6.5 Remington Magnum Advice

[azbushrat]

I have been on the lookout for quite a while for a long range hunting rifle for coues deer here in Arizona. I have always been partial to the looks of the "classic" hunting rifle with wood stock blue barrel etc, but decided I wanted to get a longrange gun that I could carry without worrying about dinging up the stock. So that is when I decided I wanted a 6.5x284 in a synthetic stock with a SS barrel.

However, the other week I came across a 6.5 remington magnum in a Remington 700 BDL. Apparently this gun was made in 1969 and is extremely rare (less than 1500 ever made, probably more like 700)... but I digress. I knew I would be limited by the short action but the price seemed right so I bought the gun.

I am now having seconds thoughts. It seems everyone says you need the longer action for the best performance (bullet depth, more powder, etc). What can I expect from this gun with its short action? Does anyone have any recommended loads/bullets they use for a short action gun? All I really want is a good gun for taking coues out to 500 or 600 yards.

I can always sell the gun and continue my search for a 6.5x284 in a long action gun if necessary.

By the way, I just joined the site. I knew you all would be the guys with the answers. I look forward to many more hours of enjoyment, and schooling, from this forum!!

thanks,
azbushrat

 

[backwoods83]

You actually have 2 problems with that rifle, one is the mag length but that can be solved with a follower and loading them individually, two the real problem is your bullet selection due remingtons "wise" idea of using a 1:9 twist instead of a 1:8 to stabilize the better modern bullets.

 

[azbushrat]

Oh, I guess I should add that this rifle has a 24" barrel too.

So maybe to add or rephrase...if I wanted to shoot 130 gr bullets (maybe 140), what do I loose by using this remington 700 SA vs a long action? Is the gain worth getting rid of this gun for another?

 

[azbushrat]

You actually have 2 problems with that rifle, one is the mag length but that can be solved with a follower and loading them individually, two the real problem is your bullet selection due remingtons "wise" idea of using a 1:9 twist instead of a 1:8 to stabilize the better modern bullets.

Yeah I will be limited to 2.800" for an OAL, I have already measured my magazine. Since this will be a hunting rifle I will need the magazine for any follow up shots. This is really the crux of my questions, how does this OAL restriction impact the cartridge's performance for long range hunting?

Can you elaborate on how I am limited by a 1:9 twist and how do you know it is 1:9?

thanks for your help!

 

[backwoods83]

Remington uses a 1:9 on all their 26 calibers, a 130 accubond is the biggest you will stabilize, the 130 scirroco won't even work, and at that oal you most likely won't be able to stabilize much more than 120s due to lack of speed, that round likes an 8 twist with 130-140 vld or the like with a oal of 3.1-3.150 and 3000fps+, don't sell it, its rare, but its not what your looking for.

 

[Jamie6.5]

Give any bullet you think you'd like to try a chance.
My 6.5x57AI shoots 123s, 130 Scirocco IIs and 140 Amaxs just fine with a 1:9 twist.
Your 6.5Mag case has more room before you sink the bullet due to mag length, but the net volume should be close. Your velocities should be near mine with similar barrel lengths. Mine is 24."

 

[Coyboy]

A wyatts mag box will give you another .100" of magazine length.
The 130 accubond will kill anything you want in the range you listed.

 

[woods]

Here is a link to the Wyatt's box Coyboy mentioned

Wyatt's Extended Window Magazine Box Remington 700 BDL Short Action - MidwayUSA

I have a 6.5 rem mag but it is built off a 300 win mag action and throated to seat the bullet further out

and most of my COAL's are around 3.100" or so.

Along with the Wyatt's box you should give RL17 a try. It is a faster powder close to IMR4350 and you will need less of it than a slower powder like RL22, H4831 etc.

I am now shooting the 130 gr Scirrocco II because of it's high ballistic coefficient and wanting to shoot at the highest power possible with the Zeiss RapidZ 800 reticle I have. Here is some data but you need to START AT THE LOWER END for your gun since you will have a smaller combustion chamber (probably unless you have an exceptionally long throat)

IMO with the Wyatt's box and RL17 you should be able to get where you need to go.

 

[azbushrat]

thanks for the input. I will look into the Wyatt box.

I don't plan on going any larger than 130 since the coues deer here are so small. I guess I will suffer with long range energy.

Woods, thanks for your input.

I didn't think the twist rate would be the limiting factor just the short action.

All other things being equal, how much more speed do you get from a longer OAL in the 6.5RM?

thanks again!

 

[azbushrat]

I should add that my current rifle is chambered in 270 win and has been a great rifle. But I just wanted to add another rifle to the line up...one with greater long range capabilities. The 6.5 bullets seemed to be what I was looking for. So with this in mind I don't think I want to go any smaller than a 130 grain bullet since I would be loosing the BC advantage the 6.5 was bringing to the table.

 

[woods]

As you can see from the last target I lost 53 fps when going from .015" off the lands to .090" off the lands. Now this is only one of the variables.

Mostly it will depend upon your specific jump to the lands, the size of your chamber and the particular characteristics of your barrel. My barrel in those tests was 26" and 1 in 8 twist Douglas #4. The further you seat from the lands the less velocity you will get and the larger your chamber is the less velocity you will get. Although a larger chamber will allow you to put in just a little more powder to compensate.

If you use a fairly fast powder like RL17 that is also good about not showing pressure and you can load close to max then the more velocity you will get. If you use a slower powder like RL22 you might not be able to get to max because the bullet will take up your powder room.

My best guess is that with a 24" barrel if you use RL17 and a mag primer like Fed215 then you would be able to easily get to at least 3050 fps with a 130 gr bullet, even seating deep. Again, unless you have a huge jump to the lands.

 

[NamVet426]

I use the Hornady 100gr with 60Grs of AA4350. Very Accurate Load in mine. Bob

 

[azbushrat]

My best guess is that with a 24" barrel if you use RL17 and a mag primer like Fed215 then you would be able to easily get to at least 3050 fps with a 130 gr bullet, even seating deep. Again, unless you have a huge jump to the lands.

Woods, do use the SCII for hunting? How does it perform?

With the longer bullets will I have to worry about the bullet seating past the ogive to meet the 2.800" OAL limit?

Again, my primary concern is accuracy (for long distance shots) and enough energy to kill a coues deer (a small deer) humanely at 600 yards or so.

 

[woods]

I have yet to shoot anything with the Scirrocco. Last year it worked out that I used my 280AI much more (SS - rainy weather kind of thing). The only game I have shot with the 6.5 was a cull buck a couple of years ago and that was with the 140 gr Sierra Game King

was not totally happy with the performance even though it did not fail. It did not exit on a behind the shoulder 70 yard shot and the buck ran about 50 yards. 50 yards in South Texas brush without a blood trail can mean a long search.

My COAL is 3.10" and seating it .30" deeper will come close to hitting on the beginning of the ogive

The SGK's I mentioned were very accurate and at your yardages would definitely kill a smaller deer. They are not as pointed and you will not seat into the ogive on one of those.