6.5 x 39 wildcat idea

M

model14

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Anyone have any experience (or know of any) with necking down the 7.62 x 39 case to 6.5 for 100-200 yard BR work?
 
Perhaps a better case would be the new Remington 30 AR. Same length case but more capacity but still able to use 308 bolt face. Lot more room for playing and or slower powders.
 
Isn't a 6.5 - 7.62x39 the same thing as a 6.5 PPC? Why use the inferior 7.62 brass??

Ray
 
Ray, it will not have quite the capacity as a 6.5 PPC, unless you take away all of that body taper. Sort of like the 6mm Beggs as related to the PPC.

Are there any suitable bullets in 6.5 for serious 100-200 yard Benchrest?? And why would anyone want to do it.?? For score, the 30 punches a bigger hole, and the 22 and 6mm have less recoil along with true Benchrest Bullet avalability.

"just to do something different" does have a certain amount of satisfaction factored in, but it gets old real quick when you constantly finish at the bottom.........jackie
 
Pete Wass said:
Perhaps a better case would be the new Remington 30 AR. Same length case but more capacity but still able to use 308 bolt face. Lot more room for playing and or slower powders.
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The .308 bolt face won't work with the 7.62 x 39 case? Thought it would, based on head dimensions.
 
jackie schmidt said:
Ray, it will not have quite the capacity as a 6.5 PPC, unless you take away all of that body taper. Sort of like the 6mm Beggs as related to the PPC.

Are there any suitable bullets in 6.5 for serious 100-200 yard Benchrest?? And why would anyone want to do it.?? For score, the 30 punches a bigger hole, and the 22 and 6mm have less recoil along with true Benchrest Bullet avalability.

"just to do something different" does have a certain amount of satisfaction factored in, but it gets old real quick when you constantly finish at the bottom.........jackie
Click to expand...

I shoot 100 yard benchrest for pleasure, rarely any competition. The Sierra and Berger bullets are about as expensive as I want to go. I have a fairly new 6.5 barrel I want to do something with other than 260 or 284, thought working up a wildcat may be a little fun. Yes, I enjoy doing things a little different now and then. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.
Richard
 
crb said:
6.5 Grendel would be the obvious choice. The 7.62x39 brass probably uses LR primers.
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Yep! +1 on what Ray said. Already formed Lapua brass with small primers and flash holes are readily available. Top notch!---Mike Ezell
 
Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions. I will investigate the 6.5 Grendel as a good choice for putting my unused 6.5 barrel to work.
Richard
 
I notice that Lapua makes the 6.5 Grendel brass .... for only $108 per 100! Yikes!
 
Are any of you guys aware of what Larry Feusse did this past weekend at WWCCA? He won a 100/200 LV HV two gun with his version of the 6.5mm Grendel. Now when you wildcat off the Grendel you can't use the name Grendel so he calls it 6.5mmGR. (I think the guys at WWCCA call it the 6.5mm Belchfire express magnum improved) I don't know which improvements he made to the cartridge, "Larry is Keeping his Cards close", but I do know he did it with his own 82 grain flat based bullets, and a slow twist cut rifled barrel.
 
model14 said:
I notice that Lapua makes the 6.5 Grendel brass .... for only $108 per 100! Yikes!
Click to expand...

Have you priced custom chamber reamers ? You will also need a custom reamer for the custom sizing die. You will also need to ream a seater die. Then you will be able to use the cheap 7.62x39 Lapua brass [after you neck it down and turn the neck]. Do you already have neck turning tools ? You may also need a case forming die.

I am an expert on false economy. If you keep doing things like this you will be one too :)

Plan B. Sell this 6.5 blank and spend the money on expendables for rifles you already own.
 
Graf normally has it but is out right now. Their price is $92/100 and I believe they offer free shipping for non-dealers. Alexander Arms also sells it. It's the very same Lapua brass with the Alexander headstamp at a little cheaper than Lapua sells it for. Midway is priced at $84.99 on it.---Mike Ezell
 
I was in the process of a 6mmx39mm, which is on hold now due to a move. Most 7.62x39 cases are LR, but the good ones are set up for SR primers just like the Russians intended.
 
Paul, that is news worth noting, winning a two gun with a 6.5. Try to find out what twist, what bullets, and what powder.

I used to shoot 85 grn Fowler 25 calibers in my 25 BR, I suspect with good bullets, and the right powder to bullet diameter ration, a 6.5 would do just fine.........jackie
 
People do it either with the 7.62x39 brass or just neck 220 Russian up to 6.5. It isnt the same as the 6.5 PPC since the shoulder angle and body will retain the taper.

You can do the 6.5 PPC easily using Norma PPC brass as a straight neck up or can take 220 Russian up to a 6.5 PPC doing the fireforming that is done with the 22 PPC and 6 PPC from 220 Russian.

The "Grendel" case has the shoulder farther forward than the PPC so a bit more case capacity although still below a straight 6.5 BR. Dave Kiff has a 6.5 PPCX reamer he did for me which is a .292 neck chamber for a .291 no neck turn loaded round. You can use 6.5 Grendel loading dies.

I have a 6.5 PPCX in a Nesika action, scoville stock with a 28 inch Krieger barrel. Using 108 Lapua's with N530 powder, it will run 2950 fps.

Cauteruccio makes flat base BR bullets ranging from 81-94 grains. Berger also released an 85 grain flat based bullet that may be worth trying.

If you want more info,, just email me

arnekbrennan@mac.com
 
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