Looking for project info 6.5mm?

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Spyderfire1

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Hello,

I have a donor action with a .473 Bolt face in a Rem 700 LA. Looking to build a new toy... Long range and somewhat lightweight

I have the 308,300 and 338 all done but looking for the forums suggestions on building a 6.5mm Rifle.

Comparing the 260, 6.5 x47, 6.5 Creedmore and the 6.5x284 options? I realize the LA makes shooting a SA cartridge odd, but it is possible and I'm not opposed to it.

Reloading my own of course to get the most for accuracy.

I'd like to hear what people who have these have found and what they are getting for barrel life, accuracy and recoil. Not wanting to put a brake on it but looking to be able to spot my own hits (or misses)

Thanks!

SF1
 
If it's LA I'd run a 260. Maybe the AI version and the 160 matrix bullets seated out pretty far.
Or more likely 6.5x55.
I am playing the same game trying to decide on a 7mm chambering. 280AI, 708AI, or 7X57AI. I think I'm going 7x57.
 
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260 is an excellent choice. 6.5 Creedmoor is also good, brass can be trickier to find?? I've heard people call the Creedmoor "the 260 done right", but I don't know what they mean there.
I went with 6.5x47L, brass is more expensive but durable and accurate as all heck. Gives up a little horsepower but not a lot.
6.5x284 is the hotrod. Also shortest barrel life of the 4.
 
I've got a 260ai I built on a short action and have to run a Wyatt's box to be able to use the 140 grain bullets, a long action would be a nice way to allieviate this. I'll be building a 6.5-284 Norma with a reamer I have spec for lapua brass, be interesting to see how that one works out. A 260ai would be a bit kinder on throats than a 6.5-284 but depending on the type of shooting you are doing this may not really matter all that much. Lapua brass is available for both of these calibers.
 
Alpheus said:
260 is an excellent choice. 6.5 Creedmoor is also good, brass can be trickier to find?? I've heard people call the Creedmoor "the 260 done right", but I don't know what they mean there.
I went with 6.5x47L, brass is more expensive but durable and accurate as all heck. Gives up a little horsepower but not a lot.
6.5x284 is the hotrod. Also shortest barrel life of the 4.
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Running a creedmore or a 6.5x47 would be a little pointless on a long action. If it were a short action that would be the way I would roll as well.
 
Robmcleod82 said:
Running a creedmore or a 6.5x47 would be a little pointless on a long action. If it were a short action that would be the way I would roll as well.
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I wouldn't say pointless, just unusual. It's what the OP has and listed what the calibers he's looking at. Buddy of mine is getting a 308 bolt and 6.5 barrel for his 338LM AIAX. Different strokes for different folks.

That being said, as mentioned a 6.5x55 would be a great way to go.
 
Alpheus said:
I wouldn't say pointless, just unusual. It's what the OP has and listed what the calibers he's looking at. Buddy of mine is getting a 308 bolt and 6.5 barrel for his 338LM AIAX. Different strokes for different folks.

That being said, as mentioned a 6.5x55 would be a great way to go.
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I was just more of the line of thinking that if your going to run a SA cartridge on a LA get the one with the most horse power. The other thing that would concern me with the creedmore or the 47 in a long action would be getting it to feed reliably.
 
Thank you guys for the info, Rob, very good question on the last point, hoping to mag feed it from HS Mags and bottom metal. Not all matches require follow up shots but i hope to shoot a few that do. Just reading on this forum and a few others on the pros and cons of each, lots to think about. Next question i have is how much BBL is needed? Thinking a 27" is popular on the 6.5x284 but I'd love to lighten it up and shorten it up on a 260 maybe?
Again, much appreciated for the constructive comments, 260 single shot is not an option but thanks Jerry for your input.

If you guys can keep feeding me the info or if you have a build in one of these, I'd love to hear some range reports.

Cheers
SF1
 
I was in your shoes at one point. I have a 6.5x47 SA and a 6.5x284LA. They're both repeaters and have no feeding issues. Both cartridges have their pros and cons. I have seen the 260AI burn a barrel in 800 rounds. I have read the 6.5-284 can go 2000+ with slow powder like H1000. I have no proof yet. Recoil is next to nil in both guns. I run 130's at around 2825fps in the 6.5x47 and I run 140's around 2950 fps in the 6.5-284 Neither load is pushing pressure or showing any signs of it.
 
rl4930 said:
I was in your shoes at one point. I have a 6.5x47 SA and a 6.5x284LA. They're both repeaters and have no feeding issues. Both cartridges have their pros and cons. I have seen the 260AI burn a barrel in 800 rounds. I have read the 6.5-284 can go 2000+ with slow powder like H1000. I have no proof yet. Recoil is next to nil in both guns. I run 130's at around 2825fps in the 6.5x47 and I run 140's around 2950 fps in the 6.5-284 Neither load is pushing pressure or showing any signs of it.
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That's perfect! Thank you! H1000 would be nice to use as i can run it in my 338 as well and its one less thing to have to stock and source then. Thank you for the data as well, makes comparing things easier, i realize that YMMV with loads and such but still great info.

Thanks!
 
No problem. I haven't developed a load for h1000 yet. But h4350, h4831 and h1000 all work well in the 6.5-284. I like h1000 because it fills the case, I have a suspicion that it will work well with 215m primers. I also run 30" barrels. But you wouldn't have any trouble reaching those velocities at 27" I would think.
 
Give this a read. It might help to steer you down one path or another: http ://demigodllc.com/articles/6.5-shootout-260-6.5x47-6.5-creedmoor/
 
I found a good node @ 54.6-54.9 and another @55.8-56.1 with h1000 fed 215m primers and 140 Berger vld's. Looks like h1000 is gonna work well in the 6.5x284. It's a lot dirtier than h4350. But h1000 fills the case and there's not much pressure.
 
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