In my mind, it defeats the benefit of a short action bolt rifle. If you go long action, why not just build the 264 Winchester Magnum? Or a 6.5-06 and improve it. (AI)
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Posts: 492 | Location: Northern California | Registered: 27 December 2002
I have often wanted to do what you are preparing to do... I could not understand why Rem. shorted themselves "no pun intended" by using a short action for the 6.5 mag.. I would use a 26" tube. I figure that you would be on the heels of the 264 win. mag if not neck and neck with it. Especially with the availability of today's components to load with. The only question I would have is if there will be a feed problem, Dunno?
Posts: 45 | Location: Oregon for now... | Registered: 02 February 2006
The cartridge is very close to the now highly hailed 6.5/300WSM. To me the WSM is like reinventing the wheel. The 6.5 Mag is a great accurate ctg and you will love it when yours comes together.
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Posts: 1652 | Location: Deer Park, Texas | Registered: 08 June 2005
MLC At one time it was not uncommon to see a 6.5 Rem put together on a Mauser 98 action with a 24 inch barrel.Most would push a 129 gr bullet around 3200 fps which is not far off what the 264 Win will actually do ( but with a lot more noise and muzzle flash).I think the Montana action that is set up for the WSM cases would be ideal for the 6.5 Rem. It would allow the bullets to be seated out so you can use what case capacity is there. I am toying with the idea of putting one together myself. the 125 gr Partition and the 129 gr Hornady are both usefull bullets and the new 120 gr TSX should be a good match also. Should make quite a deer/antelope rifle.
I would buy a bunch of brass while its still around.Midway was been discounting their 6.5 rem mag brass lately.I like the 264 win mag alot better.I can get once fired 7 mm rem mag brass for .05 each and neck it down or buy 264 win mag brass.If your going to the trouble to big a long range gun put a long rang cartridge in it.You could put the 6.5-300 win mag or even the 6.5 stw in it .Then you will have a long range rifle.I dont think the 6.5 rem mag in a 30" barrel is going to do more than a 24" 264 would.I would not waste my money on a 30" 6.5 rem mag.I think if I was going to build a long range 6.5mm rifle with a 30 " barrel the 264 win mag would be the smallest chambering I would go with.I would just save my money and get a 264 win mag Sendero when they come out.If you had to have a custom 30" barreled 6.5 caliber I think either the 6.5-300 win mag ,6.5mm - 300 ultra mag or the 6.5 stw would be the caliber of choice.With a 30" barrel and a 6.5-stw you could get about 3500 fps with a 140 gr bullet.With the 6.5 rem mag 30 " with a 140 gr bullet you will be lucky to get 2800-2900 fps with a 140 gr bullet.That a waste of a long barrel and alot of money.I do like Krieger barrels best they are awesome .I like the long ones fluted also.Therer is my .02 about a 30" long range 6.5mm rifle.
Originally posted by snowman: MLC At one time it was not uncommon to see a 6.5 Rem put together on a Mauser 98 action with a 24 inch barrel.Most would push a 129 gr bullet around 3200 fps which is not far off what the 264 Win will actually do ( but with a lot more noise and muzzle flash).I think the Montana action that is set up for the WSM cases would be ideal for the 6.5 Rem. It would allow the bullets to be seated out so you can use what case capacity is there. I am toying with the idea of putting one together myself. the 125 gr Partition and the 129 gr Hornady are both usefull bullets and the new 120 gr TSX should be a good match also. Should make quite a deer/antelope rifle.
Well I sure would like to see the source of that 129 Gr. load it's 200 fps or so over any 6.5 Rem Mag load I'm aware of. Not saying it isn't so just would like to verify the data before I use it.
Now I will say one other thing at times the brass for these little babies all but drys up. I'm thinking that even a 6.5MM-06 Makes more sense and should out perform it.
Originally posted by MLC: I wanted something with less capacity than the Win Mag.
My first question would be why? Looking at Hodgdon's data, the difference in max loads and 120 grain bullets is only six grains of powder. In my mind that's not enough to quip at either way.
You may be able to get close to .264 speeds with the long pipe, but who cares. Why not just make a 264 ........with a long tube and have it go faster still, AND fit the action correctly.
If you don't want to burn all 65 grains all the time, cut it back. You can have your 6.5 mag ballistics and not be tied with a semi-obsolete case.
Gabe
Posts: 410 | Location: Granite City, WI | Registered: 10 March 2003
Jay I would like to suggest that much of the data for the 6.5 Rem was developed in the Model 600 & 660 carbines. Velocities with longer barreled rifles runs considerably faster. It is too bad there is very little new data with some of the new powders with some of the less common calibres. The loading data that I was mentioning actually covers bullets from 120 grs,125 grs up to 129 grs. The data was from several sources,some being Speer # 9 manual,Handloaders Digest # ??.Can't remember the # . It lists max loads in many calibres that were gleened from various loading manuals and from some data listed over on "Reloadersnest". As with any other data source this data should be checked carefully reduced by 10% and work up watching for signs of excess pressure. Here are some of the better loads: 129 gr Hornady, 58 grs RL22=3141fps 24 " barrel 125 Partition 58 grs H4831SC= 3090 fps 22" barrel 120 gr Speer 59 grs H4831= 3286 fps 26" barrel 120 Nosler BT 59 grs H4831 SC= 3185fps 22" barrel 120 gr 55.5 grs IMR 4831=3200fps 24" barrel Speer # 9 manual also lists a load for the 120 gr speer bullet in the 3270-3280 fps range
The 264 Win will push the 140 and heavier bullets several hundred fps faster than the 6.5 Rem can but with the mid weight bullets the Rem is a respectacle performer when it has a little longer barrel. You are quite right in pointing out that the 6.5x06 is a fine calibre and brass is certainly readily availible. However there has been a movement towards shorter fatter cartridges and the accuracy potential they show.Personally I think the 6.5 Rem is a very good calibre when the rifle has an action that allows the bullets to be seated out and it has a 24" barrel.
Originally posted by snowman: Jay I would like to suggest that much of the data for the 6.5 Rem was developed in the Model 600 & 660 carbines. Velocities with longer barreled rifles runs considerably faster. It is too bad there is very little new data with some of the new powders with some of the less common calibres. The loading data that I was mentioning actually covers bullets from 120 grs,125 grs up to 129 grs. The data was from several sources,some being Speer # 9 manual,Handloaders Digest # ??.Can't remember the # . It lists max loads in many calibres that were gleened from various loading manuals and from some data listed over on "Reloadersnest". As with any other data source this data should be checked carefully reduced by 10% and work up watching for signs of excess pressure. Here are some of the better loads: 129 gr Hornady, 58 grs RL22=3141fps 24 " barrel 125 Partition 58 grs H4831SC= 3090 fps 22" barrel 120 gr Speer 59 grs H4831= 3286 fps 26" barrel 120 Nosler BT 59 grs H4831 SC= 3185fps 22" barrel 120 gr 55.5 grs IMR 4831=3200fps 24" barrel Speer # 9 manual also lists a load for the 120 gr speer bullet in the 3270-3280 fps range
The 264 Win will push the 140 and heavier bullets several hundred fps faster than the 6.5 Rem can but with the mid weight bullets the Rem is a respectacle performer when it has a little longer barrel. You are quite right in pointing out that the 6.5x06 is a fine calibre and brass is certainly readily availible. However there has been a movement towards shorter fatter cartridges and the accuracy potential they show.Personally I think the 6.5 Rem is a very good calibre when the rifle has an action that allows the bullets to be seated out and it has a 24" barrel.
All of my 6.5 Remington reference material uses 24 and 26†barrel length. The one load you have using IMR 4831 I would work to it very carefully my manual shows that 54.0 grains is a Max load @ 3024 fps. See Hodgdon 26 it’s using a 26†barrel.
But I think we’ve all missed MLC’s question it was on how fast it will push a 140 Gr. bullet. I didn’t see anyone post any numbers for it in this thread. All loads in all my manuals don’t show much above 3000 fps at best and that is in Hornady Vol. II known for its hot loads. But you’re right it doesn’t list a lot of today’s new powders.
Barnes manual list the 6.5 RM pushing 140's to 3K with a 24" tube. Their manual shows the 6.5RM having a 100 fps advantage over the 6.5-284 with a 26" barrel. I was initially going to go with a 28" tube but 30" was the same price so I figured why not. Papaschmud, because the RM case is more efficient and I'd rather work with high density loads than reduced loads in a large case. Does anyone know what the case capacity in grains of water is in the 6.5'06AI? I'd imagine it's damned close to the 6.5RM.
Posts: 233 | Location: Solebury, PA | Registered: 20 December 2002
MLC The fastest 140 gr loads I can find are: 140 partition 54 grs H4831 2943fps ina 26" barrel 140 gr 53 grs IMR 4831 =2965 in a 24 " barrel These loads would both be warm so start low and work up. I would suggest that RL 22 might beat these velocities and 7828SC would also be worth trying.
The 264 win mag with 30" barrel with 140 gr would be at least 3300 fps if not 3400 with the right powder.The 264 stw would be around 3600 fps for 140 gr.If you want a good long range rifle chamber it for a good long rang round.I often wondered why there were so many heavy barreled 308s around.Remington is coming out with thye Sendero in 264 with a 26" barrel.that would be a good long range rig.
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