calibres

[bruce moulds]

the current trend is to shoot a 7mm with 180 bullets at between 2750 and 3000 fps, for the balance of b.c, speed, recoil, and barrel life.
there is a bit of a blip into 30 territory and a few 6,5 and 6mm cartridges around.
not so long ago it was di rigeur to shoot a 6.5/284, but barrel life knocked it on the head.
it is easy to forget just what a good cartridge it is. accurate, low recoiling, and similar in the wind to a 284 win.
the 6.5x47 is more accurate, more user friendly, but just can't deliver 140 gn bullets due to a challenged case capacity.
the 6.5 creedmoor can just hold enough 2209 to deliver a 140 gn payload.
the 6mm br and dasher have shot some amazing scores, but fail to deliver day in day out. supremely accurate and easy to shoot. barrel life not quite what one would hope for if run hard. still better than a 308.
for sheer accuracy, the br and dasher have to be at the top of the heap, with possibly the 6.5x47 equal or not far behind, the 30s seem easy to tune, and deliver reliably day in day out, but too much recoil for me.
the current big experiment is the 6.5 super lr.
brass at $0.37, bullets cheaper than 7mm or 30cal, 42 to 43 gn powder, low recoil, and a bullet of equal b.c to the 168 berger 7mm or 200ish 30 cal at similar velocities.
should have good manners on the bags, and not grind down a shooter with repeated violence, while being at the bottom end of accepted performance in the wind.
what will everyone be using in 20 years time?
keep safe,
bruce.

[Brad Y]

Sharks with frickin laser beams.

[bartman007]

the current big experiment is the 6.5 super lr

Hi Bruce,

You are right about the 6.5-284, such a great caliber, however barrel life is its downfall.

I like the idea of the 6.5 super lr, as it should get you good speed, however will it be like the 243W case, and be a barrel burner too? It may not be as severe on the barrel as the 6.5-284, and due to case capacity you may be able to use LESS quantity slower burning powders to achieve better speeds than the 6.5x47L.

Time will tell for the barrel life, good luck on that one! Due to the price of brass, it would be a more affordable solution and give great accuracy and competition to the 7mm's. Certainly out to 800 yards.

It would be great if you could let us all know how it is going in 12 months time, and how many rounds you have down the barrel at that time. Hopefully you can get to 2000 with no big erosion at the throat, and you'll be on a winner!

[BATattack]

Go for it Bruce!! I shot shobbys at Maitland and it held awesome vert for 2 ranges but had a couple crazy fliers in the last that we think we're due to a powder scale issue.

Very well balanced case and with the neck and shoulder improvements of the LR design I believe all the. 260 / 243 barrel life and case problems will be eliminated!

[bruce moulds]

bart,
fclass has advanced so far past me now that whatever I use won't be a winner.
hence the experiment with a less than up there cartridge.
when you look at a 243 case next to the super lr case, the 243 looks obscene with its short neck and sloping shoulder.
the longer neck of the super lr, and its improved shoulder angle suggest less torching of the throat, and the increased bore to powder ratio should help too, but as you say, time will tell.
speed won't be greased lightning, but you have to read the wind whatever you use.
shooting fast should be easier than the super calibres due to less recoil.
funnily enough, it can deliver a 140 vld to 1500 at better than mach 1.3 when started at 2900, so could be used for long range match rifle.
whatever happens it is always fun to experiment with new cartridges.
I am going to shoot it at the xmas shoot on sat without a worked up load, but this will give an idea of its manners on the bags.
the guy that lent me the reamer has shot his twice, and on both occasions shot a 60.
just imagine if it turns out to be one of those rare vert-free cartridges!
I will most happily report findings including barrel life.
keep safe,
bruce.

[IanP]

Bruce, I look forward to seeing you build this as it should suit you perfectly! You always liked the 6.5-284 as an accurate F-Open rifle but did not like the limited barrel life. The SLR has low recoil which is another point in its favour as you prefer the stability over higher recoiling rounds.

I see the 6.5-SLR as a more efficient 6.5-284 and it can achieve much higher velocities with the 140gr bullets than the 2900 fps you want to reach. I know from shooting the 6.5x47L with 140s that 2900 fps should provide an accuracy node and give long barrel life.

The 140s are not too big/heavy for the 6.5x47L case with a long throated chamber unless you get greedy for more than 2900fps from it. I just put a new barrel on Mike's rifle and its running the 140s at 2865 fps without any drama. Ran it up to 2900+ fps without case problems but accuracy was just as good at the lower velocity so thats what load I will use for him. AR 2208 works great with the 6.5x47L but I'm guessing 2209 will be the way to go with the SLR.

Good luck with it Bruce, from the results I have seen Shobby shoot with his rifle you could be onto something very nice!

Ian

[bruce moulds]

thanks ian,
it is a fun project.
your small primer brass might take more pressure than my win large primer, but those speeds sound very promising.
that adds another thought of making the lr brass out of small primer 308 brass, and chasing higher nodes. see I am sacrificing my principals already.
so many experiments and so little time.
not much difference between 2865 and 2900., but the lighter charge has to be easier on things if just as accurate.
mike will have fun, that gun always shot well.
keep safe,
bruce.

[smlekid]

I was going to build a 260 Remington till I saw the 6.5 Super LR I am having an Omark built that should be finished in January 30" 1 in 8 twist Krieger barrel in a Rrichards Mircofit stock and a Davies trigger I can't wait to give it a run
I'll try and get a photo of the 6.5 Super LR next to a 243 Winchester and post it
hopefully here is a Picture of my F class std Omark just to see if I can post a picture

Hey it worked!!!

[Brad Y]

Been running the 260 improved with 30 degree shoulder wildcat for a year now. Its running sweet with a mild 43.2gr 2209 and 140 hybrids in the mid 2800's. Very accurate rifle. The reamer needs a little taken off the freebore as its about 40 thou too long I reckon. Got 1000 rounds out of a soft maddco before it got a rechamber and it was still humming. The barrel should go for a bit longer so Im happy with it, considering the 6.5x284 supposedly toasts a barrel at 1300 or so. Havent shot it since the rechamber but its sitting there to play with over the summer. I know that I can reach the mid 2900 node like the 284 but have been happy just chugging along a bit slower.

[Tim N]

Hi All,
If you load a 6.5x284 back to a lower speed is there any reason it will wear out a barrel any quicker than a smaller cartridge doing the same speed?

[Norm]

I think for long barrel life, cost and ease of finding components. Any of the 6.5 to 7mm cartridges that are based on a .308 case will do the job nicely.

They may not be the fastest or have the wow factor but they should offer reliable performance.

I am going down the 7-08ai path for my week to week rifle and keeping my .284 for the longs.

[smlekid]

here is a picture of the 6.5 Super LR L to R 243 6.5 Super LR 308

[Norm]

Here is a photo of my new 7-08ai.

I call it the Blue Flash!

Couldn't be stuffed buying a stock for it so I carved one out of a lump of wood using my chainsaw.
Then found an old gate hinge to use as a trigger guard.

Gave it a coat of blue paint to give it a certain level of PIMPING that is required for a rifle to be shown in one of Bruces threads. I hope you approve Bruce.

[AlanF]

Hi All,
If you load a 6.5x284 back to a lower speed is there any reason it will wear out a barrel any quicker than a smaller cartridge doing the same speed?

Tim,

Unfortunately to some degree yes, because you need more powder in a bigger case to get the same velocity. More powder down the same size bore = more throat erosion. However, barrel life of a 6.5-284 running at say 6.5x47 velocities would still improve dramatically, from 1200-1500 running 140gn bullets at 2950fps, to about 2000 at 2820fps. I had one or two 6.5-284 barrels that went to about 1800 with lightish loads.

Alan

[bruce moulds]

norm,
your heart is in the right place, but more pimping experience will improve your technique.
stickers are a good place to start, followed by a motto, and anything else you can do.
the question, "does length really matter? " comes to mind when looking at the forend.
does the action also get the bruce tick of approval?
I am sure that your 7/08 imp will be a lot of fun at good economy.
I still ask the question as we see more economy based equipment around, "what will we all be using in 20 years time? "
who knows, it might turn out that as we become more proficient with the wind that the cartridge becomes less of an issue.
keep safe,
bruce.