Jump to content

6.5mm Remington Magnum: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Line 130: Line 130:


{{DEFAULTSORT:6.5 mm Remington Magnum}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:6.5 mm Remington Magnum}}
[[Category:Magnum rifle cartridges]]
[[Category:Remington Magnum rifle cartridges]]
[[Category:Remington Magnum rifle cartridges]]

Revision as of 01:33, 24 August 2011

6.5mm Remington Magnum
TypeRifle
Place of origin USA
Production history
DesignerRemington
Designed1966
ManufacturerRemington
Produced1966
Specifications
Parent case.350 Remington Magnum
Case typeBelted bottleneck
Bullet diameter.264 in (6.7 mm)
Neck diameter.298 in (7.6 mm)
Shoulder diameter.495 in (12.6 mm)
Base diameter.513 in (13.0 mm)
Rim diameter.532 in (13.5 mm)
Rim thickness.050 in (1.3 mm)
Case length2.170 in (55.1 mm)
Overall length2.800 in (71.1 mm)
Case capacity68 gr H2O (4.4 cm3)
Primer typeLarge rifle
Maximum pressure63,100 psi (435 MPa)
Maximum CUP53000 CUP
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
120 gr (8 g) PSPCL 3,210 ft/s (980 m/s) 2,745 ft⋅lbf (3,722 J)

The 6.5mm Remington Magnum is a .264 caliber (6.7 mm) belted bottlenecked cartridge introduced in 1966.[1][2] The cartridge is based on a necked down .350 Remington Magnum which on turn is based on a shortened, necked down, blown out .375 H&H Magnum case.[3] The cartridge was one of the first short magnum cartridges.

General Information

The 6.5 mm (.264 caliber) has been extremely popular in Europe and especially in the Scandinavian countries and this trend continues today.[4] The 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser, 6.5x58Rmm Krag-Jørgensen and the 6.5x58mm Portuguese are among the more famous of these cartridges of European origin. What the 6.5 mm (.264 caliber) bullets offered was excellent sectional density and ballistic coefficients. The Scandinavian countries dominated the Olympics in the Nordic events shooting 6.5 mm center fire cartridges like the 6.5x55mm until 1972 when the centerfire shooting events were dropped.[5] However, in North America the .264 caliber did not make much of a head way in terms of popularity. Beginning in the 1950s several ex-service Norwegian Krag-Jørgensen and Swedish Mauser began trickling into the United States.[5] Winchester had designed the .264 Winchester Magnum but it did not gain much of a following and the rifles were plagued by short barrel lives.

In 1966 Remington introduced the 6.5 Remington Magnum, which was based upon the previous years' .350 Remington Magnum, in the 18.5 inch barrel Model 600 carbine. This was poor choice of rifle by Remington as it was unable to exploit the performance potential of the 6.5mm Remington.[6][7] While Remington did later chamber the cartridge in the 24 inch Model 700[8] rifle the damage was already done to the cartridge's reputation from which it would not recover and eventually passed into obsolesce. Attempts have been made to revive the cartridge by Ruger and then again by Remington in 2004 in the Model 673 Guide Rifle[9] but these attempts at revival have been unsuccessful.

The 6.5mm Remington Magnum remains a excellent rifle cartridge with a greater performance potential over all the European 6.5mm cartridges save the 6.5x68mm RWS which is similar to the .264 Winchester Magnum. Furthermore, due to its short stature, it can be chambered in lighter, quicker handling short action rifles. On account of the case capacity of the cartridge a barrel with a minimum length of 24 inches is necessary to realize the potential of the cartridge. With shorter barrels performance level drop dramatically especially when slower burning powders are utilized.

Currently only Remington produces ammunition for the cartridge and in only a single load, the Remington Express 120-grain (7.8 g) PSP-CL. Handloaders, however, can take advantage of the bullet weights available which range from 95 to 160 grains (6.2 to 10.4 g).[10]

Cartridge Specifications

The 6.5mm Remington Magnum is based on the .350 Remington Magnum necked down to accept a .264 caliber (6.71mm) bullet. It was one of the original short, fat magnum cartridges to be put into production. The short, fat cartridge design is known to promote efficient powder burning characteristics.

6.5 Remington Magnum Schematic

The SAAMI recommends a 6 grove barrel with a 1:9 twist. The bore diameter is given as .256-inch (6.5 mm) and the grove diameter is .264-inch (6.7 mm). The recommended grove width is .095-inch (2.4 mm). SAAMI recommends a maximum pressure of 53,000 C.U.P. while CIP mandates a maximum pressure of no more than 4,350-bar (63,100 psi).

Performance

Remington is the only company which provides ammunition for the cartridge. The provide a single load, the 120-grain (7.8 g) PSP-CL. This Remington factory ammunition with its light for caliber bullet is only recommended for small deer and predator species. Those wishing to take advantage of the versatility of the 6.5mm Remington Magnum have little choice but to handload their ammunition.

Cartridge Criteria Muzzle 100 yd (91 m) 200 yd (180 m) 300 yd (270 m) 400 yd (370 m) 500 yd (460 m)
.260 Remington, Remington 140-grain (9.1 g) Premier Core-Lokt Velocity 2,750 ft/s (840 m/s) 2,554 ft/s (778 m/s) 2,365 ft/s (721 m/s) 2,185 ft/s (666 m/s) 2,013 ft/s (614 m/s) 1,849 ft/s (564 m/s)
Bullet drop −1.5 in (−3.8 cm) 1.9 in (4.8 cm) 0 in (0 cm) −8.1 in (−21 cm) −23.6 in (−60 cm) −47.6 in (−121 cm)
6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser, Federal 140 grains (9.1 g)* SP Velocity 2,600 ft/s (790 m/s) 2,402 ft/s (732 m/s) 2,212 ft/s (674 m/s) 2,031 ft/s (619 m/s) 1,859 ft/s (567 m/s) 1,698 ft/s (518 m/s)
Bullet drop −1.5 in (−3.8 cm) 2.3 in (5.8 cm) 0 in (0 cm) −9.4 in (−24 cm) −27.0 in (−69 cm) −55.2 in (−140 cm)
6.5mm Remington Magnum, Hornady 140 grains (9.1 g)* SP Handload Velocity 2,900 ft/s (880 m/s) 2,700 ft/s (820 m/s) 2,509 ft/s (765 m/s) 2,327 ft/s (709 m/s) 2,153 ft/s (656 m/s) 1,986 ft/s (605 m/s)
Bullet drop −1.5 in (−3.8 cm) 1.6 in (4.1 cm) 0 in (0 cm) −7.2 in (−18 cm) −20.8 in (−53 cm) −41.9 in (−106 cm)
.264 Winchester Magnum, Winchester 140 grains (9.1 g)* Super-X PP Velocity 3,030 ft/s (920 m/s) 2,782 ft/s (848 m/s) 2,547 ft/s (776 m/s) 2,325 ft/s (709 m/s) 2,113 ft/s (644 m/s) 1,913 ft/s (583 m/s)
Bullet drop −1.5 in (−3.8 cm) 1.5 in (3.8 cm) 0 in (0 cm) −6.8 in (−17 cm) −20.1 in (−51 cm) −41.2 in (−105 cm)
All values retrieved from respective websites. 6.5mm Remington Mag. data from Hornady Reloading Manual #4

The 6.5 mm Remington Magnum compares favorably with other 6.5mm (.264 caliber) cartridges. It terms of energy it is bested by the 6.5x68mm RWS and the .264 Winchester Magnum. However, neither the 6.5x68mm RWS nor the .264 Winchester Magnum can be chambered in a short action rifle. It provides a leap in performance over the non-magnum cartridges such as the .260 Remington and 6.5x55mm Swedish.

See also

References

  1. ^ "6.5mm Remington Magnum" (PDF). Accurate Powder. Western Powders Inc. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  2. ^ Marcot, Roy (2005). The History of Remington Firearms: The History of One of the World's Most Famous Gun Makers. The Lyons Press. p. 128. ISBN 978-1-59228-690-4.
  3. ^ Van Zwoll, Wayne (2000). The Hunter's Guide to Ballistics: Practical Advice on How to Choose Guns and Loads, and Use them Effectively. The Lyons Press. p. 194. ISBN 978-1-58574-375-9. {{cite book}}: More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
  4. ^ Boddington, Craig. "The Long-Suffering 6.5". Rifle Shooter Magazine. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  5. ^ a b "6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser". gunnersden.com. Gunner's Den. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  6. ^ Boddington, Craig (June 2005). "Remington's Short History". Guns&Ammo. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  7. ^ John, Jeff (February 2007). "6.5 Remington Mag". Guns Magazine. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  8. ^ Walter, John (2006). Rifles of the World. Krause Publications. p. 392. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
  9. ^ "Model 673 Guide Rifle Bolt Action Centerfire Rifle". remington.com. Remington Arms Company. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  10. ^ "Core-Lokt Centerfire Rifle Bolt Action Centerfire Rifle". remington.com. Remington Arms Company. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=6.5mm_Remington_Magnum&oldid=446417959"