Im building new rifle and wanting to shoot 6.5 140 VLDs just under 3000fps. My question is, what will give me the most barrel life at 2900 to just under 3k. I have been looking into the SAUM, WSM, PRC. I am sure there are others out there, I am wanting to stay with a short action. I an no expert but I think the answer has to do with pressure differences.
6.5 build for 140 Bergers at 2900-3000?
- Thread starter Rflamm250
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codyadams
Well-Known Member
If you reload, the best barrel life that will consistently get you to that velocity is a .260 Ackley Improved. Some will argue 6.5 creed, but its simply not practical to expect a 140 at 2900-3000 with a 6.5 creed, simply put, not every 6.5 creed can do that. A 6.5x284, 6.5 prc, 6.5 WSM and 6.5 saum will get you 2950-3100, maybe a touch more, but a couple of those would really need to be in a long action, and your using mid 50's to 65ish grains of powder, where as with a .260 AI your doing it with 45-50 grains of powder depending on powder choice.
In my Remington 700 semi custom .260 AI I was running the 140 VLD's at 3070 fps with 49.1 grains of Reloder 26, and have also ran HBN coated 147 ELD-M's at 3050 fps with 50.3 grains of Reloder 26, also had a stupid accurate load of 48.7 grains of H4831sc under the 140 VLD at 2930 fps, would cloverleaf at 200 yards. I have a 29" barrel, with a 26" expect to loose about 50-70 fps from that.
I am no expert but have heard that barrel life is correlated to pressure. The saum, and WSM would be loaded pretty light compared to what they are capable of, I am wondering if these cartridges running mild would give better barrel life than say the PRC or 260AI running hot.
codyadams
Well-Known Member
Pressure does play a role, but so does the amount of powder burning vs bore size. Even with a light load, the PRC would have a significantly larger amount of powder. So far I do not have enough rounds through my rifle to say how good it is gonna do, but I have around 1100-1200 rounds down my rifle, and still outstanding accuracy. I have heard to expect 2500 or so rounds depending on how you run it. Not sure what all the marketing hype says on the prc barrel life.
The prc would not be a bad choice if you want to be able to shoot factory ammo and load light. Another option is the 6.5 SST, it will run in a short action better than any of the other cartridges listed, and will do exactly what you want, and ADG is making brass for it, ya might want to check it out. Based off the SAUM case.
codyadams
Well-Known Member
codyadams
Well-Known Member
Its worth putting on your list of options. Plus Rich is a really helpful guy
Rick Richard
Well-Known Member
Now that Bertram and ADG is making brass other than Hornady, I would recommend the 6.5SAUM.
D
Deleted member 103481
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Of those I would take PRC. WSM is a "barrel burner" compared to the others, and PRC will comfortable run those speeds with a case design that theoretically feeds a little easier than the saum.
It was made for pretty much exactly what you're wanting. 140 @ 2950-3000. You don't have to ring it out to get there, it will do it with factory offerings. (Granted you need to go to copper creek for the 140 Berger). Further it's easy to get it there with reloads and you don't have to find reloder 26 to do it, you can do it with MRP, 4831sc, 25, H1000 etc
It was made for pretty much exactly what you're wanting. 140 @ 2950-3000. You don't have to ring it out to get there, it will do it with factory offerings. (Granted you need to go to copper creek for the 140 Berger). Further it's easy to get it there with reloads and you don't have to find reloder 26 to do it, you can do it with MRP, 4831sc, 25, H1000 etc
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
I shoot a 6.5SLR w. 28" barrel and my hunting loads are 43.0gr H4350 & 140 HVLD @ 2950fps.
