etc. etc.).
All this being said it is more work than a 6.5-284. You have to neck turn. You can use the .25 WSSM case and run over a 6.5 neck turn mandrel then turn. After fireform then use a Redding .25 WSSM neck die with appropriate bushing.... Thinking about it now it doesn't look like that much work.....
Thank you for responding as you have the knowledge of owning and shooting both the 6.5-284 and the 6.5 WSSM. Years ago when I was just getting started I was considering going with the 6.5 WSSM because I thought it had a better shape than the .284 case, short fat and more like a 6mmBR). I went with the 6.5-284 because it was proven.
After my 6.5-284 barrel gets fire cracking I will set it back,it is a 30" Kreiger 1.25" no taper straight) and try the cartridge. The 6.5 WSSM will give the same velocity as the 6.5-284 with less powder, more efficiency, and more than likely a better barrel life. Plus it will share the same bolt face as a 7mm WSM for the really windy ranges,Raton, Ben Avery, Bisley, etc. etc.).
All this being said it is more work than a 6.5-284. You have to neck turn. You can use the .25 WSSM case and run over a 6.5 neck turn mandrel then turn. After fireform then use a Redding .25 WSSM neck die with appropriate bushing.... Thinking about it now it doesn't look like that much work.....
It really isn't any more work for me as my 6.5-284 gets all the same brass prep. I have one of my 6.5-243wssm rifles as a switch barrle on a remington long action that doubles as a 7wsm. The only thing about the wssm is you have to have a reamer made that is .300 or below on the neck diameter. Mine is a .300 neck. The other thing is you have to wind them up!!! They really like to shoot max loads.
.300 leaves too much brass holding a .264 bullet in my view. I went .290, and would go .285 next time.
The suggestion that turning is easy for this case contradicts my experiences. Your turning brass that is .019 to .025 thick!! Springback is incredible, it varies as it gets thinner, and mandrel fit is continous issue. I managed using Sinclair equipment, but there was annealing twice with sizing up to 27cal & back. Then back up/down for a false shoulder and fire forming. Then final turning.
The Win brass for this cartridge is excellent. It's a damn good deal for me also, as I've recently hit 19 reloads with my first finished batch.
Couldn't say it's more efficient than anything else, but the notion that it can match a 6.5-284 is pure bull. It cannot reach the same velocities that any larger cartridge,loaded to potential) can reach, anymore than the 6.5x47 could match a standard 243win or 260.
With that said, I'm very happy with it. I think it's the perfect capacity for 26cal. It's clearly what Winchester would have done -if they had a clue,they don't).
The suggestion that turning is easy for this case contradicts my experiences. Your turning brass that is .019 to .025 thick!! Springback is incredible, it varies as it gets thinner, and mandrel fit is continous issue. I managed using Sinclair equipment, but there was annealing twice with sizing up to 27cal & back. Then back up/down for a false shoulder and fire forming. Then final turning.
The Win brass for this cartridge is excellent. It's a damn good deal for me also, as I've recently hit 19 reloads with my first finished batch.
Couldn't say it's more efficient than anything else, but the notion that it can match a 6.5-284 is pure bull. It cannot reach the same velocities that any larger cartridge,loaded to potential) can reach, anymore than the 6.5x47 could match a standard 243win or 260.
With that said, I'm very happy with it. I think it's the perfect capacity for 26cal. It's clearly what Winchester would have done -if they had a clue,they don't).
Don't mean to high-jack the thread,but I have a wilson seater die for the 6.5 x 25 wssm,will sell for 25.00 plus ship.
I am trying to get together information on the forming process. What does to start with? Looks like I will have to got from 243wssm up I for the life of me I cannot source 25 wssm.
Do I ream out the inner diameter and neck turn the out and call it good and them load as normal in the Redding dies?
Best.
John
Do I ream out the inner diameter and neck turn the out and call it good and them load as normal in the Redding dies?
Best.
John
swd
Silver $$ Contributor
Do you have an action yet?
No I am tryin To hoard information before I do anything. I'm really excited about the caliber and stepping into the wildcat world.
I say I don't, but I have a magnum action in 7mm rem mag that might end up being the donor. If it does not feed from the tikka mag that would be no big deal as it would be predominantly a pest control rifle. Or I could get the boltstop modified and/or buy a 308 style mag.
I know it's not normal or practical but I feel like it is the cartridge I would like to go with.
Any info available on forming the case would be really appreciated.
John
Oh Hey! What Barrel Length and Info? Barrel Wear? 25-WSSM now on my RADAR! BlackJack 131 & the WSSM sounds like a great combo.
TZaun
Gold $$ Contributor
John, I have a couple cartridges based off the 243 WSSM. A regular 6.5 WSSM and a 6.5 WSSM Ackley. I really like both. All I do is neck up the 243 WSSM brass to .264 and then turn down the necks, A LONG WAYS. New brass is around .020". I don't remember the exact number, but I turn down to .013" to .014". I do it in 2 steps. I use Redding 6.5/243 WSSM dies for the regular 6.5 WSSM and Whidden dies for the 6.5 WSSM Ackley.
The 6.5 WSSM is my deer rifle and I shoot 140 Berger HVLDs at ~2860 fps. I know I can go quite a bit higher, but they shoot fantastic at that speed. This one uses a 26", 8-twist Bartlein. This Summer I'm going to do some more load workup on it and see if I can't find equal accuracy at a higher velocity.
The 6.5 WSSM Ackley was for F-Class. I had a reamer built for the 155 Cauterucios. They shot very well at 1,000 yards. My fire-forming load was 44.2 gr. H4350 and CCI 250 primers at ~2765 fps. My formed case load was 48.8 gr. H4831SC and CCI 250 primers at ~2845 fps. I was hoping for a little more velocity, but I couldn't get them going much over 2900 fps before I saw pressure signs. I'd still be shooting them today, but Bob passed away, and I don't have enough left for a match. With a .350 free bore I can't find another bullet that will work in it. I thought Berger was coming out with a 156, or something like it, but I haven't heard anything on that for a while. This one uses a 30", 7.25-twist Kreiger.
Finding brass can be hard. For a cartridge that nobody seems to want to touch, when the brass does get made, it isn't on the shelves for very long. The case is like a tank. I can't imagine how that brass wouldn't last you a lifetime, if you treat it right.
Whatever you do, don't go with a no-turn neck. You will not be happy if you're looking for great accuracy.
The 6.5 WSSM is my deer rifle and I shoot 140 Berger HVLDs at ~2860 fps. I know I can go quite a bit higher, but they shoot fantastic at that speed. This one uses a 26", 8-twist Bartlein. This Summer I'm going to do some more load workup on it and see if I can't find equal accuracy at a higher velocity.
The 6.5 WSSM Ackley was for F-Class. I had a reamer built for the 155 Cauterucios. They shot very well at 1,000 yards. My fire-forming load was 44.2 gr. H4350 and CCI 250 primers at ~2765 fps. My formed case load was 48.8 gr. H4831SC and CCI 250 primers at ~2845 fps. I was hoping for a little more velocity, but I couldn't get them going much over 2900 fps before I saw pressure signs. I'd still be shooting them today, but Bob passed away, and I don't have enough left for a match. With a .350 free bore I can't find another bullet that will work in it. I thought Berger was coming out with a 156, or something like it, but I haven't heard anything on that for a while. This one uses a 30", 7.25-twist Kreiger.
Finding brass can be hard. For a cartridge that nobody seems to want to touch, when the brass does get made, it isn't on the shelves for very long. The case is like a tank. I can't imagine how that brass wouldn't last you a lifetime, if you treat it right.
Whatever you do, don't go with a no-turn neck. You will not be happy if you're looking for great accuracy.
Thank you. Some really good info.
Would you mind telling me the sizes of your reamer?
My rifle will be much shorter. Probably about 18 to 20" predomantly going to be a Predator and truck gun.
Thanks for the snipet about the necks.
John.
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TZaun
Gold $$ Contributor
If you're after the regular 6.5 WSSM, I had Greg Tannel build that rifle for me. I believe he had the reamer and then throated it to match my dummy round, which was the 140 Berger HVLD. I sent him a Winchester 70 Coyote and had him go through everything. He did an amazing job on it.
Yea I'm not after the 40° shoulder version. Just as much of a straight swap to 6.5 as is possible.
Could I ask you about your reloading dies? Which ones did you end up using and in what configuration.
Unfortunately it looks like I would be seriously lucky to get my hands on reddings 65 wssm dies so I will kinda have to work with a mix Mach of the standard dies and expanders.
John.
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