6.5 options

Looking at building a light weight 6.5. Cant decide between 6.5 saum or 6.5 ss. Also between 20 and 22 inch barrel. Wanting to shoot 124 or 131gr hammer hunters 3000+ fps. Any opinions or input welcomed

Short action? 6.5SS
XM? Flip a coin. '
But if you have an XM...
Don't forget about the 6.5Max (SAUM Imp 40*)
Or the 6.5Mega
Or the 6.5PRC/SI

I have a 20" 6.5SS built on a Kelbly Atlas Tac SA w. Wyatt's extended box BDL. Fits anything in the mad at the lands except the 150 SMK and 156 Elite. But a little jump never hurt anything (except a guy standing on the edge of a building).

130 OTM @ 3085
131 HH @ 3100
129 AH @ 3160ish
124 HH should be close to 3200, but I didn't try them.

My 22" 6.5PRC/SI hit 3250 w. 129 NABLR. I am pretty sure a 124 HH would be close to the 3300 mark. 123 AH should make 3300+ easily.

It will be on a zermatt sr3 short action. Thanks for the reply

lancetkenyon said:

Short action? 6.5SS
XM? Flip a coin. '
But if you have an XM...
Don't forget about the 6.5Max (SAUM Imp 40*)
Or the 6.5Mega
Or the 6.5PRC/SI

I have a 20" 6.5SS built on a Kelbly Atlas Tac SA w. Wyatt's extended box BDL. Fits anything in the mad at the lands except the 150 SMK and 156 Elite. But a little jump never hurt anything (except a guy standing on the edge of a building).

130 OTM @ 3085
131 HH @ 3100
129 AH @ 3160ish
124 HH should be close to 3200, but I didn't try them.

My 22" 6.5PRC/SI hit 3250 w. 129 NABLR. I am pretty sure a 124 HH would be close to the 3300 mark. 123 AH should make 3300+ easily.

Click to expand...

Is there any gain one over the other for the prc/si vs max vs mega

Go 6.5 SS, great round, available ADG brass, and fits a SA quite nicely. I love my 6.5 SAUM but it's built on an XM action. I do have a 6.5 PRC in a SA, shoots 125 HHT at 3260 fps, kills deer pretty good.

bowhunter1287 said:

Is there any gain one over the other for the prc/si vs max vs mega

Click to expand...

1) Mega
2) Max
3)PRC/SI and SS are close, I think Lance found out.
This is my Max about 10 days ago, at 28"

bowhunter1287 said:

Is there any gain one over the other for the prc/si vs max vs mega

Click to expand...

The pros of 6.5PRC/SI are Lapua, ADG, or Peterson brass will always be readily available, and can be cheaper than Sherman headstamped ADG brass.
The cons are you have to fire form, and headstamp won't quite match the barrel engraving.

Max and Mega will outrun the PRC/SI.

I went with 6.5-300WSM back in 2001, I used a long action, then I looked at all of these newer options and went with 6.5x47 (2) and 260AI.
Not a single animal knows the difference, even when I'm using my 264WM or 6.5-300 Weatherby.

Choose whichever one you like the most.
I never let anyone else sway my choice. Choose a barrel length and build it.

Cheers.

lancetkenyon said:

The pros of 6.5PRC/SI are Lapua, ADG, or Peterson brass will always be readily available, and can be cheaper than Sherman headstamped ADG brass.
The cons are you have to fire form, and headstamp won't quite match the barrel engraving.

Max and Mega will outrun the PRC/SI.

Click to expand...

Do you think the prc/si would get the 112 hht to 4000 fps or be able to get the 124hht to almost 3800 fps? Has anyone tried the 124hht in the max?

So which has more powder capacity?
Mega or max?

Both 6.5 saum's. The top rifle is built on a Lone Peak Fuzion short action with a 21" Benchmark carbon. I used Unknown Munitions m5 dbm set up with a Short XL box which has a box length of 3.150. This rifle was throated specifically for the Berger 156 and the Lapua 139 scenar at approximately .220 fb. The bearing surface of these bullets is very similar. My overall length to the lands with the 156 is 3.086. With my load it's running 2850 fps with N565. The scenar is 2.946 to the lands. With the load I've got for the 139 I'm 3015 fps with N565. Both very accurate.
The lower rifle is a GA Precision SA Templar / Defiance. 20" Bartlein #4 carbon. Chambered with .120 fb Gap 4s reamer. I run the Berger 140 hybrid out of it at 3000 fps with RL26. Also very accurate.
The Sherman Max is also a good option with the brass already formed to 40 degrees. However it would need necking down from 7mm. I've got some experience with the Sherman max variants but not the SS.

Tom264 said:

So which has more powder capacity?
Mega or max?

Click to expand...

Not 6.5 but close

Ok.
I'm sure 6.5 is not too much different.
Thx

bowhunter1287 said:

Do you think the prc/si would get the 112 hht to 4000 fps or be able to get the 124hht to almost 3800 fps? Has anyone tried the 124hht in the max?

Click to expand...

No.