Weatherby's new 6.5 RPM cartridge

[diderr]

I also have a 28" proof blank in the closet. Undecided if when this barrel burns out I'll stay RPM or go 6.5-284. Leaning more towards the 284. Weatherby brass is not the best quality for what you pay. 6.5-284 norma or Lapua brass is cheaper and holds better tolerances. I can only get about 4 loadings out of the Weatherby brass and not even pushing it hard. Very sloppy primers

 

[highdrum]

I also have a 28" proof blank in the closet. Undecided if when this barrel burns out I'll stay RPM or go 6.5-284. Leaning more towards the 284. Weatherby brass is not the best quality for what you pay. 6.5-284 norma or Lapua brass is cheaper and holds better tolerances. I can only get about 4 loadings out of the Weatherby brass and not even pushing it hard. Very sloppy primers

That's a good idea, my long action long freebore 6.5x284 runs 156s @ 2960 w/ rl26 from a 26". I'm at least a full grain below psi as I ran up to 3030fps w/o bolt lift or ejector marks. I was running peterson at 2980 and it shot great, but it was too warm, swapped to lapua which holds 2.2 grains more water and made a big difference. All case bulging in yhr web disappeared too. I prob should been running the peterson around 2935 top end.

 

[Quintus]

I also have a 28" proof blank in the closet. Undecided if when this barrel burns out I'll stay RPM or go 6.5-284. Leaning more towards the 284. Weatherby brass is not the best quality for what you pay. 6.5-284 norma or Lapua brass is cheaper and holds better tolerances. I can only get about 4 loadings out of the Weatherby brass and not even pushing it hard. Very sloppy primers

Yep, the brass is holding the RPM back. I had high hopes it would be Norma, but it acts just like Hornady's early really soft stuff. I will say the Backcountry and Backcountry 2.0 Carbon are amazingly accurate though. The concept of the round built to maximize a light rifle was well executed. The RPM itself is not revolutionary, but if you are looking for a light rifle for a rough country hunt where you might not see the truck for a week or so the RPM in one of the Backcountry versions checks a lot of boxes, at least for me. It looks like I am going end up running the 121Hammer just under or at 3500FPS.

 

[diderr]

Yes. I would love the rpm if I could get it in Peterson, norma, or lapua. This brass is so soft that I have to wait a couple firings for it to harden up before I hit them with the torch.

 

[diderr]

That's a good idea, my long action long freebore 6.5x284 runs 156s @ 2960 w/ rl26 from a 26". I'm at least a full grain below psi as I ran up to 3030fps w/o bolt lift or ejector marks. I was running peterson at 2980 and it shot great, but it was too warm, swapped to lapua which holds 2.2 grains more water and made a big difference. All case bulging in yhr web disappeared too. I prob should been running the peterson around 2935 top end.

What's your freebore? I'm only a hop skip and a jump away from LRI and that's where it will go when the swap happens. They have two 6.5-284 reamers. .199 and .187 freebore. My mag box lets me run out to 3.340" and plan on sticking with the 153.5 or 156 bergers

 

[adam32+P]

Yes. I would love the rpm if I could get it in Peterson, norma, or lapua. This brass is so soft that I have to wait a couple firings for it to harden up before I hit them with the torch.

You could always get RCC.

 

[Reemty J]

Did err that mule deer looks like it will gross high?

 

[diderr]

Did err that mule deer looks like it will gross high?

He grossed just under 190" but net shot down to 164". Scored off the typical frame. Punished for extras

 

[diderr]

You could always get RCC.

I have enough WBY to burn this barrel out. Been doing a lot of prep work on it all to get it as good as it can be. Going out tomorrow and hopefully see if there's fruits from the labor.

 

[Nomosendero]

diderr, that's a hoss!

 

[diderr]

diderr, that's a hoss!

Thanks! He's a tough one to too for sure!

 

[Nomosendero]

Yep, the brass is holding the RPM back. I had high hopes it would be Norma, but it acts just like Hornady's early really soft stuff. I will say the Backcountry and Backcountry 2.0 Carbon are amazingly accurate though. The concept of the round built to maximize a light rifle was well executed. The RPM itself is not revolutionary, but if you are looking for a light rifle for a rough country hunt where you might not see the truck for a week or so the RPM in one of the Backcountry versions checks a lot of boxes, at least for me. It looks like I am going end up running the 121Hammer just under or at 3500FPS.

I was looking at a couple of rifles in the RPM but I keep seeing the issue of brass in this forum and others too, too much to ignore.
1. I was looking at buying a MkV Hunter in RPM, I will hold off on that one.
2. I will be setting up a shouldered Pre Fit Model 700 as a heavier rifle with fast twist 30-06 & 270 barrels and was looking at the RPM as the primary barrel, no I am considering the 6.5x284 as the primary. Since the RPM is a stretch 6.5x284 I would think I could just rechamber that barrel to RPM later if things improve.

 

[highdrum]

What's your freebore? I'm only a hop skip and a jump away from LRI and that's where it will go when the swap happens. They have two 6.5-284 reamers. .199 and .187 freebore. My mag box lets me run out to 3.340" and plan on sticking with the 153.5 or 156 bergers

Its a new saami spec reamer, freebore is about 300k. For a 156 in a 6.5x284 id say 240 is about ideal. My bearibg surface is half way up the neck 40k off lands.

 

[diderr]

Group out today. 200 yards. First two rounds fell into .464 moa then the third one opened it up to just over 1 moa. The last round did feel "sticky" when I chambered it. Gun was pretty dirty though.

I've been using my calipers a lot with the cartridge to try and hunt down the "flyer" issue. I believe it's spring back neck tension variation (molecular level stuff) or un-even neck thickness. Haven't got to play with the neck turner yet as I need to order a mandrel die next.