The Accurate Reloading Forums
Choices for SA 6.5mm
08 April 2004, 08:41
SteveEChoices for SA 6.5mm
I'm just getting my feet wet this year on wildcats.
I have a 7/300win in the works now.
My ? is would would be the choices for 6.5 in a Rem SA
I have a .260 Mountain rifle I can work with. I just want a little more umph than the 260 can offer, keeping wieght down as much as possible
I thought first of just rechambering but now I think if I do something it would be a new bbl.
Thanks
08 April 2004, 09:15
Lee MartinMaybe a 6.5-284.....if bolt & magazine modifications were made, you could also do a 6.5 WSM or 6.5 RSUM.
Lee Martin
www.singleactions.com08 April 2004, 09:16
fredj338I've decided to go .260AI on my M700SA. It'll be done in a week or so. Stay tuned. The 6.5x.284 is another option, but I think the M700 mag. is too short for efficient use of the .284 length, but probably ok if you stay away from the 140gr bullets.
08 April 2004, 09:41
30 Caliber Mag FanI will certainly second Lee's motion on the 6.5 WSM. I really like mine. Now that there is .270 WSM brass out there it will be a snap to reload for; in and out of the resizing die in a hurry. You really had to watch you P's and Q's when all you had was .300 WSM brass to work with.
10 April 2004, 10:19
sscoyoteIf i was putting one together again, i'd go for the 6.5 RSAUM as someone mentioned above. It's shorter than the WSM, and gotta be right next to it in performance with a little bolt modification.
10 April 2004, 14:02
FiftydriverFredj338,
I am curious for your decision to have a 260 AI made. I have looked into the Improved rounds quite a bit when doing research as to what chambers I wanted to purchase for my gunsmithing shop and it seemed from a performance stand point, all the improved rounds on the 308 case improved very little over the parent case as it is already pretty straight walled to start with.
I would be very interested in the performance your 260 AI gets compared to the parent 260.
Good Shooting!!!
50
10 April 2004, 17:40
fredj338You're right FiftyD, I was going for a new bbl. anyway & I have no problem fireforming so why not? The AI only holds 2gr more powder, but case life should improve & if I get 50-75fps for only the add'l cost of the dies, it works for me
. Stay tuned.
BTW, I had a .404jeffery made when I could have gone .416rem, a .338x74K when I could have gone .338Winmag, do you see a pattern? I admit, it's an illness. I handload all of my stuff anyway so I like to have something a bit different. I also have an Airedale terrier instead if a Sheppard or Lab (I do drive a Dodge truck though, can't afford a H2
).
11 April 2004, 03:40
dan belisleI see by your taste in things that you are on the right track Fred, oddball cartridges and terriers (I have a couple of Wheatens, myself), but instead of one of those yuppie H2's you really need something a little more specialized, maybe an original Power Wagon (the military one) or a full sized Jeep 3/4 or 1 ton. Something that shows the world that you are a man of taste
. Oh, and if you want, you can modify the Rem action with little trouble to take the 3.1" WSM length cartridges (Brownells even sells the magazine boxes) - Dan
11 April 2004, 13:20
fredj338Ture Dan, true. Where I live you can't throw a rock w/o hitting an H2. This Airedale is my 2nd & like the .45acp, I'm not sure I'll ever be w/o one.
I originally though of going to a 6 or 6.5WSM & my smith said no real problems other than a Sako style extractor, but I think this will do for now.
11 April 2004, 19:56
sscoyoteThere's a couple of guys on longrangehunting that just swear by their 6.5 WSM's
11 April 2004, 21:40
280Ackleyrized50, sometimes you got to get away from the short barrels to see velocity gains. I got a 7-08AI with a 26"tube. Granted this is a fast barrel but I get 3185 with 140xlc's. Am planning on either a 260AI or 6.5-284. Whichever I decide to build will have a 25" barrel as a minimum.
11 April 2004, 21:42
280AckleyrizedSteve, the 6.5-284 should be the cats meow if you want something you do not have to fireform. With that 7-300, why you even need that SA remington. Just sell it to me. Oh yeah, I done almost let Tim talk me into one of those 7-300AI.
12 April 2004, 15:41
FiftydriverFredj338,
Your reasoning sounds good to me, like I tell all my customers, you will only be happy with a rifle you want, not one you got talked into.
My job is to build the damn things, not tell them what they need.
Thanks for the reply!
Good SHooting!!!
50
12 April 2004, 18:52
SteveEQuote:
Steve, the 6.5-284 should be the cats meow if you want something you do not have to fireform. With that 7-300, why you even need that SA remington. Just sell it to me. Oh yeah, I done almost let Tim talk me into one of those 7-300AI.
280
I use that 260 in the woods where I'm apt to have close shots
I couldnt bear to shoot something at 40 yards @ 3500 fps140 gr
The only thing is ----You walk across Big Fields or decide to hunt differantly sometimes. That .260 is at max a 300 yarder with 120 BTs on mature whitetail even though it shoots really good (on down yonder) I've switched to 140 sierras now and I would like to get them from 2750 -2800 range to 2900-3000 range for a flatter Trajectory
I mentioned before that I wasnt in to fireforming but I may concider rechambering to 260 Imp anyways
12 April 2004, 22:42
fredj338Steve, if you are getting 2800fps w/ your 140s, 2900fps won't get you much as far as trjectory goes out to 400 or so.
13 April 2004, 02:08
SteveEFred
2800 to 3000 will only add 11 yards to my point blank range with a 3 " Radius---But It will Take 4 " of fall out of a 400 yard shot
If I were lucky enough to see that much differance I would be more than satisfied
13 April 2004, 03:02
flickWhy not the 6.5 Rem with a 24"barrel?
13 April 2004, 03:37
dan belisleActually, Flick has a point. I've built a couple of 6.5 Rem Mags on standard length actions over the years (and now have to do another one, as I've just been talked out of my third), and with a col of 3.2 or 3.3, the 6.5 Rem Mag will push a 140/142 gr bullet the same speed or a little better (assuming equal barrel lengths) as a 270 Win. And before all you 270 fans out there (and yes, I own a couple) ask why, check out the downrange ballistics of the 6.5 140/142 bullets. - Dan
13 April 2004, 04:00
280AckleyrizedHey, I have killed 7 deer at almost 400yds(370 according to rangefinder. Distance to back of food plot) with that 7-08AI and all shots were pass thrus with a 140xlc. That 260 should have no problem doing that especially when the 140 has a lot better B.C. than a .284 140 grain. And besides fireforming aint a total waste of ammo. AIed rifles usually tend to be pretty darn accurate with loads in cases that have not yet been fireformed. Got a forming load for my 08 that will shoot 1 ragged hole at 100yds using blc-2 powder and 100grain sierra hollow points. Poor crows catch hell round the farm.
13 April 2004, 04:03
280AckleyrizedUse something besides that damn ballistic tip bullet. Will cut down on meat damage should a close shot present itself. Besides, the deer aint gonna have a chronograph when you shoot him.
Am already trying to get Tim to give the new barnes tsx a try. I know they are a lot better than that bt.
13 April 2004, 04:14
flickFrom my observation the 6.5 Rem Mag could be underated as well as under appreciated. Remington designed the 6.5 to deliver 270 ballistics in a carbine. When matched with a 270 bullet by sectional density the old girl does not do to bad.
To the previous poster concerning the 7/08AI,sometime try the Speer 110 TNT in your 7/08AI.DEVASTATING!{ is a mild word}
14 April 2004, 03:49
280AckleyrizedThe 100grain sierra works for me. I use it as a fireforming load only. They are cheap. The crows is just an added benefit. I deer hunt and gear all my load development towards that. The fireforming load was just a quick throw together that happened to shoot great. So it is either 100gr sierras or my beloved blue meanies. That one is not open for discussion.