6.5 PRC, 6.8 Western... or 7 PRC.
Rebarrel Project
- Thread starter darrindlh
- Start date
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I read your posts, there was nothing to apologize about. You are a person who is thinking (outside the box) looking for some suggestions on your next build. Oftentimes for me what is going on in my mind, and....what is coming out of the keyboard do not always project what I want the fingers to project. Personally if I do not like what someone has put down in a post, I simply move on to another post, there is no need/room for being judgemental.
My first thoughts are to stay away from the proprietary cartridges, period!! I just ran a search on the 7 SAUM that you wrote about, presently "they are available", and....they are $90 for 50 pieces. But....the operative word is "presently". I refuse to let myself be held hostage by a company who is touting a cartridge to make money. I like what "PAVEMENTENDS" wrote about being "ole school cool", and his recommendation for the 7mm Ackley Improved. I was going to build a .280 Ackley Improved, but realized that Nosler deviated from the original Ackley Improved process of using the parent cartridge and blowing out the case with the 40 degree shoulder, making that cartridge a Nosler proprietary one. So....presently have two rifles that are in .270 Ackley Improved on a 1:10, 26 inch barrel. The rifles shoot 150gr ABLRs between 3100-3300fps and it doesn't take a pound of powder to load 20 rounds of ammunition; powder = weight = recoil. The brass is and probably will always be available, and not at the $4.50-6.00 apiece price range. The .270 AI is one of the most under appreciated, unrecognized and underrated Ackley Improved cartridges that are out there. If you want to really hurl high BC cartridges that are light on the shoulder, do not cost a small fortune for components and use a pound of powder to load 20 rounds you might want to take a look at this cartridge, only build the rifle with a 1:8 barrel. The .270AIs that I have will shoot two shot, one-inch groups at 300 yards with the 150 ABLRs. After the second round, the third round then group will open up because the barrels are light contoured hunting barrels. If you really are interested in the cartridge, try PM FEENIX on this site, he is the one who introduced me to this cartridge. He is a great guy and extremely knowledgeable with this cartridge. I am surprised that he hasn't jumped in here. I know he has rifles that are built with fast twist barrels and hurling the heavy BC bullets. Good luck with your build, they always are fun to put together.
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Basically, the .6.8 Western is a .270 Ackley Improved twin but out of a short action.
I do have a pre-'64 M70 action that was originally a .270 Winchester that I've been saving for 20 years to build a rifle from. I had been leaning towards a .25-06 AI, yes it's way overbore but I wanted something that would compete with a .257 Weatherby in an '06-based case... but maybe the .270 AI?
I do have a pre-'64 M70 action that was originally a .270 Winchester that I've been saving for 20 years to build a rifle from. I had been leaning towards a .25-06 AI, yes it's way overbore but I wanted something that would compete with a .257 Weatherby in an '06-based case... but maybe the .270 AI?
darrindlh
Well-Known Member
I totally agree!! You have hit the nail on the coffin! I agree a ton, I want components. But my problem is that I have a magnum bolt face. So efficient isn't in a magnums corner . lol . But I have always loved the Ackley improved cartridges. I just love the look of the shoulder.
Darrin
pavementends
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2017
- Messages
- 118
If you are rebarreling your Savage the bolt heads are interchangeable.
With all respect I hope that we can agree to disagree. I know that the .270 Ackley Improved is "not" the exact twin as the 6.8 Western. With the 6.8 Western the velocity range it is close though. I use the .270 WSM load data to start my loads for the .270AI. What the most definitive aspect is the fact that the 6.8 Western "is" a proprietary cartridge, and in my opinion it always will be. I just did a Google search, four sites showed that they were "out of stock" and the prices ranged from $44-57 for fifty pieces of brass. And....my only thoughts are to try this in 3-5 years and see how the availability and the price works out then? If I were to build a .277 short magnum it would be with the .270 WSM cartridge, to get the larger case volume, with a 1:8 twist, 26 inch barrel to get the most horsepower out of the overbore cartridge. The cartridge was introduced in 2002 and has maintained its popularity with many of the hunters. I suspect this round will be around for a long time coming.
As for me the decision between the 25-06AI and a .270 AI, that depends upon what the rifle was going to be used for. I believe in "the right tool for the right job". I have rifles that I use for black bear hunting, large caliber, heavy bullets that will penetrate at close range, thus 35 Whelen, .358 Winchester, 45-70, .450 Bushmaster. For whitetail deer hunting I built the .270AI and the versatile 30-06 or a little heavy for game .300 WinMag. And...as for elk hunting goes, if I could find a geriatric ward/outfitter that caters to cranky ole guys that venue is out of the question. But...if the opportunity arose it would probably be the 30-06 or the .300 WinMag., although the .270 AI would not be out of the equation? If you are bordering on whether to build a .270 AI to compete with the .270 Weatherby or a 25-06AI to the .257 Weatherby I can only suggest that you do a true "objective" comparison between the two AI cartridges that you are contemplating on building. No matter what choice you choose on the comparison I believe that barrel life of the Ackley Improved cartridges will far outlast the Weatherby cartridges due to less powder being used to get the velocity. I have attached a target from a day at the range a few years ago. The .270AI was chronographed at 3100fps with the 150gr ABLR using 56.6 grains of RL19. I can get more velocity, but this rifle likes this load and it is easy on the brass. A comparible check of the .270 Weatherby shows that with a 150gr ABLR it takes 72.0 grains of RL25 to achieve the same velocity with the same Lilja barrel as what is on my rifles. As I wrote in a previous post on this thread, the rifle is a two shot rifle due to the thin contour of the barrel. Good luck with what you decide to build.
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If you want a cool factor look at the .270 WSM, only build it with a 1:8 twist barrel. Same bolt face and again the same factors apply for components and availability of them. The .270 WSM has been around since 2002.
My impression is that the 6.8 was created to solve the problem of COAL with VLD bullets in a short action, sacrificing a little bit of velocity to allow for long bullets. Or, is the tradeoff not really a tradeoff because having to seat bullets deeper in the .270 WSM decreases case capacity similarly? I think Browning/Winchester decided there was no tradeoff in a short action with long bullets between the two cartridges... if using 130-140 gr lead core bullets the WSM is faster.
I could see building a WSM on an '06-length action, but if velocity is the goal why not use something like the 7 PRC case? Or the 6.8x51 Sig Fury?
darrindlh
Well-Known Member
I want to look into and learn the formula or the factors that put wear on a throat. I don't think it is just one component.
With that said I have been convinced if some important factors. Cost effectiveness of reloading, component availability and a rifle that complements my big 338.
I am deciding between the 6.5 prc and the
6.5 saum, on long actions. Leaning towards the 6.5 prc. There is Plenty of great Brass available. 28 inch carbon six barrel 1-8 twist throated for the 156 Bergers seated at the neck junction. But the click has me worried with the prc rounds. So that has me thinking 6.5 saum. But that round is not as readily available .
Darrin
With that said I have been convinced if some important factors. Cost effectiveness of reloading, component availability and a rifle that complements my big 338.
I am deciding between the 6.5 prc and the
6.5 saum, on long actions. Leaning towards the 6.5 prc. There is Plenty of great Brass available. 28 inch carbon six barrel 1-8 twist throated for the 156 Bergers seated at the neck junction. But the click has me worried with the prc rounds. So that has me thinking 6.5 saum. But that round is not as readily available .
Darrin
FrogFire7
Well-Known Member
Nothing wrong with a savage action!
That said... Once you go custom (I am loving bighorn actions right now, with Remington footprint and triggers, but take savage barrels and changeable bolt heads) it's hard to back to plain ole savage.
That said... Once you go custom (I am loving bighorn actions right now, with Remington footprint and triggers, but take savage barrels and changeable bolt heads) it's hard to back to plain ole savage.
