6.5 SAUM for F-Class

[bsumoba]

Has anyone tried to run the 6.5 SAUM with 140gr bullets for F-Class? On paper, it looks like a good idea. It is running right there with the higher velocity 284 and 284 Shehane's. IMO, the main advantage is that it is running with the 284s, but with hopefully less recoil, making it a little easier to shoot in the 22 lb guns.

180gr hybrid @ 2880fps - 262.7" in drop - 53.9" wind @ 10mph - 284 Shehane
140gr hybrid @ 3150fps - 221.8" in drop - 52.0" wind @ 10mph - 6.5 SAUM
140gr hybrid @ 2950fps - 258.8" in drop - 57.9" wind @ 10mph - 6.5x284

The only question is barrel life. Again, the argument from the tactical guys is that at 3100fps in a 6.5 SAUM, it is a lower pressure setup and helps increase barrel life. They claim long 15-20 shot strings and round counts into the 2000+. Contradicting this is the 6.5x284, which has horrible barrel life and it is hard to believe that in a F-Class setup and course of fire, the 6.5 SAUM even at lower speeds to reduce pressure will see eat barrels like the 6.5x284.

If barrel life from F-Class shooters is greater than say 1700 rounds, it might not be so bad....

Just a thought I guess.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I've seen 6.5 short magnum tried a couple of times. Up to this point, I haven't seen any success.

I'm into easy. I don't have time nor facilities to reinvent the wheel. Straight 284 can and does win major matches. Good enough for me.

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

Has anyone tried to run the 6.5 SAUM with 140gr bullets for F-Class?

If barrel life from F-Class shooters is greater than say 1700 rounds, it might not be so bad....

Just a thought I guess.

You first.

 

[Elwood]

Tried and failed.

I can't help with barrel life predictions because I gave up on it at about 600 very frustrating rounds.

Norma brass was toast after 5 firings but I was getting some crazy velocity, 3200 fps with 140 gr Hybrids and N165 verified by a Oehler and a Magnetospeed.

The best fun I had with it was the 95 gr V max at 3800 fps, very accurate at 100 yards but literally vanished any further than that ;D

 

[RDavies]

The only experience I have with them is when I shot next to one at the FCWC. At least one of his rounds blew up before reaching the target so this could be another consideration. Maybe when the new 177gn 270 cal Bergers come out, they might be something to look at?

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I haven't heard of a new .277 bullet coming out. If it were 177 grains, I've got the perfect case for it.

 

[Scott Harris]

I think Chad Dixon at Long Rifles said he had such poor experience with this cartridge that he sold his reamers and won't do any more for customers.... You might want to give him a call to discuss.

 

[slm9s]

I think Chad Dixon at Long Rifles said he had such poor experience with this cartridge that he sold his reamers and won't do any more for customers.... You might want to give him a call to discuss.

Verified

 

[Hoier]

IMO there is no way a 6.5 saum could last 2k rounds. The tactical guys don't need the accuracy you do with Fclass or Benchrest.

Also I think that caliber isn't big in the tactical game either, one of my buddies who shoots a lot of the tactical matches says everyone he has seen had feeding issues.

 

[dbramley]

Has anyone tried to run the 6.5 SAUM with 140gr bullets for F-Class?

If barrel life from F-Class shooters is greater than say 1700 rounds, it might not be so bad....

Just a thought I guess.

You first.

HeHe.

 

[Steve Blair]

If barrel life from F-Class shooters is greater than say 1700 rounds, it might not be so bad....
Just a thought I guess.

[br]
Bryan, I'd be really surprised if a 6.5 SAUM shooting 140's @ ~3150 would hold acceptable F-Class accuracy to 1200 rounds. My expectation would be somewhere around 1000-1100. [br]
If you look at consistently successful F-Class cartridges, they are medium-large capacity for the bore size and generally in the 2800-3000 fps range. IMHO, this is not an accident. Barrel life is improved, barrel heating on long strings and muzzle pressures are acceptable, and recoil disturbance (in larger calibers) is reduced. It is desirable to shoot the highest B.C. bullet available in a given caliber and B.C. improves as caliber increases. Berger's 230 Hybrid is the highest B.C. bullet currently available in caliber .30 and below, but many shooters find it produces too much recoil disturbance for consistent tracking. Trial and error (read: experience) shows that a 7mm 180 Hybrid at 2800-2950 is the best balance of all the factors discussed above. Anything outside of that range carries increased risk from one or more factors.

 

[Patch700]

Would definitely agree with Steve ... If it were simply a case of "We finally stumbled on a cartridge that had enough oomff" then guys like myself would have never abandoned the 6.5 Hoyer (6.5x300wthby)

Now for a flat shooting hunting round i would have no qualms trying another big 6.5.

 

[BOBC]

The only experience I have with them is when I shot next to one at the FCWC. At least one of his rounds blew up before reaching the target so this could be another consideration. Maybe when the new 177gn 270 cal Bergers come out, they might be something to look at?

Better check how these 177's jackets are going to hold up to the fast twist needed to stabilize this bullet.
Cauterucio's 155 gr VLD 6.5 stabilizes at 2650 FPS/ MV and is only about 1/8" OAL shorter than his 7mm
189 gr. VLD. Bryan Litz has this 155 gr bullet to check out its BC.

 

[bsumoba]

Yea...the idea of a 6.5 SAUM went out the door after just a few people posting and doing more research.

Time to stock up on 7mm barrels for my 284 Shehane and 6mm barrels for the dasher.

 

[a10xrifle]

I think it depends on what how you load it

30" tube with 61.2 H1000 will net 3180-3200 FPS at 58,000 PSI Barrel Life is great 2200-2500 easy till you will see a Vel drop
Norma Brass is super soft and Remington is near impossible to get.

Factory Brass coming soon! I know their are lots of Naysayers but I know Ive shot this cartridge more than anyone and not had any of the problems others claim to have. I thik is from guys using the wrong powder or just trying to squeeze more than possible out of it.

All my loading is with H1000 and 140 JLK's

 

[sdnerf]

I have a 6.5 saum, its been an exercise in frustration to say the least. On Q-Load (the beginning of all bad ideas) it looks awesome... 3200 ft/sec, high BC bullets, should be a world beater... Not the case. Its primary issue, even if you do find a "magic" load is heat. After 12 rounds the barrel is toasty, at 15 rounds its HOT. At Ben Avery it would simply melt down before the string was complete. I have tried 140vlds, 140 hyb, 130 vlds, 144 scn, 136 scn-L, 142 smk. as for powders, h-1000, h-4831, norma 217, I-7828, MRP RL-25 and nothing better than 1/2 moa. The basis for the rifle was a re-barrel (heavy varment Bartlein) of a 7mm SAUM, which was a hammer for 1500 rounds. I cant say the same for 6.5 saum. 6.5 saum is like that girl sitting alone at the bar, she's alone for a reason, leave it that way.

 

[BOBC]

I have a 6.5 saum, its been an exercise in frustration to say the least. On Q-Load (the beginning of all bad ideas) it looks awesome... 3200 ft/sec, high BC bullets, should be a world beater... Not the case. Its primary issue, even if you do find a "magic" load is heat. After 12 rounds the barrel is toasty, at 15 rounds its HOT. At Ben Avery it would simply melt down before the string was complete. I have tried 140vlds, 140 hyb, 130 vlds, 144 scn, 136 scn-L, 142 smk. as for powders, h-1000, h-4831, norma 217, I-7828, MRP RL-25 and nothing better than 1/2 moa. The basis for the rifle was a re-barrel (heavy varment Bartlein) of a 7mm SAUM, which was a hammer for 1500 rounds. I cant say the same for 6.5 saum. 6.5 saum is like that girl sitting alone at the bar, she's alone for a reason, leave it that way.

Should be able to get real good wind bucking ability, barrel life and less recoil out of an almost 1.4" long 6.5 155 gr. VLD bullet @ between 2700 & 2800 FPS MV. This may be obtainable using the 6.5 Gibbs case instead of the Saum case. This bullet does stabilize well at 2650 FPS in an 8 twist 6.5 X 284. You're going to have to be able to dope wind conditions regardless of what you use. Bryan Litz is working on the BC figures for this bullet. However, the 141 gr. VLD @ 2950 FPS has won its share of long range matches.

 

[ebb]

How can you shoot a bullet (the same bullet as a 6.5-284) at higher velocity and expect longer barrel life? I heard a long time ago someone say if Lapua doesn't make brass for it don't bother trying. He was right.

 

[RDavies]

I heard a long time ago someone say if Lapua doesn't make brass for it don't bother trying. He was right.

Lapua doesn't make 6 PPC, 6 Dasher, 284 Shehane, 7 RSAUM, 300WSM. Looks like I picked the wrong cartridges then. Doh. 8)

 

[Hal]

Hornady is making a run of 6.5 SAUM brass for G.A.P. The samples of brass were very good.
Pat over on the 24hourcampfire tested some of them.

Hal