bucket list rifle: 6.5X300WWH

[Gamecock]

Originally Posted by CAJUNLAWYER

Well....what is this "high dollar rifle"? Inquiring minds want to know

I'll start this new thread for it. Caj almost violated internet etiquette (if there is such a thing) by asking, but he did contribute to the other thread, so I'll honor his request. I'll see if I can make a long story of it.

~30 years ago, the gun press was gaga over a wildcat cartridge, the 6.5 X .300 Weatherby, Wright, and Hoyer. They dubbed it "The Cartridge of the Century." It was what it's name says, a .300 Weatherby Magnum necked down to 6.5mm/.264. It was famous for winning at the Pennsylvania 1000 Yard Benchrest Club.

It continued as a wildcat, but more obscure than 30 years ago. Til last year. Weatherby decided to commercialize the cartridge. Well, duh, what have you been waiting on ?!?! Where has your marketing department been? They registered it with SAAMI, so the cartridge specs are now fixed. They may differ slightly from the wildcat.

I have been enamored of it for 30 years, ever since I read about it. SAAMI registration and regular production make me comfortable. So I ordered a Weatherby Mark V in 6.5-300, as they call it. I am enjoying the process of establishing a new gun. Making lists of things to get and things to do. Can't wait for it to bruise my shoulder!

[S&W ucla]

I've shot a lot of 6.5/284 but that should be faster. Curious as to velocity with 140gr and barrel life. As I've often said- Range Report! Good luck! With that thing, you can Shoot in Columbia and kill deer in Greenville, lol.

[REM 3200]

Man, that ought to be a real screamer.
What kind of velocity are you looking at?

[ParadiseRoad]

YouTube

YouTube

[Gamecock]

Barrel life? Ha ha ha ha. Maybe 600 rounds. I'd be proud to burn out such a gun! Rebarrel and shoot out again! I'll shoot a few hundred rounds getting it all square, then shoot occasionally for hunting. Likely never shoot 600 in it.

I expect 3400 fps from 140gr bullet. 3500+ from Barnes 127 LRX and Swift Scirroco 130. Source says 120gr A-max at 3650. I'll stick to heavier bullets for the ultra high BCs.

[Gamecock]

Thanks for links, PR! First one is exactly it. Second one is cringe worthy at start, it is NOT a new cartridge! The presenters are probably too young to know.

[Roadtrash]

I noticed in the first video he's talking about how the cheekpiece gets the rifle to recoil away from your face but he's is shooting a right handed rifle left handed so I guess it didn't perform as well for him. I do like a stock with a cheekpiece like that but I prefer wood over synthetic. Can't say one is better than the other but my preference.

[rockquarry]

Sierra used to publish load data for the 6.5x300 WWH; not sure if it's in the recent book.

[Gamecock]

Originally Posted by Roadtrash

I noticed in the first video he's talking about how the cheekpiece gets the rifle to recoil away from your face but he's is shooting a right handed rifle left handed so I guess it didn't perform as well for him. I do like a stock with a cheekpiece like that but I prefer wood over synthetic. Can't say one is better than the other but my preference.

I assumed what he was saying was that the down slope of the cheek piece would result in it leaving your face as the rifle recoiled back.

[Gamecock]

Originally Posted by rockquarry

Sierra used to publish load data for the 6.5x300 WWH; not sure if it's in the recent book.

Don't have any Sierra books. I've looked in my old Speer books and it's not in there.

[M29since14]

Weatherby is really pushing it, so sooner rather than later it is going to show up in ALL the handloading manuals. I have always enjoyed playing around with crazy rifles. I couldn't bring myself to buy the .30-378, which just seems TOO MUCH! to me, but I may have to give the 6.5-300 a try. Recoil should be a bit less than the .300 since it throws a considerably lighter bullet. Have fun with the new Weatherby and be sure to let us know how it goes when you get it up and flying.

[Frank46]

If its the same cartridge I'm thinking about and probably is the actual name was the 6.5x300 Weatherby Wright Hoyer.Now saw that one real fast as see if you get it right. And yes 1000 yard benchrest competition was it's main reason for being built. Have fun. Frank

[vipermd]

Adding a Can will mitigate blast and reduce recoil for those long afternoons in "Dogpatch". Be Safe,

[Gamecock]

Originally Posted by vipermd

Adding a Can will mitigate blast and reduce recoil for those long afternoons in "Dogpatch". Be Safe,

I'm not buying a can til they are removed from the NFA.

[Gamecock]

Got a care package* from Precision Reloading. Dies, shell holder, brass, bullets.

Found some US 869 powder locally last week.

Don't have rifle yet. All I can do for now is full length size the new cases and prime them. Can't find any Federal match GM215M primers locally. I've got a few hundred in hand, so I should be okay.

* I hope "care package" annoys someone.

[M29since14]

I'm excited and I'm not even there! Sounds like a lot of fun. Trust you have a good scope and mounts.

What Weatherby did you buy - Terramark, Accumark, or just what? Pictures...

[muzzleblast]

I have no experience with the 6.5X300WM. But, do have considerable experience with the .264 Win. Mag. If you don't already have a bore scope, you might consider picking up one of these, just to keep tabs on "freebore propagation." ;-)

Lyman Borecam 20 Digital Borescope Monitor - MPN: 4055

[Ivan the Butcher]

I also have 264 Win Mag experience. To help mitigate throat erosion stay away from ball powders, stick to extruded.

I haven't seen any 160 spritzer BT bullets for super high BC's but I would think they should be coming soon!

Ivan

ETA the 4831 SC is a great powder in the 6.5x284 and 264 Win Mag. I used US 869 for years in my 338 Lapua mag (300 Sierra's) but recently left it for Retumbo! 50-80 fps loss in velocity 1/4 to 1/2 moa groups at distance!

Federal swears their regular and Match primers are the same, except for more QC inspections and the color. I buy the 205M, 210M, & 215M because I figure Federal and Lapua take the best lots of non-M primers for their ammo! But some of my friends load their 1000 yard ammo with Non-M primers, with very impressive results!

[hkcavalier]

Originally Posted by vipermd

Adding a Can will mitigate blast and reduce recoil for those long afternoons in "Dogpatch". Be Safe,

Nothing quite like a Weatherby for blast! I've seen a braked .30-378 blow empty metal AR mags off an adjoining bench at the range.

[Gamecock]

Originally Posted by M29since14

I'm excited and I'm not even there! Sounds like a lot of fun. Trust you have a good scope and mounts.

What Weatherby did you buy - Terramark, Accumark, or just what? Pictures...

Thx, M29.

I've got a nice Leupold on an old AR-15 project rifle I'm going to use. Don't know if the old mounts are going to work or not. Hadn't pulled the AR out yet; Weatherby hasn't shipped yet, so I have time. VX3 6.5-20X50LR.

I ordered the Accumark. Looked at Arroyo first, then Terramark, then decided that they were just Accumarks with Cerakote for a few hundred dollars more. Accumark has synthetic stock and stainless barrel, enough weather protection for me.

I did stare at the Deluxe in the catalog. That's the one I've seen over mantles in people's houses. Synthetic/stainless far more 'practical' for me.

[Gamecock]

Thx, Ivan.

The main review I found online said they had best results with US 869, so that's where I'm starting.

[Engineer1911]

I'm just cringing at the thought of seeing this rifle shot. I've seen Weatherby rifles at several ranges from 2 or 3 benches away. Dead is dead, bigger, faster, longer does not make anything more dead.

But, I'm the guy with 9 S&W 44 mag revolvers from 3" to 8-3/8" barrels. We all favor our own favorite punishment.

Good luck with your new rifle.

[Gamecock]

Originally Posted by Engineer1911

I'm just cringing at the thought of seeing this rifle shot. I've seen Weatherby rifles at several ranges from 2 or 3 benches away. Dead is dead, bigger, faster, longer does not make anything more dead.

But, I'm the guy with 9 S&W 44 mag revolvers from 3" to 8-3/8" barrels. We all favor our own favorite punishment.

Good luck with your new rifle.

Amen, Brother. First time I took my .300 WSM to the range, I fired a few shots, then looked around and the line was empty. Everyone had gone into the clubhouse.

[Gamecock]

Woke up middle of night, as I usually do. Mind gets to racing. I started thinking about 90 grains of powder per cartridge. I haven't loaded big rifle rounds in a couple of years. Lots of .45 ACP, with 3.8gr Bullseye. Couldn't do the math in my head.

Used calculator when I got up:

1,842 rounds per pound for the .45.

77 loads per pound for 6.5-300!

I bought a couple of pounds of powder. That's not going to be enough.

Sized new brass last night. Didn't get much resistance. Might have been ready to load from factory. No way to know what state new brass is in, so I always full length size it. I noticed I was being very careful with setup. Loading a cannon demands attention to detail.

[muddocktor]

Pretty interesting round, but I bet it will be brutal on barrels. And I wonder how this compares to the 26 Nosler that came out a few years ago.

And after you play around with it for a while, see what velocity you can get out of some Sierra 85 grain HP bullets.

BTW, I also shoot a 264 Mag and a 260 Remington. I really like 6.5 caliber guns.

[Gamecock]

Originally Posted by muddocktor

And I wonder how this compares to the 26 Nosler that came out a few years ago.

The Weatherby is about 100 fps faster. However, Weatherby tests with 26" barrels. If Nosler uses a 24", they could be about identical.

And after you play around with it for a while, see what velocity you can get out of some Sierra 85 grain HP bullets.

That's an excellent idea! It never occurred to me.

Though I'm not sure my chrony will work. It has been sensitive to muzzle blast with my .38 Supers. 90gr of powder is going to make a fast moving cloud.

Thanks for comments!

[ParadiseRoad]

...need to click on the play arrow...and then click on the lower right were it says Youtube...

YouTube

[Gamecock]

Thx, PR. Do you know who that guy is?

YouTube says "Outdoor Life."

PS: video has a gazillion edits. Distracting.