.264 Win. 6.5 PRC, 6.5 SAUM

H

hooligan1

New member
Are any of you fellas familiar with loading for all three of these cartridges?
I have a Rem. 700 magnum action that Im going to have a custom rifle built in one of these, Im sure that each are somewhat Barrel Burners, however after load developement this rifle will be used for hunting, so barrel wear not a problem for me to consider.
Im looking at 2 considerations, brass availability and powder use.
 
Everyone is trying to get on the "6.5 XYZ gravy train". Decades ago, I fought with a 264 WM that was simply "untunable" and now, 40 years later, the 6.5 is touted as the most accurate bore diameter known to man.
 
I have and hunt with .260-6.5x55 rifles and they are good calibers, but no more so than a 7mm08-.308 rifle. get one of those calibers in a accurett rifle and forget about the new wiz-bang calibers the gun rags are pushing. I have killed over 200+ deer and every one of them could have been killed with any of the above calibers. now if you want to jump on the gun rag bandwagon and spend your money, have at it. eastbank.
 
And there's the 6.5 Rem mag that I have along with three additional 6.5s before they became fashionable. The Rem mag along with another of my favorites, the .22 Savage Hi-Power, are no longer carried in the Lyman manual. The .264 Win barrel burner in a model 700 is the most accurate of all and brass should be readily available. Now the 6.5 Creedmoor has taken over top billing and I feel compelled to get one now that it is available in a 700.
 
Year's ago I had 264mag with Kreiger barrel. I've also had 7mag,338mag and 30-338mags build.

I had good luck with 264 mag and if I was looking to build something in 6.5, I'd got back to the 264 Mag. I also had 6.5x284 Norma build. I haven't seen much 264 mag brass, course I'm not looking for any but I sure could neck down 7 mag brass.
 
I have a 260, and i’m sure fond of it. But there are times i’d like a bit more MV. The 6.5 Rem Mag appeals to me, but mostly because it’s uncommon. The 264 and the 6.5-06 are about the same as the 270, and can’t really do anything the 270 can’t do. And I have a 270. The others mentioned are maybe a bit too hot for my needs. The 6.5-284 looks good too, and isn’t too common.

My personal preference for a new 6.5 cartridge would be one that pushes a 130 gr Accubond at 3000 fps from a 20 inch barrel. That would be ideal, and duplicates my 270.
 
So then, say you build a 264 Winchester Magnum; what barrel length will you choose? At 24 inches, you may as well have a 270 Winchester. At 26 inches it begins to show more promise, but put the same length barrel on a 270 Winchester and they are both in the same league. So you will sacrifice magazine capacity for what? Perhaps you will not be able to sleep at night until you pursue this madness.... In that case, proceed and consider it for its medicinal value, for that's the only redemption there is in this project. Go, thou, and do so with my blessing!;)
 
The idea is not to leave anything on the table after the lathe has stopped and the testing had begun...
You can neck 7mag brass down but the shoulder length is different between the two, but redding comp dies are supposed to hash this out, but havent done it yet to really know.
The PRC has my attention, because it only gives up 100 fps or less to the Saum, but barrel life is better, and that peaks my interest.
As far as the .264 and 6.506 doing what a .270 can do, Im not finding that yet in my 6.506 with 24" barrel.
I dont have exact figures here in front of me, but somewhere around 3100 fps with Saum and 140' and super consistant accuracy, although I havent hunted where I may need a long shot, I may some day and want the capability.
I know those 7mm cartridges get it done, but thats potatoes compared to apples in this thread.
 
It really comes down to what impact velocity you want at a certain range for the bullet to be effective on game. Another couple of pennies worth of powder per round would be moot and 100 pieces of brass would last a lifetime. Once you dial in a load you could load 100 rounds and they would last many seasons
 
I'm with Condorbravo and the 6.5mm Rem Mag.

Have dies and have formed some brass already. Looking for the right rifle at the right price. And then it's E.R.Shaw for a barrel.
 
Just so happens I have a 264 win mag already put together ...and 100 new brass and several hundred sierra bullets I would let go....if you are interested.....send me a pm with your email address and I can send pics.....

Ocharry
 
"...sure that each are somewhat Barrel Burners..." There's absolutely no reason to assume that.
"...magnum action..." Isn't necessarily suitable. May be too long. The 6.5 PRC and SAUM use a short action length. The .264 uses a long action. Just as important is the diameters of the case head. And if the original chambering was belted or not. Only the .264 is belted. Lotta money to convert a belted bolt to a non-belted.
Midway shows BNIB Hornady 6.5 PRC brass at $46.49 per 50. .264 brass is readily available, but isn't cheap. Starts at $30.99 per 20 for Norma. 50 Hornady runs $51.99.
The SAUM runs a buck each. None at Midway. Or you can make it out of .300 SAUM. Case forming dies tend to be expensive and special order things.
For a hunting rifle, I'd rethink any of 'em. Not because they won't kill or be accurate enough. Because you won't find any of 'em anywhere if you get out and find you left your ammo on the kitchen table.
 
Everyone is trying to get on the "6.5 XYZ gravy train". Decades ago, I fought with a 264 WM that was simply "untunable" and now, 40 years later, the 6.5 is touted as the most accurate bore diameter known to man.
Click to expand...
I've never messed with one, but my opinion on the fad is pretty similar to your sentiment.

hooligan, however, was on the train before it was the cool thing to do. He's just looking for a new 6.5x__ to add to the list.
 
Timmy, timmy timmy,,,,,,
First off dude, they Are barrel burners no assumption there.
Second, money doesnt get put ahead of what Im building, it gets put into what Im building.
3rd and remember this, I never leave home without my ammo on hunting trips....because for the last 30 yrs I havent used commercial ammunition, have plenty loaded up and have plenty in hunting box where I keep everything ready and waiting.....
I cant understand where youre coming from sometimes....
 
I have had 4, 264 win mags. They all shot well. Actually 2 and both were shot out and rebarrelled. If you are going to use a barrel shorter than 26 inches, go 6.5x284. I have a 28" and a 30". The 30" just flat screams.
 
I think for the tyoe of donor action Im using the .264 win mag wins out. Barrel life is somewhat of a wash with all these speed demons.
I love shooting 140 grn 6.5 bullets, and the .264 win mag spits those dudes out fast enough for me.
Reynolds, did you ever neck down 7 rem mag brass, or anything else for your loading of the .264 win mag?
My barrel will be close to 28" if the blank I choose has enough meat on it after brake and chambering.
1:8" twist.
 
Sounds like a winner.

Our private discussion prompted me to look at a few of these cartridges a bit more than I ever have before, and the results were surprising. I didn't realize how "slow" 6.5-284 Norma was, and how handicapped 6.5-284 'Win' was in comparison. Nor did I know that .264 WM actually surpasses most .270 Win velocities with same-weight bullets.

But I will also say... It has solidified my lack of desire for a .260 Rem, 6.5 Creedmore, PRC, and the dozen other similar cartridges.
I have a .270 Win that works. 6.5mm has an edge with BC and sectional density, but not enough to sway me to a cartridge with lower velocity.
 
Have you considered a 6.5-06 or 6.5-05 AI? Brass is easy to make and the dies are available from Midway. From what I’ve read the 6.5-06 AI will equal or even surpass the 264 WM. Plus it has that “cool” factor of being a wildcat
 
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