Bullet choices for vintage 6.5 caliber with an MV of 2200fps...will be used in a drilling mainly for coyote, small predators...

Sierra 100gr HP.

Most "vintage" 6.5s have long throats, so the shorter/lighter bullets may have a long jump to the rifling and may not shoot great groups. I like the 95 grain VMax for varmints in my 6.5s, but it only works well in 2 of 6 6.5x55 military barrels.

Jeff

quote:

Most "vintage" 6.5s have long throats, so the shorter/lighter bullets may have a long jump to the rifling and may not shoot great groups. I like the 95 grain VMax for varmints in my 6.5s, but it only works well in 2 of 6 6.5x55 military barrels.

Jeff

Was kind of wondering about that..still studying up on this old caliber...6.5 x 58R...seems last RWS offering was 126 grain at about 2300/fps. Bore dia. appears to be .260 and not .264. but formed off the 8 x 58R case.
Talking to a German caliber fanatic next week and will find out more.

quote:

Originally posted by JonP:


Was kind of wondering about that..still studying up on this old caliber...6.5 x 58R...seems last RWS offering was 126 grain at about 2300/fps. Bore dia. appears to be .260 and not .264. but formed off the 8 x 58R case.
Talking to a German caliber fanatic next week and will find out more.

You might be confusing bore diameter with groove dia. roger

Will probably have an 8 or 9ish twist--

140's and 160's may do better than 100's and 120's
(unless you use a monolithic like a Barnes TSX 120--long for weight)

According to the RWS reloading manual the 6,5x58R used a bullet with a diameter just in between .264 and a .257. The manual suggests the use of .25 cal bullets (you need to put a .257 expander in your sizing die) and the book has data for the 100 grain Hornady SP and 117 graind Hornady RN.
With the 100 grain bullet you can get to 2500 fps and with the 117 grain bullet to 2250 fps. Cases can be made out of 9.3x72R brass.

120 grain Ballistic tips are LONG bullet and can also operate quite well at 2200 fps MV... and will open up nicely right down to about 1400 fps..

there are 120, 123 and 140 grain Hornady A Maxes also.. that would work well...and are fairly long bullets on their own..

First thing you need to do is find out the dia. of the bore. If you don"t know how to do it most any dummy gunsmiths can do it. If the bore is 0.264" then you are OK. If the bore is smaller than .263 then you need to uses resized bullets to fit the bore. Lee makes push through lead sizeing dies that will work with normal jeckedted bullets(no solids-partitend). I have sized .338 jacketed bullets down in one pass to .329. I use alot of Imperial size lube to size the bullets. Any of the non-normal size dies have to be ordered directly from Lee. I have found that you need to order the die 0.001" small than you need as the bullet jacket will spring back about 1/1000". The custom sizng dies run about $30 including shipping. If you need a smaller than normal bullet it is alot cheaper getting the die and usesing .264" bullets than haveing someone custom make bullet for you. PS: you will need a beefy steel or cast iron press to size the bullets(no aluminium press)

In regards to using .257 diameter bullets, I've tried them in my 6.5 x 58R Sauer caliber drilling barrel. They shoot coffee cup sized groups at 25 yards. They're just too small. I've never located the proper .260 diameter bullets, but have considered making up a bumping up die for 120 grain .257 bullets. I have been shooting some .262 diameter 120 grain jacketed bullets that I found, they shoot much better, but I'm concerned about the pressure. I've been using 25-35 Winchester data for loading.

Originally posted by Nordic2:
Sierra 100gr HP.

They are one of the best kept secrets in the 6.5. I use them in my 6.5-284 for coyotes and chucks, they are as accurate as the 140 SMK's and 139 Lapua Scenars out to 400 yards. And they smash coyotes! They are perfect for what you need,

Jon,

I have developed a few coyote loads for my 6.5x58R Sauer stalking rifle from 1923 using some old (paper box w/metal corners) Speer .263" 87gr. SPs as well as a few of the 100gr. bullets readily available. I may even have an extra set of dies and a box of factory ammo if you're not yet set up. Give me a PM to discuss.

Ian

Thanks Ian...look for a PM. Various German sources list the 6.5 x 58R as having a .261 bore.
Talked with a German smith this morning that said he has seen bores up to and including .264 and that guns from the 1920's and 30's were often made with the larger bore because of the odd bullet size (I guess .03 difference didn't affect accuracy?). So I have some homework to do as Fat Albert suggested. Am shooting a break action gun (leight weight drilling in 20/70) so I may not be able to use the (I'm guessing) hotter loads that you have developed. I am looking strictly for a varmint load for the critters that the dogs always seem to kick up when we're bird hunting..mainly coyote. Something in the 90 grain area at 2500 would be perfect, which should give me a couple hundred yards anyway, probably well beyond what I will be able to hit without a scope.

JonP

When you get the diameter of your barrel, contact Hawk Bullets, and see if they will make you some in the roer diameter and in the weight you need.
For @2200 to 2350fs I would go with a .030 bullet jacket.
Around a 140gr bullet would work for varmints or deer.

www.hawkbullets.com

If a .264 bullet seated in one of the cases chambers, I'd try it. If a .264 bullet slides easily into the mouth of a fired case, you are golden.

The hunting "fraternity" has to be one of the best!!!

Found out that Degol still makes bullets for the 6.5 x 58R (same as 6 x 70R which is still used as a roe deer caliber). Will pick up a few on my next trip to Germany. Bertram cases from Huntingtons are available but a friend in Switzerland says that RWS cases are better and is making me some from 9.3 x 72R brass (I took him bird hunting in ND a few years back). Ian thinks he may have a die set. Everyone has been so helpful, I'm beginning to think I might be able to find someone to come over and make them for me!!!

All help and suggestions greatly appreciated.

quote:

Originally posted by BECoole:
If a .264 bullet seated in one of the cases chambers, I'd try it. If a .264 bullet slides easily into the mouth of a fired case, you are golden.

BECoole's advice is spot on..

quote:

Originally posted by Nordic2:
Sierra 100gr HP.

+1 in .260 Rem. Conservative load of Varget gets 3270 with 210M Federal primer. All touching at 200.



ps: Currently playing with 100 SVHP in 7 WSM. Looking for 3600 fps for a little more range than the above which peters out at about 600 or so.