Favorite 6.5 Cartridge

[benchracer]

I suspect that most accuracy problems with a recent or current production ruger involve one of the following issues:

1. barrel contacting the stock in the factory barrel channel

2. bedding

3. crappy factory trigger

4. improper action screw torque

Issues # 2 and 4 are resolved a bit differently with a Ruger than with most factory rifles.

To correct issue #2, you need the correct bedding pillar and the correct stock drill bit from Brownells.

To correct issue #4, torque the forward action screw down VERY tight, tighten the rear action screw about 1/4 to 1/2 turn past snug, and tighten the center action screw down until is is just snug. I initially learned that on a thread posted this forum entitled "I can't believe it! Ruger?." I looked for it, but couldn't find it.

 

[elkaholic]

I use a product called. ( Corrosion Block) . It's great stuff . . It even dries to a non tacky film that adheres.

Now I'm smart enough to know that there may be potentially greater inherent accuracy in other actions. But if a rifle doesn't go Bang when you pull the trigger. It isn't very accurate. And I've had some great results with off the shelf Ruger's.

Not knocking the Ruger but what I meant about the magazine was how short they are. I have never been able to seat the bullets out far enough......Rich

 

[Greyfox]

Over the years I have owned several Rugers, 10/22, 77/22, a couple of M77's, and a Mini14. I finally gave up on them. Maybe I was unlucky, but they all performed poorly, in terms of accuracy, triggers, and bedding/barrel mounting quirks. I have always figured that nobody ever talked about using them because of the same experiences. evidently not.

 

[Bear 9362]

260 Ackley Improved.gun)

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

Not knocking the Ruger but what I meant about the magazine was how short they are. I have never been able to seat the bullets out far enough......Rich

. I don't know. The short mag box is the spec size for short action carts and the standard mag box fits standard action carts. The Magnum length fits magnum length rounds. Every one fits SAAMI specs.

Ya, I think it would be the cats meow to build a 260 Rem A.I.on a standard length Ruger M77mkII .
It prolly wouldn't kill any more game. But it would be neat. So far with my Cm there's plenty of room in the box.
??????

 

[CRaTxn]

I'm all for room to extend your VLD butt there are times I like a tight box.

 

[benchracer]

When I bought my 77 MkII, I originally intended to build it into a 6.5-06AI. However, I soon realized that the mag box would be soo short to really get the most from the cartridge.

I went with 6.5-284 instead. That left me with plenty of room in the mag and a cartridge with performance similar to the 6.5-06.

Yes, the mag box is only just long enough for SAAMI length cartridges and not a whole lot more. However, that is true of most rifle makes. The only exception that I am aware of is the Remington 700.

I much prefer Rugers and the new production Winchesters. I don't want the extra mag length enough to buy a Remington 700 to get it. I will make due with a Ruger or buy a Winchester and have a Wyatt's mag box installed.

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

Ya, I can see your point. I've suffered from mag box length envy with the 338 Win and the 416 Taylor.
When I started with the 338 it was the first year Ruger came out with it in the stainless .. My goal was the 300 gr Barnes Original. 049 jacket @ 2550 fps. The 2 problems I ran into was the throat and the mag box. At the time it was The way to get close to 375 performance on brown bear up close in a stainless control feed rifle. That didn't break the bank. .
Since then I developed my fav 338 Alaskan load. 275 gr KBC @ 2660 fps from a 24" barrel using IMR 4831 . From a 22" barrel Ruger it does 2640 fps. Makes for a pretty useful hammer up close but a fine load for deer out to 400 yards.
Since then ofcourse Ruger came out with the 375 Ruger which is perfect with a 270 gr bullet @2700 fps from a 20" barrel.

The 416 Taylor really is benifited from a magnum mag and a long throat so the 350 gr bullets can be seated into the neck and not below.
But in reality it does fine on brown bear when loaded to standard action length. A 350 gr X or TSX or the 350 gr Speer dumps them very well.
But, I digress. Sorry.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

I did most of my hunting with an M77 in 7 RM for many years, the old tang safety model. It served me well and I took a lot of game with it. That said, there are some things I don't like about the action, the biggest probably being the angled front action screw. That is a problematic design. Ruger needs to abandon it.

I like the Howa/Vanguard and M70 actions for beefy strong action with beefy integral recoil lugs. Also like the simple 1 piece push feed H/V bolt. When it comes to a semi-custom rifle build, the H/V actions are a very good platform for that.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Well, looking at poll results so far, it looks like, other than "other", the 6.5 x 284 is hands down most popular which doesn't surprise me. Next comes the 264 WM followed by the .06 variation which also doesn't surprise me. Judging by comments, I'm guessing the Sweede and Creedmore are the most popular of the "other" category and are probably falling somewhere between the WM and .06.

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

No, no no. There are many things in the firearms world that are just perfect the way they are. . The M77mkII action is one of them.
There are plenty of outfits that make bolt actions. I don't want to change them and I certainly hope Ruger doesn't change the M77mkII. Execpt to sell the bottom metal and replaceable mag for the short actions.

 

[65WSM]

Tell me about handloading a 6.5 Dakota. What do you use for routine sizing? How long is the neck? What bushing do you use to size with? The answer will allow me to compare neck thickness. What are the qualities of the cases? How much is the water volume? What is your overall length?

I have 6.5 WSMs (2) a 6.5-284 and am building a 6.5-06 improved because I would like to have a longer neck. I am also considering a 6.5X68 blownout. I have 3 barrels worth of .264 Winchester experience.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Tell me about handloading a 6.5 Dakota. What do you use for routine sizing? How long is the neck? What bushing do you use to size with? The answer will allow me to compare neck thickness. What are the qualities of the cases? How much is the water volume? What is your overall length?

I have 6.5 WSMs (2) a 6.5-284 and am building a 6.5-06 improved because I would like to have a longer neck. I am also considering a 6.5X68 blownout. I have 3 barrels worth of .264 Winchester experience.

You'll probably have to ask lboom about the 6.5 Dakota. That was my original plan but decided to try the 6.5 WSM first and see how that goes then maybe step up.

My original plan for a 6.5 Dakota was off the 300, but if I do it, I'll probably go off the 7 which is slightly smaller than the 300. I have necked down some 300 brass and a bullet loaded case measures about .297 neck outside diameter. Neck length is about .285 same as the loaded 300 Dakota. This is about .025 shorter than printed spec. For the 300 I used a 294 bushing for the final step. I'm not a water volume kinda guy, but I will tell you the the 300 Dakota case is significantly larger than the WSM. It is a little closer the the RUM than the WSM. Overall length would depend on bullet shape and chamber throat which I don't have. For a 6.5 x 7 Dakota, based on real world expected length of case of 2.400 plus a recommended .968 bullet projection for the CE 130 max = 3.368 COAL. The 300 would be about .050 longer.

What powders are you using in your WSM's and have you tried RL17 or Hodgdon Super Performance?

 

[65WSM]

I have tried both R-17 and Superperformance in both the 6.5 WSM and later the 6.5-284 Norma. I have tried 4000MR (which is better suited and slower than either of those), Winchester 780 Supreme, IMR 7828SC and long, Reloader 25 and 22, VV N-550, 560 and 570. (I ordered more N-570 this week), Ramshot Magnum and MagPro and Retumbo.

R-17 is fast for these two 6.5s. It is a powder of choice with 100 gr or 107 match bullets. It is sightly faster than the benchmark of IMR-4350. SuperPerformance is a little slower than IMR-4350 but close.

In the 6.5 WSM, Retumbo, Magnum and VV N-570 provide maximum velocities with hunting bullets. One of the shooters utilizing my reamer sticks with Ramshot Magnum. The other two of us use Retumbo, often with standard F210M primers. With 140 gr Bergers or 140gr MatchKings VhitaVuori N-570 will yield more velocity (60fps) but it is very coarse to weigh, each kernal is .06 grain and not any more accurate than Retumbo. My guess is that N-570 would be amazing in a larger case.