6.5 CM build?

[JohnD]

I'm going to have a 6.5 CM built as a light weight hunting rifle for my daughter and have some questions. I'm only interested in shooting the 120-123 gr. bullets and wondered what free bore is appropriate? Near as I can tell the .130 should work. My magazine will allow a max length is 2.715. So is this doable without seating the bullet past the neck/shoulder junction? I would like to be able to reach the lands or close a and still fit the magazine.

Thanks, John.

 

[Edd]

I'm curious what action you are using that has a maximum magazine length that short.

 

[JohnD]

It’s a SA tang safety Ruger.

John

 

[Edd]

I'm going to have a 6.5 CM built as a light weight hunting rifle for my daughter and have some questions. I'm only interested in shooting the 120-123 gr. bullets and wondered what free bore is appropriate? Near as I can tell the .130 should work. My magazine will allow a max length is 2.715. So is this doable without seating the bullet past the neck/shoulder junction? I would like to be able to reach the lands or close a and still fit the magazine.

Thanks, John.

Is there a specific bullet you are wanting to use? I have a 6.5 Creedmoor chamber gauge and have compared several different bullets. I think you can find a bullet that will meet your desires.

 

[JohnD]

Yes thanks Edd. The Nosler 120 gr. BT would be the first I would try,

John

 

[Chiquita]

John,

I am curious why you are limiting yourself to only 120-123 grain bullets? Why not have a rifle that will shoot multiple grains?
Or maybe I am misunderstanding you?

 

[Edd]

Yes thanks Edd. The Nosler 120 gr. BT would be the first I would try,

John

I haven’t checked one of those but that is exactly where I would start.

 

[JohnD]

“I am curious why you are limiting yourself to only 120-123 grain bullets? Why not have a rifle that will shoot multiple grains?
Or maybe I am misunderstanding you?”

No your not misunderstanding. This rifle will be for my daughter and I want to keep recoil down. I have rifles that will shoot about any weight bullet out there so I’m not at all interested in shooting the 140’s or even the 130’s for that matter. I figured with this short magazine I would be pretty limited anyway.

Thanks, John.

 

[Sebrock]

“I am curious why you are limiting yourself to only 120-123 grain bullets? Why not have a rifle that will shoot multiple grains?
Or maybe I am misunderstanding you?”

No your not misunderstanding. This rifle will be for my daughter and I want to keep recoil down. I have rifles that will shoot about any weight bullet out there so I’m not at all interested in shooting the 140’s or even the 130’s for that matter. I figured with this short magazine I would be pretty limited anyway.

Thanks, John.

Just out of curiosity, why not build a 6 creedmoor? There's a reason PRS shooters have gone down from 6.5 to 6mm - it recoils much better and easier to see your shot - granted they aren't hunting anything. Is it because 6mm bullets are too small for the type of hunting you do? Would the extra speed compensate for smaller rounds? Not a hunter so pardon my ignorance if its a stupid question.

 

[B23]

Just make up a dummy round by taking the bullet/s you plan to shoot and seat one to the length you want and give that to the gunsmith building your rifle that way they can set the FB length to whatever bullet you plan to use.

 

[L.Sherm]

Just make up a dummy round by taking the bullet/s you plan to shoot and seat one to the length you want and give that to the gunsmith building your rifle that way they can set the FB length to whatever bullet you plan to use.

Only problem with that is saami reamers have .199 freebore

 

[B23]

Only problem with that is saami reamers have .199 freebore

My smith generally uses reamers with no FB then cuts the FB length to whatever is applicable to the bullets/ammo the owner plans to shoot.

 

[L.Sherm]

My smith generally uses reamers with no FB then cuts the FB length to whatever is applicable to the bullets/ammo the owner plans to shoot.

I know that, but how many have will have a reamer that can do that with a 120 grain bullet.

 

[ta6ppc]

I know that, but how many have will have a reamer that can do that with a 120 grain bullet.

My 6.5 cm shoots 120 class bullets excellent, I do seat them long but they wind up being shorter than a 140 because the ogive is far different.
Sammi spec reamer is good to go, I understand you don’t wanna go any heavier but my daughter shoots 140’s that I’ve loaded reasonably hot. She doesn’t complain at all and she’s all of 120 pounds.. you can run them 120’s almost 3k too

 

[FeMan]

I have had great luck with the factory 6.5CM reamer. In the case of lighter bullets or throat erosion, I have always been able to find another node with a longer jump. Sometimes they have shot even better than the ones seated closer. So I wouldn't be worried about a 0.199 FB reamer for lighter bullets if that is what is available.

I just finished load workup on a buddies 6.5CM factory rifle, He had been shooting 147 ELDM but needed a non-lead for hunting. I had some Barnes 120 TTSX so I loaded them up. The seating test was from 0.040 to 0.160 jump. 0.080 shot under 0.2.

 

[Sebrock]

I have had great luck with the factory 6.5CM reamer. In the case of lighter bullets or throat erosion, I have always been able to find another node with a longer jump. Sometimes they have shot even better than the ones seated closer. So I wouldn't be worried about a 0.199 FB reamer for lighter bullets if that is what is available.

I just finished load workup on a buddies 6.5CM factory rifle, He had been shooting 147 ELDM but needed a non-lead for hunting. I had some Barnes 120 TTSX so I loaded them up. The seating test was from 0.040 to 0.160 jump. 0.080 shot under 0.2.

Interesting. I use the 140 ELD-M - my jump in both 6.5CR and 6.5x47 is .08 as well. My last build was build in 6.5x47 for this bullet and jump. Shoots great. I believe you could probably find the same node at the lands but its a PRS rifle and Im in no risk of wearing the throat during a match or ever really.

 

[FeMan]

Interesting. I use the 140 ELD-M - my jump in both 6.5CR and 6.5x47 is .08 as well. My last build was build in 6.5x47 for this bullet and jump. Shoots great. I believe you could probably find the same node at the lands but its a PRS rifle and Im in no risk of wearing the throat during a match or ever really.

My best ever load for the 6.5x47 is 135 JLK jumping 0.077". That load shoots under 0.10". My wife shot a 5/8" group at 1k with it!! I agree with you and for my PRS loads (Dasher, 6.5x47 and 6.5 CM) I really try and find a load that likes to jump. IME, the nodes that are jumped are wider and more forgiving to throat erosion, if not "immune" to it.

 

[Sebrock]

My best ever load for the 6.5x47 is 135 JLK jumping 0.077". That load shoots under 0.10". My wife shot a 5/8" group at 1k with it!! I agree with you and for my PRS loads (Dasher, 6.5x47 and 6.5 CM) I really try and find a load that likes to jump. IME, the nodes that are jumped are wider and more forgiving to throat erosion, if not "immune" to it.

SAC chambered my rifle. Mark Gordon has a ton of great research on large jump. I think the general conclusion is the same as yours. Yes, if you are shooting BR and going for holes in holes (in tunnel testing) then jam will get you there but the reality is that you can have a phenomenally accurate rifle with a large jump for most other applications.

 

[JohnD]

Thanks all for the replies. Yeah, I have read that people have had good luck jumping the lighter bullets in a standard chamber with good success. I’ve seldom had much luck jumping bullets over .030 so my concern would be on a saami chamber, if it didn’t like to be jumped it would turn my gun into a single shot.
However, using a standard chamber does give me something to think about.

John

 

[Ultimag]

Chamber it with actual sammi freebore (.188) with a 1/8 twist and she can shoot.any 6.5
Bullet /ammo made for the creed
Never had any issues with those specs and all
3,of my x bolts in 6.5cm drive tacks no matter what grain we shoot in them