6.5mm Conundrum...

[XTR]

If you have all that 260 brass about you could go the route of something like a 6.5SLR. Not sure if that is what to call it but do the same thing that you do with a 6SLR in 243 and push the shoulder back to 30*. No fire forming, you get a 30* shoulder. (I have built a 6SLR and if I was building a 6.5 it's what I'd do)

Probably end up with the best of both worlds, 260 capacity and advantages of the 30* shoulder.

If you're not shooting BR I can't imagine that the difference in pure accuracy potential between cartridges makes any difference at all, but hey, that's just my opinion, and around here that's certainly unconventional.

... So I searched it and whaddayaknow, that is what someone calls it:

http://www.6mmar.com/65_SuperLR.php

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/6-5-slr-260-30-deg-imprvd.3825316/

If/when I build a 6.5 I'm pretty sure this is where I'm going.

 

[JarheadAZ]

I prefer to keep things toward the simpler side, and recommend the plain vanilla .260 Rem. As for shoulder angle, it's based on the .308, and that stuff gets fed through machine guns, so feeding and shoulder angles should not be an issue.

Cartridge length being considered, I was shooting the SRA 140gr SMK before the 142SMK appeared. There's not a big difference on the target, but it allows a more magazine friendly COAL.

The .260 with a 24" 1:8" barrel can handle pretty much any heavier bullet out to 1Km. My current barrel is L-W Stainless 28" 1:8". I found some small velocity deficit with H-4831SC, but accuracy was noticeably better. I use H-4350 now, and will revisit the H-4831SC when I complete my move to AZ, as the altitude is nearly 4000ft higher there.

Greg

 

[CharlieNC]

After putting nearly 1500 rounds of 123 Scenars through my 6.5x47 I decided to give the new 140ELD Match a try. While the 123 at 3050fps is very accurate, the 140 ELD is noticeably more consistent in the wind out to 1100yd. The day I was getting my dope squared away it was so good I jumped out to 1 mile with success. Running these in mags with no problems. Let me know if you want to buy some 123 Scenars.

 

[johnfred1965]

After putting nearly 1500 rounds of 123 Scenars through my 6.5x47 I decided to give the new 140ELD Match a try. While the 123 at 3050fps is very accurate, the 140 ELD is noticeably more consistent in the wind out to 1100yd. The day I was getting my dope squared away it was so good I jumped out to 1 mile with success. Running these in mags with no problems. Let me know if you want to buy some 123 Scenars.

How much for the 123's?

 

[Matt in Virginia]

Gentlemen,
Contacted PT&G and asked to speak with Dave Kiff. What a super nice guy... By the time the conversation was over he had me narrowed down to a 6.5x47 Lapua Rogue Bore Rider Reamer and Custom Dies from Whidden. At any rate it is evidently a 37.5 degree Improved 6.5x47 Lapua and he guaranteed the rifle would shoot Lapua 136-139s and 140s or the reamer would be free... It may be a boondoggle, however, he seems to be on another level of understanding at least from anyone I've talked to. JGS nor Manson wanted to tell me the time of day much less which freeborn/reamer setup was likely to shoot which bullet. Dunno what to think, however, he really seems to know his business... I would be thrilled shooting 136 & 139 Scenars and a 140 Hornady ELD as a killing bullet...

Thoughts?

Regards, Matt.

 

[ShootDots]

Gentlemen,
Contacted PT&G and asked to speak with Dave Kiff. What a super nice guy... By the time the conversation was over he had me narrowed down to a 6.5x47 Lapua Rogue Bore Rider Reamer and Custom Dies from Whidden. At any rate it is evidently a 37.5 degree Improved 6.5x47 Lapua and he guaranteed the rifle would shoot Lapua 136-139s and 140s or the reamer would be free... It may be a boondoggle, however, he seems to be on another level of understanding at least from anyone I've talked to. JGS nor Manson wanted to tell me the time of day much less which freeborn/reamer setup was likely to shoot which bullet. Dunno what to think, however, he really seems to know his business... I would be thrilled shooting 136 & 139 Scenars and a 140 Hornady ELD as a killing bullet...

Thoughts?

Regards, Matt.

Whenever I am on to a "new adventure" with new cartridges (which is far too often) I call Kiff and discuss my idea(s) with him and always leave knowing I will get what I need. He is a veritable fountain of info on freebore and neck wall thickness. You will be pleased with his info..

 

[perry42]

Why not go to the 6.5x55AI especially with the 140+ gr bullets?
perry42

 

[Matt in Virginia]

Why not go to the 6.5x55AI especially with the 140+ gr bullets?
perry42

BAT VR Short Action... Hard enough to get a .260 with heavy bullets in AICS magazines to say nothing of a 6.5x55 AI...

Regards, Matt.

 

[Matt in Virginia]

fwiw,
A wiser soul than myself kind of put this into perspective... Going to build a straight 6.5x47 Lapua, .295 neck, with enough free bore to clear 140 Hybrids(.160-.170). No Wildcats...

Regards, Matt.

 

[RJ338]

fwiw,
A wiser soul than myself kind of put this into perspective... Going to build a straight 6.5x47 Lapua, .295 neck, with enough free bore to clear 140 Hybrids(.160-.170). No Wildcats...

Regards, Matt.

Matt,
I do the builds for Dave7mm and others who shoot the Ridgway 1000yd benchrest varmint shoots so I have about 4yrs experience on both the 6.5x47 and the 6.5SLR. In the 6.5x47 get the .293nk .160fb as even the
Lapua brass needs the neck high spots turned off. With your shorter barrel H4350 will shoot, but RL17 will out perform it with the 140's. In a 28" barrel we are getting 2900ish with MUCH less carbon fouling( important when you are shooting 70 rounds in a match). The 6.5SLR adds capacity which will give quite a boost in your shorter barrel, ask Dave as that is what he is shooting this year. Yes those Hornady ELD-M shoot good, and take things apart well too!

Randy

 

[Scorpion168]

I have a 6.5x47 built from a Rem action. 13 oz Jewel trigger(nice!) and 24" Broughton 5C. I load for my 308 and 300 WM and find very accurate loads! I'm having trouble getting a load for this rascal. It's not as easy as I thought. I'm close, but I was expecting small fuzzy holes. Lol. I've tried H4350 with 130 VLD targets,and 123 scenars. I'm gonna try Varget with the 123's next. I may end up selling/trading the H4350 for Varget and stay with 123 bullets.

 

[Matt in Virginia]

Matt,
I do the builds for Dave7mm and others who shoot the Ridgway 1000yd benchrest varmint shoots so I have about 4yrs experience on both the 6.5x47 and the 6.5SLR. In the 6.5x47 get the .293nk .160fb as even the
Lapua brass needs the neck high spots turned off. With your shorter barrel H4350 will shoot, but RL17 will out perform it with the 140's. In a 28" barrel we are getting 2900ish with MUCH less carbon fouling( important when you are shooting 70 rounds in a match). The 6.5SLR adds capacity which will give quite a boost in your shorter barrel, ask Dave as that is what he is shooting this year. Yes those Hornady ELD-M shoot good, and take things apart well too!

Randy

Randy,
GREATLY appreciated... Dave is a friend. Have not run this project by him, however, last time we spoke I remember he was talking about shooting the 6.5SLR... Which has me thinking(Stand clear) I might want to consider the .260 Remington 30 degree improved(?). To my layman's eye it would seem to be a good deal of the 6.5 SLR but with Lapua Brass designed in from the start?

Have RL17 on hand... Are the .260 Improved rounds not hampered by 2.880" magazine constraints?

Regards, Matt.

 

[XTR]

I haven't tried to push Lapua brass back in my 6SLR, so I am repeating what I read on teh internet, but the general consensus is that if you do the SLR forming with Lapua brass you wind up with a significant donut because the brass in the shoulder is thicker than the neck. Maybe not a problem for you if you are seating past it, but something to consider. Having to ream or turn kind of defeats the simplicity of the SLR concept, i.e., size it, load it, go shoot. No forming involved.

 

[Matt in Virginia]

I haven't tried to push Lapua brass back in my 6SLR, so I am repeating what I read on teh internet, but the general consensus is that if you do the SLR forming with Lapua brass you wind up with a significant donut because the brass in the shoulder is thicker than the neck. Maybe not a problem for you if you are seating past it, but something to consider. Having to ream or turn kind of defeats the simplicity of the SLR concept, i.e., size it, load it, go shoot. No forming involved.

XTR,
That's what I was referring to... Robert Whitley, who designed both the 6.5 SLR & the .260 Remington 30 degree shoulder(AFAIK) did the latter around Lapua brass with a no turn neck. Plug and play with Lapua Brass. I have plenty of new .260 Rem Lapua Brass and don't know where everyone is getting decent quality domestic brass. I rarely see anything available from Winchester short the odd bag of .243 Winchester... Hence the reason I was asking Randy.

It would not hurt my feelings to use what I have on hand... In the least. Less to ship back to Brownells.

Regards, Matt.

 

[RJ338]

XTR,
That's what I was referring to... Robert Whitley, who designed both the 6.5 SLR & the .260 Remington 30 degree shoulder(AFAIK) did the latter around Lapua brass with a no turn neck. Plug and play with Lapua Brass. I have plenty of new .260 Rem Lapua Brass and don't know where everyone is getting decent quality domestic brass. I rarely see anything available from Winchester short the odd bag of .243 Winchester... Hence the reason I was asking Randy.

It would not hurt my feelings to use what I have on hand... In the least. Less to ship back to Brownells.

Regards, Matt.

Matt,
Dave is reforming Lapua 308 Palma brass w/ small primer pockets. Give him a shout and he can tell you more. Mag length is helped because you are increasing neck length by
moving shoulder to 30 deg.

 

[dave7mm]

Matt,
If you want just send me a few of your 260 cases and Ill turn them into 6.5 SLR cases so you can take a look.
A 6.5 SLR is nothing more than a 6.5x47 neck and shoulder on a 308/260 case.
A little lube, one stroke and a 260 case is a 6.5 SLR.
Pretty much net shape and no more fire forming, than what you would have, with a factory round..
My 6.5 SLR reamer has a .293 neck and .160 of free bore.
OAL with a 140g Berger LRBT is 3.035 at .005 off.
I can run a 140g Bergers at 2950fps with good case life.
Running it in my 12 pound light rifle at Ridgway now.
!7 pound SLR is still being tested..

dave

 

[Matt in Virginia]

Dave,
Are you running a Single Shot with those lengths? The 260 Remington 30 degree Shoulder is basically the same thing short small rifle primer? We need to chew the fat... Been a while.

Regards, Matt.
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