JeffG
Member
What about 7mm WSM? Then you could keep your .284 bullets.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7mm_Winchester_Short_Magnum
6.5-284 in Savage short?
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7mm_Winchester_Short_Magnum
So with a bit more poking around, the 6.5-300WSM (or leopard, what ever you wanna call it) looks to be the lowest cost, and simplest option in its performance class.
The case dimensions are simply a necked down 300wsm (or .270), and the dies are available as a production unit from LEE for less than 40 bucks (i use their 6-284 dies for the same reason).
With a centerfeed, youll likely be a little short with the longer bullets, but not enough to harm performance significantly imo.
If you can get a prechambered and profiled barrel, I can loan you the tools (besides the go/nogo gauges) to change it yourself.
Ive found a few sources that have or would likely be able to do prethreaded, chambered, and profiled barrels. Shilen, among them. Also buying a profiled and threaded blank (theres an ebay seller that ive talked to a few times with some good stuf), then renting the reamers (if necessary) and having a local smith do the chambering would probably not be super expensive either.
I wish id thought about this before going with the 6.5x284 in my arisaka, even with opening the bolt face it would still cost me less (just because of the dies) to have gone this rout.
The case dimensions are simply a necked down 300wsm (or .270), and the dies are available as a production unit from LEE for less than 40 bucks (i use their 6-284 dies for the same reason).
With a centerfeed, youll likely be a little short with the longer bullets, but not enough to harm performance significantly imo.
If you can get a prechambered and profiled barrel, I can loan you the tools (besides the go/nogo gauges) to change it yourself.
Ive found a few sources that have or would likely be able to do prethreaded, chambered, and profiled barrels. Shilen, among them. Also buying a profiled and threaded blank (theres an ebay seller that ive talked to a few times with some good stuf), then renting the reamers (if necessary) and having a local smith do the chambering would probably not be super expensive either.
I wish id thought about this before going with the 6.5x284 in my arisaka, even with opening the bolt face it would still cost me less (just because of the dies) to have gone this rout.
JeffG
Member
Excellent post Loon Wolf!
Thanks!
I have to call ER Shaw in the morning about something else, and while they dont offer the 6.5WSM Ill ask them about doing a savage prefit left unchambered.
JeffG
Member
Sweet!
Sorry about that......
criterion offers the 6.5 saum and gap starting at $300 and shilen offers the 6.5wsm starting at $339 (savage prefit prices from nss)
Please let us know about Shaw cuz THAT would be a fantastic bang for your buck, if they need an initial setup fee, I'll go in for a split to get it done.....
Ill ask about providing them a reamer, or reamer set. Otherwise setup should be the same for anything, tho Ive never ordered a prefit large shank, barrel from them.
LOL, we did talk about it before i went with the x284, i just didnt do enough research at the time....it might not have worked anyway, the Arisakas got that long bolt face recess in the barrel and the action is significantly slimmer than any of the normal commercial actions.
is yours an unusual taper or is it something shaw has listed in their dimensions? Ill ask about custom contouring as well, I want to say that they were willing to do it a few years ago when i talked to them about a different project, but i could be wrong as i went with a factory contour in the end.
Factory #4 sporter or varmint please and thank you........Christmas is coming I suppose..
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Yes, I have an unusual barrel taper on my Savage rifle and fit the stock to it. I like the idea of getting the same barrel contour and use the same stock, but it wouldn't be too big a deal to get another stock. Or just accept the inconsistent gap between barrel and stock.
Spoke to the retail guys at Shaw this morning (my time, 6ish). They do not offer the 6.5-300wsm, and will not accept customers reamers. I havent talked to the barrel guys yet, they are supposed to call me back as they were out to lunch, but ill ask about paying a "set up" fee to get a run of barrels done (cost etc).
They WILL provide threaded and profiled blanks, and ill inquire about possibly starting a group buy on just threaded and profiled blank, so more info coming after that conversation.
Should they be ok with doing a group buy, and we all go with the same chambering, another option would be to get the barrels all done and shipped to one smith/machinest to have them ream the chambers. That way it would only be one reamer set/gauge rental.
Ill fill you guys in more when i hear back from the barrel division.
as to specific barrel tapers, Ill have to ask what/if the group buy will be an option and if we can chose different contours and length or if they will want all the specifics to be the same....guess i also need to ask how many people well need for a group buy....
They WILL provide threaded and profiled blanks, and ill inquire about possibly starting a group buy on just threaded and profiled blank, so more info coming after that conversation.
Should they be ok with doing a group buy, and we all go with the same chambering, another option would be to get the barrels all done and shipped to one smith/machinest to have them ream the chambers. That way it would only be one reamer set/gauge rental.
Ill fill you guys in more when i hear back from the barrel division.
as to specific barrel tapers, Ill have to ask what/if the group buy will be an option and if we can chose different contours and length or if they will want all the specifics to be the same....guess i also need to ask how many people well need for a group buy....
Gtscotty
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If you want to keep the magnum bolt face, the 6.5 SAUM seems to be pretty popular these days. Hornady has a new cartridge coming out that's kind of like the SAUM called the 6.5 PRC. I don't know if it has actually been released, or if the info available has leaked out, it might be an interesting option and apparently fits well in a Savage short action.
Given that changing the bolt face on a Savage is no big deal, and that you won't be hunting with this rifle, I would be tempted to try the 6mm Creedmoor. The trajectory and wind holding characteristics won't be far off of the fast 6.5s with bullets like the 110gr Sierra, and it won't burn as much powder or recoil as much. Just another option.
Load data recently put out by Sierra:
https://sierrabulletsblog.com/2017/10/03/sierra-bullets-6mm6-5-creedmoor-load-data/
Given that changing the bolt face on a Savage is no big deal, and that you won't be hunting with this rifle, I would be tempted to try the 6mm Creedmoor. The trajectory and wind holding characteristics won't be far off of the fast 6.5s with bullets like the 110gr Sierra, and it won't burn as much powder or recoil as much. Just another option.
Load data recently put out by Sierra:
https://sierrabulletsblog.com/2017/10/03/sierra-bullets-6mm6-5-creedmoor-load-data/
So finally got a hold of someone in the Barrels division.
Thru the custom barrel division they dont do "group buys" but it might be possible thru the OEM division, with a min of 25 units. This might be an option or something we can open in the group buy section to see if we can get enough guys wanting in on it.
The specifics here are that the barrels all need to be the same material type. Length, contour, and possibly chambering can all be different.
For the barrels were talking about specifically in small quantity, the rep i spoke to suggested we get a local gunsmith/ffl holder to order the threaded, profiled, but unchambered, barrels for us and do the chambering. Price for stainless in any length and contour would be 198, with a 6-8 week wait time.
This is a believe the going rate, with the dealer discount, which opens the other options in chambering, and maybe materials if anyone wanted chrome moly
Same specs as above any length, contour, If its a chambering they offer thats probably available as well.
He also said that matching an existing contour of barrel can be done but the barrel would need to be sent into be measured.
I didnt think about it at the time...as i called before my first cup of coffee....but it might be possible to supply the measurements and not need to send in the barrel.
Thru the custom barrel division they dont do "group buys" but it might be possible thru the OEM division, with a min of 25 units. This might be an option or something we can open in the group buy section to see if we can get enough guys wanting in on it.
The specifics here are that the barrels all need to be the same material type. Length, contour, and possibly chambering can all be different.
For the barrels were talking about specifically in small quantity, the rep i spoke to suggested we get a local gunsmith/ffl holder to order the threaded, profiled, but unchambered, barrels for us and do the chambering. Price for stainless in any length and contour would be 198, with a 6-8 week wait time.
This is a believe the going rate, with the dealer discount, which opens the other options in chambering, and maybe materials if anyone wanted chrome moly
Same specs as above any length, contour, If its a chambering they offer thats probably available as well.
He also said that matching an existing contour of barrel can be done but the barrel would need to be sent into be measured.
I didnt think about it at the time...as i called before my first cup of coffee....but it might be possible to supply the measurements and not need to send in the barrel.
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someguy2800
Member
I finally got some bullets and brass to start loading some 6.5x284 in my savage. Lapua brass and a Hornady 147gr ELD. With the bullet seated into the lands the OAL is just a tiny bit to long to eject a loaded round out the ejection port. Seating the bullet .020" back is enough to make it eject. I bet a 140 ELD would eject just fine. I will probably shorten the bolt stop just a hair so I can seat to the lands if the gun prefers it.
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