For you shooters who are shooting 6.5s... 6.5x55s, 6.5-06s, 6.5 RMs...what are you getting for velocities for the 120-125 grain bullets.

I bought a M600 6.5 RM last year and have just now had the time to do some shooting with it. Seems to be running right around MOA in the accuracy department but have not had time to chronograph the 120 grain factory rounds that came with the gun.

Has anyone used the 100 grain Nosler Petition on deer/antelope. This looks like one of the best bullets for the RM because of the LOA issues.

These were the last 5 rounds that I had with me the other day. The left target was at 200 yards and shot after sighting in at 100. After shooting the bottom two rounds I came up 1 MOA and shot the two just to the right of the paster...with a slight left to right breeze. Then with the remaining shot I fired the right target that was at 100 yards. So the gun shows some promise.



Thanks...Bob

I haven't measured the Nosler 125 Partition, but I probably will in the future. The Hornady 129g SP gets right at Hornady's predicted 2700 fps with H4350.

Jaywalker

Thanks Jaywalker...you are talking about using the 129 Hornady in the 6.5 RM??

Bob

Got to some chronograping today. The 120 grain factory probably 60s or 70s vintage ammo ran 2930 fps average from the 18.5" barrel for 4 shots. At 50 yards three went into a 15/32" group and I pulled one to the right about 3/4".

Tried some Winchester 748 powder as that is one of my all time favorites and shoots great in the .350 Remington Magnum. With the 100 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip:
43 grains/2700
44 grains/2763
45 grains/2782
46 grains/2836
47 grains/2877

The group for all 10 shots was 1/2" wide and 1" tall at 50 yards. Absolutly no pressure signs at all so more loads will be assembled and fired.

Bob

I would think you could do a bit better going w/ a slightly slower powder like 4350, the 6.5RM is a bit over bore. I would feed it like a 6.5x.284.

H&IMR 4350 are listed in most of the reloading manuals I have. But, after I sold my .375 H&H I sold off all my IMR4350 to a friend.

I have been narrowing all my powders down to as few as possible and 748 just seems to fit the bill for 99% of my rifle shooting. It produces sub MOA groups in .350 Remington Magnum, .223 and .308 and produces factory + velocity in .405 Winchester. So that is why at this point I am just trying 748.

Just got done loading up 100 grain Noslers and 120 grain Hornady SSTs and will be going to the range tomorrow to see where 748 tops out...

Thanks for the thought...

Bob

Further chrono work:

51 grains of WW748/100 grain Nosler BT/3103 fps;

52 grains/3177/primer indendation just starting to crater

53 grains/3202/primer starting to crater and firmer bolt lift;

54 grains/3227/hard bolt lift.

Will stay with 51 grains but am also going to try a magnum primer.


120 grain Hornady SST/48.0 grains of WW748/2792 fps;

49 grains/2803 fps;

50.0 grains/2862 fps;

51.0 grains/2977/bolt lift beginning to get firm

52.0 grains/3019/bolt lift hard

50.0 seems to be the load for this one but will also be trying a different primer.

The target was just at 50 yards since I was more powder/velocity testing than sighting in but the group poduced with both bullets could be covered by ones thumb.

Ordered some Nosler 125 and 100 grain Petitions but they were out of the 125s...

Bob

quote:

RJM: Thanks Jaywalker...you are talking about using the 129 Hornady in the 6.5 RM??

Well, you could, I guess, but the 129 would likely come apart at those high velocities. What I meant - poorly stated - was the Hodgdon manual is pretty accurate.

Jaywalker

I shoot a 13 inch barreled wildcat in a 6.5 handgun. VihtaVuori N560, 50.0 Grs, produced more velocity and better accuracy for me with 140m Gr Nosler Partitions than H4350 did. The 6.5s like slow powders even in short barrels. I'm getting 2,530 FPS with that load and under an inch accuracy off the bench. Max was 52.0 grains but the accuracy wasn't there with better than 100 FPS more velocity.

I killed a deer with this load and 140 Gr Hornady SSTs this last week and it did all you could ask it to do. The BC on the Hornady SST is .521, and a .490 BC for the NP in the 140 Gr weights, which is pretty high for hunting bullets in any caliber.

With the shorter barrels you pay the least velocity penalities by using heavy for caliber bullets and slow powders. So you shouldn't be hesitent about trying heavier, higher BC, bullets and slower powders in your 18 1/2 inch barrel Model 600.

The 6.5 RM has plenty of case capacity, considerably more than the 220 Swift case that I am using, so having to seat those heavy bullets deeply shouldn't be a problem as long as the case can get a good grip on them. Slightly compressed loads actually aid accuracy. Those heavy bullets will maintain more energy and velocity down range, shoot plenty flat and drift less in the wind. What's not to like about all that?...Rusty.

My 6.5-06 with a 24" barrel is giving me right @ 3200fps, with IMR4831/120 Sierra Game King.

Jerry

I just worked up a load at 3,045'/sec with 120 Grain Northforks in a 21" barreled 6.5 X 55 using IMR 4350. It's listed on the reloading forum.

I would not mind using a heavier bullet at all but am somewhat concerned about deepseating bullets. Does anyone know what effect this has on pressure? To me, a bullet seated so that the base of the bullet is at the base of the case neck is ideal... You get good support of the bullet for feeding up the ramp, 100 contact between the bullet and the case neck for consistant/maximum tension... But to me the deeper the bullet is seated the harder it is for the bullet to get out of the case as the pressure builds.

Thanks for all the replies.

Bob

From my 6.5-06 I think it was a bit over 2900fps w/ 129gr Hornady. Would have to double check when I get home.

Gas exerts pressure equally in all directions. The bullet is supported the same irregardless of its seating depth. Deeper seating actually increases the stroke on the piston, giving you a longer rate of expansion. The long bullets have a larger bearing surface, the greater friction helps to more completly burn the slower burning powders. Although expansion of the gas column continues well up the barrel, powder burn is completed within the first couple of inches of bullet travel. The most critical factor will be accuracy. If the accuracy is acceptible, there is no reason not to use deep seated heavy for caliber bullets. Seat them out as far as you can and still get the action to feed...Rusty.

RJM, nice looking rifle. Is your 350 a M600 also?

Thanks Rusty....

Brasskeeper... I have had a M600 .350 RM for about 3 years. Just bought a Ruger 77MKII that someone in Alaska shortened to 18" but they decided they didn't like after shooting less than two boxes through the gun...if they shot it off the bench I know why...and the seller was only about 19 or 20...I'm heading for the range in an hour to try the thumper out. If you look over on the Medium Bore page there is a post over there under Ruger .350 Magnum. Look for the pic of the bear skull with a bullet and the link below to the 24HourCampfire.

Took delivery of some 100 grain Nosler Petition bullets and will try them next week...

Bob

RJM, don't bother w/ mag primers & 748, all you asre going to do is increase your pressure & accuracy will likely be less. If you are going to go over 120gr I would think again about something a bit slower like 4350 or even RL19 or IMR4831.

Fred...I use CCI Benchrest Primers w/WW748 in .223 and .308 and accuracy has been one hole. In the .350 RM I have been using CCI250 LR Magnum and accuracy has been excellent also.

I did notice with the beginning charges of WW748 in the 6.5 RM I was getting some "delay" in ignition...like I could feel the primer pop and there was a slight delay before the "boom". This only happened with the first few charges however. I just want to see if there is any difference. All the books list Magnum Primers with WW748.

Next bullet to be tested is the 100 grain Nosler Petition. Posters on another thread state this is a "deer and goat killing machine". This rifle is only going to be used for light skinned game at ranges from 30-300 yards so this bullet at 3200 fps may work nice.

Thanks for your imput.

Bob

RJM.

You can get 3,300+ fps with a 100g Partition using a standard 260 Rem with a 22" barrel. I assume your barrel is shorter for you to be getting pressure signs at the velocities you are sighting.

The 100g Partition will work. I've used it on 1 young buck and it worked fine (the buck ran about 70 yds before collapsing with a great blood trail out both sides) but it seemed a little more blow-up might put them on the ground faster. This shot had a MV of 3,340 fps and the shot was at 30 yds shot low through the heart.

I chronographed some loads for my 264 Win Mag Saturday. I was shooting 129 grain Hornady SP's in front of 59 grains of IMR4350 and the velocity was about 3160 at muzzle plus 8'. This load gave .5 MOA shooting 100 yds. off of bench. My rifle is a FN Mauser action w/Shilen 26" SS match grade barrel. The trigger was a little stiff and when I returned home I set the pull down to just slightly tighter than a hair with absolutely no creep and anticipate even better accuracy now. I wish I had a trigger pull gauge, but can't see buying one to use a couple times.

Hey, come on over and i"ll let you use mine.
Stepchild

HogWild...yes the barrel is only 18.5" long on the Remington 600.... When I have the time I hope to try the Nosler Petition to see if I can get anything more out of it than I am with the Balistic Tip. If not it may be time to try another powder. 3100 is probably fast enough to get any job done however as most of my shots are under 100 yards. If I was looking at shots regularly over 200 yards then I might want to get all I can get out of the case, but accuracy at this point is great so I'm not going to worry about 100-200 extra FPS.

Bob

My Steyr Pro Hunter 260 rem with a 23.6 inch barrel has the following velocity's:

100 grain Partition 3278 fps
125 grain Partiion 2925 fps
130 grain Scirocco II 2875 fps
129 grain Hornady 2778 fps

I purchased the 260 as a reloading toy, and have since been very impressed with it's accuracy, and capabilities. It's a sleeper in my book.

quote:

Originally posted by AggieDog:
My Steyr Pro Hunter 260 rem with a 23.6 inch barrel has the following velocity's:

100 grain Partition 3278 fps
125 grain Partiion 2925 fps
130 grain Scirocco II 2875 fps
129 grain Hornady 2778 fps

I purchased the 260 as a reloading toy, and have since been very impressed with it's accuracy, and capabilities. It's a sleeper in my book.

That Pro Hunter is a nice little rifle, isn't it? The one's I have spoken with people about have all shot well and have a good trigger. I think they are not available in the U.S. anymore though.

The .260 Rem has not attracted as much attention as it deserves because the factory loads for it that were used for the magazine writers' reviews was pretty slow stuff.

Cheers!

I build a custom rifle for myself in 260 Rem. It's a pretty nice smallbore round. Rick Jamison said that in his opinion he believes it's about the most perfect whitetail deer cartridge.

I think the 260 hasn't done well because it came out in a time where the market was still dominated by magnums, then the current rage the short magnums.

About the heavier longer bullets having more bearing surface, that is true, but you will find, especially in the say the Hornady 160gr roundnose that hardly any at all of the nose ahead of the cannelure is groove diameter. The factory knows that too much bearing surface can be dangerous if that heavy bullet is substituted in a maximum load for a slightly lighter shorter bullet.