Range Report 6.5 Bullets at > 3100f/s?

[DocB]

Good day,

Anyone play with the 6.5 caliber 123gr. weight bullets at velocities over 3100f/s? Looking at some QL results, and can get to 3300f/s without too much effort. Just wondering if they made it to 100 and if they held together to 1k.

Thanks,
DocB

 

[MLC]

Re: 6.5 Bullets at > 3100f/s?

I think that a big factor would be your barrel.
My 1/8 Lilja 3 groove hasn't nuked any 139-142 6.5 bullets yet at speeds up to 3400+.
A six groove might be a different story.

 

[JL]

Re: 6.5 Bullets at > 3100f/s?

Dont know about 123, but was present when buddy tested 108gr Scenars with 6.5-284. 10-shot average was 1140 or 1160meters/sec- dont remember for sure. So that would be 3700 or 3800fps av.
Barrell custom CrMo, lapped. Dont remember twist.

Accuracy was still around MOA, not bad at all.
108gr BC is .478- try combo in ballistic program...

 

[DocB]

Re: 6.5 Bullets at > 3100f/s?

Good day,

I was also wondering about barrel life. Shot some of the 3100f/s loads in practice on Friday, and had a couple of groups of 1.5" at 450yds. I didn't measure the velocity, but sounded fast. I think I'll go ahead and work on the fast load (3300f/s) just to see what happens.

JL, I ran some 110gr. bullets out of a 300 WM once. They were at that speed range. I had more fire crackling in the first 3" of the barrel from those ten rounds than the previous 400.

Thanks for the help,
DocB

 

[PeterN]

Re: 6.5 Bullets at > 3100f/s?

Barrel life? find someone with a bore scope and take a look before you shoot a whole box at that velocity

 

[wadebrown]

Re: 6.5 Bullets at > 3100f/s?

A few years back I built a 6.5 WSM that would easily launch 142 g SMK to 3,200 fps with great accuracy, for about 500 rounds. After 500 rounds the barrel was toast.

You can get the velocity you are looking for, but can you afford the barrels?

I have done a couple of barrels up with the SaltBath Nitriding process and if this shows increased barrel life I may go back to the 6.5 WSM for my 1,000 yard F-class rig. For now I will stick with the 6.5 x 55 AI with 139 Scenars for my 1,000 comp gun.

 

[DocB]

Re: 6.5 Bullets at > 3100f/s?

Good day,

This post is years old, but I ended up with the best accuracy with Lapua 123s running at 3150 f/s. That became too fast for the range rules, so I've slowed them down to 3000 f/s. Not as accurate, but still shooting the same barrel with 750 rounds down the pipe.

wwbrown,

Rebuilt the 6.5 X 284 into a plain 6.5 X 55, best accuracy with 130 Norma DLs at 2800. Works fine, but the drop gets to be a bit much.

HTH,
DocB

 

[wadebrown]

Re: 6.5 Bullets at > 3100f/s?

DocB,

With the AI Swede I can easily get 3,050 fps with 139 Scenars, my normal load is 3,000 fps.

wade

 

[DocB]

Re: 6.5 Bullets at > 3100f/s?

wade,

Have to use the plain jane 6.5 X 55 to meet class rules. Running heavier or hotter isn't a problem, but the groups open way up when I do. Just switch over to the 6.5-06 when I do go hotter and heavier.

Have fun,
DocB

 

[Ring]

Re: 6.5 Bullets at > 3100f/s?

260 with r-19 and 123amax i get 3150 ish...