6.5 Rem Mag and RL 16

[Alaska]

I have a old Rem 600 in 6.5 Rem Mag I bringing back to use.
I plan on using the

120 TSX BT Barnes
Reloader 16
RP brass
WLRM primer

Anyone have some good data ?

 

[DrMike]

I have some great ideas! Send it down to me for a "careful" exam.

Neat rifle and neat cartridge.

Cartridge          : 6.5 mm Rem. Mag.
Bullet             : .264, 120, Barnes 'TSX'BT S 30244
Useable Case Capaci: 59.607 grain H2O = 3.870 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.806 inch = 71.27 mm
Barrel Length      : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-16

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-10.0   87    46.80   2749    2014   45961  13220     99.0    1.171
-09.0   88    47.32   2778    2056   47374  13338     99.3    1.158
-08.0   89    47.84   2806    2098   48829  13450     99.4    1.145
-07.0   90    48.36   2835    2141   50327  13556     99.6    1.132
-06.0   91    48.88   2863    2184   51871  13656     99.7    1.119
-05.0   92    49.40   2892    2228   53462  13749     99.9    1.102
-04.0   93    49.92   2920    2272   55100  13836     99.9    1.086  ! Near Maximum !
-03.0   94    50.44   2948    2315   56788  13917    100.0    1.071  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   95    50.96   2976    2360   58527  13991    100.0    1.056  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0   96    51.48   3004    2404   60320  14060    100.0    1.041  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   97    52.00   3031    2448   62166  14128    100.0    1.026  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0   98    52.52   3059    2493   64070  14195    100.0    1.012  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0   99    53.04   3086    2538   66032  14261    100.0    0.998  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0  100    53.56   3113    2583   68054  14326    100.0    0.984  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  101    54.08   3141    2628   70139  14390    100.0    0.970  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0  102    54.60   3168    2674   72289  14454    100.0    0.957  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     97    52.00   3145    2635   74064  13632    100.0    0.951  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     97    52.00   2861    2182   50306  14372     97.8    1.124

 

[SJB358]

If you’ve got it, RL26 should be real good as well.

Looking forward to seeing how you make out!

 

[Alaska]

If you’ve got it, RL26 should be real good as well.

Looking forward to seeing how you make out!

In that 18.5 barrel do you think RL 26 with 120 TSX will burn complete ?

 

[DrMike]

The projection indicates a 99% propellant burn.

Cartridge          : 6.5 mm Rem. Mag.
Bullet             : .264, 100, Barnes 'TTSX'BT S 30240
Useable Case Capaci: 60.911 grain H2O = 3.955 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.806 inch = 71.27 mm
Barrel Length      : 18.5 inch = 469.9 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-26

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-10.0   94    56.61   2897    1864   42707  16016     93.6    1.069
-09.0   95    57.24   2937    1915   44280  16248     94.4    1.054
-08.0   96    57.87   2977    1967   45921  16471     95.0    1.039
-07.0   97    58.50   3017    2020   47634  16685     95.7    1.024
-06.0   98    59.13   3057    2074   49422  16890     96.3    1.009
-05.0   99    59.76   3097    2129   51292  17084     96.9    0.994
-04.0  100    60.38   3137    2185   53245  17267     97.4    0.978
-03.0  101    61.01   3177    2242   55289  17439     97.9    0.960  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0  102    61.64   3218    2299   57427  17598     98.3    0.943  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0  103    62.27   3258    2358   59665  17746     98.7    0.926  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  104    62.90   3299    2417   62007  17880     99.0    0.909  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0  105    63.53   3340    2477   64465  18001     99.3    0.892  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0  106    64.16   3380    2537   67040  18108     99.5    0.876  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0  107    64.79   3421    2599   69741  18200     99.7    0.860  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  108    65.42   3462    2661   72574  18278     99.9    0.844  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0  109    66.05   3502    2724   75554  18340    100.0    0.829  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba    104    62.90   3499    2719   78425  17284    100.0    0.824  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba    104    62.90   3020    2025   48564  17056     91.3    1.011

 

[Alaska]

Can you run in with 120 TSX BT
2.800”

 

[DrMike]

Cartridge          : 6.5 mm Rem. Mag.
Bullet             : .264, 120, Barnes 'TSX'BT S 30244
Useable Case Capaci: 59.525 grain H2O = 3.865 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length      : 18.5 inch = 469.9 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-26

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-10.0   90    53.37   2712    1959   43514  16076     96.6    1.147
-09.0   91    53.96   2746    2010   45066  16271     97.1    1.131
-08.0   92    54.56   2781    2061   46683  16457     97.6    1.115
-07.0   93    55.15   2816    2113   48366  16633     98.0    1.100
-06.0   94    55.74   2851    2165   50121  16800     98.4    1.084
-05.0   95    56.34   2885    2218   51949  16956     98.8    1.069
-04.0   97    56.93   2920    2272   53854  17102     99.1    1.050  ! Near Maximum !
-03.0   98    57.52   2955    2327   55844  17236     99.3    1.032  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   99    58.11   2990    2382   57919  17358     99.6    1.015  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0  100    58.71   3025    2438   60081  17469     99.7    0.997  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0  101    59.30   3060    2494   62348  17567     99.9    0.980  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0  102    59.89   3094    2551   64711  17652    100.0    0.963  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0  103    60.49   3129    2609   67177  17725    100.0    0.946  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0  104    61.08   3164    2667   69738  17787    100.0    0.930  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0  105    61.67   3198    2725   72401  17845    100.0    0.914  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0  106    62.27   3232    2784   75173  17902    100.0    0.898  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba    101    59.30   3222    2766   78182  16851    100.0    0.891  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba    101    59.30   2823    2123   48532  17277     94.5    1.088

Cartridge          : 6.5 mm Rem. Mag.
Bullet             : .264, 120, Swift A-Frame SS
Useable Case Capaci: 61.274 grain H2O = 3.978 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length      : 18.5 inch = 469.9 mm
Powder             : Alliant Reloder-26

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-10.0   85    51.57   2698    1939   46675  15641     97.4    1.049
-09.0   86    52.14   2727    1982   47995  15817     97.8    1.039
-08.0   87    52.72   2757    2025   49360  15987     98.1    1.028
-07.0   88    53.29   2786    2069   50777  16151     98.4    1.018
-06.0   89    53.86   2816    2113   52244  16309     98.7    1.007
-05.0   90    54.44   2846    2158   53767  16460     99.0    0.997  ! Near Maximum !
-04.0   91    55.01   2876    2203   55345  16603     99.2    0.986  ! Near Maximum !
-03.0   92    55.58   2906    2249   56985  16739     99.4    0.976  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   92    56.15   2935    2296   58685  16868     99.6    0.966  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0   93    56.73   2965    2343   60447  16988     99.7    0.956  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   94    57.30   2995    2391   62282  17100     99.8    0.945  ! Near Maximum !
+01.0   95    57.87   3025    2439   64177  17203     99.9    0.935  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0   96    58.45   3055    2487   66134  17298    100.0    0.925  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0   97    59.02   3085    2536   68156  17383    100.0    0.915  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0   98    59.59   3115    2586   70246  17461    100.0    0.905  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0   99    60.17   3145    2636   72406  17537    100.0    0.895  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     94    57.30   3143    2632   75509  16478    100.0    0.890  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     94    57.30   2789    2073   50017  16813     94.9    1.012

 

[6mm Remington]

Great rifle you have there in a terrific cartridge. I too have a Remington Model 600, or I did. It now belongs to my son. It's a 600 Centennial in 6mm Remington. Made in 1964 to commemorate the 100th year of the Montana Centennial and the 75th year of statehood. Great shooting little rifle. They do bark pretty loud though with that 18 1/2" barrel, even in 6mm Remington.

 

[Alaska]

I’ve had 6mm, 35 Rem , 308 Win , 350 RM and 6.5 RM all in Rem 600 over the years.
The only one I have left is the 6.5. I sold my 350 RM a month ago. Very good Alaska gun. I decided to keep
my 6.5 RM. I have not hunted with it for 20 years. I thought I might go chase caribou with it. I have some
120 Barnes TSX which I have never loaded for it. Should be a excellent bullet for little Carbine. I always used the 125 nosler part and IMR 4350. It seems over the years I have used more IMR 4350 in my hunting rifles
than any other powder. 300 Win/338 Win/30-06/270win/6.5 RM. I thought about trying the new powders RL 26 with the 120 TSX in the Rem 600 6.5 RM.

 

[DrMike]

I would think that you have a gem in that little 6.5 RM. It is a greatly underrated cartridge that will punch well above its weight class.

 

[Alaska]

Thanks for the data Dr Mike

 

[DrMike]

You are most welcome. Any time. Hope it results in some fine caribou roasts!

 

[SJB358]

How did the load work go Alaska?

 

[Alaska]

It’s 0 deg F outside it will have to wait till April break up.
But I have all the stuff ready
Brass is prepped, 120gr TTSX bullets bought and a pound of powder Reloader 26.
Maybe we can breath new life in this old Rem 600.
I would be happy with just 3000 FPS and good accuracy with this combo.

 

[SJB358]

It’s 0 deg F outside it will have to wait till April break up.
But I have all the stuff ready
Brass is prepped, 120gr TTSX bullets bought and a pound of powder Reloader 26.
Maybe we can breath new life in this old Rem 600.
I would be happy with just 3000 FPS and good accuracy with this combo.

Understand that. I’m sure you’ll do well with it. JD338 had a 673 6.5 Rem for awhile and had a few good loads for it.

 

[Island Stomper]

Hey there I know this is Nd old thread I'm a new member here and was wondering if anyone had any quickLOAD data on this I'm running 127 lrx in my 6.5 rem mag with 57gr of rl 26 my coal is 3.12 with a 23 inch barrel

 

[DrMike]

Fifty-seven grains leaves you lots of room for expansion if you're interested in gaining velocity.

Cartridge : 6.5 mm Rem. Mag.
Bullet : .264, 127, Barnes 'LRX'BT 30228
Useable Case Capaci: 61.898 grain H2O = 4.019 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.120 inch = 79.25 mm
Barrel Length : 23.0 inch = 584.2 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-26 *C

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-10.0 84 51.30 2661 1997 35514 12567 97.2 1.456
-09.0 85 51.87 2694 2046 36737 12710 97.7 1.437
-08.0 85 52.44 2726 2096 38006 12845 98.1 1.414
-07.0 86 53.01 2759 2146 39322 12973 98.5 1.391
-06.0 87 53.58 2791 2197 40688 13094 98.8 1.369
-05.0 88 54.15 2823 2248 42107 13207 99.1 1.347
-04.0 89 54.72 2856 2299 43580 13312 99.4 1.325
-03.0 90 55.29 2888 2351 45110 13409 99.6 1.304
-02.0 91 55.86 2920 2404 46700 13497 99.7 1.283
-01.0 92 56.43 2952 2457 48352 13577 99.9 1.262
+00.0 93 57.00 2983 2510 50068 13649 99.9 1.242
+01.0 94 57.57 3015 2563 51855 13711 100.0 1.222
+02.0 95 58.14 3047 2617 53711 13765 100.0 1.203 ! Near Maximum !
+03.0 96 58.71 3078 2671 55634 13816 100.0 1.184 ! Near Maximum !
+04.0 97 59.28 3109 2726 57620 13867 100.0 1.165 ! Near Maximum !
+05.0 98 59.85 3140 2780 59675 13916 100.0 1.146 ! Near Maximum !

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 93 57.00 3138 2777 63055 13067 100.0 1.130 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 93 57.00 2754 2138 38860 13519 95.0 1.389

Here is data for a full charge.

Cartridge : 6.5 mm Rem. Mag.
Bullet : .264, 127, Barnes 'LRX'BT 30228
Useable Case Capaci: 61.898 grain H2O = 4.019 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.120 inch = 79.25 mm
Barrel Length : 23.0 inch = 584.2 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-26 *C

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-10.0 89 54.45 2840 2275 42875 13263 99.2 1.335
-09.0 90 55.06 2874 2330 44472 13370 99.5 1.312
-08.0 91 55.66 2909 2385 46135 13467 99.7 1.290
-07.0 92 56.27 2942 2441 47867 13555 99.8 1.268
-06.0 93 56.87 2976 2498 49671 13633 99.9 1.247
-05.0 94 57.48 3010 2554 51552 13701 100.0 1.226
-04.0 95 58.08 3043 2612 53512 13759 100.0 1.205
-03.0 96 58.69 3077 2669 55548 13814 100.0 1.185 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 97 59.29 3110 2727 57655 13868 100.0 1.165 ! Near Maximum !
-01.0 98 59.90 3142 2785 59840 13920 100.0 1.145 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 99 60.50 3175 2843 62111 13971 100.0 1.126 ! Near Maximum !
+01.0 100 61.11 3208 2902 64470 14021 100.0 1.107 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0 101 61.71 3240 2961 66922 14070 100.0 1.089 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0 102 62.32 3273 3020 69472 14118 100.0 1.071 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 103 62.92 3305 3080 72124 14164 100.0 1.053 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0 104 63.53 3337 3140 74884 14208 100.0 1.036 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 99 60.50 3314 3096 77776 13408 100.0 1.029 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 99 60.50 2961 2473 47740 14400 98.1 1.257

Working up the charge to maximum will gain you another 100 fps. I don't know that any game will know the difference, and if you have an accurate load, it may not be worth the extra propellant for you. Nevertheless, that is the projection.

 

[JD338]

I had a Remington 673 Guide Rifle in the 6.5 Rem Mag. With the 125 gr PT, I had great performance with IMR4831.

JD338

 

[noslerpartition]

As much as I like Brömels program - be aware it is just a simulation.
We can sent loads out here to be pressure-tested.
And even with cases tested before (water capacity), length adjust and what have you, I ended up a few hundred bar off.
I use it the other way now.
Send out loads to be proof-shot and adjust afterwards

 

[DrMike]

As much as I like Brömels program - be aware it is just a simulation.
We can sent loads out here to be pressure-tested.
And even with cases tested before (water capacity), length adjust and what have you, I ended up a few hundred bar off.
I use it the other way now.
Send out loads to be proof-shot and adjust afterwards

You are correct. This is the reason I so frequently remind people that they must work up a load, verifying that it is safe in their firing platform. The one loading must verify that the load is safe, rather than merely accepting the generated data.