Time for a 6.5-300wm

[IdahoCTD]

I think I figured out why the pressure was there before the velocity was. It looks like the neck on the reamer was cut a little small. So I skim cut the necks a bit and will give it a go again this week. I have seen pressure spikes like that before with other tight neck reamers when some brass is too thick.

 

[IdahoCTD]

I shot it a bit more this morning. The pressure spikes have pretty much gone away but I'm going to take more off of the necks to see if it's giving me pressure before I get velocity or if it's just going to be a slow barrel. The group on the bottom was with 73grs of Retumbo @ 3340fps but it's too hot. The top is 72grs of Retumbo (3260fps) and the middle is 71grs of R-25 (3280fps). I think this is about as good as I can shoot with this scope. The reticle is too large to get a consistent aim point IMO. I might throw a 6.5x20 Leupold on it to see what it can do. I think it has some 1/4" groups in it. These were .44's to .61's.

 

[SJB358]

Nathan, I can't see real well, as the picture is pretty small, but I am assuming it is a 140 and at nearly 3300 I can't think of much to say, other than that would be one AWESOME rig. Recoil has to be about nothing in your gun and man, that bullet will hit pretty hard a long way out!

 

[IdahoCTD]

I didn't realize the picture was so small . I emailed the picture to myself instead of down loading it from my phone. Recoil is pretty low with the brake and the weight. I think the gun has some good groups in it if I can get the ES reeled in. 2 out of 3 shots would be within 10-12fps and the 3rd will raise the ES to 30-40fps. I'm going to give myself .006-.007" neck clearance and see if things get better. If not I'll try some R-33 and N-570 next week when I get it. I hope to get things worked out so I can deer hunt with it but if not the trusty .30-8mm will get the call.

 

[SJB358]

I think it looks great as it Nathan. Pretty sure you could hammer some deer..

That sounds like a hammer buddy

 

[IdahoCTD]

I really want it to be capable of killing deer size animals to 800yds. With ES in the uppers 30's and 40's I don't think the 800yds groups are going to be spectacular but who knows. Hopefully I'll get it worked out this next week and stretch it's legs to see what it can do. I've been dying to shoot my Edge at long range anyway.

 

[257 Ackley]

Keep us posted on this Nathan. I am trying some new loads this weekend with R25 and Magpro with the 140 grain bullets in my 6.5.
How far are you off the lands with your bullets?

 

[IdahoCTD]

I didn't even measure the distance off of the lands. When I sent the dummy cases in for the reamer I told them to cut it .010" over the COL I'm using now. So if they cut it right I should be about .010". I may change up my seating depth a bit and see what happens with the groups.

 

[257 Ackley]

Was wondering if you had tried them touching or jammed to see what would happen. I set mine at 10 off the lands to see how that works with the different loads that will be tested tomorrow.

 

[IdahoCTD]

I checked it last night and PTG got it darn close. It was about .012 off. I gave it another .020" and shot a few today. It didn't seem to matter much. I did shoot a different style target and it shot a group just under 3/8". I'm still getting pressure signs though so I will probably go down 1-2 grains and see what it does. I hate to lose the velocity but if it shoots as good or better and it's not tearing up cases then I'll stay there.

I haven't tried jamming bullets or touching. For a hunting gun I'd rather have a bit of jump.

 

[257 Ackley]

I am going to be conservative with my charges to start, based on the data Scott sent me from QL on the R25 and 140's. My OAL is good with the Winchester action, but I am starting at 61 grains and working up from there. My barrel is only 26 inches as well. R25 doesn't meter very well out of my powder thrower either. I will be happy if I can get to 3200 with the 140's. Not much dialing that needs to be done with the high BC and velocity that combo has.

 

[SJB358]

I am going to be conservative with my charges to start, based on the data Scott sent me from QL on the R25 and 140's. My OAL is good with the Winchester action, but I am starting at 61 grains and working up from there. My barrel is only 26 inches as well. R25 doesn't meter very well out of my powder thrower either. I will be happy if I can get to 3200 with the 140's. Not much dialing that needs to be done with the high BC and velocity that combo has.

I think with your combo, you should be nipping at 3200 easily Joel. I am quite aways off the lands and my 264 doesn't care too much at all..

 

[257 Ackley]

We'll see tomorrow . Got everything packed up to head to the range. I will let you know what the 140's do. Still hope the Magpro comes out on top...it meters a lot better than the R25 does. The R33 must be like trying to put tree trunks through the powder thrower :roll: . I was surprised how close the burn rate is with 25 and 7828. That would be another option to try. The store Jim and I stopped at in Michigan had an old-school 5 lb can of 7828...maybe I should have bought it.

 

[IdahoCTD]

Well I backed it down a bit and shot this group at 300yds this morning. It's 1.15" at 3170fps with 140 Amax's. The load is 70grs of Retumbo. I think it is ready to roll for opener of deer on Wed. I did correct the zero BTW.

 

[IdahoCTD]

I tried to load the picture and got a board quota limit reached message.

 

[DrMike]

That is a sound load. Congratulations. While I would take nothing away from the rifle, the cartridge and the technique, I should imagine the shooter has something to do with such accuracy.

 

[IdahoCTD]

Well I'll give up speed for accuracy any day. It will shoot about the same with 72grs of Retumbo (3280fps) but it had stiff extraction on some of the cases. It seems to shoot about everything well though. I don't think I've shot a group over a inch with any of the loads I've tried. It shot a 6 shot group under 3/4" using 71grs of Retumbo last night and I was goofing around with my aiming. Probably with a 6.5x20 it would be a 1/4-3/8" 3 shot gun pretty consistently.

 

[SJB358]

That is awesome Nathan. Just about what I get outta my 264. Those long 140's over 3100 seem to make long hits a little easier. I love the 140 AB and BT. I'm sure with better optics on my rifle it would be better yet.

Good luck with the deer. We will be joining you shortly.

 

[257 Ackley]

Found my load today as well...65 grains of R25 with the 140's. Only shot at 100 yards with velocity average for 3 shot group of 3170, but it was .5 MOA :grin: . Now the backup rifle is ready!

 

[SJB358]

AWESOME,AWESOME,AWESOME,AWESOME,AWESOME, I knew it would work! That is 2.5 grains less powder than mine for about the same speed. Awesome shooting buddy! I'm stoked for you. It would be hard to not use that to drill shoulders on an elk! It is beautiful when it comes together huh! That is great speed Joel. Can't wait till our next 600 yard range day. That is deadly!