My dilemma!

CanuckWR

CanuckWR

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So this is an opinion pole for the smart experienced shooters and or custom builders.

I recently aquired a 264 win mag chambered, pacnor cm barrel in a trade. Its pretty much in need of finishing and threading onto a savage action. My dilemma starts with what to do with this barrel? I would love a 6.5mm but what chamber to use!?

My question to the guru's is what is the chamber that is efficient, capable to 1000m with 140gr vld or match bullets, easy to find brass/suitable powders, long barrel life (2500ish round accurate life). I am leaning toward a 6.5x47lapua as it fits the bill in my eyes... I have a short and a long action as potential for this project so options are wide open. It might kill whitetails, but I doubt it as my 45/70 will not allow the competition. Lol. So primarily paper punching and fun.

Cost is a concern but more that I want to shoot and not spend my life sourcing rare crap and unobtainium. I have adult ADHD and NEED IT NOW! Lol. I'm planning CCI BR2 primers and Varget as I already have loads of both.

Thoughts?
 
Your barrel life requirement will choose the case capacity for you. If that is the barrel life that you want to get, than a 6.5x47 would probably be a very nice choice. Or any smaller (case volume) 6.5mm cartridge e.g. a 6.5BR.

FWIW barrel life is not a very big cost of owning and shooting a rifle. Figure out how much 2500 rounds of 6.5x47 ammo plus one barrel is going to cost you. Then figure out how much 2500 rounds of 6.5x284 ammo and two barrels is going to cost you. It's an interesting exercise.
 
6.5 @ 1000Ms

The 6.5X47L is not a 1000M cartridge, the 6X47L is used for LR, I found it difficult to load for, only seemed to work with one powder VVN560.
For the 6.5 bore the swedes had it figured out many years ago "6.5X55" this chambering will give you long barrel life and a muzzle velocity close to 2900fps. I shoot the 6.5-284 it's more case capacity than you need. When this barrel is done I will go with the 6.5X55 Ackley.
Bill
 
If that barrel was mine I would make a 6.5 slr a 260 rem with the shoulder pushed back to 30 degrees and a longer neck with the same case capacity.
From what I have been reading it will push a 140gr bullet to almost the same speed as a 6.5 284 with great accuracy and longer barrel life.
 
First things first, you need to figure out how worn that bore is and how much you need to chop off to rechamber properly.

The Savage is going to need at least 1.5" of barrel at 1.060". If the barrel shank tapers much below this, you cannot thread the outside.

If this is a standard varmint contour, you will likely not be able to make it work. You need to chop off approx 2.5" to get rid of that chamber. Then you need 1.5" at 1.060". measure what you have and forget about this project if there isn't enough barrel.

If the goal is over 2000rds of accurate fire out to 1000yds, the 6.5BR is the only option.

Of course your idea of accuracy can vary but from an F class perspective - 6.5X284 1000rds (but I would start to worry after 800rds). 260 reg and improved 1200rds (but watch once you get over 1000rds). 6.5 Creedmore and 6.5X47L will be similar, maybe getting to 1500rds if not shot hot

6.5BR 2000rds should be obtainable.

The best chamberings ballistically are the larger cases and these will not reach your wear goals.

Odds are for the cost and risk of not making it all fit vs a price of a brand new prefit, I would suggest going the prefit route

Jerry
 
Mystic Precision said:
First things first, you need to figure out how worn that bore is and how much you need to chop off to rechamber properly.

The Savage is going to need at least 1.5" of barrel at 1.060". If the barrel shank tapers much below this, you cannot thread the outside.

If this is a standard varmint contour, you will likely not be able to make it work. You need to chop off approx 2.5" to get rid of that chamber. Then you need 1.5" at 1.060". measure what you have and forget about this project if there isn't enough barrel.

If the goal is over 2000rds of accurate fire out to 1000yds, the 6.5BR is the only option.

Of course your idea of accuracy can vary but from an F class perspective - 6.5X284 1000rds (but I would start to worry after 800rds). 260 reg and improved 1200rds (but watch once you get over 1000rds). 6.5 Creedmore and 6.5X47L will be similar, maybe getting to 1500rds if not shot hot

6.5BR 2000rds should be obtainable.

The best chamberings ballistically are the larger cases and these will not reach your wear goals.

Odds are for the cost and risk of not making it all fit vs a price of a brand new prefit, I would suggest going the prefit route

Jerry
Click to expand...

Barrel is brand new, never mounted. Actually rather nice with wonderful potential.

I kinda figured the prefit would be the route of cost vs. value. I kinda want to avoid a barrel burner, as it is already chambered in one and I like to shoot lots. I'll just have to find a buyer for this barrel.

I think I can deal with 1000-1500 "accurate" life. I am sure it will still be fun for a few rounds after 1500. :)
 
But it is already chambered so all the issues still exist. personally, I would just mount it and have fun.

who cares if it dies in 800rds or whatever. That is shooting NOW instead of waiting for a while to get a new barrel.

Besides zapping 140's at 3100fps is a hoot. And you may find a milder load that also shoots well. That WILL extend your bore life.

If this is a LR plinker, you will likely shoot another 50% over what an F class shooter will tolerate. Boulders really don't care where you hit them and splats way the heck out there are just too much fun.

Go shoot it....

Jerry
 
For some stupid reason, Every deer I shot with a 264 sustained alot greater damage than if had been shot with a 7mm rem and the same weight of bullet, it seemed odd to me, but I believe it's a function of the higher s.d. bullet. I had a M70 westerner 264 that would launch 130 grn accubonds at 3300FPS with a stout charge of retumbo, extremely effective on Whitetail deer, the Nosler effect is really noticeable at that velocity, Dead right there.
 
I agree with Mystic Precision, mount that puppy and have fun. The 264 Win mag is a favorite of mine, my old Sako is my go to gun for deer and coyote hunting.
 
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