6.5 CM Savage Mod 10

[Waynard]

Hi guys, anybody have one of these Savage 6.5 CM Predator Hunter Max 1 Rifles? If so how does it shoot with reloads or factory rounds. I'm thinking about picking one up and would like some info. before I do.

 

[Rick Richard]

I have one and WOW! Mine anyway is a tack driver for an out of the box rifle. It will shoot the Hornady factory 140 match ammo in the 1/2 to 5/8 inch groups at 100. Shoots hand loads at around 5/16 inch groups with Berger 140s and RL 17. Best factory rifle that I have ever owned.

 

[Waynard]

Thanks Rick, can'nt complain about them groups and thats about what I'm looking for. I have a Mod.11 Predator hunter in 6.5 CM but it only has a 22 inch barrel. So, I would like to squeeze a little more velocity out of the cartridge and I know the Mod 10 has a 24 in. barrel which would give me about 120 f.p.s. more vel. I might be splitting hairs here but at 500 yards that 120 f.p.s. makes a lot difference in bullet drop,to me.

 

[DocDoc]

Waynard, I would be very surprised if you gained more than 30 fps for each inch. That would be a 60 fps gain. You might get the 120 fps with a 28 inch barrel.

 

[Rick Richard]

I think the main difference in accuracy is the weight and contour of the model 10 Predator vs the 22 inch barrel model.

If given the opportunity, I will always select the longer barrel and heavier weighted rifles for accuracy and longer ranges.

 

[Trickymissfit]

I don't think anybody here will doubt anything from Dan Lilja. He ran a simple test to check barrel rigidity us a 26" #7 contour barrel. With the flex at 26" as a standard to measure by, he cut the barrel off till he got 21" of length. At 21", the barrel was 2.75 times stiffer. A 23" barrel ought to be close to 1.75 times stiffer. That's accuracy!
gary

 

[Waynard]

So, DocDoc you think I would only gain 60fps with a 2 inch longer barrel. That does'nt seem worth the bother than, the 22 inch barrel 6.5 CM has shots touching @ 100 yards. I just thought I would gain a lot more vel. with the longer barrel.

 

[Trickymissfit]

So, DocDoc you think I would only gain 60fps with a 2 inch longer barrel. That does'nt seem worth the bother than, the 22 inch barrel 6.5 CM has shots touching @ 100 yards. I just thought I would gain a lot more vel. with the longer barrel.

mostly depends on case volume and bore diameter. A fine example is the .223 Remington case. I cut a barrel from 26" down to 20", and saw a loss of 75 fps (loads were not max either). I could probably gain half that 75 fps back with another half grain of powder. I shoot a 6mm/250AI. Nothing but a 250AI necked down to 6mm. My barrel is 26.5" long in a contour slightly heavier than a #7. Shoot great, but could probably do just as well with a 24" barrel, and maybe even a 23" barrel with the right powders and lighter bullets.
gary

 

[Waynard]

So, what is the advise here, stay with what I have and try to push it to see if I can obtain as much vel. out of a 22 inch barrel as a 24 inch barrel useing different powder, primers ect.. Or just get 6.5 CM with a 24 inch barrel??

 

[ohiohunter]

I would shoot what you have. Take it out to 500yds and see if you need the extra velocity. My view on this is why wrench on an already accurate gun? Your end result may not exceed your current.

Also there are a lot of details left out of the arguments about cutting a barrel down and not losing velocity. I bet that 223 was not pushing 80gr pills. Similar to TAC OPS cutting down the 308 barrel but using only federal gold ammo which apparently has a fast burning powder in it.

 

[Rick Richard]

If you are satisfied with the current rifles accuracy, then keep shooting it. The small difference in fps will be negligible or close to it at medium distances.