It would be a bit of a PITA but a .270 on a 6.5x68Schuler Imp. case would be cool and RWS brass is as tough as it gets.
Norma WBY brass costs just over $1.50 per case. Not sure how accurate it is but I read LRM brass is $1.25 per case and probably as good or better than the Norma and it's annealed. I ordered my Hornady 300 Dakota brass directly from Dakota and a lot of 100 was about $2.00 per case and of very good quality. Dakota usually has inventory in stock.
If you merely necked down the LRM or 7 Dakota, fire forming would be next to nil and could be accomplished with load development. If you improve the WBY case, there will be some work and cost involved, so the cost f comparable quality brass would close to equal Dakota brass cost.
My next 6.5 will be a 6.5/300 Dakota. If I was looking for your wanted performance, it would be the LRM or 7 Dakota. I can not think of one good reason the WBY cartridge would be better than either of these.
Interestingly, you also almost never hear of belted mag cartridges being improved.
Interestingly, you also almost never hear of belted mag cartridges being improved.
The cost of the brass really isn't a concern to me as long as it is readily available. A year ago when I started building my 7x300win I started out to build a 7mm Dakota but getting brass seemed to be an issue at the time. You cant exactly run down to the local sporting goods store and pick up anything Dakota to make brass from. Wby isn't as popular but at least it can be found locally in a pinch.
The 6,5x68 is interesting and I actually did some research on the brass from across the pond and like that it is beltless. Would be real cool but again getting brass would be difficult.
A lot of guys steer away from belted magnum rounds but maybe its just because they are what i'm used to shooting they don't bother me at all. I agree that its hard to find an improved belted magnum in fact the only 2 that I came up with while researching is the 270 and 7mm Ackley magnums which were 7mm rem mag brass shortened 050" and improved by pushing the shoulder back which dosnt leave enough case for the velocity i'm wanting.
Did you try ordering brass direct from Dakota? That is the best way to get it. 4 of the last 6 years I have bought almost all of my brass with a phone call and most of my powder due to lack of availability. The local sores usually only carry Rem or Win brass which I will not buy if I can get Lapua, Norma or Hornady. LRM brass should be readily available for a very reasonable price considering the quality.
The 6.5x68S brass is basically unavailable. If you want to wildcat that, you need to go with the Norma 8x68S and neck it down.
I think the LPM is your ticket. Just neck it down, no improving needed. GTG
A guy has to be careful of RWS brass, tried to use some 6.5x68 or 65 to make a 6.5 Sherman case and it was almost impossible to push a shoulder on and end up with a usable case, a lot of reaming and trimming and fire forming even for what seemed like what should be a simple push and form.
Not if the dies are hardened. They will eat up a HSS reamer.