New Featherweight

[257 Ackley]

I sold a 257 Roberts CDL LE yesterday and didn't want to take a chance that the money would be used in a non-hunting/rifle purchase manner. Decided that the packer - bears game wasn't worth my time and headed to Cabela's to see what they had. For some reason this stick of wood followed me home:

It isn't the best wood I have seen on a featherweight, but it will serve the purposes intended. This will be the action and stock that I will build a 6.5 WSM from. Planning on a Brux barrel with a 1-8.5 twist.

 

[FOTIS]

not too shabby

 

[Greg Nolan]

I think it's a very stylish looking rifle and the wood has decent grain to it. What kind of ballistics does the 6.5 WSM have?
Greg

 

[JD338]

Very nice! That is going to make for a beautiful donar rifle. The 6.5 WSM sounds like a pretty cool round!

JD338

 

[257 Ackley]

Greg -
Three different options that I plan on using this rifle for:
1) Yotes and speed goats with the 100 grain BT - scary what guys are claiming they are getting for velocity...over 3500 at the muzzle.
2) Deer and elk with the 130 AB between 3200-3300
3) Elk with the 140 PT between 3050 and 3200 depending on how much you trust the source.

I get close to 2900 with my 130 AB's in my 260, so this would be a significant step up in velocity from that. This may be similar to a 264 winmag as far as being a barrel burner, but I don't shoot matches so it will only see 50-60 rounds a year after load development is done. There are too many other shooting irons in the safe to give one any more attention than that :grin:. I am still trying to figure out if we call this a 6.5WSM or 6.5X270WSM. I will more than likely use 270WSM brass for fire forming.

 

[257 Ackley]

Jim -
My goofiness to have something different than most others in the 6.5 made me get this instead of the 6.5X284 :roll:

 

[SJB358]

Man, that is AWESOME Joel. I have to say, I am really looking forward to hearing about how this rifle shoots when you are done. I think it is going to be about everything a 264WM is, without the belt. It might be a little rough on barrels, but as hunters, I doubt you will wear it out in your lifetime. Although, it could make you give up the others!

It looks like a great piece of wood, perfect for a sturdy hunting rifle. Man, now I am back to the drawing board. I have the 270WSM, so the 6.5 is really close. Might have to find something else..... Scotty

 

[257 Ackley]

Man did Cabela's have some beautiful Super Grade 70's in the store I was in today. I came really close to spending the extra $300 for one of them instead of the featherweight. If it wasn't going to be a donar rifle, I think one of those would have gone home with me. I can hnt hard with this one and not worry about a couple "beauty marks".

 

[JD338]

Jim -
My goofiness to have something different than most others in the 6.5 made me get this instead of the 6.5X284 :roll:

Joel,

Only a gun looney would understand that kind of logic! :wink:
Makes perfect sense to me. 8)

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Me too! Wished I would have done it first!!!!! Man, now I am thinking about something else.. Stay tuned. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Handsome rifle. It will become a work of beauty when you are done.

 

[cloverleaf]

Hmmmm..... Im bored, I think I'll go drop $xxx.xx on a brand new winchester donor rifle... :shock: Very nice! Oficially jealous...but very nice! That is the other trouble with this time of year. Too cold to shoot nuch so you start spending money..... CL

 

[SJB358]

CL, what is weird is the climate has no direct affect on my rifle affliction! Cold/Hot, it is still the same. I actually blame it more on Pop than anybody! Scotty

 

[nodak7mm]

257...

And the story bout the moose horns................ Inquiring minds may be frostbitten, but still want to know.

Rod

 

[BK]

Certainly a better way to spend the day than mine... flying back to SoCal and work. Yuk.

 

[257 Ackley]

Rod -
the moose was taken in Sept 2007 in Northern Ontario. I fish for walleye (pickerl for our Canadian friends) North of Geralton every year with a buddy who is Canadian and grew up hunting and fishing this area. We were fishing there the summer of 2007 and stopped in to see an outfitter that my friend knew to see if he had any openings for moose hunts. A party from Austria that had booked a hunt with him couldn't get their visa's and had to cancel. He offered the week to us for $2500/person, minmum 4 people. I have never used an outfittter or guide before, so this was new to me. Nice plane ride into the bush to a remote cabin, 2 boats/motors, running hot water and pick up during the week of animals shot. I shot this moose the first day up there. We had 2 bull and 2 cow tags, but were only planning on shooting bulls for the first 4 days. My buddy and his son had a 60 plus inch bull come out the third day in the area they were hunting, but weren't ready when he showed and he busted them. We had passed on several cows early in the week, so my bull was the only one taken on this trip. He is similar in size to what we used to see running around TRF when there were moose there.

We will be talking soon to get things set up for the work that needs to be done on the rifle.

 

[257 Ackley]

CL -
:lol: This has been planned for awhile, but I wanted to sell the CDL before another rifle was added to the collection. I'm not as bad as Pop, but I do get bored with using the same rifles all the time and need to bring in fresh blood once in awhile.

 

[rjm158]

I have a Model 70 in 264 WM and killed a whitetail doe at a measured 152 yards with a 130 AB several years ago. She was the biggest of several does and they felt safe inside the edge of a timberline. Not the longest shot in the world, especially for this caliber, but I shot higher than intended and hit her in the spine. It took out a chunk about 4x5 and she was dead before she hit the ground. The blood spray pattern on the ground behind her was impressive, too. She got the last laugh, however, because she rolled into a dry creek bed and I got to drag her up the bank. The fun wore off that chore in a hurry.

I have read that a 264 WM isn't so hard on barrels if you don't get'em hot and keep'em clean. This might apply to a 6.5 WSM, too, if it's factual.

I am a fan of the .264/6.5 caliber bullets/cartridges. I have a Savage Model 10FM heavy barrel, a Remington 700, and my wife's rifle is a Model 7 Youth, all in .260 Rem. I also have a Tikka T-3, a "parts is parts" gun based on a 98 Mauser action, and several Swedish Mauser variants, all in 6.5x55.

I have always thought I'd like to have a 6.5-06. Anyone have opinions or experience with one?

Are the 6.5 WSM dies readily available and, if so, from what maker?

Ron (didn't mean to hijack your thread, just got carried away)

 

[SJB358]

Man, you are a 6.5 fan! That is awesome. I don't have a 6.5-06, but I have read alot on the ballistics and it looks really good. Most loads put it into the 6.5-284 territory and then some.

As for dies, Redding makes 6.5-300WSM dies.. Cool story about the deer. Sounds like you brought enough rifle to the hunt! Scotty

 

[BK]

We'll see how my new .270 shoots... I may have a 6.5-06 before too long!