30x6.5 RPM Wildcat Thoughts

[MattT]

I'll preface this with I know that it would be cheaper just to buy a new bolt and go with a magnum, but I have a Remington 721 in .260 Remington I was considering rebarreling in the near future.

I had been interested in the new 6.5 WBY RPM, but I saw PTG has a 30x6.5 RPM reamer now. I was wondering if anyone had thoughts on this as a wildcat, without doing in depth research it seems like it could get around .300 WSM levels with just a barrel swap? I'm assuming I would have to have custom reloading dies made.

 

[Rich Coyle]

I think it would be the same as the old .308 Norma Magnum.

 

[elkaholic]

I'll preface this with I know that it would be cheaper just to buy a new bolt and go with a magnum, but I have a Remington 721 in .260 Remington I was considering rebarreling in the near future.

I had been interested in the new 6.5 WBY RPM, but I saw PTG has a 30x6.5 RPM reamer now. I was wondering if anyone had thoughts on this as a wildcat, without doing in depth research it seems like it could get around .300 WSM levels with just a barrel swap? I'm assuming I would have to have custom reloading dies made.

I think the performance would be good but brass might be an expensive issue.
Performance would likely be very similar to my 300 Sherman based on the 270W case.

 

[Jud96]

Like @Rich Coyle said, it would be very close to a 308 Norma or a .300 WSM. Dies will be the most expensive part. If Redding makes Type S bushing dies for the 6.5 RPM, you could buy those and just use 30cal sized bushings. Another option would be a .30-06 Ackley Improved. Dies will be cheaper and it's simple to do. The .300 Sherman is another great option, but also requires more expensive custom dies and a little more forming to the brass.

 

[MattT]

Like @Rich Coyle said, it would be very close to a 308 Norma or a .300 WSM. Dies will be the most expensive part. If Redding makes Type S bushing dies for the 6.5 RPM, you could buy those and just use 30cal sized bushings. Another option would be a .30-06 Ackley Improved. Dies will be cheaper and it's simple to do. The .300 Sherman is another great option, but also requires more expensive custom dies and a little more forming to the brass.

That makes sense, the WBY RPM just happened to come out as I was thinking about a new build. I'll probably end up waiting a while just to see if the 6.5 RPM takes off at all and more brass and die options show up on the market. I would assume PTG made that reamer design for someone so maybe some info will come out about some 30x6.5 RPM builds soon too.

 

[Wild Monkey]

9.3x64 brenneke sized down to .308 caliber was a very common Wildcat in the old days. A poor mans magnum was a 30-06 converted over. Virtually the same as the 30 Newton. (Once again he rears his ugly head)

They can make any Reamer you desire, it's their business to provide this service. The 300 PRC is superior.

 

[Rich Coyle]

9.3x64 brenneke sized down to .308 caliber was a very common Wildcat in the old days. A poor mans magnum was a 30-06 converted over. Virtually the same as the 30 Newton. (Once again he rears his ugly head)

They can make any Reamer you desire, it's their business to provide this service. The 300 PRC is superior.

That is the case is used for 6.5 Wildcat; which was bored out to 8mm. I received a call a couple days ago. It's on its way home!

 

[Wild Monkey]

I don't understand your response Rich? I know Europe has an 8mm and 6.5mm version of the 9.3mm, which has been around since '27 according to Wiki. The RPM is the USA version with the proper Rim size.

 

[crystalgayleguy]

I'll preface this with I know that it would be cheaper just to buy a new bolt and go with a magnum, but I have a Remington 721 in .260 Remington I was considering rebarreling in the near future.

I had been interested in the new 6.5 WBY RPM, but I saw PTG has a 30x6.5 RPM reamer now. I was wondering if anyone had thoughts on this as a wildcat, without doing in depth research it seems like it could get around .300 WSM levels with just a barrel swap? I'm assuming I would have to have custom reloading dies made.

I would like it in 25 cal

 

[MattT]

9.3x64 brenneke sized down to .308 caliber was a very common Wildcat in the old days. A poor mans magnum was a 30-06 converted over. Virtually the same as the 30 Newton. (Once again he rears his ugly head)

They can make any Reamer you desire, it's their business to provide this service. The 300 PRC is superior.

That's one reason I think this cartridge is cool, it reminds me of the old .425 Westley Richards and the other old rebated rim cartridges that will fit on a standard action ,473 bolt face.

Obviously the PRC, .300 Win Mag and other magnum size rounds will outperform it and be cheaper, but like I said going into this I think it would be cool to have a round that can preform like a modern magnums on an .473 bolt face. At this point I think I am just waiting for a while to see if the RPM takes off at all, if no one else picks up brass and dies selection is limited I'll probably pass and buy a magnum bolt from PTG for the 721.

 

[User4302021]

A few tips about dealing with PTG.

1) Don't buy anything from them that isn't already in stock.

2) Don't buy anything from them that needs exact tolerances (reamers etc.)

3) Don't buy anything from them that you need in a hurry.

You might get lucky, but the odds these days are against you.

 

[AZShooter]

There are gunsmiths that can open up your current bolt. It might cost less than buying one from PT&G.

 

[MattT]

There are gunsmiths that can open up your current bolt. It might cost less than buying one from PT&G.

Yeah, I have an oversized PTG one piece bolt in it right now. The .260 Remington barrel is fine, I just don't shoot it much, so I like the idea of being able to switch back when I want, which is probably why I would just pick up another bolt if I went with a magnum.

 

[Mram10us]

LOVE the idea, OP! I was wanting to open up my 30-06 a few weeks ago with a 30-284 reamer and another member turned me on to this cartridge.