6.5 Rem Mag
The 6.5 Rem mag would have likely been very popular if Remington had introduced it in a Medium Length Action like the Mauser in 7X57. This would have allowed them to seat the longer 140 grain bullets near the lands and still have room for them to fit in the magazine. This coupled with a 26" barrel, rather than the ridiculous 18 1/2" barrel, would have given them a much more efficient cartridge than the 264 Win Mag.
I know of a fellow in Montana who built a 6.5 Rem Mag on a long action with a 26" barrel. He is getting great accuracy from the 140 Berger VLD to 3200 fps with 58 grains of RL 22. His father in law is having accuracy and pressure problems when trying to get the same bullet to 3100 fps in his 6.5 300 WSM (10 grains more case capacity).The only problem is that the 6.5 Rem mag still sports the useless belt that causes problems for re loaders.
The advent of the 300 Ruger Compact Magnum resulted in a non belted case that holds just slightly more than the 6.5 REM Mag. This allows the use of slightly slower powders such as RL25, H 1000 and Retumbo. I have designed a cartridge, based on the 300 RCM case, that I call the 6.5 EXTREME. It holds 62 grains of Retumbo beneath a 140 Berger VLD seated with bearing surface ahead of the neck shoulder junction. The chamber is throated to allow the 140 Berger VLD to be seated into the lands.
I have a Rem 700 being re barreled from 300 Win Mag to 6.5 EXTREME. It is in the shop and dies should be in the mail. We will be testing this rifle shortly and I expect to get the above mentioned velocities.
A fellow from California is anxiously awaiting a set of dies so he can get some brass prepared for the Borden Timberline he has on order for this fall. Should have some loads to pass on to him in time for deer season.
|
Linear Mode
