the smallest 6.5

[rangerruck]

I am looking for the mildest mannered 6.5 cart out there. I have heard basically of two, that have small powder capacity. The 6.5 x 47, and believe it or not, the old 6.5 jap. which of these two is the smallest, and is there a smaller 6.5 out there?

 

[jthyttin]

Based on your caliber choices, you're not restricted to factory chamberings. So you might look into 6mm BR or 6mm PPC cases necked up.

The easiest way would be 6.5 Grendel,which is basically 6.5PPC) or some variation. No need for custom dies etc.

 

[CJ6]

how about a 6.5x222mag it makes a real nice XP pistol round.29-31 grs. powder depending on bullet,accurate very mild recoil,and report

 

[rangerruck]

so the Grendel has a smaller case capacity than those others you say? I did not know that; what is the grendel case based on, or where does it come from? i would certainly think a 222 mag has a bigger case capacity listed than those above...

 

[NeilNE]

The 6.5 Grendel is a PPC,220 Russian) necked up to 6.5. This would be the easiest to make. Some sites:

http://www.65grendel.com/

http://www.alexanderarms.com/

 

[olympian]

Other options include the 6.5mmTCU offered by Thompson Center Custom Shop,a variety of .223 Remington necked up) and I have heard of the 6.5mm "Whisper"-like round,a necked up .221 Fireball).

The 6.5 Whisper would be a fun round in the right gun and barrel since it can be subsonic with heavier bullets and still be capable of reasonable velocity with the 80-85gr. bullets.

 

[WayneShaw]

A 6.5BR would be so easy to do. Using standard 6BR dies would be real easy to modify. Hard to beat.

 

[rcw3]

The 6.5 Grendel is a PPC,220 Russian) necked up to 6.5. This would be the easiest to make. Some sites:

http://www.65grendel.com/

http://www.alexanderarms.com/

6.5 Grendel is not just a neck up of a 220 Russian,6.5 Grendel's 30 degree shoulder is a good bit further forward than shoulder of 220 Russian) and if you try to make 6.5 Grendel from 220 Russian brass you will have a case that's too short in the neck. Why try to make it from 220 Russian brass when you can just buy Lapua 6.5 Grendel brass?

Robert Whitley

 

[jthyttin]

so the Grendel has a smaller case capacity than those others you say? I did not know that; what is the grendel case based on, or where does it come from? i would certainly think a 222 mag has a bigger case capacity listed than those above...

You're talking about the old 6.5x47 based on the 222 Rem Mag? Not the new 6.5x47 Lapua, which is 308 boltface? In that case I'd take the route of "6.5 Whisper" which was already proposed.

6.5x47 and 6.5 Whisper are same boltface,223) but the length is different,6.5x47 being longer). For comparison, the 300 Whisper trim length is around 1.380", so it's about 25% shorter than 6.5x47. The difference in actual powder capacity should be even more.

And if you're not satisfied with 6.5 Whisper, you can further shorten it since you'll be ordering custom reamer anyway. When you've figured out all the details, just call Dave Kiff at PTG and let him review your plan and grind the reamer...

http://www.pacifictoolandgauge.com/

 

[rangerruck]

that 6.5 whisper sounds really excellent. I will have to look into seeing about a build for it, I do believe.

 

[NeilNE]

rcw3, If the PPC is made from the 220R, why cant the 6.5 Grendel be made??????? The 6.5 Grendel is made from the PPC. After fire forming the PPC becomes a 6.5 Grendel.

 

[olympian]

The Grendel can be made from .220 Russian, and the 7.62x39 as well, but it is a pain plus during fire-forming the bullet needs to be jammed into the lands. Since the Grendel was designed for an AR-15 platform, it is generally not reasonable to expect people to do a bunch of fire-forming in an autoloading rifle. For modern bolt rifles, the camming potential on the action would make it much easier to correctly fire-form. There are probably other minor problems associated with these case forming approaching, but this is the most obvious.

rangerruck - The 6.5mm Whisper would be a great choice! Let us know how it goes.