New 6.5 SLR Build

[rcdinaz]

Cool cartridge for sure. I have found the sweet spot for the 140 bergers in my Ackley and 6.5-284 to be right around 2950 fps. I've had both up and over 3000fps but the accuracy was never there. 2800,2950 & 3100 has been the accuracy nodes for most 6.5s I have ever messed with, at least with the berger vlds. You made the right choice choosing this one over the 6.5-284. Although an outstanding cartridge its probably my least favorite 6.5 cartridge. I look forward to seeing groups and range reports on this.

HA! Glad I read this it is pretty much the same results I was seeing with the 6.5-284, 2,950 looks like it is where it is at.

[rcdinaz]

I have another 6.5 question for you all.

 

With the SA Rem are you just using it as a single shot?

 

What other options are there, extended box from Wyatt's or similar? The SA has a pretty small ejection port also for thelong VLD 140 rounds.

[308Nut]

I have another 6.5 question for you all.

 

With the SA Rem are you just using it as a single shot?

 

What other options are there, extended box from Wyatt's or similar? The SA has a pretty small ejection port also for thelong VLD 140 rounds.

You can't safely get enough of the best 2 or 3 powder types for the 6.5-284 in the case to necessitate seating them way out there for max case capacity. I've ran it on a short action modified with the Wyatt box with superb results but I also had a reamer built to put the 140s on the lands at the shorter COAL. Using 140s, you're only safely going to get 51-53, maybe 54 grains of H4831 and 47-51 of H4350 (depending on rifle tolerances) in a case that can hold 59 grains of them. May as well not be afraid to seat them further down and use them in a SA/Wyatt box.

 

If you want to use and maximize RETUMBO or similar, then you'll need a long action.

 

Just my .02

[cohofishing]

Great ideas. Thanks

[rcdinaz]

Good info. 308 nut!

 

I had the barrel set to run the 140's so it is not terribly long to get to the lands. I just started with the new set up before hunting season and ran out of time this year to get things situated. I guess I need to solve the load issue first and then see about the magazine and any modification. I also only run H1000 for those first loads and had some good results. I can say that the HSM factory loads just gave me fits trying to chase group size and zeroing the rifle. Those things may as well be a mile from the lands.

 

Thanks!

[lancetkenyon]

Red, white & blue Santa delivered me a package last night....

 

 

 

 

You can see the 6.5 SLR modified case is formed off a .243 Win case

 

 

Normal .243 Win case next to the 6.5 SLR modified case

 

 

Of course, even though it was late and I had to work today, I had to go size at least 3 cases....I guess I will be prepping cases over the holidays!!!

 

The 3 on the left are new 6.5 SLR vs. .243 Win case on right.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Brown Santa visited on Christmas Eve, delivering me a new 20MOA Picatinny base, 34mm rings, and a scope level.

 

I also hear my scope payment was processed, and it should be in the mail as early as yesterday.

 

Plus, I talked with my smith yesterday, and we went over all the final designs of the build. He is starting the action work today.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Between last night and this morning, I got to do all of my case prep.

 

I resized all 209 pieces, trimmed to .0075 under max length (2.0320" to 2.0325") according to the 2.040" per the reamer specs, uniformed all the primer pockets, de-burred flash holes, chamfered inside and outsides of case necks, and tumbled for a couple hours.

 

This morning, I weight sorted all the Remington brass. I had brass that had variations from 160.6 grains to 164.7 grains. With about 87% within a 2 grain range from 162.2 to 164.2 grains, I will load these for my normal loads, and keep the other 28 for sighting in.

 

Trimmed length. (No, that is not a split case, just a scratch. I checked under my daughter's microscope)

 

Weight sorted brass

 

 

 

I also weighed 100 Berger 140gr. VLD Hunting bullets. Amazingly, all were within .1 grain of the advertised weight. From 139.9 grains to 140.1 grains over 100 bullets.

 

Primed all the brass with some Federal Gold Medal Match LR primers.

 

 

Blue are lighter than my 162.2 to 164.2 range, red are heavier (heavier brass content=less case volume).

 

I will start loading a few for a ladder test sometime this week as time allows.

[4Falls]

I like how your showing all the work and steps that go along with building your rifle. Thanks for sharing, its very informative.

[lancetkenyon]

Man, if these photos don't float your boat, there is something wrong with you....

 

The bullets might be seated a touch long, but I cannot confirm until I get the rifle back from the smith. I think they will need to be seated a bit deeper, maybe .100-.150" more at most. Should put the base of the BT just at the bottom of the shoulder.

 

These are loaded fairly mild, starting about 1/4 way up between min & max loads according to research. Started 5 at 42.0gr., 42.5gr., 43.0gr., and 43.5gr. of H414. Just a touch faster burn rate than H4350, close to RL17 burn rate, but I have a bunch on hand, and two other guns LOVE it. These will be used for sighting in the scope and seeing what kind of velocity and accuracy I get from the get-go. I would expect to be able to load up to 44+ grains depending on seating depth, but working slow and moving up while checking for pressure signs will be required.

 

 

[briant_az]

Watching this thread has been really bad for the bank account! You sir have inspired me to build another custom rifle. I've been wanting to build a 260 rem for a couple of years, the time has come. I got my McMillan game scout stock today and the Bartlein barrel should be here tomorrow. The next couple months are going to cost me a lot of money!

[lancetkenyon]

When it is done, let's go shooting!

[Old Buck]

WOW! This topic hits too close to home! I had a .260 Remington built this past July and spent way more money than I thought possible. I ended up with a rifle that shoots great, is fun to shoot and has already accounted for 4 one shot kills this season. It is going to take me a year or two for my bank account to heal up, but I can't wait to have another rifle built!

[briant_az]

When it is done, let's go shooting!

I'm sure we can make this happen!

[lancetkenyon]

Another MAJOR piece of the puzzle fell into place last night. My long awaited scope arrived. I had been debating between two scopes, and availability and price won out for the brand newly released (as of late December) Steiner T5Xi 5-25x56.

 

 

So of course I could not wait for another month or so until my rifle is built. I slapped it on my AR last night and took it for a drive today. There are a lot of cool features in this scope.

 

One cool feature is knowing what rotation you are on when dialing. The elevation knob has windows that show what MIL you are on, and when you cross the 12MIL mark (one full revolution), the numbers change in the windows to reflect it.

 

Here is 11MILs just before crossing over a full rotation.

 

 

Here is crossing one full revolution and hitting 12MILS.

 

 

Here is the SCR reticle at 25X.

 

 

It also has 11 different illumination settings, from night vision use to full daylight use. I checked again today at the range, and 11 is still visible in full sunlight, but not nearly what it looks like in these photos.

 

#6 illumination

 

 

#11 setting

 

 

Once everything was set up, it is easily visible the check parallax, magnification, elevation, illumination setting, and even the level while staying behind the gun.

 

 

The scope is a beast though.

 

 

Except for the flier (low right) which was definitely me, not a bad 8 shot group at 200 yards.

 

 

My first impressions are pretty good. Definitely clearer than my Leupold VX-III 6.5-20x50 and SWFA 5-20x50. The 25X sure makes seeing .224" holes at 200 yards easy. I love the FFP feature. Illumination might be useful during low light shooting. Clicks are crisp and power ring is not too tight. Parallax is quick. Eye relief is great too.