Debate? 6.5RSAUM VS 6.5 SLR(Super Long Range)

[Hollywood1009]

I am looking at build one or the other and I an just unsure of which to go with.

I want to use the gun for competition, 600 and 1000

I want to use gun for hunting long range.

I am really torn. I have heard so many different things about each all good of course..

Any help would be great.

 

[Rtheurer]

Wow those two couldnt be any difrent from each other other than the shared bullet Diameter.
One with a .473 case head the other with the Magnum case head.
One with roughly 52gr of case capacity the other 72gr ish
One with a Long Neck one with a Medium neck length

One that SHOuld last to 2000+ rounds the other 1000rounds ish of Barrel life.

I know that if it was me....My hunting rifles are not Match rifles.. paper vs Meat are two diffrent things especially at long range. My Hunting rifles shoot as well as a Match rifle, but very much not the same rifle. ( why own a rifle that is not accurate right?)

In looking for a good Long Range hunting rifle i tried to find a Cartridge/Bullet that would retain 1200ftlbs of Energy at what ever distance I thought I would take a White tail or Mule Deer.Pooring over the JBM Ballistics program led me to the 7mm Bullets and a Case the size of the 280 to 7 Rem Mag. That was completly based off what I needed but the point is, I used some resarching tools of the Ballistic calculators to come to that conclusion.

If I was hunting it would be the 6.5RSAUM and if it was paper or Steel.... The SLR... For me a hunting Barrel that last 1000 rounds is many years.... A match rifle.... Not so much.

I see your dilema however...
RT

 

[Hollywood1009]

Yah basically I have a 300 RSAUM now so I have plenty of brass to do the 6.5RSAUM.. And for the 6.5 SLR I need some .243 brass necked and fire formed.

6.5SAUM I think may look pretty good on paper as well at 1000yds, but I think 6.5SLR is a killer both on paper and for hunting prairie dogs. I am from SD so I know where all the big towns are at..

Anybody own either of these 2 guns??

 

[JRS]

A well know and respected shooter in the UK campaigned a 6.5 WSM for a short time. Pretty close to the 6.5 SAUM. Barrel life was in the neighborhood of 600 rounds

 

[22BRGUY]

Excellent and very interesting post and I also have been looking at 6.5 options as well for awhile. My understanding from the article at 6mmar.com is that the case capacity of the 6.5 SLR is 55.5 gr of H20. The 6.5 Creedmoor in that article has 53.5 gr capacity. The things that matter to me for paper are as mentioned, longer barrel life but also low recoil and of course cartridge efficiency. The thing that interests me about the SLR is it's ability to push the 140 class of bullets up into the 2900+ fps range relatively easily. I've shot a Creedmoor with the 140's and the recoil was very mild I thought in about a 12 pound rifle and although the Creedmoor and 6.5x47 are very respectable, it seems they have to push the pressure limits somewhat to get the 140's up into the 2900's. The 6.5x284 has won itself a reputation for extremely good accuracy at long range as well but the problem with it seems to be the shorter barrel life. Also I've noticed that accuracy loads for the 6.5x284 tend to be in that 2900 fps area quite a bit but with more powder than the SLR. Some time ago on this subject, Erik Cortina who I admire and respect a great deal suggested to just go with a straight .284 Win and I have not dismissed that idea yet either but I have the concern about recoil there. I own a 7mm Rem Mag and know what that feels like....great for hunting, not so much for paper.
There was also a post about a month ago that suggested a 6.5 RSAUM that is new and had some interesting and positive data posted but it was putting the 140's up in that 3100 fps range.
Anyway, thanks again for the post and I look forward to any more info that others might offer.

 

[Hollywood1009]

Do you agree with the previous post of the 6.5 RSAUM barrel life of 600 rds?

Is that even possible?

I like your post but it has so much info I am still not sure where to go.

 

[22BRGUY]

Do you agree with the previous post of the 6.5 RSAUM barrel life of 600 rds?

Is that even possible?

I like your post but it has so much info I am still not sure where to go.

I guess anything is possible but if I remember correctly, that particular cartridge design was expecting over a 2000 round count of barrel life. Perhaps someone can refresh on that if they see this post.

 

[Hal]

Hollywood

There are write ups on the 24hrcampfire and Sniperhide forums on the 6.5 saum by guys shooting them.
They talk about the accuracy and barrel life. Well worth the read. Barrel life depends alot on rate of fire.

Your a lucky man if you get to wear a barrel out hunting.

Hal

 

[Hollywood1009]

Hollywood

There are write ups on the 24hrcampfire and Sniperhide forums on the 6.5 saum by guys shooting them.
They talk about the accuracy and barrel life. Well worth the read. Barrel life depends alot on rate of fire.

Your a lucky man if you get to wear a barrel out hunting.

Hal

Yah I can definitely wear a barrel out hunting for sure. It only takes about 3 season of dogs and she would be gone, but I think that 6.5SLR may be the ticket since I get same speed of bullet and waste less powder than the 6.5SAUM ? But I just see everybody wanting the 6.5 SAUM and not sure why they didn't go with a 6.5SLR

 

[22BRGUY]

Hollywood

There are write ups on the 24hrcampfire and Sniperhide forums on the 6.5 saum by guys shooting them.
They talk about the accuracy and barrel life. Well worth the read. Barrel life depends alot on rate of fire.

Your a lucky man if you get to wear a barrel out hunting.

Hal

Yah I can definitely wear a barrel out hunting for sure. It only takes about 3 season of dogs and she would be gone, but I think that 6.5SLR may be the ticket since I get same speed of bullet and waste less powder than the 6.5SAUM ? But I just see everybody wanting the 6.5 SAUM and not sure why they didn't go with a 6.5SLR

I think the people going with the SAUM like the ideas of more speed for longer range performance, and the short fat case design for theoretically better powder burn efficiency and probably some other reasons. The questions I have are how much more recoil and how much less barrel life. I guess it all boils down to personal preference and what a person wants to do most of, at what range, and how much retained energy and accuracy is required or wanted at what distance and what amount of recoil is acceptable among several other details.

 

[Hollywood1009]

I believe the 6.5 SLR is capable of same distance shooting as the 6.5saum

 

[xdeano]

Ive got the 6slr, not the 6.5slr. I can tell you that the 6.5slr is basically the same velocities as a 260. 5he 6.5saum with h1000 was running 3100-3150fps with a 140grn bullet. I chatted with one fellow for quite some time and he had over 3500 documented rounds through his 6.5saum. It is very hard to believe when compared to a 6.5x284. The only difference is the powder and case.

There is a lot of info on the 6.5saum over on snipershide if you want to read. Theyre calling it a 6.5 s4 over there.

If the claims are correct, id pick the saum hands down every time.
Xdeano

 

[Hollywood1009]

Ive got the 6slr, not the 6.5slr. I can tell you that the 6.5slr is basically the same velocities as a 260. 5he 6.5saum with h1000 was running 3100-3150fps with a 140grn bullet. I chatted with one fellow for quite some time and he had over 3500 documented rounds through his 6.5saum. It is very hard to believe when compared to a 6.5x284. The only difference is the powder and case.

There is a lot of info on the 6.5saum over on snipershide if you want to read. Theyre calling it a 6.5 s4 over there.

If the claims are correct, id pick the saum hands down every time.
Xdeano

That's what I am leaning towards. How much powder difference between the 6.5's??

 

[Rtheurer]

I Really dont know.. I just cant see the RSAUM lasting even close to that. The USA FClass Open team shoots the 7mm version and is getting how many rounds out of a barrel? Is like 900 to 1200 ish? Then push that same powder through an even smaller pipe and you expect to get Double the Milage? Im just not buying it. Sounds like a Pipe dream to me.
For a Deer Rifle.. maybe... that see's a box of ammo a year. A Prarie Dog gun that you shoot on hot days and 60 rounds to 100 rounds a day. Almost the same thing as shooting a match really. I dont know about you but when the Prarie Rats are out its hard to stop shootin and pretty soon you have two 50 round boxes of ammo gone in one sitting. That equals some serious Throat erosion.
Im sorry but I just am not buying into the 3500rnd senerio one little bit.

Either way Im sure you will have a fun and exciting new rifle. Cant beat that.
RussT

 

[Drop Port]

I am looking at build one or the other and I an just unsure of which to go with.

I want to use the gun for competition, 600 and 1000

I want to use gun for hunting long range.

I am really torn. I have heard so many different things about each all good of course..

Any help would be great.

When you say hunting? you mention p-dogs. If that is what you are calling hunting, I would consider that varmint shooing and the SAUM is a lot of gun for a busy town on a hot day. You could do some significant barrel damage in one sitting if the shooting gets hot and heavy. For deer the SAUM is the clear choice, or even the p-dogs that are out of range for a mid range rifle (1k+) But for a primary shoot em up p-dog cartridge it wouldn't even be on my list.

 

[JRS]

If barrel life is of no concern, go for it.

For "factual" information regarding the accurate barrel life for that cartridge, contact the good Vince Bottomley.
If memory serves me, and it does, he was able to get 600 rounds from his 6.5WSM. Virtually the same case.

 

[Syncrowave]

For deer the SAUM is the clear choice, or even the p-dogs that are out of range for a mid range rifle (1k+)

People shoot p-dogs at 1k+?

That's some phenomenal shooting!

 

[drdtmd]

I have 25rds down my 6.5 saum running 61.5grs of h1000 with a 140gr hybrid @3000fps groupng yesterday was .312. I really like this rd and believe my tube will last over 2000rds because im not a match shooter. Here is a link for alot of good info on the 6.5saum: http://forum.snipershide.com/snipers-hide-bolt-action-rifles/185807-new-gap-extreme-hunter-6-5-saum.html

 

[Milo 2.0]

I have 25rds down my 6.5 saum running 61.5grs of h1000 with a 140gr hybrid @3000fps groupng yesterday was .312. I really like this rd and believe my tube will last over 2000rds because im not a match shooter. Here is a link for alot of good info on the 6.5saum: http://forum.snipershide.com/snipers-hide-bolt-action-rifles/185807-new-gap-extreme-hunter-6-5-saum.html

Going off this guys load, I do believe the 6.5 saum will last quite awhile.
I've had 2 friends that shot them, one got about 1700 accurate rds out of his tube, but was running Norma MRP2, at around 3000fps. I fully can't fathom why H1000 would be easy on a throat, but people are swearing by it

The other shot his barrel out in 500 rds, running 140's at 3400 fps, go figure. He wasted the barrel shooting groups breaking it in to send off to nitride the barrel. I will admit, a high bc 140 at 3400 is one mean rd out to 1 mile.

I do question the sustained rate of fire that any load out of this overbore will handle though.

 

[kev77]

6.5-4s lmao is the only way not 6.5 slr