6.5 build

[WYcoyote]

Going to jump on the 6.5 bandwagon with a new barrel for a Savage 111 long action now chambered in .270 Win. I want a 24-25" or so medium to heavy sporter barrel for deer (not elk) or long range varmints. Looking for pretty good performance without going too crazy. Barrel life is absolutely no factor to me. 140gr Berger VLDs is my first choice for bullets, so I'm thinking a 1-8" twist. Accuracy and velocity are both important, of course.
These are my main choices,
6.5-.284 Norma
6.5-06
6.5-06 AI
6.5 Rem mag
6.5 WSM

I don't really want a .264 Win mag since I have a 7mm Rem mag already.

A few issues I have are,
Any of these especially well suited for my action?
Is the 6.5 WSM worth the extra fire and brimstone and changing the bolt head?
Will I be able to seat the long VLD far enough out in the 06s'?
Any feeding issues with the .284, 6.5 Rem, or the WSM?
Will the 6.5-06 AI out perform the 6.5-.284?
Which caliber should I get?
Would you get SS or or a CM barrel?
Thanks for your opinions.

 

[viking499]

How about the 6.5x55 since you are going to reload?

 

[blackwalnut]

Re: 6.5 build ...

You have some good cartridges there but how about the 6.5 x 55 like another poster suggested? Its easy to get brass, data and its accurate to the max. I have a custom 6.5 on a commercial FN Mauser with a Douglas 1 in 8 twist and its fantastic. The Savage is a great platform. Good Luck have fun.

I would keep it simple. Also barrel steel is your choice. I went with Chrome Moly. Keeping simple keeps costs down and allows you to put money into good optics and mounts. I am a fan of the 6.5 bullet and the old Swede however 6.5 -284 is accurate and a good choice in my opinion.

 

[coug]

I just had a 6.5 AI built I am very impressed with the round and the research I have done. I would suggest a longer barrel if you want the speed. I went with a 28 inch heart. this thing will suposedly push a 140gr @ 3100 to 3150 with a 26 inch barrel. mine will be ready to pick up next week. yes by the way the AI versions out shoot the 284. by a substantial amount. you have to shoot the realy slow stuff for powder hence the 28 inch barrel. some may tell you the loading stuff is hard to get but I had no trouble. I ran the calculations on it and my 7 mag and @ 400 yds they are neck and neck but after that, the6.5 takes over by 1000 uds the 7 mag has 30 inches more drop than the 6.5 and has less energy. that is with the 145grn in the 7 but that's apples to apples. if you have any questions on getting stuff let me know.

 

[GunTech]

There's also 6.5 Creedmoor, 260 and 6.5x47 to consider

Personally, I'd go 6.5-284 if barrel life is not a factor. There's exceptional brass available (Norma, Lapua).

Don't discount 139gn Lapua Scenars or even 144gn FMJBT (G1 BC 0.636). Scenars have been stellar for me. Running a 3 groove 1:9 Lilja bbl in my main LR rifle.

 

[patsygarret]

+1 for the 6.5-284, i myself have just finished a savage based rifle in 260 rem just waiting for my scope to come in now

 

[Kachok]

6.5-06 AI will outperform the 6.5-284 and will run neck and neck with the 6.5 rem mag. The 6.5 WSM beats all of them with 65,000 psi chamber pressure and a higher case capasity. My fav is still the 6.5x55 though.

 

[GunTech]

Is the OP looking for velocity or accuracy?

The general consensus among LR shooters is that 6.5-284 offers more consistent velocity (and hence better accuracy) thanks to the short fat case. It's probably all voodoo, but you are far more likely to find 6.5-284 in the winners circle at LR meets, and both premium brass and even loaded cartridges are available.

6.5-284 is a standardized cartridge, being submitted to CIP in 1999 as the 6.5-285 Norma. The round has set several world records for accuracy.

 

[trultemor]

6,5x55 AI

 

[Finprof]

6.5

I have 2 6.5x55 rifles: one is a Remington 700 custom build an the other is a HOWA 1500. Right now E.R. Shaw is building me a 6.5x284. I should get it about a year from now.

 

[50below]

I jumped on the 6.5mm bandwagon in 1988. Oh wait, there was no 6.5mm bandwagon in 1988. In fact everybody and their pet moose told me that a 6.5mm would eat barrels (for some reason .257" and .277" did not). I've made rifles in 6.5 BR (rebated the rims so I can use them in an AR), 6.5x55 Swede, 6.5x284, and the ever popular 6.5mm Gibbs.

As with all these "which cartridge is best" discussions, one has to determine which characteristics are most important to you and what the application is. You mention hunting deer, but not elk, and maybe some long range varminting. You mention wanting a 24 to 25 inch barrel. No doubt portability is an important part of the mix. Having a 14 pound rifle with a 30" barrel that would be the stuff for LR matches or dedicated varminting would not be good choice for the deer woods. Further, you want reliable, easy feeding from the magazine that would not be required for match or varmint shooting.

I do not have extensive knowledge of the action you are using. I know several actions made for .30-06 based cartridges (like the 270 Win you are using) have some problems feeding the fatter 284 Win based cartridges. That would tend to lead me away from the 6.5x284 for this application.

The Ackley Improved (and Gibbs) cases are fine. But realize you need to do some more work, such as hydroforming and/or fireforming cases. Further, you may experience some "challenges" with feeding since the taper along the length of the cartridge body has been removed and the stacked rounds now take up quite a bit more room at the shoulder than the parent cases did. This can lead to having to change feed ramps, mag walls, and limiting mag capacity to 4 rnds v. 5. You'll have to ask your self if the 100-200 fps gain in bullet speed is worth it. Note I have 6.5 mm Gibbs. It will push 140 gr bullets faster than 3100 fps with a 26" barrel. Is it for everybody? No. It does require work for form cases, especially if you don't want to expend the barrel life doing fireforming.

Magnum based cartridges would be straight out unless you want to chage the bolf face and change the magazine.

So, this pretty much leaves the 6.5X55 Swedish and the straight 6.5-06. Either way, you'll be happy. If you go with the 6.5-o6, I'd say start using 270 brass as it's 0.050" longer that .30-06 and will allow you to form and trim the cases to fit the neck length of the 6.5mm chamber. As far as bullet seating, work with your gunsmith to get a reamer with an appropriate throat.

The 6.5X55 Swede is a truely wonderful cartridge. 140 gr bullets at 2800 fps from a 24" barrel. Mine will shoot 5 Nosler partitions into 0.55" groups with surprising regularity. It will also shoot the 142 Sierra MatchKings, and the Barnes 130gr TSX well.

Long way to go to say: either the 6.5X55 or the 6.5-06.

Have fun and good luck.

 

[NCsmitty]

I faced a similar choice building a VZ-24 M98 Mauser, and settled on the 6.5x55 after weighing the options.
That 110 year old round was the right choice for me, and the ability to seat the bullets out and to be able to load to higher pressure levels in a more modern action just adds to the package.
The 1in9" twist will be especially good for the 129-130gr bullets for use on paper targets.



NCsmitty