6.5-300 wsm

Rick Richard said:
I think you answered all of your own questions. Stay with what is readily available and where there many options and aftermarket parts.
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ishootkittens said:
Great guys! Thanks alot. Few questions tho? Why go SS over WSM when the case capacity is VERY similar and 5 different manufacturers offer WSM brass (nosler, norma, winchester, federal, hornady) and I could use 270,300,325 wsm brass. So at least 10 different options for brass with no fireforming needed. A 40 degree shoulder is never a good idea in a repeater (in my experience). But it seems like a cool cartridge.

I've heard a few complaints about Tikka's but it's usually the stock or plastic parts. I just have no experience with the receiver itself and I wonder if it's as light as the rem/Savage and I've heard the recoil lug on Tikka's are a joke. There doesn't seem to be many aftermarket trigger options either. Just don't know which action to start with. Any Howa guys?
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Try a Bighorn action. The new Origin is reasonably priced.
 
ishootkittens said:
Been a while gentlemen! I probably don't know half of you! My name's Cody for all the people who I haven't met! Appreciate all the help in advance.

Ive built a few rifles over the years, some I've kept, some I've sold, but I love em all! I have been in LE for quite a while now and my dept is starting to become a bit more relaxed on what we can carry. Been doing some training with our marksmanship unit and I've decided to build a budget rifle I can use on duty.

Here's what I'd like to do...
Most guys carry .308's shooting factory match ammo in the 150gr loads. The dept has used the 150's for as long as I can remember. The rifle needs to be light (SA) and a repeater. It also needs to be manuverable because we can't always shoot prone/from large cover. I'd like to have a flat shooting rifle as PBR does actually matter just like hunting. (When my range finder isn't available or malfunctioning, I'd like to know I can be off a few yards on my range estimation and still be relatively close (inside 3-400 yards).

So a SA flat shooting round that spits 140-150gr pills in a small package. Why not do a 6.5-300wsm. I'd like to think I can get 3100 fps with most 140-147gr bullets and in that weight range, what bullet has a better BC. IF I can manage that in a 22" barrell, I'll have it made. I've had a 270 wsm and a 300 wsm in the past so I have the brass ready to go. But my problem is choosing a ride/action to go with.

My dept isn't paying for the build (of course) and I don't need a 3000$ rifle to be thrown around in training/harsh situations...and I'm aware that a 6.5 creedmoor will do what I need it to do, sometimes I just like to be different and as a reloader, i don't see it as a bad thing.

So I'm looking to do a semi-custom build. I have been looking at the usual suspects (Savage, tikka, Remington) and I like the fact that Tikka's are LA (sorta) and the bolt throw can be shortened. I feel like a long seated 6.5 bullet in a light T3 action sounds good .But honestly, I've never owned a Tikka or Savage. All my builds were custom or from a rem700. Should I stick to the rem?

Basically I'm looking for any advantages a Tikka or Savage could give me over a rem in this situation (wsm based cartridge) because they are a bit cheaper than the Remington's. If anyone has any experience with either, I'd appreciate ANY feedback.

Thanks fellas
C-
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With the release of the 6.5 PRC you should really consider it for all of the advantages it offered in factory rifles, ammo, brass availability etc.

Wildcats are fun and something of a bragging rights/novelty item but you will spend twice as much time, money and effort with far less support loading for and shooting them

Personally even with the short mag cases I would not build on a short action as there's no good reason to to limit yourself on mag length as longer and longer higher BC bullets keep coming out.
 
I can just about 100% guarantee you x-calibers reamer for the 6.5x300wsm does not have the freebore for the class of bullets you wanna run.
The no turn neck didnt work out at all for me the first go around, after I went ..296 it was night and day difference
 
WildRose said:
With the release of the 6.5 PRC you should really consider it for all of the advantages it offered in factory rifles, ammo, brass availability etc.

Wildcats are fun and something of a bragging rights/novelty item but you will spend twice as much time, money and effort with far less support loading for and shooting them

Personally even with the short mag cases I would not build on a short action as there's no good reason to to limit yourself on mag length as longer and longer higher BC bullets keep coming out.
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Some will have to explain to me the thrills if this magical PRC case. Remington came out with the 6.5rem mag in 1966 which is almost identical to the wsm case if you were to improve the shoulder and remove the belt. No they didn't have VLD high bc bullets then so I can understand why it wasn't popular back then. But we've had the wsm AND saum cases since 2001 that is the same concept as the 6.5 rem mag. Magnum power in a small action. No one gets excited still....

But then when Hornady comes out with the creedmoor which is a shorter .260 rem. Everyone acts like Hornady invented a magic cartridge when they just keep re-inventing the wheel just as they have done with the Prc which is just a 300 rcm necked Down to 6.5 cal. The 300 rcm cane out 6 years after all the other shortmags. Handloaders have been necking the Saum and WSM cases to 6.5 for years and I still haven't seen an improvement on the design from Hornady.

Case capacity is more with the WSM. COAL is going to be restricted with both cases so if I'm constricted to 2.950" then why would I not want a matter case with more powder to compensate for the deep seating.

I can get brass from 5 different manufacturers for the WSM cases, including hornday and most of all NORMA which I believe is 2nd to only Lapua brass. But I can also use the popular 270wsm along with 300/325 wsm if needed. Which gives me a hell of a lot more/ better/ cheaper choices than the PRC. I haven't bought a box of ammo in years so factory ammo means nothing to me. Factory offerings (rifles) don't mean anything to me because I'm GOING to change the barrel regardless of what factory rifle I buy. So that doesn't really matter in this case.

As for being limited to mag length, 7 rds of WsM with vld type bullets at 2.950 isn't a terrible thing. All things equal in terms of length, why would I not want the case with more capacity. I want a short action because I want a stiffer action, lighter action, smaller OAL of gun withoug sacrificing velocity, and in high stress situations, I don't want to short stroke a long action. Bolts are smaller as well and with a large bolt knob it takes NO effort manipulating the bolt even with hot rounds. Smaller stiffer springs and firing pins are also a plus. Long actions also require a stock that is notched or have a low cheekpiece because u can't remove the bolt. If I were going to build on a long action, I wouldn't be interested in a short magnum. I have too many long action guns as it is.

Lastly, those big horns look awesome for the price, but I can buy a Savage 10/11 for under 500 and it already has the accutrigger which I like. I can also change out boltknobs/ bolt faces and get a prefitted barrel and change quickly if I don't like the WSM for some reason. And I'll catch hell over this but I like the floating bolt head design as I feel that it removes the need for truing.

Anyway, maybe someone can prove to me why the PRC is better than the wsm/saum but I just don't see the lore behind it. I feel like Hornady is always playing catch up with their carteidges but they sell because people drool over them as if they are magic.

Thanks for all the replies guys!;)
 
ishootkittens said:
Sorry to bring this topic back up but I've been busy as of late. I broke my elbow and it looks like I'll have some down time for the next few months so I think I'll go with the Savage for my 6.5-300wsm build. Found that shilen and x-caliber barrels both chamber a no neck turn 6.5wsm in the prefit Savage barrels. Also found a nice B&C stock with an aluminum block on sale that will fit model 10/12. Now I just need a bottom metal that allows for AI Wsm mags (2.950" internal)

Problem is finding a Savage 10 with a top bolt release for under 500$. I'm trying to stay as close as I can to my budget.

Question is though, are all the model 10 savages the same in terms of dimensions. Example: are the ejection ports and mag-wells the same size? I'm worried if I find on in .308win the dimensions will be different than say a 300 wsm. I know I'll have to replace the bolt head and magazine but I'm going to replace the mags anyway and the bolt face is no big deal. Just want to make sure before I purchase a non-issue non-magnum model 10.

Thanks again guys
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I built mine on a lefty model 11 that was originally a 243. I did buy new supposedly proper magazine parts, but feeding was a big issue till I finally found somebody who could fix it. Shortly after I sold the gun. Don't believe all the good advise from experts about just bending the lips of the magazine. I was so annoyed with the whole thing I even bought another gun in a lefty version 300 WSM. But I didn't realize that gun had a large shank action, so swapping the barrel over from the model 11 wasent a possibility.
Based on my own experience (and mistakes), I would strongly advise using a 300 WSM action to start with. Buy a new gun if necessary and swap the barrel.
The best place for advise on Savages is the Savage shooters forum. Just remember yours wont be just a simple barrel swap bolt face change.
 
yobuck said:
t I didn't realize that gun had a large shank action, so swapping the barrel over from the model 11 wasent a possibility.
Based on my own experience (and mistakes), I would strongly advise using a 300 WSM action to start with. Buy a new gun if necessary and swap the barrel.
.
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I'm curious as to why it won't be as simple as changing the barrel out. And I plan on being a wsm Savage already but what I'm trying to figure out is WHY. is the ejection ports wider, or the mag well wider or are all the receivers the same. I plan on using a chassis or DBM that accepts the AICS wsm mags that are made for the wsm. Large or small shank, shilen will thread for whatever you need. Maybe I'm missing something?

-c
 
I can only relate to the issues I had using the gun I started with. Being a lefty I have quite a few Savages, and frankly ive been very satisfied with the way they perform. This was my first attempt at building a gun from a standard Savage action. I did use a gunsmith for the build who obviously was the wrong choice for a Savage, and a different gunsmith finally fixed the feeding issue.
That said, I have a 700 rem that ive converted from 270 to 300 Wby by just enlarging the bolt face, and other than holding less ammo than with the original cartridge, the magazine works flawlessly with zero changes to it. So just more food for thought, but using a 700 action with the remage barrel change system might be something to consider also.
Tell you another problem I had with the Savage ive never had with Rem actions. The ejector with hot loads didn't hold up and needed to be replaced.
If you cant use hot loads in a 6.5 WSM, why even have the thing? There are lots of other good 6.5 choices.
 
There are certain cartridges that they only do in large shanks, the RUM is one, although I think the early models were a small shank. I would want that extra metal of the large shank if I were building a WSM. I went large shank on my Edge.
I know some smiths won't chamber a small shank barrel in some cartridges.
 
yobuck said:
I can only relate to the issues I had using the gun I started with. Being a lefty I have quite a few Savages, and frankly ive been very satisfied with the way they perform. This was my first attempt at building a gun from a standard Savage action. I did use a gunsmith for the build who obviously was the wrong choice for a Savage, and a different gunsmith finally fixed the feeding issue.
That said, I have a 700 rem that ive converted from 270 to 300 Wby by just enlarging the bolt face, and other than holding less ammo than with the original cartridge, the magazine works flawlessly with zero changes to it. So just more food for thought, but using a 700 action with the remage barrel change system might be something to consider also.
Tell you another problem I had with the Savage ive never had with Rem actions. The ejector with hot loads didn't hold up and needed to be replaced.
If you cant use hot loads in a 6.5 WSM, why even have the thing? There are lots of other good 6.5 choices.
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Agreed. I will be using warm loads but nothing crazy. Great thing about that case is that u can use 50+ great of powder and pressure won't be outrageous and I will probably replace the factory ejector anyway.

My plan is to find a model 10 with a top bolt release in 270 wsm. I'm going to get a cdi "drop in" dbm and a b&c stock with the aluminum block. I hope to Jeep the whole build under 1200
 
Wedgy said:
There are certain cartridges that they only do in large shanks, the RUM is one, although I think the early models were a small shank. I would want that extra metal of the large shank if I were building a WSM. I went large shank on my Edge.
I know some smiths won't chamber a small shank barrel in some cartridges.
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That's true. But a RUM is quite a bit longer and more powerful than a wsm. Im going to TRY to find a 300 wsmlarge shank for under 500...the search continues
 
The slower powders like RL26 to H1000 seem to work best you will be in the low 60.0 grain to mid to upper depending on barrel and what powder you use.
 
L.Sherm said:
The slower powders like RL26 to H1000 seem to work best you will be in the low 60.0 grain to mid to upper depending on barrel and what powder you use.
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That's what I'm figuring. I'm def going to give rl26 a try and maybe some magpro only because it tends to be popular with the WSM and I'm going to go with a 23-24" barrel so i don't know if a supwe slow powder will work as well
 
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