Dear 6.5 Bandit-
You might want to try the Vita Vouri[sp?] slow burners like the 140. I used some of this in initial testing with the 264 Thor[Handloader Digest #17] and it worked good with lower heat than some of the others. I still have a good supply of H-570 and 870 thank God. I always wanted to try some of the RL-25 too but never did. Too old and too much backlog.

Aloha, Mark[in Or]

My gunsmith just delivered a 6.5 x 300 Weatherby Mag custom.

I have no load data to start testing. Anyone with actual 6.5 x 300 experience?

Started with a Mark V and added a Hart 28" stainless fluted barrel. Standard reamer WITH wby freebore.

Thanks for the discussion.

bonedaddy,

I have owned many 6.5x300wby's and still shoot one today... bullets from 139-142grains use from 82-87grains of H870 or WC872... If you have some X283 you can use 86-88grains with the 139-142's also if you have H570 use from 79-83 with the same 139-142's...All these loads can be found in Sierra's second edition manual with the exception of WC872 but it is the same as H870....

Now the only problem there is is that all but 1 of those powders have been dicontinued... WC872 is the only one you can still buy.. With that said there is a need to find something else that works well in these guns... I have been doing some slight testing with Retumbo I loaded 76grains with a 140gr Amax and fired it.. There was NO sticky bolt but the primer was protruding a bit.. This powder will work fine but I just need to play with it a bit more...

All mine have been built with 30" 8 twist 1 1/4dia bbls and speeds are around 3300-3500fps with the 139-142's.. They are bbl burners but it is still my favorite cal to shoot.. My latest one is blown out to a 40� shoulder..

6.5 Bandit

6.5 Bandit,
Thanks for the note, I dug to the bottom of my box of old loading manuals to find my Sierra manual is a 4th edition.

I will send you any load data I get this summer on this wildcat.

Wade

Mark I was thinking the same thing with VV powders.. Other's I thought may work well is RL25,H50BMG,AA8700... I tried emailing those companys but they wouldnt help out at all.. I even called Hodgdon and they just blew me off.. So I can only go by what I "think" will work and stand back with a long string and see what happens lol..

Bonedaddy,



Congratulations on your WWH! Hope you enjoy yours as much as I have mine. Mine was made up throated for 140 MatchKings - bottom end of the bearing surface seated even with the base of the case neck.



I used H-870 almost exclusively in mine. I tried the purportedly slower H-5010, but the batch I had was about the same as the H-870, only harder to measure.



I used 83-84 grains of H-870, mainly with 140 MK's and Nosler 120 BT's (amazingly accurate).



I had no luck at all with moly coated bullets, by the time the moly gets seasoned into the barrel, powder fouling required cleaning.



FYI, Sierra 85 grain HP's won't take it, blew a few feet from the muzzle with my starting load.



You might take a look at this thread:



http://www.accuratereloading.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=304748&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1



I got a lot of help and good suggestions regarding powder choices and cleaning.



If I had it all to do over, I''d try some of the surplus powders like WC872. The main problem with H-870 is carbon and calcium buildup due to the coatings. Hard stuff.



6.5 Bandit is the resident expert and has helped me a lot.



Hey Bandit, BTW, Bonedaddy's comment regarding the freebore made me wonder about the differences you and I have in some load data. How is your current rifle throated, long?



My rifle's throat feels rough for the first inch or so, and it's time to do something drastic. I've agonized over whether to revive the 6.5-300 or just drop back to a 6.5-284 for weeks, finally decided to see if Sid can set my barrel back and buy me another few hundred rounds. I have all that new brass (formed, turned, etc.) and H-870. Would probably lose more in dies and components than the setback, if possible, would cost.



Hey Bonedaddy, what sort of shooting do you plan to do with your new toy?

Ed,

I have a short throat in mine.. Seatem right into the lands and let em fly!!

I have been seriously considering shorting this bbl and going with a 6.5/300WSM or even a 6.5/300SAUM powder is just easier to get.. But I do have a ton of WC872 so I am just gonna keep shooting the WWH till I run out of powder.. Heck I will need to rebarrel before I run out of that stuff.. I currently have 2 WWH's up and running and still wouldnt run out of WC872 lol... I am in the process of having another gun built I just need to get a bbl yet them im set.. This one a good friend and I desinged its a 6.5 on a 300 saum case with some slight changes to the shoulder and a tighter neck.. I;m thinking it should be inbetween the WWH and the 6.5x284.. We will see how it works...

6.5 Bandit

Just wanted to let you guys know that I am dones testing with Retumbo.. 139-142gr bullets from 73-76gr. 74gr. gives 3300fps 76gr. will give 3400.. My primers start to get flat at 76gr if I wanted to I could prolly get 77 but thats on the HOT side...

Next im gonna try either RL25 or H50BMG..

6.5 Bandit

Hi Ed,
Many thanks for the passing of the experience.

Good call on the free bore, the standard 6.5 x 300 has typical WBY freebore, unless you called out special measurements your going to get typical freebore. My .270 x 300 has no freebore, and my 6.5 x 300 has standard freebore. The freebore should give you more velocity and possibly slightly less accuracy. Do you and bandit shoot these 6.5's for target or hunting rifles?

As for your throat erosion, what happened to your groups as the erosion increased? Some experts say that the bullet groupings level out at 1.40" until the erosion becomes excessive, like 18" or more. Any data there?

My project started when I found a new 3 pcs set of dies at a show for $8.00, my favorite critter to use this on would be mule deer out west.

Thanks again for the comments and help.

Bonedaddy

Hey Bandit,

If you want that 50BMG sooner, and can think of some way to get it, let me know. I'd ship it if you wanted me to, but hate for either of us to pay Haz-Mat on it.

Sounds like the Retumbo is of marginal value, compared to existing milsurp choices.


Hi Bonedaddy,

Bandit has WAY more experience than I do with this cartridge. I use mine mainly for hunting groundhogs and a few deer. I think Bandit takes his to matches. Both of us like little teeny groups.

My throat erosion is only a few inches of what now seems to be permanent roughness. Accuracy seems only slightly affected, if at all so far. What IS affected is fouling intensity, it's effects on pressures, and the increased cleaning effort.

Regarding the statement that "groupings level out at 1.4"", I would never get to that point while continuing to shoot it. It would be a contradiction, since the rifle has a trued receiver, Hart 30" heavy barrel, Leupold 8.5-26x scope and weighs 16 pounds. Extreme accuracy is the only attribute justifying all that crap. If the 6.5-300 groups were to go to more than about 3/4", I could hit better with my .22-250.

I've shot a few whitetails with this rifle, out to 300 lasered yards. I had originally intended to shoot them further, but found out after building the rifle that it is hard to get good long shots in deer habitat this area. It is pretty destructive up close. Hitting bone makes a big mess. I shot completely through a small deer's shoulders at 300 with the Nosler 120 gr Ballistic Tip, a surprisingly accurate bullet.

Good luck!

Eshell,

Im in no hurry for it.. There will be a show @ some point in time that we can get together... I dont want to pay hazmat fees and I know you dont either!

As for Retumbo the only benifits I see over the surplus is its ALOT cleaner and its NOT temp sensitive!!! For those reason alone I will be switching to Retumbo! Untill I find something better!

Bonedaddy,

I shot in a few matchs with mine.. But to be honest its WAY to fast for 1000yd matchs.. You really need speeds of about 3000 or less... The problem I have is after about 15 shots or so it will start slinging them all over the place.. This only happens once it gets hot though.. I decided to strickly use this gun for hunting at ranges no shorter then 800yds out to a mile depending on game.. These guns just FLOOR'EM when you hit'em!! Im talking DEAD RIGHT NOW!!! Mine weights in @ just under 26lbs!! So its no carry gun!

6.5 Bandit