Next up............6.5 WSM!

[Hotolds442]

Made it out today to pop off a few rounds, I was kind of surprised at the results. I started off with the A-Max and Mag Pro, 5 shot groups of 68.5 grains from .000 to a .040 jump. The best group was 1.250" at 100. This combination just isn't gonna work, I'll play with some other powders later. Next round was the 140 Nosler Custom Competition and 56.0 grains of H4350. At .000, I had a pretty good group going except that it was on two different backstands.....recoil moved me onto the other target lol. At .010 Jump, I put 5 rounds in a nice, tight .455" group. .020 jump opened up a bit to .735" but if I throw out one flier, it's a .375" group. As I worked my way out to .040 jump, the groups started to open up again, larger with each jump. I stopped shooting at that point, because I decided I'm done with load development until I get a chronograph. I ordered a Magnetospeed when i got home, it'll be here next Monday. That'll give me some time to work up some more loads for it.

[Hotolds442]

Snagged a couple of pounds of IMR7828 today, and loaded up some pressure test rounds. I also loaded up 20 more of the 140 Noslers with H-4350 at .010 jump to see if I can rely on the above load. I also got a product notification from Midway, another 200 Berger 140 Hunting VLD's are on their way. It was a busy day!

[scooterf79]

Sounds like you might be coming onto something now. Hope it tightens up and stays there. Curious to hear your speeds over the chrono.
Scooter

[yobuck]

Yobuck, thanks. You need to just spill your guts on this chambering. You've been there, done that. All the info you've got on the round would be helpful to myself and others. I'm not particularly interested in lighter bullet info, but the 130VLD might be an option further down the road. I'd like to see the load data you've accumulated posted into this thread, if you can. I know I'd appreciate it.

Well there really isnt much more i can say about my experience with that cartridge.
I had lots of notes on a legal pad of the various loads combinations i used.
I have nothing here in FL other than lots of fishing tackle. All that stuff is left where i use it.
I never tried Mag pro but had bought some to try. I did try rl19, rl 22, 7828, and h1000.
Best velocity came with rl22 and 7828 but also the most pressure. H 1000 gave good velocity
and was easier on everything. Make up your mind though theres going to be pressure if you
want the best your going to get from that cartridge. 63 gr of h 1000 with a 140 was a load i
could live with and thats where i settled.
I have lots of slower powders because we have lots of bigger guns. But those arent the answer
for this cartridge for max results.
The shooters forum had a seperate site which i went to when i was playing with that cartridge.
I believe it is 6.5 wsm shooters forum. I think you will find there also that h 1000 was the most used powder.
I think your decision on the magneto speed is a wise move. The Chrony's just arent reliable enough on a day to
day basis to rely on for any solid information. I rely on actual drop data results for making charts.
The furthest i shot my 6.5 wsm was just under 1100 yds. As i recall i needed 22 minits to get it there with a 140.
I can beat or match that with other guns using heavier bullets. Which is why in my case it found a new home.

[Hotolds442]

I also got a chance yesterday to do some chronographing with the new Magnetospeed on this one, I had about 35 different loads to try, looking for pressure and getting velocity readings.
The 140gr Nosler Custom Competition over 56.0gr of H4350 with .010 Jump was 3075fps. I have the rifle sighted in for this load, and had 20 loaded up for today. I shot all of them, details later...
The 140 Nosler and IMR-7828: 56.0gr was 2789fps, I shot 15 loads in 1/2 grain increments all the way up to 63.0gr which clocked 3212 and was a maximum charge, the bolt was stiff after firing.
The 140 Nosler over 57.0gr of IMR-4831 at .010 was 3033, I shot 10 loads in 1/2 grain increments all the way to 61.5gr, which read 3240 on the Magnetospeed.
Next up was the 140 Nosler and 55.0gr of IMR-4831 at .010 which clocked 3005, I shot 10 loads in 1/2 grain increments all the way to 59.5gr, which read 3200 on the Magnetospeed.
The last loads I had were the 140 Berger HVLD and 67.0-71.5 grains of H1000. 67.0 clocked in at 3280 all the way up to 68.5 grains, which was a maximum load in my rifle at 3338fps. I didn't shoot the loads between 69 and 71.5.

Since I now knew the velocity of the 20 rounds I had the rifle sighted in for, it was time to start shooting some distance. I shot 6 of these on paper, so I had 14 left. My son had his 6.5x284 and some 123gr Hornady SST loads that I did up for him last deer season, and we had a hillside with several steel plates set up. We ranged the array at 421 yards, and I entered the information into iStrelok for both rifles. 16 clicks for me on my Viper HST 6-24x50, and 21 for him on the PA 4-14x44. My first shot was a miss, as I aimed at the top of the plate, but from there, every shot was a hit after that with both rifles. We then packed up the truck and on the way out stopped at the end of the clearing where we ranged the plates at 722 yards. I put that info into iStrelok and we set up the bench once again. 40 clicks for the WSM, and 50 for the 6.5x284. Both rifles were spot on using that info as we never missed the targets. I would have liked to go up the hill and check the hits on the plates, but we were both starving and it was getting late. I now have about 150 rounds on the 6.5 and the groups are starting to tighten up. I'm good with running the Noslers at 3075fps, at least for punching paper. Now I just need to get the VLD's and the Accubonds settled in.

[scooterf79]

Sounds good.....seems noticeably flatter as far as clicks go on the wsm....What were the calculated drops for each of them? Just curious at the difference in trajectories.
Scooter

[Hotolds442]

The WSM was calculated at 105" with a 100yd zero. That's a BC of .550 out of the barrel at 3075fps.
The 6.5x284 was calculated at 132" with a 100 yd zero. BC is .510 out of the barrel at 2850.
It really isn't a fair comparison between the two, as the 123SST is inferior in flight. Our goal is to get the VLD's working well in both rifles and see what happens. I know I can get 3325 with the WSM but will probably run them about 3150. He'll be happy at about 2950 with the VLD in the 6.5x284.

[Hotolds442]

I finally settled on a load for the 6.5. I'm running the 140 grain Hunting VLD AT 3222fps with 67 grains of H-1000, .010 jump to lands. Accuracy with the X-Caliber barrel is good now that I've floated the tang on the Pro Varminter stock. I hope to take it out to 1000 tomorrow or Wednesday and see what happens. Right now it's shooting 1/4"MOA at 200, and I've built some gongs at work in 8", 6" and 4" diameter. I'm hoping to put a 5 shot group on the 4" if the wind cooperates. While I was floating the tang, i noticed that I had lost the barrel float, if the rifle was standing, I could slide a business card down the channel, but when it was horizontal, I could not. This was traced back to a loose barrel nut, probably also why my accuracy was less than spectacular. Now it's shooting like a laser. From now on, barrel nuts get a little more than a couple of love taps with a deadblow hammer.

[scooterf79]

Sounds good Dan...glad to hear your accuracy is in there now, I was kinda suprised with your ealier posts about accuracy. Interesting note on the barrel nut, because a couple of taps with the deadblow are about all I use as well. Looking forward to seeing your long range results.....
Scooter

[mattri]

Excellent post- lots of great information. Will be following this as well. Cple of pics never hurt anything, just sayin.

[scope eye]

I am sure you are not even close to pressure signs, with that load.

Dean

[Hotolds442]

I am sure you are not even close to pressure signs, with that load.
Dean
Actually, I am. 68.5 is a stiff bolt and an ejector mark in the brass, loose primer pockets. 67.0 and 67.5 are 4fps difference. ES at 67.0 is 4fps on 5 rounds. I could increase the jump and get more velocity but then the groups open up. Wish I had another .100 freebore....
I'm gonna try some Superformance and see what happens, although I've heard it's less than stellar for heavy for caliber bullets.

[Hotolds442]

http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y471/chevypowrd/Rifles/Savage%2011%20Six%20Five%20WSM/5FDD1F87-C563-4775-9742-AC6A9B872EB2_zpsvgtjzcxk.jpg

[scope eye]

You still have a lot of room in that case, I would go Retumbo or us869, don't waste your time with Superformance.

Dean

[Hotolds442]

With the short throat and the long bullets, I really don't have a lot of extra case capacity. I'd have to run out and check, but I'm pretty sure that I'm compressing at 67.5.
If I could find Retumbo, I'd try it. I've been looking for about 3 months. US869 is readily available, next time I run to town, I'll grab some.

I've also been full length resizing each time I load these, I'm gonna start neck sizing only now and see what I can achieve. Earlier I stated I was trimming to 2.100", I'm actually trimming at 2.090"
All of my loads are using CCI Large Rifle Magnum primers.
I have several rounds that are on their 6th loading with no loose primer pockets to speak of.

[stomp442]

Sounds like you got yours figured out. When I built mine i found the best results with H4831sc over anything else. I also found anything much over 3150 became very erratic for me and I settled on 67.5gr of H4831sc for a velocity of 3140fps with Hornady 140 Amaxs and half MOA accuracy. I was never pleased with building a hot rod and having to load it down to shoot well. I kept it for a few months then decided to rebuild into a 6.5-06AI. I am now running 140 Bergers at 3180fps with 59.5gr of H4831. Much less recoil and much more efficient on powder.

[Hotolds442]

I read about your issues with the WSM. I thought I was headed in the same direction for a while. 68 grains gets me to 3325, but I'll take the accuracy node and shed the 100fps for now and reap the benefits of extended case life. An extra .020 jump in the load I'm currently using puts me at 3284, but again, I'll take the accuracy.
The 6.5/06AI would be good, but I'm happy with where I'm at now and not about to start over with a LH long action.

[Hotolds442]

Thanks Gunbot!

Cabelas has Retumbo. Just ordered 4#. Not the best price I've ever paid for powder, but at least the shipping was free.

[scope eye]

I do not use Mag primers, I am sure that is why I get away with less pressure signs.

Dean

[Hotolds442]

Noted. I'll see what I can do with standard primers.