New GAP Extreme Hunter in 6.5 SAUM

[KYS]

Wouldn't an even less expensive option bet to buy a savage magnum and get a barrel and screw it on?

It's an option but as stated there would be no pre-fit barrel and a smith would still have to put his hands on it. There is no way around it, you are going to spend some cash to get into the caliber.

I would just hunt down a donor rifle in WSM.... remove the barrel, and have a smith install a new tube, upgrade the extractor to M16, bed into a decent fiberglass stock and you will be shooting at least. Worry about the other stuff down the road as you can find it for a good deal. The classified heres often turn up some good stuff.

 

[cjgemm]

Yes, but nobody makes a 6.5 4S prefit so you'd need to have a smith spin one up regardless.

Have a Rock Creek on order.

 

[Fisky]

Lots of guys seem to get hung up on the Reamer it's not Magic. The body and neck size give you the alignment. The throat angle for the most is always 1 deg . The FB has to be set so that it functions with the bullets intended for the cartridge. In this case we want to shoot 140 hybrids, JLK's, 130 VLDs. Max Mag length is 2.950. The FB was initially set for the 130 and 140 Berger VLD at 2.900 but it was just a tad short IMO for the 140 hybrid. So when I made the change to .081 it allows for both to work well. I just got back from the Surefire PRS match and got the Win with the new chamber. Already proved the older version was a winner so nobody needs to stress on this.


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What if max mag length is 2.995" (Wyatts Mag box). Would you spec the reamer different then?
Thanks

 

[Huckleberry75]

1slow, I did a 'budget build' 6.5. Started with a Rem700 SPS in 300WSM as a donor and my friend did the chamber work. Should be arriving today, I'll put some pics up...

I have seen Casey's work, you wont be disappointed.

 

[knockemdown]

EDIT: OH yeah, Casey is da man!!!
Got my barreled action today, as he promised.

Its been said, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. I believe that, and knew GAP had a winner with their 'Extreme Hunter' in 6.5SAUM. This is what I'll be rockin' here shortly...
Trued R700 SA, PT&G teardrop knob, Kampfled fluted bolt, oversized lug

Kampfeld fluted Bartlein 8.5twist, 24" w/ Vias Micro brake

Just have to fit this Cerakoted sucker into a Ti stock w/ Wyatts box and get after shootin' it!
Thanks again to Mr. George & GAP for making their reamer available to guys wanting to try out their new wildcat...

 

[Fisky]

Its been said, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. I believe that, and knew GAP had a winner with their 'Extreme Hunter' in 6.5SAUM. .

I hear ya. I had a project put together before all this started. As it turns out it shares some similarities to an Extreme Hunter.
Now I just need to re-chamber a 6.5 SLR to 6.5 SAUM I think. That extra energy would be appreciated!!

Currently in 6.5 SLR

 

[Rockfish Dave]

I hear ya. I had a project put together before all this started. As it turns out it shares some similarities to an Extreme Hunter.
Now I just need to re-chamber a 6.5 SLR to 6.5 SAUM I think. That extra energy would be appreciated!!

Currently in 6.5 SLR

Funny, I've been following this thread for a while and went with a SLR/S Improved version. I get caught up in the excitement every now and then and start dreaming up a 6.5 SAUM build and then remember why I went with the 6.5 SLR/S Improved and shelve any thoughts I had of building the 6.5 SAUM. Both great calibers and stretch out the barrel life as much as possible by different means. Now the ultimate would be the long neck of the 6.5 SLR/S and the case capacity of the SAUM.

These projects are what make firearms such an enjoyable hobby: There are many ways to solve a problem, and as long as it shoots straight and gets the intended job done, there are no wrong answers.

 

[A10XRIFLE]

New GAP Extreme Hunter in 6.5 SAUM

Couple 6.5 SAUMs in the vault ready to ship.

Both custom hunters black one is a lefty. Call Kenny or Dustin for specs. Or PM Me

RH rifle with Green Stock Sold 11-28-13


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[BjornF16]

How does the internal magazine feed compared to DBM?

 

[A10XRIFLE]

How does the internal magazine feed compared to DBM?

Feeds perfectly. Its our WSM box spring and follower. GAP WSM Steel triggerguard/Floorplate All is purpose build for WSM and SAUM. Works great!

 

[cypriss32]

Feeds perfectly. Its our WSM box spring and follower. GAP WSM Steel triggerguard/Floorplate All is purpose build for WSM and SAUM. Works great!

Any update/luck on FACTORY 6.5 4S brass?

 

[A10XRIFLE]

Any update/luck on FACTORY 6.5 4S brass?

Will be sometime in 2014, Like I have said all along my mission in life is to get it set up at the shot show in Jan. Brass will be late Summer Fall 2014 at the earliest.

300 Saum From Norma and Remington is back available. I have 6,000 pieces and Copper Creek has 20,000 pieces. for guys that dont want to Prep it Cooper creek sells it ready to go. Im going to have it available loaded and Prepped for customers buying rifles.

 

[Sendero_Man]

That won't happen till at least next year after SHOT.....


edit. George beat me to it

 

[cypriss32]

Will be sometime in 2014, Like I have said all along my mission in life is to get it set up at the shot show in Jan. Brass will be late Summer Fall 2014 at the earliest.

300 Saum From Norma and Remington is back available. I have 6,000 pieces and Copper Creek has 20,000 pieces. for guys that dont want to Prep it Cooper creek sells it ready to go. Im going to have it available loaded and Prepped for customers buying rifles.

Thanks, Ryan K pushed me over the fence about it. Ill get sending an action soon.

 

[blackfoot]

What are the disadvantages if any using the .300 brass vs 7mm besides one more step in necking down?


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[A10XRIFLE]

What are the disadvantages if any using the .300 brass vs 7mm besides one more step in necking down?


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They are both exactly the same, the 300 has 2 steps to neck down. And the neck length is a tad shorter than the 7mm. but both have to be trimed to 2.020 length anyway so it does not matter. both are good to go.

 

[IanB]

Component list is now complete and all with the rifle builder, hopefully everything will be ready very early in the new year. The last time I followed one of George's calibers it was the 6mm Crusader, hopefully the 6.5 Saum will be every bit as good, if it works I will be having another barrel done and putting it on my F class rifle.

KMW Sentinal stock
Surgeon WSM action
Benchmark 1-8 twist barrel
081 tight neck reamer
Dies from Copper Creek
100 Norma 300 cases from Copper Creek
5 tubs of H1000
100 140 gr Berger Hybrids and 100 140 gr JLK's

 

[drdtmd]

Ok guys let me get this straight before I load up some RDS. My reamer is the new one .081 freebore so what is my loaded rd supposed to be for unpointed 140 hybreds and 130 vlds. Is it 2.925 for 140 and 2.870 for the 130's. Thanks a bunch

 

[KYS]

Ok guys let me get this straight before I load up some RDS. My reamer is the new one .081 freebore so what is my loaded rd supposed to be for unpointed 140 hybreds and 130 vlds. Is it 2.925 for 140 and 2.870 for the 130's. Thanks a bunch

page 24…..

New Reamer.
It's perfect for the Berger Hybrids now. , 2.920 to touch.

130 Berger VLD's will touch at 2.880

 

[drdtmd]

Yes I have but I missed a couple of days because i Just got out of the hospital having surgery sorry I wasn't more intentive to this post and for bothering you.

 

[A10XRIFLE]

Ok guys let me get this straight before I load up some RDS. My reamer is the new one .081 freebore so what is my loaded rd supposed to be for unpointed 140 hybreds and 130 vlds. Is it 2.925 for 140 and 2.870 for the 130's. Thanks a bunch

That's correct, Might go a tad shorter on the 140 Hybrids. 2.910 to start. Hybrids like to jump a little.


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[drdtmd]

Thanks George. I appreciate everything you have done for all of us with this great cartridge. Take care

 

[KYS]

Yes I have but I missed a couple of days because i Just got out of the hospital having surgery sorry I wasn't more intentive to this post and for bothering you.

That read poorly. My bad, did not mean to sound harsh. If you guys are searching for information on this caliber. Just go back a few pages and read thru George's posts. He has all the bases covered in the last few pages.

 

[drdtmd]

No problem kys will go back a few pages and catch up.

 

[Quickoz]

Hey guys, Ive been reading this thread a bit but skipped ahead to ask this question, is anyone here using this 6.5 SAUM 4S in a F-Open rifle and how much success are they having with it? How is its accuracy over 10-15 shot strings? I saw George said he has one in his F-Open rifle but wondering on others aswell. Its sure got me thinking as i want a bigger cal for the longs then my 6x47L on rough days and this 6.5 SAUM with 140gr Bergers at 3150fps gives same ballistics as the 7mm Shehane with 180gr Bergers for less recoil and similar barrel life it seems. That and getting 6.5mm bullets is way easier for me then 7mm.

Cheers.

 

[Tackleberry]

I finally got to put my extreme hunter to work last weekend. 4 rounds fired, 4 dead deer. Longest shot was 435 yds. My only complaint was letting a youth shoot it inside a double bull blind, don't do that! The damn muzzle blast was a killer. Shooting outside a window or in the open it is fine. Josh loaded all of my ammo at Cooper Creek. The 130 vld's are deadly. I am running the 3x24 March on mine. The combo of rifle and scope is impressive!
Chicken

 

[bas402]

Has anyone melonited any of their barrels with this caliber? With the high reported rd counts seems like it would last forever

 

[KYS]

Has anyone melonited any of their barrels with this caliber? With the high reported rd counts seems like it would last forever

Probably wouldn't last forever per say but Im sure you could get an extra 1000 rounds. Keep in mind the numbers George is reporting is with one setback on the barrel. But we all still are confident in the 3000-3500 round count per barrel.
You might could push it with melonite to 4500 without the setback. And to me, that might be worth trying that process out on a barrel. Barrel life also equates to your loads, how hot are you running them? Firing schedule, how hot you keep the barrel, barrel contour (heat dissipation), and lastly your bullet choice.

 

[XTREM HTR16]

I finally got to put my extreme hunter to work last weekend. 4 rounds fired, 4 dead deer. Longest shot was 435 yds. My only complaint was letting a youth shoot it inside a double bull blind, don't do that! The damn muzzle blast was a killer. Shooting outside a window or in the open it is fine. Josh loaded all of my ammo at Cooper Creek. The 130 vld's are deadly. I am running the 3x24 March on mine. The combo of rifle and scope is impressive!
Chicken

How close was your nearest shot? Interested to hear how the 130 VLD does at warp speed up close...

 

[bas402]

Yeah, I know there are allot of variable that come into play but seriously thinking about a change on my 260 build in progress and was thinking about the process. Having SAC do one in 7WSM for my DTA right now. I would think another 700-1000 would be worth trying.
It would be used in comps so I am curious in a response to Quickoz question as well on firing strings vs accuracy, Buy the way reading through the thread I haven't seen which mags folks are using in their DBM I would assume 300WSM Accurate mag and tweaking the lips but unsure, Maybe I missed it so those that are please chime in.

 

[Railguner]

SOOO want to do this build, but I quit reloading years ago. $5 a round rolled for you? Must feel like shooting a .338 Lapua. RG

 

[KYS]

Yeah, I know there are allot of variable that come into play but seriously thinking about a change on my 260 build in progress and was thinking about the process. Having SAC do one in 7WSM for my DTA right now. I would think another 700-1000 would be worth trying.
It would be used in comps so I am curious in a response to Quickoz question as well on firing strings vs accuracy, Buy the way reading through the thread I haven't seen which mags folks are using in their DBM I would assume 300WSM Accurate mag and tweaking the lips but unsure, Maybe I missed it so those that are please chime in.

It's been mentioned. Accurate Magazine in 300WSM, Alpha WSM magazines, you can tune AI 308 mags. I personally prefer the Alpha MAgs due to their size vs round count.

 

[bas402]

It's been mentioned. Accurate Magazine in 300WSM, Alpha WSM magazines, you can tune AI 308 mags. I personally prefer the Alpha MAgs due to their size vs round count.

Thank you KYS I guess I missed it in all the info, I will get some on order

 

[XTREM HTR16]

Got my scope ordered from the fine folks at Euro Optic, with luck I can be burning powder next weekend!

So when's Ice Breaker IV???


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[jonthomps]

Couple 6.5 SAUMs in the vault ready to ship.

Both custom hunters black one is a lefty. Call Kenny or Dustin for specs. Or PM Me

RH rifle with Green Stock Sold 11-28-13


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I so want that lefty. But I'm a couple months into a 6.5 build already . . . and it doesn't look like it's a DBM.

 

[Huntr]

Got my scope ordered from the fine folks at Euro Optic, with luck I can be burning powder next weekend!

So when's Ice Breaker IV???




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What scope did you order?

 

[dworrel]

I have a melonited 6.5 SAUM barrel for my DTA by SAC that I took out to the range this weekend. Shoots well. Used Magnetospeed and getting 3150 fps for 130 vld's and 3030 fps for 140 hybrids. Ammo from Copper Creek.

A little surprised the velocity is not higher. barrel is 27" 8 twist Bartlein.

Thoughts?

I do have some feeding problems with the DTA mags and the 6.5 SAUM. Works about 60% of the time.

 

[hohlspitz]

Quickoz,

Here is one we produced at GAP:

This has been test fired only once for function. It is RB/LP/LE on a Templar Long Action single shot with a Jewell trigger. The barrel is 28" plus the brake although there is just a thread protector currently to allow the new owner the choice.

Regards.

 

[Papagallos]

Quickoz,

Here is one we produced at GAP:

This has been test fired only once for function. It is RB/LP/LE on a Templar Long Action single shot with a Jewell trigger. The barrel is 28" plus the brake although there is just a thread protector currently to allow the new owner the choice.

Regards.

That's definitely nice looking! How much did it sell for?

 

[blackfoot]

Has anybody tried lighter bullets? I have some norma 120 fmj that might make a very interesting wolf/coyote load.


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[bas402]

I have a melonited 6.5 SAUM barrel for my DTA by SAC that I took out to the range this weekend. Shoots well. Used Magnetospeed and getting 3150 fps for 130 vld's and 3030 fps for 140 hybrids. Ammo from Copper Creek.

A little surprised the velocity is not higher. barrel is 27" 8 twist Bartlein.

Thoughts?

I do have some feeding problems with the DTA mags and the 6.5 SAUM. Works about 60% of the time.

Can't comment on your velocity as each barrel is different some faster some slower but your feeding issue is the reason I did not make one for my DTA the cartridge is to dang short for the lip length on the magnum mags. On my 7WSM I only get 90-95% success.

 

[Akhunter907]

Any chance the folks at GAP would sell the box, spring and follower for the WSM? I don't see it on website, figure I'll call but can't help but see the GAP fellas posting here

I have a 7saum built on a stiller action that gave me fits getting to feed. Only reliable way I accomplished it was with a detachable mag, which is fine. Just looking to shave some weight. Have a blind mag high tech specialities stock I'd like to put it in

Thanks

 

[XTREM HTR16]

What scope did you order?

Pat talked me into the PMII 10x42! Most expensive scope I've ever bought, I've always been a Leupold guy for my hunting rifles.


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[KYS]

Any chance the folks at GAP would sell the box, spring and follower for the WSM? I don't see it on website, figure I'll call but can't help but see the GAP fellas posting here

I have a 7saum built on a stiller action that gave me fits getting to feed. Only reliable way I accomplished it was with a detachable mag, which is fine. Just looking to shave some weight. Have a blind mag high tech specialities stock I'd like to put it in

Thanks

I'm not sure you will see much weight savings in changing bottom metal. That also depends on magazines used and if you are loading them full. I have 7rd Alpha mags but I generally only put 4 or 5 rounds in them at a time. Accurate Mag only holds 3.

 

[KYS]

I have a melonited 6.5 SAUM barrel for my DTA by SAC that I took out to the range this weekend. Shoots well. Used Magnetospeed and getting 3150 fps for 130 vld's and 3030 fps for 140 hybrids. Ammo from Copper Creek.

A little surprised the velocity is not higher. barrel is 27" 8 twist Bartlein.

Thoughts?

I do have some feeding problems with the DTA mags and the 6.5 SAUM. Works about 60% of the time.

The barrels do have a break in process. How many rounds did you have on the barrel before sending it off to melonite?
As the throat wears in they start to stabilize in velocity. You are about 100fps slower then "normal".

 

[dworrel]

The barrels do have a break in process. How many rounds did you have on the barrel before sending it off to melonite?
As the throat wears in they start to stabilize in velocity. You are about 100fps slower then "normal".

Thanks. I hope that's the case. I was also firing a GAP re-barreled Crusader with a 26" barrel in 6.5 SAUM. Getting similar velocities in it. I didn't fire the 130's through it, however. That barrel is not melonited.

Mark Gordon (Short Action Customs) broke it in. I sent him a box of 50, it came back with 20 fired. I assume he didn't reload any. Hopefully velocity will go up as I get it broken in. I fired 60 rounds my first time out.

 

[KYS]

Thanks. I hope that's the case. I was also firing a GAP re-barreled Crusader with a 26" barrel in 6.5 SAUM. Getting similar velocities in it. I didn't fire the 130's through it, however. That barrel is not melonited.

Mark Gordon (Short Action Customs) broke it in. I sent him a box of 50, it came back with 20 fired. I assume he didn't reload any. Hopefully velocity will go up as I get it broken in. I fired 60 rounds my first time out.

I'd fire at least 150 before I got worried about any velocities. I don't even zero my scope until I have fired 200 rounds. I just shoot at distance to break it in, then I go and fire my groups to zero it.

I thought that you were supposed to do a barrel break in BEFORE sending the barrel in for melonite? 20 rounds isn't much and the melonite will slow your break in process.

 

[RussW1911]

Ugh, I can't even stress how much I hate agreeing with KYS, but I do about the same thing. I don't follow a barrel break in procedure as I feel its detrimental to barrel life, but I don't do in depth load development or really get a hard zero until the 150-200 round mark. You will see an increase in velocity and a tightening of groups, then it's time to go to work.

My last Bartlein 6.5 went 185 rounds before a 50 fps increase. Then it was time to go to work. I will be doing the same when my 6.5 SAUMs are done.

 

[XTREM HTR16]

My last Bartlein 6.5 went 185 rounds before a 50 fps increase. Then it was time to go to work. I will be doing the same when my 6.5 SAUMs are done.

I hope that's the case with my GAP 260 - have almost 100 rounds down it now, and speeds are at 2,780 with 43.5 H4350 and the 130 VLD



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[hohlspitz]

That's definitely nice looking! How much did it sell for?

Actually it's still for sale. I posted it on another site which caters to this type of rifle and got a lot of attention. I have the complete listing saved to my desktop and I'll post it here in the classified if that will answer some questions or garner a buyer. I'm away from that computer right now but I'll get back to it Tuesday so I can post it then. I'll also get Ken to post it on our website.

It's light enough to be able to add a significantly heavy scope and rings combinations without compromising the weight rules for F-Class.

Regards.