Favorite 6.5 Cartridge

[MontanaRifleman]

My "strategy" for achieving the 3500-3600 fps includes using a 5C barrel, Bore rider CE Bullets, nitriding the bore and high velocity powder. My primary development powders will be RL17 and Superperformance. In a standard barrel, I think RL17 would be a bit fast for the 6.5 WSM. But with a nitrided 5C barrel and bore rider bullet, it might not be. And anytime I have had success with RL17, it has always given me 200 fps more velocoity than the next fastest powder. I.e. 3400 fps pushing 115 gr bullets out of a 25-06 vs 3200 fps using Retumbo, which is still very high velocoity for a 25-06. If it is still too fast, then Superperformance will likely work well, being a little slower. It's all theory at this point. Time will tell.

[Cold Trigger Finger]

Originally Posted by MontanaRifleman

Why a Ruger? Not my favorite action for a build.

Several reasons. #1 is absolute reliability in extreme weather and long term rough use. . . If a rifle isn't as tough as a professional grade Stihl or Husqvarna power saw. Then it isn't tough enough to be my companion.

I dispise plunger ejectors. And I don't like rotating extractors.
I like the 3 position saftey.
I prefer the Ruger ring system to any other.
I like the triggers. The parts of the trigger are big and robust. . They are not ruined by repeated dunkings in salt water. Alaska being THE Salt water place, Ruger's are right at home here.
They are as or more accurate as any factory rifle I've owned with the exception of my Savage Edge. Which is a 1/4" rifle. But my 6.5 Cm Ruger Hawkeye is a 3/8" rifle. And I trust it to not break down and leave me with an ill designed club.
Most of my favorite rifles have been M77mkII s

[elkaholic]

Originally Posted by Cold Trigger Finger

Several reasons. #1 is absolute reliability in extreme weather and long term rough use. . . If a rifle isn't as tough as a professional grade Stihl or Husqvarna power saw. Then it isn't tough enough to be my companion.

I dispise plunger ejectors. And I don't like rotating extractors.
I like the 3 position saftey.
I prefer the Ruger ring system to any other.
I like the triggers. The parts of the trigger are big and robust. . They are not ruined by repeated dunkings in salt water. Alaska being THE Salt water place, Ruger's are right at home here.
They are as or more accurate as any factory rifle I've owned with the exception of my Savage Edge. Which is a 1/4" rifle. But my 6.5 Cm Ruger Hawkeye is a 3/8" rifle. And I trust it to not break down and leave me with an ill designed club.
Most of my favorite rifles have been M77mkII s

There are some things to like about Ruger but what do you do about the magazine?.......Rich

[CRaTxn]

A TOOL. Cold Finger's Ruger sounds like the Leatherman Tool of rifles for his harsh environs . I too sometime have to mistreat a weapon, having on occasion used them for; paddles when the airboat broke down, ice breakers to cross a thin ice frozen pond , a walking staff in crossing a coldass swift stream or snow covered rock scree...ROBUST RUGER..wish I was a good enough rifle man to make mine shoot such tiny holes with COLD FINGERS !

[Cold Trigger Finger]

Originally Posted by elkaholic

There are some things to like about Ruger but what do you do about the magazine?.......Rich

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.

[benchracer]

It's really not that hard to make a Ruger shoot. The techniques are just a bit different from most other rifles because of the angled front action screw.

My #1 needed work on the forearm. Once that was taken care of, it has shot very accurately.

I bought my 77 MkII as the base rifle for a build. It has a Krieger barrel and I bedded it into a Ruger factory laminated stock. It was originally one of the last of the pre-Hawkeye rifles in 30-06. I don't know how it shot from the factory because I never fired it before starting my project. It is shooting consistent .5" groups even with its dreadful factory trigger. My next move will be to put in a Rifle Basix trigger. I am betting the groups will tighten considerably after that.

From comparing notes with others, it seems to me that most Rugers will require simple tweaks to get them to shoot to their potential. However, the basic platform seems pretty solid from the factory.

[Cold Trigger Finger]

Originally Posted by CRaTxn

A TOOL. Cold Finger's Ruger sounds like the Leatherman Tool of rifles for his harsh environs . I too sometime have to mistreat a weapon, having on occasion used them for; paddles when the airboat broke down, ice breakers to cross a thin ice frozen pond , a walking staff in crossing a coldass swift stream or snow covered rock scree...ROBUST RUGER..wish I was a good enough rifle man to make mine shoot such tiny holes with COLD FINGERS !

I know some people who have had not great accuracy from their Ruger's. . There are a couple things I would try if one of mine wouldn't shoot well.
Have you tried a barrel deresonator. Those high teck rubber dog knots.
I would buck a half inch off the muzzle and recrown it. If worse came to worse I would rebarrel it.


One thing I do is old fashion neck size my brass. But I've had Ruger's that shot great with factory ammo. Tho not all. But I mostly reload so I can shoot the bullet I want. .and because I really enjoy reloading.