Fastest 6.5 out of a 16-18” barrel and SA

[elktaker]

I've read the OP about what you intend to do with the 6.5 RemMag or the 6.5PRC. I would check on availability of brass for the 6.5 RemMag (and cost) if you choose to go that route. The 6.5 SS sounds seems like a good place to go if Rich gets the ADG brass, so no fireforming brass; that can be a PITA for me.. I am a fan of the .270, I have a .270AI and very happy with it. With that said oftentimes the .270 WSM is overlooked. It too has the ballistics that you want to attain, just throwing it out there because you seem to be looking for ideas. Many years ago, when dinosaurs were walking the earth, I owned a 6.5 RemMag in the Remington 600 when it first came out. It had the funny, plastic raised rim on the 16 or 18 inch barrel. It was an extremely accurate rifle, it liked the 140 gr Nosler partition bullets. I shot a lot of deer with that rifle, it was truly lethal on them with that bullet. Good luck with your build.

thanks, I have 7mm wsm that I fire form from 270 wsm Norma brass so like to stay away from WSM brass.

 

[Alibiiv]

thanks, I have 7mm wsm that I fire form from 270 wsm Norma brass so like to stay away from WSM brass.

Yup,......I understand that one. I have been thinking about building a 6.5-06, best cartridge to make the brass from is the .270 Winchester brass, size it then trim the brass back. Well.....with the .270 Ackley it could get a bit scary. The .270AI will not fit the 6.5-06, however getting the rounds confused would only complicate matters.

 

[elktaker]

I am trying to go short and light so short action for me.

Ordered my trued action today that will be sent to be Skeletonized in the next couple of month.


Going to have get my barrel ordered soon. Thinking about doing 6.5 prc with a 19" barrel and be on the safe side of velocity. If RL26 is ever available it looks like 2800 FPS is doable which is more than enough for what I want.

 

[BrentM]

I am trying to go short and light so short action for me.

Ordered my trued action today that will be sent to be Skeletonized in the next couple of month.


Going to have get my barrel ordered soon. Thinking about doing 6.5 prc with a 19" barrel and be on the safe side of velocity. If RL26 is ever available it looks like 2800 FPS is doable which is more than enough for what I want.

Yup. 19 should easily get 2800 with a 156. When you set the magazine up run wyatts or aics mags. 2.950 is about 70-80 though jump in 180 freebore spec.

 

[elktaker]

Yup. 19 should easily get 2800 with a 156. When you set the magazine up run wyatts or aics mags. 2.950 is about 70-80 though jump in 180 freebore spec.

it will be a blind mag. I am planning to have MG arms ultralight stock. It finished at 16-18 ounces with Al pillars, bedding, sling studs, bipod rail and will run me a little if 600$ installed/bedded to my action.

 

[rammerjammer]

just my opinion but anything shorter than 20" might as well do a 308.
tons of proven combos and data and you wouldn't have to try and reinvent the wheel.

 

[cjl2010]

just my opinion but anything shorter than 20" might as well do a 308.
tons of proven combos and data and you wouldn't have to try and reinvent the wheel.

What bullet and speed out of a 308 compares to a 156 Berger at 2800 fps?

 

[new2mud]

I am trying to go short and light so short action for me.

Ordered my trued action today that will be sent to be Skeletonized in the next couple of month.


Going to have get my barrel ordered soon. Thinking about doing 6.5 prc with a 19" barrel and be on the safe side of velocity. If RL26 is ever available it looks like 2800 FPS is doable which is more than enough for what I want.

For fun I put on an 18" 6.5 PRC barrel and am getting the following with 147s:
2720 FPS with factory Hornady
2850 FPS using H1000
2920 FPS using RL26

I haven't loaded 156 on this barrel yet, but based on comparisons with my 25" barrel, where I had loads for both 147 and 156 EOL, your goal of 2800 with 156 should be attainable with 18", and 19" would give you even more margin to find an accuracy node at or above your desired velocity goal.

 

[GoatHerder]

What about a 26 Nosler? With 156 Bergers

 

[elktaker]

What about a 26 Nosler? With 156 Bergers

Building off a short action.

 

[rammerjammer]

What bullet and speed out of a 308 compares to a 156 Berger at 2800 fps?

OP says he wants a 16"-18" barrel. That's been done to death with a 308 and is effective.
just because load data shows you can potentially hit close to 2800 doesn't mean the rifle will like it.
Somewhere less than a maxed out load will probably be where he ends up accuracy wise.
Then would it kill any better than a much easier to achieve combo?

 

[elktaker]

OP says he wants a 16"-18" barrel. That's been done to death with a 308 and is effective.
just because load data shows you can potentially hit close to 2800 doesn't mean the rifle will like it.
Somewhere less than a maxed out load will probably be where he ends up accuracy wise.
Then would it kill any better than a much easier to achieve combo?

2800 fps is only going to do what I want with a 156 gr bullet with a .679 BC. A 308 is not going to be able to keep up down range.

Example of some:

6.5 PRC at 2800 fps with the 156
800 yd drop 19.3 moa 10 mph wind 4.4 moa and energy 1143 ft/lb

308 win at 2800 fps with 155.5 Berger's
800 yd drop 23.0 10 mph wind 7 moa and energy 748 ft/lb

Seeing the 2831 fps is the fastest max load for a 308 win with a 24" barrel and the 155.5 in my Berger book, a short barrel would not match likely that.

If we use 1000 ft/lbs as needed energy for a deer the the 308 win is done at 600 yards with a 24" barrel while the 6.5 PRC will get me to past 800 with a lot less drop and even more important less wind.

To match the ballistics of at 800 yards of a 156 gr 6.5 Berger at 2800 ft, I would have to push the 308 155.5 great bullet to 3200 fps.

I could go heavier with a 308 and up that a little bit but going to a 19" barrel the 308 will never catch the 6.5 PRC at 800 yards. I think 19" is going to give me enough of a buffer to find an accurate load over 2800 fps with the 156s.

 

[rharfo]

Long Range Pursuit

Wilderness Podcast · 101 Episodes · Updated Weekly

podcasts.apple.com

 

[rammerjammer]

2800 fps is only going to do what I want with a 156 gr bullet with a .679 BC. A 308 is not going to be able to keep up down range.

Example of some:

6.5 PRC at 2800 fps with the 156
800 yd drop 19.3 moa 10 mph wind 4.4 moa and energy 1143 ft/lb

308 win at 2800 fps with 155.5 Berger's
800 yd drop 23.0 10 mph wind 7 moa and energy 748 ft/lb

Seeing the 2831 fps is the fastest max load for a 308 win with a 24" barrel and the 155.5 in my Berger book, a short barrel would not match likely that.

If we use 1000 ft/lbs as needed energy for a deer the the 308 win is done at 600 yards with a 24" barrel while the 6.5 PRC will get me to past 800 with a lot less drop and even more important less wind.

To match the ballistics of at 800 yards of a 156 gr 6.5 Berger at 2800 ft, I would have to push the 308 155.5 great bullet to 3200 fps.

I could go heavier with a 308 and up that a little bit but going to a 19" barrel the 308 will never catch the 6.5 PRC at 800 yards. I think 19" is going to give me enough of a buffer to find an accurate load over 2800 fps with the 156s.

I was just throwing out a differing opinion.
I didn't know you were intending to stretch it out to 800 yards with a 4.5lb rifle.
I assumed that with that light of a rifle and 16-18" barrel this was a short handy rifle for thicker timber.
Most would agree a 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor are about equals killing wise under 500.
with a 16" barrel your going to be closer velocity wise to a 6.5 creed.
now that your saying you think 19" is what you want to go with that changes everything and I like the 6.5 PRC idea a lot.
please post up the results of your build. I have been contemplating a similar rifle but closer to 5.5-6lb. All my research keeps coming back to might as well go 308 or 7mm08 in that short of a barrel.
(16" is what i want )