6.5mm Rem. Mag??? Anybody know about this cartridge?

jtoews80 · Oct 25, 2007

I had the opportunity to fire one of these about 3 years ago in the Rem model 600 I believe it was a short rifle with a layed laminate stock, supposed to be a rare gun. Anyway, I nailed a golf ball with 3 shots out of 3 at 100 yrds. Now obviously the model 600 is a great gun in this caliber. My question is how successful has anybody been in building one? What rate of twist, what action length/bolt face(standard mag right?)? I am quite fond of the 6.5 as a projectile, my 264 wm is deadly. Just curious about this round I guess. Sorry to ramble aimlessly folks.

Have a safe and successful hunt this year.

jtoews80 · Oct 25, 2007

I just checked the new run of remington 6.5mm's are with a 22" barrel. Is this enough? I am not convinced it is.

FOTIS · Oct 26, 2007

The 6.5mm and the 350 Rem Mags were basically the original "Short Mags" introduced by Remington back in the day. Funny you mention about the barrel length, specifically were the 6.5mm is involved. Here you have a small, short mag which begs to be housed in a short action carbine. That, coupled with the fact that the cartridge comes close to 264 Win Mag performance, and you have one heck of an oxymoron!
Here is an idea of what she can do in a 22" barrel. It does rob some of it's capabilities in a 22" tube. But a 125 Partition at over 3100 fps in a short dandy rifle is cool! The rem 673 is made like that!

Cartridge : 6.5 mm Rem. Mag.
Bullet : .264, 125, NOS PART SP 16320
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.806 inch or 71.27 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch or 558.8 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-22

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% 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

-20.0 82 46.40 2446 1661 31181 11219 88.6 1.480
-18.0 84 47.56 2511 1750 33370 11611 90.0 1.443
-16.0 86 48.72 2576 1842 35717 11992 91.4 1.406
-14.0 88 49.88 2642 1937 38237 12360 92.7 1.363
-12.0 90 51.04 2707 2034 40942 12713 93.9 1.320
-10.0 92 52.20 2773 2135 43851 13049 95.0 1.277
-08.0 94 53.36 2839 2237 46980 13366 96.0 1.236
-06.0 97 54.52 2905 2343 50339 13663 96.9 1.197
-04.0 99 55.68 2971 2450 53918 13938 97.7 1.159 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 101 56.84 3037 2560 57749 14188 98.4 1.123 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 103 58.00 3103 2673 61861 14413 98.9 1.088 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 105 59.16 3169 2787 66280 14611 99.4 1.054 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 107 60.32 3234 2903 71032 14780 99.7 1.021 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 109 61.48 3299 3021 76150 14919 99.9 0.990 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 111 62.64 3364 3141 81668 15026 100.0 0.959 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 113 63.80 3428 3262 87627 15109 100.0 0.930 !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 103 58.00 3254 2939 74981 14018 100.0 1.001 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 103 58.00 2894 2325 49302 13990 93.0 1.201

FOTIS · Oct 26, 2007

Here...I found you one for under 500...not bad, if you do not mind the looks.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... m=83619108

jtoews80 · Oct 26, 2007

The 673 is a very nice little gun. Unfortunately, I can't buy anything from on that auction site because I'm from Canada. I would have to find a dealer with an FFL and export or temp permit to meet me at the customs. I would also haev to have them verify what it is and preregister it.
And I live 400 miles north of the 49th parrellel.

Would love one, they are 859.99 here in CaD.

Ol` Joe · Oct 26, 2007

Just my biased opinion, but I think I`d look at the 6.5x284 if I was in the market for a 6.5 with the ballistics in this range. The Nosler store shows Nosler 125 gr ammo as haveing a velocity of 3000 fps with both cartridges. My own 22" BBL`ed 6.5x284 (M1999 Montana action with their barrel)gave 2962 fps with Nosler 125gr ammo and 3020 fps with Norma 140 gr stuff. I haven`t matched either with my handloads yet, nor do I really feel I need to. Both are smokin` :shock: .

The 284 case is also easier to find and made by both Norma and Lapua in addition to Nosler with the Winchester parent case available, where as the 6.5 Mag is a Remington and Nosler product only. More bullet wgts are available for the 6.5x284 in factory ammo too if that is a concideration.
The Remington case has been discontinued once already and brass may be harder to find in the future if it is dropped again. Both are short action rds.

Again, JMHO.......

buckfever · Oct 28, 2007

The 6.5 RM is a great cartrige a friend of my dad has a Remington m700 and its killed alot of Elk and deer but he likes shooting the Hornady 129 gr spire points. I'v tried to talk him into Noslers but he won't budge.