My next build....can you GUESS?.....

[AP2020]

..before you make an educated guess...here are some specs and photos.....

BTW.....Dave Kiff at PT&G is making the reamer.....I ran the neck through a different bushing die [that was obviously SHORT].


Here are the preliminary ballistics:

6.5mm 140 gr. Berger VLD

ACCURACY LOAD OBT = 1.345ms

Barrel Time = 1.344ms
COL = 3.265"
Powder = 57.1 gr. Reloader 17
Velocity = 3,183 fps
Pressure = 53,268 psi


MAXIMUM LOAD shows:

6.5mm 140 gr. Berger VLD

Barrel Time = 1.293ms
COL = 3.265"
Powder = 58.9 gr. Reloader 17
Velocity = 3,262 fps
Pressure = 58,325 psi

For a 30.5" barrel:

the "venerable" 6.5-284 needs 59,157 psi to achieve 3,060 fps.

the "revered" 260 REM needs 59,874 psi to achieve 2,935 fps.

Want to know something else truly AMAZING....this cartridge will achieve

3,062 fps with 48,400 psi.....hmmnnn.....

....keep guessing.....it's amazing that this cartridge has been OVERLOOKED for so long....

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

6.5 Win Mag?

 

[AP2020]

nope....

300 WIN MAG..look at the shoulder...

 

[2644ever]

You won't be disappointed. I once built a 6.5-300 WinMag, the reamer was a .264 WinMag with the belt relocated accordingly. With a 30" PacNor, Norma cases and lots of N560 I was able to push a 130 Norma VLD moly at 3500fps. Really accurate too. If you're interested, I'll post a picture of the cartridge.

 

[effendude]

I love it. I have several 6.5x284s anda .264 Win Mag. This sounds awesome and await your reports. I'm also calling my broker to buy stock in every barrel manufacturer out there. (I figured I'd throw that out there first, because all the people who complain about barrel life in a hunting rifle maker me want to scream. Barrels are meant to be shot!) ;D
Scott

 

[TerryPohl]

From looking at the sholder and the neck length I would say a 6.5 Short ack mag.
Terry Pohl

 

[AP2020]

...keep on guessing.... ;D


Dave is shipping the reamer next Monday....my 'smith is hoping to complete the re-chamber by next weekend....kinda feels like XMAS!!!


...here is a HINT...the parent cartridge was the ONLY FACTORY chambering with an improved shoulder....

 

[bheadboy]

7x61 sharpe and hart

Bob

 

[AP2020]

7x61 sharpe and hart

Bob

...we have a WINNER....good job Bob!

yes indeed...the 7x61 S&H

..actually the 7x61 Super:

my gunsmith is coining it The 6.5 x 61 Super.....Since the 7mm Remington mag killed it around 1962 or so....Norma decided to relieve the interior walls of some brass...Norma gained about 5 more grains of powder capacity, therefore matching the 7mm Mag ballistics. Norma renamed the cartridge to the 7 x 61 Super.

But..as in a lot of marketing campaigns....the 7mm mag proved to be too popular.

One thing my gunsmith pointed out very clearly...the 40 degree shoulder on the 7 or 6.5 x 61 is/was the only factory produced "Ackley-improved" so to speak...

Philip Sharpe and Richard Hart developed the 7x61mm in the early 1950's. In 1953 Schultz & Larson of Denmark started chambering their bolt action hunting rifle for a commercial version of the 7x61 S&H based on a shortened, blown out version of the .300 H&H Magnum case. Factory loaded ammunition was supplied by Norma of Sweden. The belted version of the 7x61 is also sometimes referred to as the 7mm S&H Super.

The 7x61's commercial popularity was limited by competition from the 7mm Weatherby Magnum, a more powerful standard length 7mm Magnum that was already on the ground. The introduction of the 7mm Remington Magnum in 1962 was the beginning of the end for the 7x61 in the U.S. market.

The commercial version of the 7x61 uses a belted magnum case 2.394" in length. Rim diameter is the standard magnum .532". Case length is 2.394" and overall cartridge length is 3.27". Bullet diameter is .284", the same as other true 7mm cartridges.

Norma supplied factory loaded ammunition for the 7x61 S&H. Their first offering was a 160 grain bullet at a muzzle velocity (MV) of 3100 fps with muzzle energy (ME) of 3410 ft. lbs. Later Norma introduced a 154 grain bullet at a MV of 3060 fps with ME of 3200 ft. lbs.

Handloaders can essentially duplicate the Norma factory loads, and have access to bullets of lighter and heavier weight. The fifth edition of the Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading shows 7x61 S&H loads for their 139, 154, 162, and 175 grain bullets. As with other 7mm Magnum cartridges, slow burning rifle powders work best in the 7x61.

According to the Hornady Handbook their 139 grain SST boat-tail spitzer bullet can be driven to a MV of 2800 fps by 57.8 grains of H4831 powder, and a MV of 3200 fps by a maximum load of 65.0 grains of H4831. The trajectory of that bullet at a MV of 3100 fps looks like this: +2.5" at 100 yards, +2.3" at 200 yards, -2.5" at 300 yards, and -6.9" at 350 yards. The maximum point blank range (+/- 3") is 305 yards.

The Hornady Handbook shows that their 175 grain Spire Point Interlock bullet can be driven to a MV of 2500 fps by 53.9 grains of H4831 powder, and a MV of 2900 fps by a maximum load of 62.5 grains of H4831. The latter load has a ME of 3267 ft. lbs., and at 200 yards the numbers are 2507 fps and 2441 ft. lbs. The trajectory of that load looks like this: +2.6" at 100 yards, +1.9" at 200 yards, and -4.1" at 300 yards. The maximum point blank range (+/- 3") is 287 yards.

The 7x61 Sharpe & Hart never became very popular in the U.S. However, it has always gotten favorable mention in the firearms press, and remains a potent long range hunting cartridge.

 

[2644ever]

Maybe this might prove interesting
http://www.kailuacustomguns.com/articles/264Thor.htm
I also remember having read about that wildcat years ago... was it in Gun Digest? I'll have to check, I'll keep you informed.

 

[bheadboy]

Thanks for the prize, when can i expect delivery?

The lenght of the 7x61 case is .150" shorter than the 06,etc.
thus it provides an additional .150 space in the magazine for bullets of high BC to be seated out of the powder.

This give even more flexability for the loading and various bullets

I have worked with 6.5-06 and 260AI where this was a problem, the 7x61 eliminates it


Bob

 

[AP2020]

full report as soon as I get my rifle back togather!

thanks for the great read on 6.5mm magnums....