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chambers, reamers, etc..

18Echo

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Jun 12, 2007
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Maricopa Co., AZ
So I'm putting together a 6.5mm. I already have a CDNN FNH receiver, a benchmark 3-groove 8-twist in Light Palma (finish at 24") on order, and will be following up with CDI bottom metal and a Manners MCS-TA.

I thought I wanted a .260, but now I'm really looking at the 6.5x47L.

whichever I decide though, do you guys get your chambers cut with just a standard reamer, or do load up dummy bullets and send them in for a custom chamber?

to facilitate hunting and target shooting I'm probably gonna shoot AMAX's out of an AICS mag.

Does a chamber from a custom reamer based off your dummy rounds preclude you from shooting other bullet weights/designs?

Thanks
 
Re: chambers, reamers, etc..

Here is a website that has a couple of reamer prints on it http://www.6mmhot.com/6.html

I went with the 0.160" freebore reamer shown and I shoot 130 grains outstandingly well, I have shot out two barrels so far with that reamer and 130 g Bergers. About 3 guys I shoot with have used the same reamer for the same bullet when they saw how easy I got to 1,000 yards.

The lower reamer would probably work if you wanted to shoot 123 Scenars, which are a great bullet for paper, and you could shoot 130 b bullets but may lose a little case capacity as you will have to seat the bullet in a little farther. I am not sure whether you would see any realistic change in performance with them seated different. I have never shot the 123 Scenars in 6.5 x 47 as I found that 130 g Bergers performed so well.

I have not gotten 139 Scenars to shoot in my 47L, I think you can get them to perform well if your rig likes RL-17 mine did not at all. I built a 6.5 x 55 AI to shoot the 139 g Scenars and it shoots them great but I almost always reach for the 47L unless I am beyond 600 yards and the wind is up. The last match I did that a guy shooting a 47L cut with my reamer with 130 g Bergers got 1st and I got 2nd.

I hope I answered your question but if you have questions about reamers call The Man, Dave Kiff at Pacific Tool and Gauge and do what he says.

Hope this helps,

wade
 
Re: chambers, reamers, etc..

Great read on that website. The more I'm thinking about it the more I'm thinking the 47L because of the quality (yet expensive) brass as opposed to necking down 7-08 for the 260. Honestly if performance of the 6.5's is basically identical, I'll choose based on availability of reloading components.

Even though it seems most people on this website are using the heavy 6.5 bullets in their guns, I'm actually leaning towards the bullets in the 120 gr. area because I'm going to be sporting a 24" barrel and the lighter bullet will of course go faster. And unless I'm really mistaken a coyote or whitetail/mule dear wont know the difference between a 140 gr bullet and a 120 gr. bullet.
 
Re: chambers, reamers, etc..

18Echo, I would like to help you with the reamer design. I will be out of the office until Dec 9 but Pete, Kathleen and my crew will be in if you need any tooling. If you have a dummy round send it in and I will call you after I get back. I would very much like to help you with any custom reamer. The cost is around 138 bucks and it takes about 2 to 4 weeks. Thanks Dave Kiff
 
Re: chambers, reamers, etc..

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kiff</div><div class="ubbcode-body">18Echo, I would like to help you with the reamer design. I will be out of the office until Dec 9 but Pete, Kathleen and my crew will be in if you need any tooling. If you have a dummy round send it in and I will call you after I get back. I would very much like to help you with any custom reamer. The cost is around 138 bucks and it takes about 2 to 4 weeks. Thanks Dave Kiff </div></div>

Hey 18Echo how do you rate getting a response directly from the 'head cheese'????
wink.gif


My PTG 6.5x47L reamer has .109FB and shoots the 123Scenar super from a 28" Oby 9.1 twist tube. With 38gr of RL15 I am getting an easy 3015fps with an SD of 8.
 
Re: chambers, reamers, etc..

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kiff</div><div class="ubbcode-body">18Echo, I would like to help you with the reamer design. I will be out of the office until Dec 9 but Pete, Kathleen and my crew will be in if you need any tooling. If you have a dummy round send it in and I will call you after I get back. I would very much like to help you with any custom reamer. The cost is around 138 bucks and it takes about 2 to 4 weeks. Thanks Dave Kiff</div></div>
can't get any better help than that...
 
Re: chambers, reamers, etc..

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kiff</div><div class="ubbcode-body">18Echo, I would like to help you with the reamer design. I will be out of the office until Dec 9 but Pete, Kathleen and my crew will be in if you need any tooling. If you have a dummy round send it in and I will call you after I get back. I would very much like to help you with any custom reamer. The cost is around 138 bucks and it takes about 2 to 4 weeks. Thanks Dave Kiff </div></div>

Well it looks like I'm going to have to hurry up and buy a die set and some components!
 
Re: chambers, reamers, etc..

I bought my 47L reamer from a gent that used to pimp/buy/trade/steal reamers and sell them for discounted prices. He would buy Dave's 'left overs' etc. Dave told me the .109FB was ground for a 108gr bullet but would work with the 120 range. It shoots super with my setup. IIRC OAL is 2.675" which is .010 off. I looked over my records and SD was actually 4 for 10rds with the 38gr of RL15 load. I have a box of 130 Berger's but haven't tried them yet. Guess I will have to wait until spring now. I really like the round but don't shoot competition or anything. Basically build them, test them a bit and then they set around because I have nothing other than paper to use them on. Sounds pretty sick huh? I built a 6x47L also and it is a super shooter. Run a 107SMK @ 3180fps with 40gr of RL17.
 
Re: chambers, reamers, etc..

SDWhirlwind said:
Guess I will have to wait until spring now. I really like the round but don't shoot competition or anything. Basically build them, test them a bit and then they set around because I have nothing other than paper to use them on.
SD,
There is plenty of stuff to shoot out there in the winter. Plenty of Pdogs out in the National Grasslands. Saw a huge town from the air 3 years ago while flying with Greg, just East of Shadehill. To bad we could not figure out who owned the land. That town seemed to cover miles of land.