90gn 6.5mm projectiles

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90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Chux » 22 Dec 2020, 4:01 pm

I’d love to hear from anyone who has practical experience running lighter projectiles in a 6.5mm (like a 6.5/284 or PRC). What twist rate did/do you run, how did it perform going up to the heavier projectiles?

The desire is to run from lightest up to @140gn max for hunting not a comp gun), however varmint style gun so its got to be a .5” gun with a few different load.
Alternative is to go to 25 cal and pay a bucket load for a 1:9” twist 257 barrel from the States and then be able to run 85’s up to 120gn in a 25/06.

Basically I am trying to future proof myself with a gun that cover a few bases and ditch my Ruger No1V 7STW (barrel is toasted) for something that can (explosively) shoot small ferals plus run a heavier projectile fast enough to have decent ballistics out past 400m on heavier game as needed.
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by JimTom » 24 Dec 2020, 6:10 pm

Mate I tried some 95gn Vmax out of my creedmoor using AR2206H. The best group was 0.6” @ 100m, however I found the groups didn’t have the consistency of the heavier projectiles in the 140gn range.
Not exactly what you were after however I hope it helps.
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by JimTom » 24 Dec 2020, 6:13 pm

If it helps the barrel is 24.4” and is a 1:8 twist.
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Chux » 25 Dec 2020, 8:22 am

Thanks JimTom.

Pretty much what I was wondering - if you can get .6” with Vmax’s and similar with 140’s its a fair sort of range.

Am toying between 25/06 which I have a fair amount of experience with which I know I can shoot happily 85 BT which are good on most things and then push up to 120’s fairly happily as well but Ive not had any success with the long monolithic like Barnes which seem to need a bit more twist than standard 1:10

I’m not building a target or comp gun but a heavier very accurate hunting rifle for out to 400-500m max.
Alternative to 25/06 is 6.5/284 Norma - built on a REM 700 LA.
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by SCJ429 » 25 Dec 2020, 8:41 am

You will have to run a twist rate to suit the longest bullet you want to shoot, which means a 1:8 if you have 140 grain bullets on your list.

It is hard to beat the 6.5/284 for speed but a 6.5 WSM might be fun.

My 6.5 shoots 1/4 MOA with every Berger bullet I have tried with it, all from a 1:8. The RPM is higher with lighter projectiles but that will help with explosive expansion in a hunting situation.

Why don't you rebarrel the Ruger #1 into something cool. My 7mm Ruger shoots 0.4 inch groups at 100m.
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by JimTom » 25 Dec 2020, 1:53 pm

Just to show I am not making it up mate. These were shot at 100m, only a three shot group for the 95gn Vmax, and a five round group for the 143gn ELD X. Pity I pulled that last shot or it would have been a good group.


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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by JimTom » 25 Dec 2020, 1:56 pm

When I originally purchased my 6.5 I had envisaged using it as a longer range shooter so experimented with the 95gn Vmax for dogs etc.
It is now used exclusively as my night rig for pigs so I mainly just use the 143 ELDX.
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Chux » 27 Dec 2020, 12:56 pm

SCJ429 wrote:You will have to run a twist rate to suit the longest bullet you want to shoot, which means a 1:8 if you have 140 grain bullets on your list.

It is hard to beat the 6.5/284 for speed but a 6.5 WSM might be fun.

My 6.5 shoots 1/4 MOA with every Berger bullet I have tried with it, all from a 1:8. The RPM is higher with lighter projectiles but that will help with explosive expansion in a hunting situation.

Why don't you rebarrel the Ruger #1 into something cool. My 7mm Ruger shoots 0.4 inch groups at 100m.


So your 6.5 is the 6.5/284?

There is enough barrel to recut it down to 7 rem Mag - its a fairly heavy profile and 30” long but thinking it might just go back to original 243w and stick with the bolt actions for the funky stuff.

PS You have a SCJ 429 in a ‘stang or Torino?

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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by SCJ429 » 27 Dec 2020, 9:14 pm

My 6.5mm is a 260 so it is a fair bit slower than the 6.5/284, not that I am looking for that sort of speed. If I was I would look at a 7mm RSAUM.

If the STW is shooting well, you won't gain much rechambering in 7mm RM. the STW is a cool looking case, good to hear some people are still using it.

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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Pedro » 30 Mar 2021, 3:51 pm

My 6.5 x 55 shoots very nice groups with hornady 123 gr with 2206H low recoil, It also likes 140 gr with 2209 much the same size groups then to really get me scratching my head hornady 147 gr with 2209 don't group that good @ 100 but @ 200 are great
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by SCJ429 » 30 Mar 2021, 6:39 pm

What size groups are you shooting at 100 that come good at 200? 1\4 inch at 100 and 1\2 inch at 200?
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Pedro » 01 Apr 2021, 3:31 pm

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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Pedro » 01 Apr 2021, 3:55 pm

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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Pedro » 01 Apr 2021, 3:57 pm

Apologies for such a long response time
Had a few computer problems and my skill at uploading needs refining
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by SCJ429 » 01 Apr 2021, 7:08 pm

So you shoot groups over two inches at 100 metres and then you can shoot 1\2 inch groups consistently at 200 metres?

Unfortunately poor groups at 100 result in poor groups at 200 metres. Has the rifle ever shot a decent five shot group at 100 metres and then followed up by shooting a five shot group at 200 metres roughly double the size. For example, I can shoot groups with my 6mm around the low 0.2s at 100, then shoot around 0.5s at 200 and then I am lucky to shoot under an inch at 300 metres.
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Pedro » 02 Apr 2021, 8:19 am

i have just bought this rifle ( new ) and in the process of developing hand loads for it with 5 shot loads consisting of 123 gr 2206h 130 gr 2206h then 140 gr 2209 147 gr 2209 will post other pics later. No tall stories here just amazed at the results, and hoping to get an understanding of what members thoughts are and if anyone else has experienced this. An employee @ sth side brisbane gun shop has explained to me that the barrel of a rifle expands and contracts as the projectile moves through the barrel and upon exiting is unsettled then in flight with wind resistant's against it settles it down. Could this be possible in the nano second between 100 and 200 ??
I total get what your say SC and agree with you.
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Pedro » 02 Apr 2021, 8:25 am

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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Pedro » 02 Apr 2021, 8:30 am

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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by SCJ429 » 02 Apr 2021, 9:00 am

Pedro wrote:i have just bought this rifle ( new ) and in the process of developing hand loads for it with 5 shot loads consisting of 123 gr 2206h 130 gr 2206h then 140 gr 2209 147 gr 2209 will post other pics later. No tall stories here just amazed at the results, and hoping to get an understanding of what members thoughts are and if anyone else has experienced this. An employee @ sth side brisbane gun shop has explained to me that the barrel of a rifle expands and contracts as the projectile moves through the barrel and upon exiting is unsettled then in flight with wind resistant's against it settles it down. Could this be possible in the nano second between 100 and 200 ??
I total get what your say SC and agree with you.

The theory goes that when you ignite the powder it sets your barrel vibrating which you can plot as a sine wave. The aim is for the bullet to exit the muzzle at the quietest part of the sine wave.

Your bullet is spinning due to your rifling, some say that the bullet exits the muzzle slightly unstable but goes to 'sleep' during flight, rather like a top when you first let it go and it settles down to spin smoothly. It is thought that this happens to a bullet in the first few metres.

My observations are that if you cannot shoot a decent group at 100 metres, nothing magical is going to happen to the bullet on the way to the 1000 metre target.

The Swede is a great case and you should not have any issues getting some good results out of it.
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by SCJ429 » 02 Apr 2021, 9:15 am

Your bullets flight time to 100 metres is about 100 Milli seconds and needs a little more than that to get to 200 metres, about 220. They are a bit slower than you were thinking.
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Pedro » 02 Apr 2021, 9:47 am

ok thanks for explaining it like that " spinning top " so im going with that theory
going to the range next wednesday weather permitting and will shoot same loads again just for science
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by SCJ429 » 02 Apr 2021, 11:57 am

The group I like best, that you have posted was the 123 @ 100. This group has the least vertical and it would be interesting to see what you could do with some tuning and shoot five shot groups. Try that load and do some jump testing, go from jam or as close as you can out to .100 thou in steps. That is jam, .020 jump, .040, .060 and so on.
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Pedro » 02 Apr 2021, 4:52 pm

ok will do thanks for the advice
have also loaded 147 gr with some RE 22
hope I'm not causing a hijacking of chux topic
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by SCJ429 » 07 Apr 2021, 6:59 pm

How did your load development go?
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Greenbeast12 » 08 Apr 2021, 9:50 pm

I've just got some 90gr speer projs loaded up in my 260, GRT estimates 3500fps by the top charge. Yet to test them though but fingers crossed this weekend.

My 1:8 26 inch rifle shoots 123gr eldms and 147gr eldms 0.5moa out to 500m no worries so I'm interested to see how the 90s do shoot.

If I do get out ill post some groups & FPS for reference
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by SCJ429 » 09 Apr 2021, 7:45 am

Greenbeast12 wrote:I've just got some 90gr speer projs loaded up in my 260, GRT estimates 3500fps by the top charge. Yet to test them though but fingers crossed this weekend.

My 1:8 26 inch rifle shoots 123gr eldms and 147gr eldms 0.5moa out to 500m no worries so I'm interested to see how the 90s do shoot.

If I do get out ill post some groups & FPS for reference

Is your Remington 700 a bench rifle. Nice going if you can shoot groups under three inches consistently at 500 metres.
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Greenbeast12 » 10 Apr 2021, 12:35 am

@scj429 no its not, more of a heavy barrel hunting rifle that has been shooting very well - match chamber helps too.
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by SCJ429 » 15 Apr 2021, 8:08 pm

Any results from the load development from either of you?
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by Blr243 » 15 Apr 2021, 9:03 pm

I think my next pta will be a 6.5 creed with 90 speers or v max or sst ....a very flat shooting hard hitting set up I’m hoping for
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Re: 90gn 6.5mm projectiles

Post by JimTom » 16 Apr 2021, 7:04 am

Blr243 wrote:I think my next pta will be a 6.5 creed with 90 speers or v max or sst ....a very flat shooting hard hitting set up I’m hoping for


Don’t think you will be disappointed mate. I use my 6.5 Brittany ManBun Creedmoor for my night rig with my thermal. It would be the one rifle I’d keep if I had to trim down.
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