Input and help please on 6.5 magnum

[JayR]

I am trying to decide on a caliber and would love to pros and cons of anyone with 6.5 remington mag, wsm or saum. I have a short action with mag bolt face and just need some input, please. I am hoping for a mild recoil gun, semi-long range(400-600 yds) deer and target shooting. Having a hard time finding many smiths that chamber any of these. On the short action, would that hinder shooting a heavier bullet? getting into case capacity? Any information is appreciated, thanks

 

[jjhall91]

I realize this is a very old post, but thought I'd take a chance. I would like to hear what you decided as I'm in the process of having a 6.5 RM custom built.

A short time ago I attended a 1000 yd shoot. As usual, I thought the 6.5-284 calibers would dominate (to windy for the Dashers). That wasn't the case. A guy with a 6.5 RM won the match and another fellow shooting a 6.5 SAUM finished a close second. I had the luck to be able to listen to their conversation following the shoot and they agreed these two calibers were nearly identical in both ballistics and performance.

Past that point I did a great deal of research and it seems there's very little difference between the two. I settled on the RM just because it has slightly more case capacity and how accurate the guy shot with 147 grain ELD loads.

The RM can push a like bullet faster than the 6.5-284 and seemingly as accurate. I'll find out when mine is done.

 

[jwing]

It’s a great round. Mine is in a 700 la
28” rock
147 eld m moly
Rl 23
WLR
Full worked rp brass weighed

3030 FPS Es of 7
I have only shot it out to 500y shot 2 1/4 inch 3 shot group. Gun only has about 60 rounds. Will fine tune it this spring.

 

[Zero333]

I was hoping someone with a 6.5 PRC would of chimed in on this one.
I don't have a 6.5 PRC... But that's the route I would take because it's the easiest and most practical Short Action Magnum at the moment in my opinion.


-.532" bolt face.
-Good in Short Action.
-Hornady Factory loads and Brass for reloading.
- No belt.
-Body is same diameter as rim to make sure feeding with push feed actions is with out hiccups.
-Tested thoroughly in PRS competition by GA-Precision before release to make sure brass is better than average and any kinks are ironed out.

 

[Kurz]

would love to pros and cons of anyone with 6.5 remington mag

When and if you find a source for brass, let the rest of us know. Remington releases a run once every few years and it sells out immediately. The alternative is to make it from .350 RM or one of the plentiful belted mag cases with lots of work.

No matter the reputation of 6.5 PRC brass, my cases have been holding up. I'm at 5 reloads on 50 cases so far. I do not run on the razor's edge of velocity and pressure although I don't hold back too much.

I happen to like all of the suggested cases and I shoot all of them either in testing or competitions. I'm now running the same cases necked down to .25 cal.!

 

[bigngreen]

Look up 6.5 Sherman Short, it's a SAUM that has been pushed back then blow out back to capacity which runs the heavier bullets with proper seating and runs from a short action with no compromises. Headstamp ADG brass is excellent quality, 140's run easy at 3200fps range.

 

[STOMP442]

I've done a few 6.5WSM builds. Cool little cartridge, 63-64gr of H1000 will give you right around 3100-3150ish depending on barrel length. No issues getting them to run with bullets seated at mag length.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

The old 6.5 Rem Mag is one bad little short mag Been shooting one for many years. My son and I both have custom 6.5 RMs now.

She will hit over 3200 fps with 140gr bullets using multiple powders all with charge weight less than 59gr (26" barrel). Some charge weights on faster burning powder being only 51gr-52gr (ie; RL17) and she will still reach 3200 fps with the 140. She will go faster with the right powders too, but the Remington brass primer pockets wont hold up. At about 3230-3250 fps they start getting loose after a few firings. I run mine with an average speed of 3209 fps and the PPs hold up pretty decent along with an excellent accuracy node. I run my son's rifle at 3160 fps (best accuracy node).

Extremely efficient round and very forgiving accuracy across the board with multiple powders and bullets.

 

[Titandriver]

But, but, useless belt! I'm running mine on 700 long actions, one Brux, one PacNor super match, 1x8, 28 inch. Can push 140 Bergers right at 3400 out of the PacNor - if I don't care about primer pockets. Typical loads run 140's from 3000 -3200 but most often in the 3000-3050 category for great accuracy and long-ish brass/pp life. Been shooting the Rem mag for over 30 years and no plans to abandon it anytime soon!

 

[Lee in Texas]

I was hoping that someone with a 6.5x68 would have chimed in, because someone needs to show that barrel who's in charge!

And yeah. I want one.

 

[Kurz]

The 6.5x68 is a real long action cartridge with a case length of 2.657" approximate. Loaded length can run from 3.400 up 3.600 depending on the bullet and the reamer used for the chamber. It has a case capacity of about 86 grains of H2O to the top of the neck. I don't think you stand to gain a lot of velocity from the increase in powder when compared to the barrel lengths. Maybe much longer barrels with show more of an increase or you can live with the lower velocities at lower pressure for longer barrel/case life as others will want you to believe. I like to use all the powder and go for all the gusto as far as velocity is concerned. High BC, high velocity, that's my motto..., well at least for this morning.

I have gotten good results from the 6.5 WSM though which has a little less case capacity, somewhere about 82 grains approximately. The 6.5 GAP 4S (6.5 SAUM) is actually the best compromise in my opinion. Good selection of powder, good average velocity, high degree of accuracy. It's an all around good cartridge when we can get Hornady to supply brass or ADG to get the next run finished..

 

[Ledd Slinger]

But, but, useless belt! ...

Lol. I've had all sorts if different rifles chambered for belted mag cases. I've had a belted mag of one sort or another since the age of 14 when I started using a 7mm Rem Mag for hunting. In all those years and countless rounds downrange, I've only had ONE case head separate and that was back before I discovered how to properly headspace off the shoulder. So I dont consider the belt an issue. Accuracy has NEVER been an issue either.

One thing I know for sure is that a belted mag case will safely run at much higher pressures before maxing out than a rimless case will. This results in much higher speeds. I had a 300 Win Mag years ago that would run 180gr bullets at 3250 fps from a 24" barrel before showing pressure signs. I ran the 180s in it at 3230 fps and primer pockets never failed. I also load for my brother in laws 300 WM that is a hair faster. His rifle pushes 178gr A-Max at 3250 fps from a 24" barrel with excellent accuracy and no pressure signs. Both rifles running loads 3 full grains over max listed charges in manuals with no issues.

 

[jjhall91]

Lol. I've had all sorts if different rifles chambered for belted mag cases. I've had a belted mag of one sort or another since the age of 14 when I started using a 7mm Rem Mag for hunting. In all those years and countless rounds downrange, I've only had ONE case head separate and that was back before I discovered how to properly headspace off the shoulder. So I dont consider the belt an issue. Accuracy has NEVER been an issue either.

One thing I know for sure is that a belted mag case will safely run at much higher
pressures before maxing out than a rimless case will. This results in much higher speeds. I had a 300 Win Mag years ago that would run 180gr bullets at 3250 fps from a 24" barrel before showing pressure signs. I ran the 180s in it at 3230 fps and primer pockets never failed. I also load for my brother in laws 300 WM that is a hair faster. His rifle pushes 178gr A-Max at 3250 fps from a 24" barrel with excellent accuracy and no pressure signs. Both rifles running loads 3 full grains over max listed charges in manuals with no issues.

I agree completely in regard to the belted case taking more pressure and lasting longer.

I'm having my 350 RM action (older 700) trued and re-barreled to a 6.5. I'm hoping to shoot the SMK 150gr bullets. They have a BC of over 700. We're shooting 1000 yds. The gunsmith said it should be ready to go in 4 to 6 weeks.

You've got me thinking about trying the 300 WM. Have you tried it at a distance for accuracy?

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I agree completely in regard to the belted case taking more pressure and lasting longer.

I'm having my 350 RM action (older 700) trued and re-barreled to a 6.5. I'm hoping to shoot the SMK 150gr bullets. They have a BC of over 700. We're shooting 1000 yds. The gunsmith said it should be ready to go in 4 to 6 weeks.

You've got me thinking about trying the 300 WM. Have you tried it at a distance for accuracy?

I shot the 300 win mag to a mile one time, but that was back before we had high BC long range bullets. The 200gr Accubond was one of the better bullets for distance at the time and it did not do good at all. Otherwise I shot it regularly to 800 yards and it performed great.

After selling my 300 WM in 2006, I did not have a 30 cal rifle in my inventory until last year when i built my first 300 Norma Mag Improved. Still working with the round, but i am pretty impressed with the velocities on heavy high BC bullets so far. I have a lighter weight 300 NMI hunting rifle being built right now. Will probably never go back to the 300 Win Mag after seeing what the 300 NMI can do in a shorter package.