6.5mm WSSM

[kperry]

Anyone have any info, or know of someone who has built a 6.5mm version of the 243 WSSM? If someone has gone thru the load development process already, and can share feedback, that could help me decide to go thru with it myself, or not. There are so many really good bullets in 6.5, and you should be able to get the velocity needed to have a competitive 1000 yard cartridge.

Thanks - KP

 

[BillK]

I shoot a 6.5-243wssm. Mine has a .300 neck. I use re22 which fills the case nicely. I use federal 210 primers. I actually have two guns one is a 8 twist hart barrel and one is a 8.5 twist bartlein barrel. They are both done with the same reamer to the same head space so cases can go gun to gun. I shoot 140grain bergers. I have only shot three matches with mine so far but it has done well. I finished third in the world open at williamsport. The equipment list was wrong saying i shot my 6.5-284. The match after that I finished second for group in the shootoff. I didn't do good at the nationals but i had a bad lot of bullets that killed my chances. Hopefully the replacement bullets I have been waiting for will be here today as they promised. I have afriend Martin Dailey that has shot his 6.5-25wssm for three or four years and has been at the top of the williamsport aggs ever since. The neck on his is also .300.
he uses vv165 for powder. He shoots the same bullets and primers as me.

 

[kperry]

Thanks for the reply. After talking with Dave at PT&G, he's making a reamer for me that would have a .294" neck and the "improved" 37 degree shoulder. This will be an interesting project and look forward to shooting it. I assume I will need to anneal the shoulder / neck area to get that thick brass to fireform well.

KP

 

[BillK]

kperry-the only odd thing about the wssm is that they like to be shot at max loads because of a bolt thrust phenomena. You should be able to push a 140gr bullet to over 2950 with the right powders. I get around 3070fps out of mine.

 

[kperry]

Yeah, since I plan to use it as a 1k rifle, I was looking for 2950 - 3025 out of the 140's anyway, so that should work out. Debating about using moly to help barrel life.

KP

 

[BillK]

I have shot both moly and plain bullets and I like the moly. I use 48.8 grains of re22 with a 210 primer and 140gr moly coated Bergers. My barrel is a 1:8.5 5r Bartlein.



My second gun which is actually the first one I barreled for the 6.5-243wssm has a 1:8 hart barrel. I shoot 49.3 gr ofre22 with a 210 primer 140gr moly coated Bergers.

I use all winchester brass in these guns and both guns shoot great!!!

 

[Macs]

I built one for my brother-in-law and it shot .18 groups at 100yds till he started messing with it and shooting 90gr TNT's. He says it blows the p-dogs up "really cool like".

 

[BillK]

macs-what is the story with the barrel you used. Tell us what brand and the specs. What bullets did you initially use to get that group of .18?

 

[Macs]

I used a trued wssm action, 8 twist benchmark barrel,130gr. VLD's, with a tight neck chamber, I would have to check at my shop to let you know the neck size. The reason for this was to get rid of those none sealing thick necks. It shot .18-.20 groups after the fouling shot. I'm not a bench shooter, nor have I figured out how to get rid of the fowler. If you have any info on how to do that pm me or put it to post. Best of luck, it's an awsome cartridge.

 

[BillK]

Usually all guns need a fowling shot after being cleaned to group well. That is with regular bullets anyway. I have had some guns that shoot the fouling shot reasonably well but it usually is still the round that opens up the group. I use moly coating on most of my stuff and it is the same story with it. I would like to unlock the secret of not needing foulers too!!!! How do you like the benchmark barrels? What is your experience with them?

 

[Kurz]

This is the first version I have been aware of. It was originally done by Boyd Heaton and is appropriately acknowledged as the 6.5 Heaton:

 

[BillK]

Kurz- I am aware of the 6.5 Heaton as I have shot along side Boyd and his daughter. Great people by the way. Boyd was not the first to do a 6.5wssm. I had dies for my 6.5-243wssm at least a year before Boyd did his 6.5 Heaton. There are people that put different spins on the cartridge though as Boyd's shoulder is not a standard angle. The person I know that has had the most success with the 6.5wssm and has shot it for a good period of time is Martin Dailey another shooter at Williamsport. He uses the 25wssm case necked up. We both got the idea originally from Mark King. That is also where I bought the dies.

 

[Macs]

BillI like the Benchmark's they have always shot good for me, but if they don't give Ron a call he will make it right. I have a 6.5-06 I shot a .108 group with the other day, but every barrel I've got has shot very well. So how does your 6.5wssm shoot for you?

 

[Kurz]

BillK,

Anyone have any info, or know of someone who has built a 6.5mm version of the 243 WSSM?

This was the question I was responding to, not anything you posted. I was pointing out that Boyd's version was the first one that I was aware of, not necessarily the first version created. I also happen to have a picture of it and I thought that a photo would add some interest to the thread. But thanks for the history lesson.

Regards.

 

[BillK]

Macs- my one gun shoots consistently under .125 at 100yds and the one I have shot in competition shoots about .125 consistently. I chambered both but I smithed the entire gun that I shoot in competition. I wanted to see if i could build a gun that was competetive and then compete with it. So far it has done well. I have a Bartlein barrel on it. It is my first Bartlein but I like them so far.

Kurz-I didn't mean for any history lessons!!! I really don't know who was the first to delve into this cartridge. I do know there were people before me and Boyd. There have actually been guys shortening the 404 jefferey case for years. I know the wssm is made slightly different from the jefferey case but the fact that the case is available already made for the most part is appealing!!! I really like this cartridge because it is idiot proof and that helps me a lot!!!!!! I have a large family that doesn't afford me a lot of time to mess with more finnicky cartridges!!! Sorry I have been in the dungeon measuring bullets all winter so my social skills might be dwindling!!!

 

[Macs]

Bill I also built a 6.5 wsm that shoots very well, I think I like it just a little better than the wssm but thats just my opinion. I can get around 3480fps with it or load it back and shoot it slower all with the 140 Berger VLD's, man what a shooter.

 

[BillK]

Macs- The only problem with the 6.5wsm is that if you shoot extended strings it will smoke the barrel out in short order. Now I have no personal experience with the 6.5wsm but know several people that smoked barrels out in 400 rounds or less.
I would imagine that if you shoot the 6.5wsm without heating it up would make it last longer.