I got the bug to get a 6.5 mm and am thinking about the 6.5 mm Rem Mag. My interest would be for deer hunting, maybe a few speed goats. Bullets of interest would be the 120 gr BT, 125 gr PT and the 130 gr AB.
Anybody have any experience with this round?

JD338

Hey JD

You gonna buy a factory short action or rebarrel an existing action?

The reason I ask is that I have had 2 made from 300 win mags. The longer mags and actions allow you to seat those long 6.5 bullets way out there and not get into the powder space. Both of the ones I made have 26" barrels, 1 a Douglas 1 in 8 twist and the other a Shilen 1 in 9 twist.

So the load data I have would not be the same as a factory short action. But in case you want to know my load is pushing the 130 gr Scirrocco II at 3200 fps.

If you are going to use a long action, why not do a 264 Win Mag???

The 264 Win Mag was my second centerfire rifle, a Pre 64 Winchester Mod 70, the one they called the "Westerner".
I was in high school.
It did kill deer real well...

I have one in a short action Remington. I had the magazine extended to 3.0". I really like the rifle. It has a 24" barrel with 1-9 twist. I use IMR4350 and RL-19. My favorite load in this rifle is a 120 Barnes with 56 gr of IMR4350. I put a 2.5-8 Leupold on it.

I also have a 264 WM, but I prefer the 6.5. It shoots the bullets almost as fast as my 264, but it's a more handy rifle - lighter and shorter. I also like that the 6.5 RM cartridge seems to have just the right capacity. In my 264 I always have a lot of extra space even when I use powders like US-869 or RL-25. The only powders that I've heard that actually fill the 264 are hard to find. Anyway, the 6.5 RM seems to be the right size for slinging 120 and 130 grain bullets.

I owned a 6.5 Rem Mag many years ago in a Ruger 77. It delivered good velocities and seemed well-suited to the 120 grain Sierras I used exclusively in it.

Either a 6.5-06 or a 6.5/284 will be ballistically identical to it. If wishing to built a short-actioned rifle I think I would opt for the 6.5/284 since that bolt face is much easier to find. Of course, actions made for the WSM or RSUM series would work fine for your 6.5 RM. For that matter, a 6.5 WSM or RSM would give you a tad more powder capacity and would approach the .264 WM in velocity -- at least with the lighter bullets.

If utilizing a long action, then a 6.5-06 probably has all of the advantages over the 6.5 RM -- cheaper brass and more room to work with in the magazine. As far as that "short fat" mystique, well, it's largely B.S. that will fade as soon as the current generation of shooters start to climb the learning curve.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
I owned a 6.5 Rem Mag many years ago in a Ruger 77. It delivered good velocities and seemed well-suited to the 120 grain Sierras I used exclusively in it.

Either a 6.5-06 or a 6.5/284 will be ballistically identical to it. If wishing to built a short-actioned rifle I think I would opt for the 6.5/284 since that bolt face is much easier to find. Of course, actions made for the WSM or RSUM series would work fine for your 6.5 RM. For that matter, a 6.5 WSM or RSM would give you a tad more powder capacity and would approach the .264 WM in velocity -- at least with the lighter bullets.

If utilizing a long action, then a 6.5-06 probably has all of the advantages over the 6.5 RM -- cheaper brass and more room to work with in the magazine. As far as that "short fat" mystique, well, it's largely B.S. that will fade as soon as the current generation of shooters start to climb the learning curve.

Excellent post!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Stonecreek:
I owned a 6.5 Rem Mag many years ago in a Ruger 77. It delivered good velocities and seemed well-suited to the 120 grain Sierras I used exclusively in it.

Either a 6.5-06 or a 6.5/284 will be ballistically identical to it. If wishing to built a short-actioned rifle I think I would opt for the 6.5/284 since that bolt face is much easier to find. Of course, actions made for the WSM or RSUM series would work fine for your 6.5 RM. For that matter, a 6.5 WSM or RSM would give you a tad more powder capacity and would approach the .264 WM in velocity -- at least with the lighter bullets.

If utilizing a long action, then a 6.5-06 probably has all of the advantages over the 6.5 RM -- cheaper brass and more room to work with in the magazine. \QUOTE]

Plus you don't have to open the bolt face, and those long slender "pencils" feed & eject very, very well from anything originally made for an '06 case. What's not to like about a good old M70, Rem 721, or Springfield action in 6.5/06 for North American plains game? In Vapo's sand hills territory , I can't think of anything much better.

off topic...

but glad to see you back in Action here AC...

how's things working out for you down in AZ?

hope all is well with you and the Mrs...

cheers
seafire

The belt isn't that much of an issue depending on the action that you are going to have barreled.

The RSAUM is beltless, is rebated & will run velocities along side of a 264Win Mag.

The WSM case is basically a 6.5/350 Rem Mag case without the belt.

The '06 family of cases aren't as efficient as the short cases.

quote:

The '06 family of cases aren't as efficient as the short cases.

Still climbing the learning curve, I see.

I have a 24 in barreled 6.5 Rem in a mauser 98 action. I shoot mostly the 125-129 gr bullets and seat them out so the base of the bullet is even with the bottom of the neck so case capacity is not compromised.With RL22 and RL25 powders velocities come very close to those obtainable in a 264 Win. Check out the Nosler # 6 loading manual.

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
off topic...

but glad to see you back in Action here AC...

how's things working out for you down in AZ?

hope all is well with you and the Mrs...

cheers
seafire

Thank you very much Seafire, for your kindly inquiry and thoughts. So far, we are doing okay. Sold our place in Oregon for more than enough money to pay cash for a home here. But, I can see why, Not nearly as nice here as in your and my neck of the Oregon woods.

Anyway, my foot has been surgically repaired correctly, which is something I couldn't get done in our small town facilities up there, so that four years of misery seems finally over.

The contractor is just about finished on my new gun room, and I have just about learned not to trust anyone's word in a business transaction here, which in the long run should save me a heap of money. (NEVER get car repairs in the Phoenix, AZ area, son. That's an important fact of life.)

One of the things I really liked about olde Oregon was the fact that a handshake was better than a written contract among most folks there.

Hope things are going well for you out on the Applegate Trail...

Best wishes

Well I am in the 6.5 mm game. I bought a NIB M673 Guide in 6.5 mm Rem Mag. I have the brass and dies. Going to start my load development with the 120 gr BT. I also have a box of the 125 gr PT which I will use on WT this fall. I am also going to play with the 130 gr AB. First choice on powder is RL 22.

JD338

Here's a 6.5 WSM wishing it were a 6.5 SAUM instead (the greatest large capacity 6.5 case ever designed...IMO)

Here she is, all scoped up with a Vari-X III 2.5-8x36mm and M1 dials.

JD338

Jd: If I was to build a 6.5 Remington Magnum, which I beleive is a fine cartridge, I would build it with the OAL length in mind. Nothing wrong with a long action, in any chambering that floats your boat. I shoot the 6.5-06, built on a Springfield, and my bullet of choice is a 120 Gain Sierra @ 3174fps, out of a 24" barrel. If you go this way, as has been suggested, I have a caution for you, FYI. The 6.5-06 A Square, IS NOT the same as the 6.5-06 Wildcat. The lead,(throat) of the A Square chambering is almost .250 long, and if your gunsmith uses a one piece finish reamer, you will not be able to get close to the lands with the lighter bullets. Have this discussion before you sign on to a 6.5-06, which is also a fantastic cartridge. Voice of experience here.


Jerry

quote:

Originally posted by JD338:

JD338

Beatiful rifle !!!
I wish you many succesful hunts with it.

L

I don't know about the .260 caliber as being a growing happening around my area, the 25-06 and the 6.5 (.264cal) 06 still seem to be holding the fort down. Also lots of younger shooters taking advantage of the WSM .270 caliber.

Thanks fellas. Load development is now in full swing. She wants to shoot putting the first two tight, sometimes cutting one hole, and then throwing the third one out.
I shimmed the action just behind the recoil lug and will try some more loads with the 120 gr BT and 125 gr PT. If she tightens up, I will bed the action.

JD338

quote:

Hope things are going well for you out on the Applegate Trail...

Just seeing this AC...

yeah, things are clicking along..

lousy spring this year.. but the whole nation has had it rough..

sad to see Arizona is another great place ruined by liberalism and unprecedented illegal immigration....

I do most of my own work on my vehicles...I just trust few mechanics..

as I have always said.. if you rob someone with a knife or gun, that is illegal...

if you rob someone with a wrench and a work order, you can do that 24 hours a day, 7 days a week... and that is NOT illegal...

both are still thieves...

hope all is well.. and stays that way... glad to hear you got the surgery you needed..

best regards...

quote:

If utilizing a long action, then a 6.5-06 probably has all of the advantages over the 6.5 RM -- cheaper brass and more room to work with in the magazine. \

quote:

Plus you don't have to open the bolt face, and those long slender "pencils" feed & eject very, very well from anything originally made for an '06 case. \

Taking advantage of a standard length action for a 30-06 makes good sense.

The 30-06 is the parent case of the .25-06, 6.5mm-06 and the .270 Winchester, all of which are pretty similar and not much different in terms of powder capacity. Had the 6.5mm-06 been commercially adopted first ( and they tried in the 30's but it did not catch on), the other two would not have been necessary. bullets in 6.5 mm feature some of the best BC's (aided by SD) sub .338 caliber, and that is a good position to be at. Little wonder the Swedes still favour their 6.5x55 Mausers, and even compete with them in Palma competitions.

For some reason, the .270 Win has always remained a hunting round, and never really caught on as a target or 1,000 yard match cartridge, as there aren't as many bullet offerings compared to the 6.5 mm bullets. Until somebody does come up with a sleeker .277" bullet, the 6.5-06 maintains the ballistic advantage out to 1,000+ yards.

Whilst the 6.5-06 would be a great idea, I do see a LOT MORE of 6.5-284's out there stealing the limelight.

Warrior

quote:

Originally posted by Blue Dog:
I don't know about the .260 caliber as being a growing happening around my area, the 25-06 and the 6.5 (.264cal) 06 still seem to be holding the fort down. Also lots of younger shooters taking advantage of the WSM .270 caliber.

Cool the barrel more on the third shot. I had a .350 RM 673 and it would pull the third shot due to the rib. Yeah, the rib is floated on rubber o-rings, but it still made a diff.

I think I found Utopia.

6.5mm Rem Mag with a 130 gr AB, 59.0 grs of RL 22, R-P case and the GM215M primers produced the following from the 22" barreled M673 Guide rifle.

3004, 3013, 3005 for an average 3007 fps

ES 9

SD 4

Group went .372" at 100 yds

JD338

Build it on a Winchester Model 70 short action and you can seat bullets out further. I build a 6.5 SAUM on a 70 for long range. 260 AI is also a great cartridge for a short action.

I found a nice load for the 6.5mm Rem Mag with the 130 gr AB. MV is 3047

JD338

JD
Looks good to me.

Of course you could have just gone with a plain ole 270 Win...

But where is the adventure in THAT.

Well done.