6.5 rum barrel length
- Thread starter Hydenseek
- Start date
okie
Gold $$ Contributor
my 2cents, build a leopard
My 2 cents is with only a 24-25 inch barrel you are wasting your time with that big old Remington ultra mag case. Minimum length should be 26. This was learned with the 264 Win mag when Winchester went from 26 to 24 because people complained of the weight and length. If you want the performance of those big cases you have to deal with the weight and length. With a 24" barrel you might as well go with a 6.5-06 or the AI version because you will not gain any more with that big old case. I have a 264 Win mag with a 27 3/4" barrel, all that could be gotten out of a 28" blank, that does 3350 fps with 130 AB which a around 300 fps better than most 24" barrel rifles.
I agree. At 24" you're just paying for muzzle flash. Burning that much powder in a 6.5mm hole requires a longer barrel. If you want a 24" sporter barrel, consider a .260 AI. Pour about 47.5 gr. of RL-17 in the case, seat a 140 and you'll get something in the neighborhood of 2,900 fps. That's plenty of reach and plenty of punch.
As someone who shoots several RUM based chamberings as well as 4 different xx-Nosler chamberings (27,28,30,338)
IMHO you are barking up the wrong tree with a 6.5 RUM. Period. The biggest case for a 6.5 that makes any sense is the 26-Nosler. A fine cartridge that is basically a RUM shortened by .250
A 24" barrel is not optimal. That being said, all my xx-Noslers are hunters at 24" and fine shooters. The all have a sporter barrel diameter (#2Weatherby) brake, minimal effect but just enough to make follow up shots easy. I wear ear protection when hunting. I shot without it once. OUCH.
Because of the unburnt powder/power wasting. I designed a cartridge another ~.250 shorter. Still .250 longer than a 6.5WSM. I have not had a reamer made for it yet.
It should be much better suited for 6.5. I am quite willing to share the design as none of my designs are "proprietary". Brass can be made from xx-Nosler or an RUM.
okie
Gold $$ Contributor
whats the parent case?
404 Jeffery/RUM/xx-Nosler. Same as 7mmRUM, 300 RUM, 300 WSM, 270 WSM, 338 RUM, 375 RUM, 26-Nosler, 28-Nosler, 30-Nosler.
Take any RUM, xx-Nosler or raw 404 Jeffery case, trim, form, trim, shoot. The first trimming is only so you don't have to size necks that are an inch long. The second trimming is to bring it into spec.
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
You can't use the 404 Jeffrey case in its normal form to make Nosler or Ultra Mag cases. The 404 Jefrey parent case has a .543" rim and won't fit in the normal Magnum bolt face. The Nosler and RUM cases are based off the Jeffrey, but have been altered with a .532" rebated rim diameter for use in normal Magnum bolt faces.
okie
Gold $$ Contributor
ok thanks, that is a good ctg.
I have a lathe and lots of tooling. Sometimes I forget that not everyone has the tools needed for every job. RUM, Nosler are plentiful.
Neck turning may be required for xx-Coaster designs. I have not made a cartridge yet. I usually use RUM with loose primer pockets to form prototype cases.
While it's not ideal to run a 6.5 RUM it out of a 25" barrel, you'll still out run the Nosler out of the same length barrel. I have a 6.5/338 RUM improved (6.5 Badger) that has the same case capacity as a 6.5/7mm RUM. The 338 RUM improved case just gives a shorter OAL. I'm running a 30" barrel on mine but a friend ran a 26" barrel on his. He was still able to beat 26 Nosler performance from the 26" barrel. From the 30" barrel I get 3430 fps with a 160gr Matrix VLD. The shorter barrel got 3310 fps with the same bullet.
Not always. I use Norma 404 brass in my 375 BME wildcat and it works perfectly well on a Savage magnum bolt face.
Not always. I use Norma 404 brass in my 375 BME wildcat and it works perfectly well on a Savage magnum bolt face.
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