Soliciting Suggestions for a 6.5mm Build

[lancetkenyon]

Another option between the 6.5x47L and .260AI is the 6.5SLR. .260 Rem case, slightly reduced body taper w. neck & shoulder of the 6.5x47L. It is a great round. Burned my first barrel out at 2800 rounds. New barrel has 800+ on it.

L-R:
6.5CM, .260 Rem, 6.5SLR, .260AI

 

[VinceMule]

8x68, with a Rem 700, you can open up the magazine well and use Wyatt's mag box that will extend the length of .125. First, one that I converted, I did with a Dremel tool and carbide cutter. They are SHORE NUFF nice when you are done.

I have a few detachable mag box rigs for the above reason. ON a Rem Mag action, Wyatt's makes up to a 4.000-length mag box, and of course, an extra-long follower comes with the mag box. A small modification to the bolt release is needed so the bolt can come back further. Scribe a line with a knife and go to work with a Dremel.

There are several 140 class hunting bullets that are exceptional in the 6.5x47 with AA4350 with Rem 7 1/2s....only a smidge of powder. Brother and I shoot Lapua brass and brass formed from Rem 22/250. The Rem brass shoots 1/2" groups at 200 yards on a X caliber #5 taper, 8T.

If you ever get a 260 AI, you will never be without one. 140s at 2900 with a variety of powders. I form brass from 308 Lapua, PMC, Hertenberger, and Winchester. All brands of brass are neck turned and they all shoot bug hole groups, working up loads for each brand of brass.

Having said that about the 260 AI, the 6.x547 Lapua is the honey lamb of 6.5's for me with amazing accuracy at 300 out of a hunting rifle with only a smidge of powder. I have 3000 rounds on Brux 6.5x47 Lapua and the barrel is not fire cracked up yet, AA4350 is what I have shot.

 

[Outlaw6.0]

Man, until you said 2.800" restriction I was going all in on 6.5x284. I wouldn't at that length though. I'm kind of digging Lance's SLR recommendation. Though, I do like the oddball cartridges...




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[sable tireur]

Both SLR configurations that I've loaded for and shot have been superior to the the .243 and 260. Not by leaps and bounds but consistency and in some cases accuracy.

The dies are stupid overpriced so I cut my own.

I would still use the 6.5x47 Lapua.

Enjoy!

 

[VinceMule]

Sable tireur, have you played with the 260 AI? I do not see a down side on the SLR other than obtaining dies. I like long necks on cartridges.

 

[sable tireur]

I shot the .260 AI and the 243 AI and the .22-243 AI years ago and days gone by. Long neck on cartridge cases is exemplified by the 6mm Rem. I shot that case AI along with the .22-6mm AI case for longer range prairie dogs.

 

[VinceMule]

We think alike. I formed 6 XC brass from Lapua 308 Palma brass, The formed neck was .390-.400 long. So, I had the neck cut in the chamber to .400 long. PO Ackley spoke of the Interference Point of which I am sure you are aware of.

I got .007 of leade growth in 900 rounds shooting 105's at 3150 fps out of that long 6 XC barrel, with 400 rounds fired with R#17 at 3250. R#17 started tiny fire cracking at 400 rounds of that powder, and I discontinued the use of the powder due to that in spite of the extreme accuracy and speed. I had 30 lapua Palma Cases that I used for that 900 rounds, but lost 12 of them due to the pressures of repeated firings of the R#17. I was using Rem 7 1/2 primers and could have continued using that brass with the enlarged primer pockets with Wolf Small rifle mag primers, but I had learned what I wanted to learn up to that point. The barrel used was a 31", 8T, X caliber barrel, 6 groove, .237 bore. I could not have got to this velocity with a .236 bore.

IN my 22/6 Rem AI, I shot Retumbo/fed 215 with 80g A max at 3650 and never full length sized a case, max was 3800. Deer and hogs with the 80g A max is a very good combo.

 

[26Reload]

Well..if youre dumpster diving in the 'shortend'.......going a 65284 in a short action with the hammerhunter bullets would definitely be the ultimate winner..
120gr or less bullets should keep you around the 2.80" oal....if not go lighter and pick up even more speed....
Admittingly...I haven't done this as my currents are all l/a actions...and plenty if 142LRAB bullets to shoot....

 

[VinceMule]

I have had the 25/284 and the 6/284, never again will I put a barrel with a 284 on a short action...never. A Wyatt's magazine box would give you a LITTLE latitude on the Rem short action, but like you, I like those VLD bullets. I have shot copper bullets in the past, but doubt if I will buy any more. I am a cup and core bullet man, myself, and I LOVE the LRAB, 129, 168(30 & 7) , and 175g.

 

[8x68s]

Well..if youre dumpster diving in the 'shortend'.......going a 65284 in a short action with the hammerhunter bullets would definitely be the ultimate winner..
120gr or less bullets should keep you around the 2.80" oal....if not go lighter and pick up even more speed....
Admittingly...I haven't done this as my currents are all l/a actions...and plenty if 142LRAB bullets to shoot....

I'm with VinceMule on the long vs short action debate for the .284 case. I have a .284 built on a commercial Mauser action and I can see where it really needs the longer action even down to the 6mm version.

 

[QuietTexan]

To my way of thinking, beyond 140gr belongs in a .270 or 7mm cartridge. Just me...

Berger 156 EOLs shoot really well for me, in 6.5 CM and 6.5-284, the Berger 7mm EOL is 195gn. But would not be functional in a short action length/case, they're stuffed down in the 6.5CM and my 6.5-284 is a long action set up specifically for the 156 bullet. The super-heavies can really push out marginal loadings further, but sounds like that's not where you're at with this project.

6.5-47L pushing 130/140s is a solid, easy choice. But the siren's song of the AI is hard to fight once it gets a hold of you, I might never build a straight anything with less than a 35* shoulder ever again. I have a box of ADG 300 RUM brass and I'm having a hard time letting go of the 40* Ackley shoulders I've become accustomed to My vote is 260 AI.

 

[Matt Tatum]

My vote would be straight 260 or x47L. I love the AI calibers, but components are so hard to come by now days, I'm out on fire forming. I've had most of them and I don't think you can go wrong with most of them. I don't think I've met many I didn't like, haha. The 47L will save more powder and still get you to 1000 yards and farther.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

.260 or 6.5X284

 

[Hugnot]

Long pointy bullets loaded into .260 AI rounds for optimum results might bump into the front of a SA M70 Win mag box. I would go for a LA M70 and consider either a .260 AI or 6.5-06. Lots of good cheap once fired brass like 7mm-08 or .270Win that can be made into .260 AI or 6.5-06. Just because the olde 6.5-06 is a long skinny round with gradually sloping shoulders does not disqualify it as a effective long-range round.