Weatherby's New 6.5 RPM

LazzInc said:

I am still amazed at all this Ruckus about the 6.5s ,,,,, one of the best ever is certainly the .264 win mag, even though the neck length was a bit short on the brass ,,,,,

now com'on ,,, NOTHING magical about the 6.5" (.264) bullet diameter, actual bullet diameter in metric dimensions 6.71mm ,,,,,

reasonable bullet weights with 8.5-10 twist barrels ,,, 115-150gr ,,,,, anything heavier than that, borders on pressure problems with the tighter twist barrels needed to stabilize ,,,,,

GREAT caliber for Coues deer, antelope, whitetails and Muleys ,,,, even maybe Caribou at reasonable ranges ,,, larger than that, shoot something bigger, especially at ranges beyond 500 yards ,,,,,

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I totally agree John. Because it's the latest rage, cool and "tactical", allot of people are pushing the limits and shooting animals that they shouldn't be shooting with such a small bullet.

Probably happened after watching "American Sniper." LOL

I don't know where you get such a small bullet from. 140 to 156 is in the same ballpark as a 7mm. 6.5s have very high sectional density also. My small 6.5 creed has 1200 ft pounds out to 780 yards. My 6.5 Saum has 1200 foot pounds past 1000 yards. So a deep penetrating 1200 foot pound round I don't see as small. I shoot 1000 yard competition and seeing bullet placement in a controlled situation on rock steady rest with wind flags I personally would never shoot at game that far myself. But I certainly don't care if others do. I also think the 6.5 has what it takes to get the job done.
Shep

25WSM said:

I don't know where you get such a small bullet from. 140 to 156 is in the same ballpark as a 7mm. 6.5s have very high sectional density also. My small 6.5 creed has 1200 ft pounds out to 780 yards. My 6.5 Saum has 1200 foot pounds past 1000 yards. So a deep penetrating 1200 foot pound round I don't see as small. I shoot 1000 yard competition and seeing bullet placement in a controlled situation on rock steady rest with wind flags I personally would never shoot at game that far myself. But I certainly don't care if others do. I also think the 6.5 has what it takes to get the job done.
Shep

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So easy to get a rise out of you 6.5 guys BUT your 7mm analogy is flawed. I don't know ANYONE who is shooting 140gr Bullets in 7mmMags. 7mm guys are using 175-195gr high BC Bullets at +-3,000fps, which is vastly superior to 6.5's.

You are comparing apples to oranges

The funny part is, there's a ton of people shooting 7mm Rem Mags and 300 Win Mags with factory ammo and they think they are cannons. Yes they're powerful, but obviously can be handloaded to much more. But still yet, everyone is okay if you say you are shooting elk with a 7mm Rem Mag. That 7mmRM with a factory 150gr bullet at 3000fps is nothing compared to this cartridge loaded with a 156gr Berger at the same velocity.

People have killed everything walking in North America long before heavy, high, for caliber BC bullets. Those same loads and ammunition they used then is still used by a lot of people today. If you take advantage of modern powders and bullets, that dinky 6.5 turns into a heavy hitting cartridge. For shots past 300 yards, I will take this 6.5 RPM loaded with 156 Bergers everyday over a 300 Win Mag with 180gr Soft Points. Just because one sounds bigger and was better way back when, doesn't mean it's still vastly superior than the new age stuff. Of course you can do everything and more this does with a big .300 loaded with 200-215gr bullets, but it will kick a lot more and it will drop more and probably still drift more in the wind. Everything has trade offs. The 6.5 isn't my first choice for elk, but neither is a 7mm Mag with 150gr bullets.

Ingwe said:

I totally agree John. Because it's the latest rage, cool and "tactical", allot of people are pushing the limits and shooting animals that they shouldn't be shooting with such a small bullet.

Probably happened after watching "American Sniper." LOL

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Why do these discussions of new cartridges always get to the point where someone has to decide what other people should shoot at various size game animals?

I am sure most of us are quite capable of understanding energy and trajectory necessary of shooting what ever game we are taking at what ever range we are shooting.

And your comment about American Sniper being the cause as I am recall he was not shooting a 6.5 caliber in the movie or real life; is about as pointless as comparing a 7 mm Remington Mag with some of the 6.5 cartridges.

John, I believe the current interest in the 6.5 mm cartridges or caliber of builet is that they have high sectional density, good BC's and they don't kick the snot out of you when you shoot them.

If you like high performance large caliber magnums, I am happy for you. The two hardest kicking rifles I own are a .30-06 and 1886 Winchester .45-70. I grew up on a ranch with elk in the hay meadow across from the house. Most of the elk I have shot have been with a .25-06, a few with a 6 mm Remington and a few with the .30-06. It was a big deal in the community several years ago when a young guy got a .300 winchester mag. I personally don't know anyone with a .338 Lapua or Norma mag.

It is amazing Ingwe; but we and most of the neighboring ranchers get an elk every year with .30-06's, .270, .25-06 to 6 mm Remingtons and .243 Winchesters. And none of us try to tell our friends or neighbors what caliber or cartridge they should be using. I for one am just glad they are out hunting and shooting.

I am interested in this 6.5 Weatherby non magnum RPM although I probably won't have one unless it comes out in a Weatherby Vanguard or I build one with a Remington action. I recently built a 6.5 Creedmoor and now am interested in either the 6.5 PRC or the 6.5 Weatherby RPM cartridges if not the Weatherby rifle.

I must confess I was seriously interested in a .264 Winchester magnum while I was a youngster going to school.... my uncle had a couple in his Montana hardware store for sale.... I just didn't have the funds then. I think that is about as much energy as I would like to have, but would love to have the longer neck and maybe a sharper shoulder. That's one of enjoyable thing about hunting and shooting, what do I want that I don't currently have.

I love reading about John's proprietary cartridges, the Allen Magnums or the big .300's and .338 to the .50 BMG's but i doubt I will every own one. Ha ha.. the more energy that goes out that barrel, the more that goes into my shoulder.

Good luck with your hunting, shooting and rifle building.

And can we just leave out the attitude about what other people should be using for their hunting cartridges and assume that they are capable of making informed choices.

So the 156 has the same sectional density as the berger 180. Still has over 1200 ft pounds at 1000yards at 3200 fps. The 180vld hunting @ 3000 fps has less energy. I did the calculation with the 147 eldm which is what I have shot over 2000 of. But I'm sure the 156 will be very equal to that 7mm. The 7mm to get a 180 to 3000fps is a big boomer. The 6.5 is not. I'm a 100% disabled veteran and big recoil is not my friend. The 6.5s kick like an 06 or less. The 7mm-300 wby I had kicked like an uppercut from Mike Tyson. Same .320 sectional density too. The only thing different between the 2 is recoil. I will take less thanks.
Shep

This was apples to apples and no the 7mm is not vastly superior in any way. I'm not riled up just correcting facts.
Shep

djm670 said:

Why do these discussions of new cartridges always get to the point where someone has to decide what other people should shoot at various size game animals?

I am sure most of us are quite capable of understanding energy and trajectory necessary of shooting what ever game we are taking at what ever range we are shooting.

And your comment about American Sniper being the cause as I am recall he was not shooting a 6.5 caliber in the movie or real life; is about as pointless as comparing a 7 mm Remington Mag with some of the 6.5 cartridges.

John, I believe the current interest in the 6.5 mm cartridges or caliber of builet is that they have high sectional density, good BC's and they don't kick the snot out of you when you shoot them.

If you like high performance large caliber magnums, I am happy for you. The two hardest kicking rifles I own are a .30-06 and 1886 Winchester .45-70. I grew up on a ranch with elk in the hay meadow across from the house. Most of the elk I have shot have been with a .25-06, a few with a 6 mm Remington and a few with the .30-06. It was a big deal in the community several years ago when a young guy got a .300 winchester mag. I personally don't know anyone with a .338 Lapua or Norma mag.

It is amazing Ingwe; but we and most of the neighboring ranchers get an elk every year with .30-06's, .270, .25-06 to 6 mm Remingtons and .243 Winchesters. And none of us try to tell our friends or neighbors what caliber or cartridge they should be using. I for one am just glad they are out hunting and shooting.

I am interested in this 6.5 Weatherby non magnum RPM although I probably won't have one unless it comes out in a Weatherby Vanguard or I build one with a Remington action. I recently built a 6.5 Creedmoor and now am interested in either the 6.5 PRC or the 6.5 Weatherby RPM cartridges if not the Weatherby rifle.

I must confess I was seriously interested in a .264 Winchester magnum while I was a youngster going to school.... my uncle had a couple in his Montana hardware store for sale.... I just didn't have the funds then. I think that is about as much energy as I would like to have, but would love to have the longer neck and maybe a sharper shoulder. That's one of enjoyable thing about hunting and shooting, what do I want that I don't currently have.

I love reading about John's proprietary cartridges, the Allen Magnums or the big .300's and .338 to the .50 BMG's but i doubt I will every own one. Ha ha.. the more energy that goes out that barrel, the more that goes into my shoulder.

Good luck with your hunting, shooting and rifle building.

And can we just leave out the attitude about what other people should be using for their hunting cartridges and assume that they are capable of making informed choices.

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I had to read thought that one a couple of times....lot of stuff going on in your post. Take it easy brother...I am 1/2 serious and half cranking your chain...it's all good

I'm all for using whatever equipment you like and are comfortable with, and if you like the 6.5's then go for it. Just don't fool yourself and think that a jacked-up 6.5 Creedmore will EVER be the powerhouse that a big 300 Mag with 215gr bullets is....as some guys do.

My "American Sniper" comment was directed at the bearded guys who never served and never fired a shot at another human being, yet they think that they are "Operators" (LOL) because they have all the latest gear, know the lingo, wear the 511 pants with a folding knife in the right pocket, etc.

Sorry, I wasn't calling you out on that.

Well again I will quote a 300 wsm which I shoot at 1000 yard comp too. 210 vld at 2900fps same 1200 ft pounds at 1000 yards. But much more recoil. Just the facts. Mine just happens to weight 75 pounds and is very comfy to shoot. I will say the 300wsm is one of the most accurate rounds at 1000 yard comp ever.
Shep