I just purchased a stainless Savage model 16 that is currently a 300WSM. I bought it fairly reasonably to wildcat it using a WSM case. I am considering 6mm-300WSM for antelope/coyote or a 9.3mm-300WSM for moose/elk in timber. Obviously two very different choices. Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with anything similar or wildcatting the WSM.

Of course, I realize their are many other cartridges that will do the job just as well or better without all of the headaches---but this is a hobby and for fun!!

IV

IV-for what it is worth I've got a 338/300 WSM and really enjoy it. May be worth a thought of two.

Mark D

I have seen 416-300 WSM & 458-300WSM. However I like 9.3s.

The 6.5-300 WSM is doing pretty well in long range match shoots. If your looking for an antelope gun, that sounds like perfect medicine.

There is a lot of discussion at the Shortmag forum regarding wildcats.

I hope to get my 6.5-300 WSM in any day now!

You could convert it to a 458 Noveske. Pretty sure that is a 458-300 WSM with a modified shoulder.

Ask Noveske himself: Former PacNor man

Mark: I have a 338 RUM so I think I want something different-- it would make too much sense to not need 3-5 boxes of different caliber bullets lying around!

458? 6.5? Very interesting ideas...(Vandal says while rubbing his chin)....

I am leaning towards the 6mm as I think I would use it more than a 9.3 or something bigger. (I have 4 points now in Idaho antelope?? This year---maybe???)

Any references to gunsmiths or people who have done this would be cool--- data of course is the big key.

IV

Visit http://www.shortmags.org/shortmags/ the options are almost endless.

I.V. I think the smaller cal. fits what you're looking for, especially if you have a 338 RUM--WHOMP!

It should be a super flat mother in 6 or 6.5--lots of bullets in 6 mm----gets me thinking, I've got a 300 WSM platform just waiting to be project-ized...........

Have Fun--Don

Fjold: Thanks for the link--they seem like a good source of info. To do 6mm I am definetly going to need to go 29" or more to gain anything over a 6-284 etc. Most of what I have seen so far in 6mm seem to be doing 1-12" or 1-10" and tossing lighter bullets, I kind of want to go 1-8" and try some 107 ULD's....

IV

IV-

I built a 6.5 WSM this summer. Using 130gr TSX's and 65 gr. of RL 25, I'm able to hit 3400 fps with a 25 inch barrel with no problems. It's deadly on antelope and deer. Using 270 WSM brass, all you need to do is resize it, turn the neck a little and trim the case.

Pete

Hey all! (I realize this should probably be on the wildcatting forum but BG Hunting folks seem a lot more informative and helpful so here goes)

After researching quite a bit it seems 6mm WSM is not worth doing unless you go with a 30-32" tube, I am a hunter not a shooter so carrying that around ain't gonna fly (so to speak) thus I decided to go with 6.5WSM--anyone willing to share data or experiences with such please let me know I am going to use a 1-8" stainless 3 groove #4 contour fluted Lilja at 28"-- I guess 270WSM brass is the easiest-- any leads on dies?

IV

IV-

Lee makes dies for 6.5 WSM for about 25 bucks. You can get them special order from other places, but they're going to cost considerably more.

I built mine using an MRC 1999 actiona and #3 contour 1 in 8 twist Lilja with a 25 inch tube. I would make sure that builder throats it out as far as possilbe so you can seat the bullets out as far as possible. I don't know what bullet you're planning on using, but the 130 -140 bullets take up a lot of case space if have to seat them back.

I tried H4831, RL22 and RL25. RL25 gave the best velocity and lowest pressure.

Pete

My buddy's and my 6.5WSMs are Rem 700s, barrels are #2 contours 25" long. We also have second barrels in .338/300WSM, barrels cut at 24". The 6.5s shoot great (so do the .338s), have got a lot of reach, and the accuracy is so good, we don't tell group size because people who have not seen the targets think we're lying!
Got a great Colorado antelope using Nosler's 100gr Ballistic Tip. Have also hunted caribou with the rifle using 125gr Nosler partitions. Email me and I'll send you my load data.