I would like some info from owners of 6.5WSM guns. I am currently having a rifle built with switch barrels. One will be .300WSM and the other will be 6.5WSM.
My problem, I don't know much about the 6.5WSM.
1. I have read that you can reach velocities up to 3,400 FPS with 140 gr bullets, but that they are not accurate at that speed and their best accuracey is around 3,000 to 3,100 FPS.
Is this true?
If so, maybe I should just chamber my second barrel to the standard .270WSM and not deal with the hassle of customizing cases and all.
2. If I do go with the 6.5WSM, where do I get dies, how much do they cost to be made. I would need a full length resizing die and a bullet seating die (a micrometer type bullet seating die would be preferred).
This rifle will be chambered by Kirby, he happens to have the 6.5WSM reamer and that's how this cartridge was selected.
Do I need to supply the Die maker with the dimensional specs of the reamer. I would suspect so. Any info here?
3. Anybody have any load recipes for the cartridge and velocity/accuracey data?
The components for this rifle will be a Remington 700 type short action, with Rock Creek 5R, #3 contour barrels & H-S Precision Sporter stock. This will be my steep mountain carry gun for elk and deer, capable of unmentionable accuracy, at least for now.........
Any advice with this round, would be greatly appreciated.
Best Regards,
Vic
The 270 WSM may make you look like a genious! Berger is making some .277 bullets soon. I was told they should be released with the .338s or very shortly thereafter. I would not want to speculate on a weight, but my guess would be in the 145-155 gr range. In your 270 WSM, that should be good for about 3100 fps with ease. Just something to consider.
Well, if someone is getting 3400 fps with a 140 gr pill in a 6.5mm WSM they are either running a 40" barrel or running pressures to blowing primer pocket pressures or more then likely a combo of both.
A 6.5mm WSM will not outperform a 264 Win Mag loaded to the same chamber pressure in the same length of usible barrel. 3150 to possibly 3200 fps will be all you will get in the 6.5mm WSM in a conventional length barrel, even a long one at 28".
My 6.5mm AX is a 300 Dakota necked down to 6.5mm and blown out as much as possible and it will get you around 3400-3425 fps in a 27" barrel with a 140 gr bullet and not much more.
You hear the comment alot that a round will get 3400 fps but is only accurate around 3000-3100 fps. Thats funny, thats the top end of where the round should be anyway, the 3400 fps part of the comment is generally greatly exaggerated in most every case, not only with the 6.5mm caliber but most other rounds.
Most cartridges will be most consistant in their top working pressure ranges of around 60,000 to 65,000 psi. So those that say they can get substantially more velocity then they are using but down load for accuracy are generally either full of hot air or they pushed their rifle WAY to hard during load development.
As far as dies go, all of my customers just called up Redding and ordered dies from them. They are a catalog item and my reamer is the standard 270 WSM necked down to 6.5mm. The Redding dies work very well.
3. I would have to look up my load for my XP-100 but it is driving a 120 gr Ballistic Tip to just shy of 3100 fps in a 15" barrel. I was planning on shooting the 140 class bullets but the 120s shot so well I have never changed from those!!
Kirby Allen(50)
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Kirby Allen(50)
Allen Precision Shooting
Home of the Allen Magnum, Allen Xpress and Allen Tactical Wildcats and the Painkiller Muzzle brakes.
68.4 grains of Retumbo gave us 3,400 fps. with a 123 gr. Scenar boatail. Hope this helps. As always work your way up, this is one accurate load in my 6.5 wsm.
I've thought about this for a little bit and I think I will just use the KISS method here (keep it simple stupid). Why bother going to the trouble of making a custom round that will have the incorrect head stamp on the case, require non-standard dies, and not have the ability to go to the local sporting goods store to purchase factory loaded rounds, if I need to in a pinch. Also, the ballistic performance between the 6.5WSM and the .270WSM is pretty much splitting hairs from what I see so far.
Also, I already have a .270Wby Mag so I have plenty of bullets stocked up, why complicate matters with another caliber, I'd only need to setup more storage in my reloading cabinet and real estate is mighty scarce in there as it is.
Now some may say, why do I need a .270WSM when I have an excellent .270Wby. Well, I'll think on that and get back to you, but right now I just know I need one.
Kirby, I sure hope you have a .270WSM reamer in your arsenal of tools.
As a matter of fact, it would be nice to post all the reamers that you do have, so we can pick and choose what calibers you could make for us.
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