I am just beginning to research on the leopard. I was wondering if anyone else has any knowledge or opinions on the gun itself, barrel life, distance, and where you could possibly have a barrel made for one?
6.5mm Leopard
- Thread starter jbrown1109
- Start date
it is more often called the 6.5wsm. it can be loaded using 300 or 270 wsm brass. i have one i bought used so i have no idea of the round count. im pushing a 120g nosler bt to 3150 and i think it is actually a bit of a mild load for the caliber. mine is a remington 700 with a 26" heavy sporter kreiger barrel. it is very accutrate. easily shoots .5moa. i have only taken it out to 425yrds but it should easily be a 1000yrd caliber. it is easily my favorite rifle and has taken a few whitetails. do some research using the 6.5wsm name and i think you'll find more info. i think any of the big name barrel manufactuers can supply a barrel.
Better support for 6.5 4S from GAP, not sure I see any reason to go with the Leopard.
If you really want a Leopard, appears that JGS did the original reamer. Contact JGS for a reamer, go, no go gauge. Line up somebody to make you a die set, I've had decent results from Hornady. I really like my Warner Tool Company dies. Be prepared to have a fairly long wait and have a pretty hefty fee for one off die set.
Find barrel, action and stock of choice to send off to smith of choice. Once you have reamer and gauges, now just a function of finding a smith you are comfortable with.
I'd go with GAP's 6.5 4S / 6.5 SAUM over Leopard as die sets can be had from Copper Creek, along with ammo.
If you really want a Leopard, appears that JGS did the original reamer. Contact JGS for a reamer, go, no go gauge. Line up somebody to make you a die set, I've had decent results from Hornady. I really like my Warner Tool Company dies. Be prepared to have a fairly long wait and have a pretty hefty fee for one off die set.
Find barrel, action and stock of choice to send off to smith of choice. Once you have reamer and gauges, now just a function of finding a smith you are comfortable with.
I'd go with GAP's 6.5 4S / 6.5 SAUM over Leopard as die sets can be had from Copper Creek, along with ammo.
Not going to argue the merits of 6.5WSM vs. 6.5SAUM.
however, don't let "lack of dies" scare you away from the wsm. Just use 270WSM dies. Buy the VLD type .277" seating stem and the size appropriate bushing you need for 6.5mm.
The dies everyone are using for 6.5SAUM are just 7 SAUM dies, with a 7mm VLD stem.
Yes, the bullet fits in the seater like a hotdog down a hallway, but it works fine. Actually, the .264" bullet will be a closer fit in the .277" 270 die than it is in the .284" 7mm die.
As for chambering reamer and gun smithing - it's no different than any other cartridge. You'll order the reamer from PTG, JGS, Manson or Hendrickson, then give your action, reamer and barrel to the gunsmith of your choice.
I guess I will make one point about the 6.5saum: Bunch of gunsmiths already have that reamer in hand.
however, don't let "lack of dies" scare you away from the wsm. Just use 270WSM dies. Buy the VLD type .277" seating stem and the size appropriate bushing you need for 6.5mm.
The dies everyone are using for 6.5SAUM are just 7 SAUM dies, with a 7mm VLD stem.
Yes, the bullet fits in the seater like a hotdog down a hallway, but it works fine. Actually, the .264" bullet will be a closer fit in the .277" 270 die than it is in the .284" 7mm die.
As for chambering reamer and gun smithing - it's no different than any other cartridge. You'll order the reamer from PTG, JGS, Manson or Hendrickson, then give your action, reamer and barrel to the gunsmith of your choice.
I guess I will make one point about the 6.5saum: Bunch of gunsmiths already have that reamer in hand.
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NOT as good as the 6.5 Stripped Ass Ape , NO Way better , sorry couldn't resist !
I would suspect barrel life to be less than the 270WSM or 7mmWSM .
