I'm building a long range switch barrel rifle out of a Savage 110 with the large shank. The 1st and original barrel is 300rum. I will be developing loads for the 220 or 240gr SMK

2nd barrel I wanted to go with 6.5 in a 140 or 142 gr match bullet. at 1st I thought of going 6.5-284norma, but because of my controlled feed mag bolt and the mag is ultramag size I am considering a wildcat 6.5wsm, What would be the best way to go here? any help would be appreciated. Also if I do go 6.5wsm how hard would it be to neck down 270wsm brass?

Been there, done that, and even a .338WSM. Its a great cartridge in a short action (mine and my buddy's are on Rem 700 shorts), but may show feeding problems with your longer action and magazine. I'd probably get a block for the back of the magazine and a shorter follower. This would at least make the feeding geometry a little better.
Necking down .270WSM brass is a slam dunk. No problems at all.

+1 on the 6.5WSM. I built mine on a 700 short action and had some customization done to accommodate seating 142 SMKs long.

Prof242, I'd be interested in your loading preferences.

Dan

i'd be interested in load data too, what do you use for seating die?

I'm using Redding 6.5-300WSM dies

did you have them special made? I could not find them

I'm also using Redding dies. My gunsmith (see High Tech Custom's website) carries the dies in stock. Two of us have them and are very impressed by their capabilities. Our 'smith lengthened the Rem 700 short-action magazines so that we would have additional room if necessary. Wasn't needed for the 6.5, but did add some powder room for our .338WSMs
LOADS:
140gr A-Frame, 64.5gr H1000, WLRM primer, WW .270WSM reformed brass.

140 Barnes X, I-7828, rest is same.

120 Barnes X, 59gr H4831, rest is same.
(also 120 A-frame, same data)

These loads are safe in our guns, but are very near maximum. Work up in your rifle.
All grouped better than some varmint rifles!
We also had some exceptional groups with the now-discontinued H-205 powder.

I'd also recommend the 6.5 WSM. Since you have the long action, you can have it throated out long. I have mine throated so I the bullet is just hitting the lands at 3.07". I was getting higher pressure than I was comfortable with when I had it set up at the normal length for the WSM cartridges. This fixed that problem. I tried H4831, RL22 and RL25. I found that RL25 gave the best performance. My two hunting loads are:

Norma 270 WSM Case
Federal 215 Primer
140 Sierra BT
62 gr. RL25
MV - 3250 fps

and

Norma 270 WSM Case
Federal 215 Primer
130 gr Barnes TSX
62.5 gr RL25
MV - 3425 fps

Both of these loads have given me sub MOA accuracy. I would start 5 gr lower and work up. Both of these loads are max in my rifle.

I used the 140 gr Sierra to take this coues deer in Mexico. The first shot was a couple inches too far back, but the second one did the trick. The range was 475 yards and there was about a 5 mph crosswind. It's my go to cartridge for medium game where the shots may be on the long side.

Pete

Redding actually stocks the 6.5-300 WSM dies. YOu can call them and or look at the online catalog I think they were in the B or C series.

I appreciate all the info and getting excited about this build. I still have not heard from Redding and can't find the dies in any of my catalogs or online, even at Redding site or MidwayUSA. Hopefully Redding will email me back after returning from shot show. What length barrel would you men recamend. Plan to use this as my sheep and longrange pronghorn and varmit gun.

I'd recommend nothing shorter than 24", and preferably 26".

Skidly,

If you go to the Redding site and bring up the Die Caliber Reference Chart you will see the 6.5/300WSM listed as a Custom Die. Even though these are custom dies, they had them in stock on the shelf when I ordered mine.

I ordered the Lee 2 die set for 6.5/.300 WSW from Midway, even came with a shellholder and dipper.

I received an answer from Redding today, looks like I have my questions answered now just need to get my barrel ordered. Now how do I break the news to my 300rum and 338rum they have a little brother on the way!

Hi All,
I forgot to introduce my self. I am new to the forum. I have had a 300 WSM since late 2001, when I purchased a Savage 16FSS. Ever since then I have felt a 6.5 on the WSM case would be the do all to end all. I am and always have been a Savage fan. The modularity of the Savage, and now the Stevens, prompted me to purchase a Stevens 200 in 243 as a donor rifle for a 6.5 WSM. This rifle did not go unused as my 10 year old took his first deer with it this past youth season, a monster 8 pointer off cross sticks at 35 yards with a hand rolled 95 gr B-Tip. BANG-FLOP!!. I digress. I ordered a set of Lee dies, Wheeler barrel vise, wrenches and PTG gauges. New bolt head and magazine hardware from sharpshooter supply. Now I had all the tools but no barrel. I finally "pulled the trigger and ordered a 24" 1 in 8" #2 contour pre threaded and chambered barrel from shilen, delivery time 8-10 weeks.TICK TOCK TICK TOCK. I have since been pestering every 6.5 WSM owner on the net to validate load data and performance(thank you to several here). I am very excited about this project. It has been dubbed "the working man's wildcat" by friends and family. I would love a NULA M28 in this cartridge but the $3200 and year wait squashed that. I will keep you posted as the project moves along. Nice to meet you all.

what barrel twist are you guys using? I have a 24" stainless supermatch Pac-Nor Barrel on order; chamber 6.5/270wsm, varmint contour, I just sent them a dummy cartridge with a 140 smk at a COL of 2.950"

The calculator I used said a twist of 1:9.52 would stabalize a .264 cal 1.31" bullet at 3200fps
I see Winchester made their .264 Mag in 1:8
... but 6.5rem mag is 1:9
I ordered a 1:9, but having second thoughts now.
I still have time to get the right twist!

I got my 6.5wsm from Pac-Nor on 4-19-07
trying to get some test loads put together while i wait for my stock. ended up going with a 28" super match SS, in a straight taper

i've got:
H1000
Retumbo
H869

will be using 140gr Sierra BTHP

any load data?