6.5 wsm

[djtjr]

I own 6.5 WSMs to go fast. I have other 6.5s for close range or to go less fast. What Long Range Hunting Forum is about is long range performance. Note that proponents of H-1000, R-22 or R-17 (which is a modern Swiss powder but is just too fast for this case capacity) do not list the charge weights or velocities they are getting. I suspect that they have a lot of rattle room in the case and have not tried the newer tech powders like the VV N series (N-570), the Swiss NitroChemie (R-26) or Hodgdons Enduron (IMR -7977). These powders provide more velocity at lower pressures and that is why these distributors are trying to help us. We are fortunate that new technology is still being brought into a shrinking market of handloading. There is only one small arms powder plant left in the US and they make ball powder. Olin basically sold the plant to the employees. St Marks in Florida. We are the beneficiaries of Alliant (owned by Blackhawk) and Hodgdon. VihtaVuori sold last year to Lapua for a song and Hodgdon is now distributing IMR from Canada, Norma and VihtaVuori powders.
I started handloading with only surplus H-4831 and H-870 to work with in the .264 Win Mag. I did back flips when Reloader 22 was imported from Bufors. H-1000 was the next available. H-1000 got me to 3150 fps reliably and with great accuracy with 140 gr bullets in the .264 Win Mag. By the time Retumbo and R-25 became available, I was handloading the 6.5 WSM instead of the .264 Win Mag. Now the best performance is possible from R-26, N-570 or IMR 7977 in the WSM case. I am puzzled why MagPro does not go faster, it is the fastest powder I have found with 140 gr bullets in the .270 WSM. Ramshot Magnum seems to get as high a velocity as Retumbo but does not provide the same accuracy and I suspect that is because it is a ball powder.

While i am pretty impressed with the velocities i am getting from H-1000 wint eh 6.5WSM in both rifle and XP handgun format, i am not above trying to squeeze some more out of it. with the newer powders would you be willing to post some starting loads (and perhaps max) and their velocities so others can experiment? As we all know there is not a lot of info out on those powders and even less in these kinds of wildcats.

 

[65WSM]

6.5 WSM

I have not put my hands on IMR 7977. I have R-26 loaded with 130 and 140 Bergers and ready to go to the range but no data yet. Standby.

140 Matchking 67.74 gr VV N570 3246 4.9 F215 140 Matchking 67.25 gr VV N570 3245 30.5 F215 140 Hybrid 67.0 gr VV N570 3227 19.1 F215 140 Hybrid 68.0 gr VV N570 3266 13.0 F215

 

[djtjr]

Great thanks. Let us know how you do with RL-26 or others as they come up. I have become a huge fan of the 6.5WSM and to me for my purposes its the best of the 6.5s

 

[djtjr]

and yes i know that's a bold statement, but since i view barrels as a component to be replaced when needed ill stand by it. Not to say i don't love my 6.5x284, Creedmoor, 260s, 6.5 wssms and 6,5 x 47 also....

 

[65WSM]

I got out today and tried R-26 with 130 an 140 gr Bergers.

R-26 Rocks with 130 gr bullets. With 140 gr bullets VV N-570 is faster by far.
130 Berger Hunting 65.6 gr R-26 3426 fps 2.12 SD B-78
R 7 ½ 3.090 OAL 07/16/15

 

[parshal]

I know this pic isn't all that great but I wanted to show it off. Without scope the rifle weight 7# 8.5 oz. Lighter than I expected.

 

[djtjr]

thats sweet. awesome gun

 

[parshal]

A couple more. The Stryker Ridge action is made by Defiance for Brownell's. It's their 700 clone with a different name.

 

[parshal]

Took it out today. Using only 12 shots I worked up a load of 65 grains R26 for a .5" 100 yard group at 3419 fps average with a 130 grain Precision Ballistic. I only shot 4 shouts over the Magnetospeed so it's not a great sample but the SD was 3.5 and the ES was 6.

I was able to get to 67 grains with with slight resistance on bolt lift at 59 degrees. From 61 grains to 67 all the bullets were touching. I can't say how impressed I am with this rifle.

 

[parshal]

For anyone who may read this in the future looking for 6.5 wsm loads here's what I used. I dropped my load from 65 grains (67 was close to max for my rifle) of R26 to 63 grains with an average velocity of 3372 with a 130 Precision Ballistics bullet. Here's the target at 200 yards.

 

[cervus]

So will you be looking to try any 140gr projectiles??

 

[65WSM]

I have two 6.5 WSM rifles. One a bolt and one a falling block. I think the 140 gr bullets are over rated for hunting. Inside 550 yards (the back wall of my club range), the 130s will shoot flatter, requiring less holdover because we can shoot them so fast. At 1000 yards the 140s might shine, but at normal hunting ranges, I find that the 130s (Accubond, Scirocco and Bergers) are more than adequate.

I will hunt tomorrow morning with 140 Bergers in my falling block, because I have a load set up for exactly 4 mils holdover at 400 yards, the reticle post for 550.

The Model 70 is set up for 130 Accubonds.

 

[parshal]

I think the 140 gr bullets are over rated for hunting. Inside 550 yards (the back wall of my club range), the 130s will shoot flatter, requiring less holdover because we can shoot them so fast. At 1000 yards the 140s might shine, but at normal hunting ranges, I find that the 130s (Accubond, Scirocco and Bergers) are more than adequate.

That's almost verbatim what the smith who built my rifle said. I have 500 Matrix 150 grainers and had planned on using them. He thought me an idiot. I ended up not having the N570 so decided to use the 130's. They worked just fine on the two elk last weekend.

 

[Iron Worker]

Y'all still loving your 6.5 WSM ? What about 6.5x300 WBY MAG or 6.5 PRC ?