Gunsmithing Re-Barrel 300 WSM to 6.5 PRC?

[zog]

I have been considering a carbon wrap barrel for my Sako 85 300 wsm. While I'm at it I thought I might see about going to 6.5 PRC. I know that 6.5 PRC uses some similar components to 300 wsm, like for example the DBM on a 6.5 PRC I owned before was labelled 300 wsm.

I know a gunsmith could not guarantee anything until he sees it, but before going further I thought I'd ask here if is there a good chance that I could just have a new 6.5 PRC barrel installed on my 300 wsm and not need any other changes?

 

[Steel head]

It would be super easy.
Factory 6.5 prc ammo is 2.95 so I’d ensure your mag is capable of that.

 

[zog]

Factory 6.5 prc ammo is 2.95 so I’d ensure your mag is capable of that.

Thanks!

You beat me to the second question - I already tried factory ammo in my present mag and the cartridges fit but they touch both ends; I'm purty sure that's not good.

So after asking the above question, my next question was to ask if there is shorter ammo or shorter bullets for handloading available. Not sure I would want go this way and limit myself; just gathering info.

 

[Steel head]

Thanks!

You beat me to the second question - I already tried factory ammo in my present mag and the cartridges fit but they touch both ends; I'm purty sure that's not good.

So after asking the above question, my next question was to ask if there is shorter ammo or shorter bullets for handloading available. Not sure I would want go this way and limit myself; just gathering info.

If I was reloading I’d just seat the bullets 2.94ish.
you could easily re seat factory ammo slightly to fit as well.
.01 isn’t going to make any real difference in pressure

 

[clark33]

I'm currently having my 300wsm rebarreled to 6.5PRC. The gunsmith is adding they wyatts extended box to give it a little more room. So that is also an option.

 

[zog]

I'm currently having my 300wsm rebarreled to 6.5PRC. The gunsmith is adding they wyatts extended box to give it a little more room. So that is also an option.

Thanks Not sure if I can add Wyatt's to my Sako. They're pretty unique and not amenable to much after market.

 

[clark33]

Ah, valid point

 

[zog]

It would be super easy.
Factory 6.5 prc ammo is 2.95 so I’d ensure your mag is capable of that.

If I was reloading I’d just seat the bullets 2.94ish.
you could easily re seat factory ammo slightly to fit as well.
.01 isn’t going to make any real difference in pressure

Do you mean to say 0.10"? It doesn't seem like .01" would give me the consistent clearance I need? Seems like I should go for .05".

My mag is eaxactly 2.95. The cartridges just touch front and back.

I am not (at present) a handloader, so somebody please help and tell me if this is a crazy idea . . . I go ahead and re-barrel my Sako 85 300 wsm to 6.5 PRC. Then I buy factory loads and I find somebody who is equipped with a press to seat them .05" lower.

It's either that, or I find a way to stretch the mag a bit. Or just keep shooting 300 wsm, which is not a bad cartridge.

 

[Steel head]

Do you mean to say 0.10"? It doesn't seem like .01" would give me the consistent clearance I need? Seems like I should go for .05".

My mag is eaxactly 2.95. The cartridges just touch front and back.

I am not (at present) a handloader, so somebody please help and tell me if this is a crazy idea . . . I go ahead and re-barrel my Sako 85 300 wsm to 6.5 PRC. Then I buy factory loads and I find somebody who is equipped with a press to seat them .05" lower.

It's either that, or I find a way to stretch the mag a bit. Or just keep shooting 300 wsm, which is not a bad cartridge.

It’s 10 thou short, plenty of room in a magazine.
You certainly could run 300 WSM but I’d think the high BC 30’s would force you to single feed to maintain a decent speed.

 

[zog]

If I only need 10 thou, I wonder if I could stretch the mag that much? Are the mags even made that accurately?

 

[Steel head]

If I only need 10 thou, I wonder if I could stretch the mag that much? Are the mags even made that accurately?

The mags I’ve used shave always been close.
if the bottom metal/chassis has the room you might be able to open up the front a bit.
It would be easy to do.

 

[zog]

Welp - I just wasn't sure about trying to fit the mag to a longer cartridge. I looked again at ballistics for both 6.5 prc and 300 wsm at about 800 yds, and decided to stay with the 300 wsm. Rocky's Gun Works in Montana just finished the Proof barrel.

This rifle started out as a Finnlight, now it's a Finnotsolight. The 24" carbon barrel/brake at 2 lb 13 oz is 10 oz more than the 24" 2 lb 3 oz fluted Finnlight barrel. The adjustable McMillan stock at 2 lb 8 oz adds 13 oz over the 1 lb 11 oz Finnlight stock.

Looking forward to seeing how is shoots . . . .