6.5x300 WBY?

Caveman0101

Sergeant of the Hide
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Minuteman
Mar 16, 2018
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Edwards, CO
Shot the barrel out of my 300wby, going to change to a different caliber. How much barrel life can be expected out 6.5x300wby. I will not be trying to hot load for max FPS. I will hopefully be able to use close to my proven loads with H1000.
 
My experience with 7/300 Wby pushed hard is 700-800 rds.
If you are not going to seek velocity why use it?
If you need brass I have A LOT of excess brass in 300 Weatherby.
Thanks
RTH
Didn't mean I wasn't seeking velocity but I will be happy with 3000-3100 and won't try to push the envelope much past that. I see guys getting 3200+ and figured those have to be on the hot end. I've been impressed with my sons 260 rem, and just got to thinking if the 260 is that impressive at 2700fps with a 142gr pill, it would be truly awesome at 3000fps+.
 
I just looked at the Hodgdon data on that cartridge. Holy crap! That thing is way past diminishing returns. A PRC/SAUM will do 3100 easily with 55-60 gr, and that 6.5 Roy is at 75-90 gr for 3200 with 50 BMg powders! I’d be shocked if you got 500-700 out of it. If you plan to bang steel or target shoot, I’d look elsewhere. Hunting cartridge, have at it.
 
It will be for hunting but good point, I was just assuming I could take the same load I'm pushing a 190gr at 2900 and push the 142 at 3100 with maybe a little less powder. But I could be wrong, I'm no reloading master, and have only just begun researching the caliber. My other thoughts are 280AI, 28 Nosler but I know I'm not going 30 cal.
 
Inefficient powder burn. Sensitive to powder position (powder near bullet or tipped back to primer).

I'd do a 6.5 PRC, 6.5 SAUM, or 7 SAUM. Will take way less powder to get more consistent results.
 
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Nice subject. My "little" 6.5 x 300 WSM cooks pretty good.

Might be fun to work with if you get some heavier bullets made (i.e., heavier than 140gr), suitable twist to stabilize bullets, and find a good, "slow" burning powder.

Not a new idea, see PO Ackley Handbook, Vol 1 page 375 for 6.5/Weatherby-Wright Magnum with 139 grain match bullets (Lt. Col. Paul Wright of Silver City, NM and B.E.Hodgdon of Merriam, KS). And Vol II, page 165 for the 6.5 / 300 Wright-Hoyer with 139 grain, 168 grain, 180 grain, and 190 grain bullets (Alex Hoyer of Mifflintown, PA) mentions barrel length up to 31 inches and 12 inch twist. Ackley comments included "extremely large cartridge", "badly overbore capacity", "where barrel life is not a prime consideration".

The heavier 6.5 bullets might push the OAL out where my magazines might not work too well.

Probably be just another expensive single shot.

Blessed excess, Amen.

Is anybody shooting the 150 or 160 grain 6.5 bullets (Woodliegh, Hornady, lapua, other)?

Barnes used to make some heavy 6.5 bullets (up to 200 grains IIRC)

Forgot to mention that the old Winchester information for the 264 Win Mag reported 3200 for their 140 grain factory loads. ( .338 Win Mag necked down for 6.5 bullets). www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.264+Winchester+Magnum.html
 
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Caveman 0101 we have 5 different 6.5-284s between my father, cousin and Buddy all of them 3000-3110fps barely lengths from 24"-27" 3 bartline barrels, a over the counter Christian arms rifle and a custome with a Hart barrel i believe. I just ordered kreiger barrel for a build I'm expecting around 3100 or I'll be disappointed. I really think it's worth a look. I'd be glad to share are loads
 
52grs reloaded 22 with 140 bergers 26" bartline getting us 3110 with great accuracy, father' new 27" barrel was at 3090 with the same load. No signs of preasure. Hes to going to chro it this weekend he's got 300 or so on the barrel now. Interesting to see it speeds up
 
Keep in mind that you will need to stay with cartridges that have the magnum case head.

My friends old 300We just quit shooting well at about 600 rounds, that was unexpected! Went from a respectable .8" at 100Y to 1.75".

Will the short magnum cases feed and eject well in your action??, that'd be a major concern to me.

I think I'd do 7mmWe for simplicity's sake and because 6.5We is so over bore.