6.5SS RL33 160 Matrix

[elkaholic]

Decided that since the RL 33 worked so well in the 30/375 S.I. that I would try it in the 6.5 SS with the 160 Matrix. Below are results so far:

Rifle 700 Rem action with 26" 5r Benchmark 8 twist
300 SAUM Norma case formed to 6.5 SS
F210 primer
160 Matrix

64 grs.......3048'
65 grs.......3086'
66 grs.......3130'

I could have loaded a little more pressure but would need to use a drop tube. I think that the 66 gr. load would probable end up being about tops anyway. Not bad for the iddy biddy cartridge!

Here is a pic for comparison

 

[stomp442]

Wow that's some great numbers with that heavy bullet. Now lets see some groups!

 

[elkaholic]

Wow that's some great numbers with that heavy bullet. Now lets see some groups!

Ya, hopefully I will get time to do that soon. It looked promising today with no load developement I shot about .6".......Rich

 

[rooster721]

They are very accurate bullets.. I finalized a load in my win mag a few weeks ago and have shot them out to 1150 yards thereafter...

I don't know how the SS compares to a win mag, but for comparison:

67.5 (Retumbo) gave me 3010... as one lower node, and
70.5 (Retumbo) gave me 3190... as a max (and second accuracy node)
...I won't post all the charges I tried, just those two as they were the two I tested to any greater amount

I realize the thread is for R33, I thought I'd add the Retumbo and it's velocities in my win mag for comparison sakes.. r33 & retumbo being very popular powders** OP, I hope you don't mind!

This is a pic of my furthest plates from that evening... note the whallop that 160 carries and it's dent on the 810 plate* Also, I found it especially interesting to see the 1150 group (in a dead/no-wind firing) land right... obviously the spin-drift! First time I've been able to document that so accurately. It's basically one exact minute right-- Neat to see & prove that rather than just take it for granted in others' comments toward how far "spin" carries a bullet.. both groups are about one-click high, but over & above that, they show just how accurate the bullets are** (which is the point in posting this)



My barrel is only 8.5 twist, and actually a canted land 3C... which in theory might help the velocity some minut degree (vs. an 8 twist for example)

 

[Outlaw6.0]

Those are incredible numbers Rich. Are you single slinging the 160's? I did not think the SS would reach 3100' with the 160's... that's awesome.



t

 

[elkaholic]

Rooster......don't mind at all. Pretty encouraging accuracy! The SS is a considerably smaller case than a WM. It is shortened to fuction in a mag box like a true short mag, but it still holds around 71-71.5 grs. h2o in a Norma case. As I recall, a max load of Retumbo in mine is around 61-62 grs? How far are you jumping the 160's?
Outlaw, The case was designed to cycle the 140's in a std. Rem mag box, which it will do. Whether I can cycle them with the 160's will depend on how much jump they require for accuracy? I designed the SS right before the 160 Matrix showed up. If they do shoot best seated clear out to the lands, a Wyatt box will cure that......Rich

 

[rooster721]

Rooster......don't mind at all. Pretty encouraging accuracy! The SS is a considerably smaller case than a WM. It is shortened to fuction in a mag box like a true short mag, but it still holds around 71-71.5 grs. h2o in a Norma case. As I recall, a max load of Retumbo in mine is around 61-62 grs? How far are you jumping the 160's?
Outlaw, The case was designed to cycle the 140's in a std. Rem mag box, which it will do. Whether I can cycle them with the 160's will depend on how much jump they require for accuracy? I designed the SS right before the 160 Matrix showed up. If they do shoot best seated clear out to the lands, a Wyatt box will cure that......Rich

Jumping them 10thou Rich..

Had my new barrel's throat cut in such a way so the dummy-round I made (seated with a 160 at max-COAL for my mag-box) would be touching lands.. once I got to load-development the first loads I tested were seated 10 thou deeper (as I always start development) and just by luck, that's where they shot best.

I was getting 1/2-5/8" groups at 200 yards! At 100, obviously those are half of that.. absolutely amazing. And those groups out to 1150 prove well that they are very stable in the 8.5 barrel* Probably put them right in their sweetspot for accuracy while allowing a touch less pressure & a bit better speed.. I'm very very happy the way that one turned out, & am anxious to get them on some game !

 

[BEEMAN]

That is impressive Rich. Sure hope my 6.5 Sherman will get numbers like that. 28" barrel and going to try N570. I sure wish we could get R33 in Canada.

 

[elkaholic]

That is impressive Rich. Sure hope my 6.5 Sherman will get numbers like that. 28" barrel and going to try N570. I sure wish we could get R33 in Canada.

With a 28" barrel, it will!

 

[elkaholic]

Jumping them 10thou Rich..

Had my new barrel's throat cut in such a way so the dummy-round I made (seated with a 160 at max-COAL for my mag-box) would be touching lands.. once I got to load-development the first loads I tested were seated 10 thou deeper (as I always start development) and just by luck, that's where they shot best.

I was getting 1/2-5/8" groups at 200 yards! At 100, obviously those are half of that.. absolutely amazing. And those groups out to 1150 prove well that they are very stable in the 8.5 barrel* Probably put them right in their sweetspot for accuracy while allowing a touch less pressure & a bit better speed.. I'm very very happy the way that one turned out, & am anxious to get them on some game !

Sounds great and thanks for the info! I bet the game animals are nervous

 

[elkaholic]

I had a chance today to do some accuracy testing with the 160 Matrix and RL33. I settled on a 63 grain charge with a 210 primer and a coal of 2.880". I think this may do the trick at 3086'. I now need to find time to shoot long range. I have found that a lot of these long, boat tail bullets tend to settle in even a little more at distance........Rich

 

[Mateo]

I'm super impressed by these new wildcats. The 6.5 SS and the 6.5 SAUM.
These would be fun to do a detailed comparison Between. A lot of smart thinking went into the development of these 2 wildcats. I'm curious what the pressures are with the rl33 is.

 

[trucraft]

Very cool wildcat.
Followed your earlier thread on this round with great interests.

What I can't understand is how your getting so much powder in the case?
Those Matrix must be seated a way down the neck no?
I struggle to seat bullets over 65grns of powder in my 7mm saum.

 

[elkaholic]

I'm super impressed by these new wildcats. The 6.5 SS and the 6.5 SAUM.
These would be fun to do a detailed comparison Between. A lot of smart thinking went into the development of these 2 wildcats. I'm curious what the pressures are with the rl33 is.

I think a comarison between the two would shake out like this. Velocity would pretty much be a wash. Because of the case design, very little capacity was lost (maybe a grain or two) and the shorter SS case is a little more efficient. Beyond that, I think all of the advantages would go to the SS except for ease of forming and the SS is not that difficult.
Some of the advantages are, it will fit and cycle through a standard magazine, the barrel life should be a little better because of the case design having a sharper shoulder and longer neck, the longer neck is a potential accuracy plus, and I have seen NO significant case stretching which requires trimming. Turn around on a buil is fast because the reamer and dies are available on demand. As far as pressures with RL33 go, I can reach higher velocity with it than other powders with LESS pressure and running equal pressure, re velocity. For example, max charge of retumbo would fall nearly 100' short of RL 33 and you gain about 40' per grain, . . In other words, you could load two grains less than max with the RL 33 and still equal or exceed Retmbo....Rich