Author Topic: 6.5 Super Bower (Read 2690 times)

spinafish · « **on:** September 23, 2007, 02:58:43 PM »

Anyone have experience with the 6.5 Super Bower? I am considering having OTT make me a 14"Contender barrel in that chambering. Would like a long range(200 yds) whitetail round. Any thoughts would be appreciated..

KYODE · « **Reply #1 on:** September 23, 2007, 04:41:45 PM »

i think you'd need to contact marc shehan at http://bowersp.com/default.aspx for specific info on that cartridge. marc bought out all of don bowers stuff i believe. if OTT made something similar, i'm not sure you could call it a "6.5 super bower"....but i'm sure he could build a similar barrel to your specs/dies.

sweetwyominghome · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2007, 07:04:33 PM »

Just be careful. Much of the load data out there for the Bower cartridges is definitely red-lining it in the Contender.

For whitetail to 200 yards or even a bit more, the 6.5 JDJ with a 120 grain BT at 2400 fps will do the trick quite neatly, but so will a 7-30 Waters, which also propels a 120 grain bullet to 2400-2450 fps from a 14" barrel.

Ladobe · « **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2007, 09:22:00 AM »

I've had a few of the Bower wildcats, but the one I've kept for 10 years with no plan to ever sell is my 6.5SB. Bought it because it easily had the best long range precision potential of all the proprietaries offered by Don. Kept it because it does that in spades. My 15" barrel is a bit of an oddity in that instead of being a re-chambered factory barrel as most of the Bowers were, it was made from a premium blank by Bullberry, then sent to Don for his machinist to cut the chamber and make dies for it.

You won't have a problem for only 200 yards, but IMO the biggest long range limiting factor with any handcannon is the available optics for them. Many of them are capable of extreme long range accuracy, but the pistol scopes are just not made to equal their potential. When I shot my 6.5SB in the 1000 yard fun matches for a couple of years, I block mounted a 36X rifle scope on it, shot prone from a Bower rest and once locked on target moved my eye away from the scope for the shot.

I don't think redlining with the 6.5SB is a problem myself. Safe reloading practices working up loads makes safe loads for your particular habitat. I have no doubt Don reached higher velocities (and pressures) in the lofty environs of the CO Rockies than I ever could here in the low, hot & cold desert southwest. But then there was no need to push the envelope IMO. I found very accurate loads well below Don's published maximums.

I think Kyode is probably right. While OTT can duplicate it no problem, I don't think they could call it by the same name. Kind of like TC now offering the 375/444 (SSK 375JDJ). Maybe they could call it something like 6.5/307, 6.5/356 or 6.5/444 Short.

As SWH suggested, there is a box full of factory and wildcat offerings that can easily handle whitetails to 200 yards. So no real need for the 6.5SB just for that unless you also might want to shoot or hunt with it at MUCH longer ranges than 200 yards. BTW, I had a SSK 6.5JDJ too, and it would have handled whitetails nicely at 200 I think as also said (although I preferred my 257JDJ's over it).

One thing for sure, you can go to the range and will probably never run into anyone else with a 6.5SB. I've met and made some great friends at our large GC when they came over to see what the heck kind of pistol I was shooting at the 500 yard berm or 800 yard gong (usually either the 6.5SB or one of my 375JDJ's).

L.

spinafish · « **Reply #4 on:** September 24, 2007, 11:37:25 AM »

Hey Ladobe! How are you? You are the one who got my curious stir-up years ago about the Super Bower line of cartridges. I know there are rounds out there that will take a whitetail at 200 yards and I probably already own a couple, but there's something about that SuperBower name..especially, considering what Don could accomplish with one!

Info on the Super Bowers is hard to come by on Google!

I had heard that Don was not doing so well as of late. I didn't know who, if anyone had taken care of his line of cartridges. Just a matter of asking the right folks I guess.

I realize OTT couldn't stamp 6.5 Super Bower on the barrel, but they seem to be able to do just about any cartridge that is do-able in a Contender.

Just a future barrel down the road abit.

thank gentlemen for the info, much appreciate.

spinafish · « **Reply #5 on:** September 24, 2007, 11:47:24 AM »

thanks for the link, Kyode!

Ladobe · « **Reply #6 on:** September 24, 2007, 06:19:19 PM »

Just taking it a day at a time spinafish, but thanks for asking.

Thanks for the link KYODE. Glad to see someone will carry on after Don.

...
Strikingly absent from Marc's web site though is any information, specs or history about the Bower cartridges, nor information about getting dies/barrels chambered for them. Hope Marc plans to do more than just hold the shooting clinics (which just won't be the same without Don), and to peddle the latest version of the Bower rest system. Information has never been abundant for the Bower wildcats anywhere short of calling Don himself, a few gun rag articles or finding us old codgers who have shot them for years. Looks like its going to be about the same with Marc unless he beefs up his web site with more information.

Come to think about it, JD (another ornery old codger) really doesn't have squat on his web site either about his line of JDJ's, especially the older ones that first put his name on the wall.

Sure makes it harder for the new generations of shooters interested in any of the traditional proprietary wildcats. Without places like GBO a lot of shooting history would be lost and forgotten.

KYODE · « **Reply #7 on:** September 25, 2007, 01:39:12 AM »

yer welcome fellers. glad to spread a lil happiness....lol.

Steve P · « **Reply #8 on:** September 27, 2007, 09:32:24 AM »

I have the 7SB and 30 Bower Alaskan. If you get that 6.5SB and don't like it, send me an email. I will take it off your hands.

Steve

Keith L · « **Reply #9 on:** September 27, 2007, 09:48:28 AM »

Quote from: Steve P on September 27, 2007, 09:32:24 AM

I have the 7SB and 30 Bower Alaskan. If you get that 6.5SB and don't like it, send me an email. I will take it off your hands.

Steve

Take this off line. Want to buy and Want to Sell belong in the classified forums. They are not allowed on the discussion forums.

Thanks.

sweetwyominghome · « **Reply #10 on:** September 27, 2007, 06:37:27 PM »

Keith-

Not to be disrespectful here or to question your call, but "If you get that 6.5SB and don't like it, send me an email" was taking it "off line."

I don't see where they had any intention of wheeling and dealing here. It was just simple conversation.

But that's just my .02...

Keith L · « **Reply #11 on:** September 27, 2007, 09:01:21 PM »

Your simple conversation was in violation of the rules set down for all the forums here. As moderators we are asked to enforce them. I could have just deleted your entire post. I chose a less drastic way to stop the problem. Taking it off line would have been sending a PM or and Email instead of posting it here in the discussion forum.

You may want to spend some time familiarizing yourself with the rules here at Graybeard. They are found here:

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,54070.msg319946.html#msg319946

If you wish to debate them PM Graybeard. I am sure he will be happy to discuss them with you.

Thanks.

Steve P · « **Reply #12 on:** September 28, 2007, 04:49:31 AM »

Quote from: Keith L on September 27, 2007, 09:48:28 AM

Quote from: Steve P on September 27, 2007, 09:32:24 AM
I have the 7SB and 30 Bower Alaskan. If you get that 6.5SB and don't like it, send me an email. I will take it off your hands.

Steve

Take this off line. Want to buy and Want to Sell belong in the classified forums. They are not allowed on the discussion forums.

Thanks.

I do buy and sell in the proper forums and have since GB started them. I am not a newbie here. If you take my semi-crass way of saying the Bower Barrel is a good barrel out of text, I appologize. If you didn't take it out of text, YOU are the one out of line!!

Steve

Keith L · « **Reply #13 on:** September 28, 2007, 06:00:14 AM »

Unfortunately I am not psychic. You made an offer to purchase which is not allowed. I asked nicely for it to stop. If you take offense then you also can take it up with Graybeard. Now if you want to discuss this barrel then go ahead. if you want to continue this discussion I will lock this thread. You make the chooce.

Enough now.

Steve P · « **Reply #14 on:** September 28, 2007, 08:36:14 AM »

Quote from: Steve P on September 27, 2007, 09:32:24 AM

I have the 7SB and 30 Bower Alaskan. If you get that 6.5SB and don't like it, send me an email. I will take it off your hands.

Steve

The BIG FIX!

Spinafish,

I have the 7SB and the 30 Bower Alaskan. If I had the opportunity to get the 6.5SB, I would not hesitate at all in getting one. I really enjoy the two I have and the 6.5 would probably be a notch better. If you get one, you will not be disappointed.

Steve

Ladobe · « **Reply #15 on:** September 28, 2007, 01:46:05 PM »

Steve - I too had a 7SB and a 30 Alaskan, along with the 6.5SB and a 22SB. I also shot SB's owned by friends in 6SB, 358SB and 429SB a few times. I have (had) favorites from each, but never did decide whether I liked the JDJ or SB wildcats the best. Guess that's why I had so many of both of them. LOL

PM coming at you Keith...

xphunter · « **Reply #16 on:** October 03, 2007, 07:14:42 AM »

Ladobe,
Good to see you posting again.
May commonsense abound.

xphunter · « **Reply #17 on:** October 03, 2007, 12:08:33 PM »

Quote from: spinafish on September 24, 2007, 11:37:25 AM

Hey Ladobe! How are you? You are the one who got my curious stir-up years ago about the Super Bower line of cartridges. I know there are rounds out there that will take a whitetail at 200 yards and I probably already own a couple, but there's something about that SuperBower name..especially, considering what Don could accomplish with one!
I had heard that Don was not doing so well as of late. I didn't know who, if anyone had taken care of his line of cartridges. Just a matter of asking the right folks I guess.

spinafish & others interested,
I spoke with Don and his wife this week and Don is worse than when I spoke with him 3-4 months ago. I am specifically speaking about his memory. Their daughter died from a long fight with cancer this past April (if I remember right) and she had been living with them.
Don still yearns to have a last hurrah shoot (2 days) out at the old stump with those he has shot with in the past. I told him I couldn't do anything until spring but I know I will talk to Marc Sheehan, Steve Hugel, and Ray Prager, and some others who I know may be able to do this in 08 (Don's health permitting). With Don's problem he knows he cannot shoot, but wants to just watch and visit.
Marc is the person to visit with concerning Don's cartridges. He has had several set-backs with trying to find someone to do Barrels with Don's names on them. I know at one time he visited with OTT, but I do not know what the result was. Mike/OTT is a good man to work with.

Ladobe, if you know of some history you might contact Marc and share some with him. I also know Ray P. "Old Fart" on some forums lives in the same area as Don and could also help with some history.
If you have any interest you can contact me via email at ernieemily@yahoo.com
I know some guys on some other forums that have some additional insight as well.

Keith L · « **Reply #18 on:** October 03, 2007, 02:55:53 PM »

The issue of me asking what seemed like an offer to purchase off line in accordance with the rules of this forum doesn't seem to want to go away. By what you folks are telling me now the statement "If you get that 6.5SB and don't like it, send me an email. I will take it off your hands" was said in jest. I accept that, but please understand how hard it is for me to know that from this end. It looks lots like an offer to purchase which is clearly in violation of the rules.

I didn't intend to insult anyone, that is not my style. I just try to keep things going according to the rules. Those who have been around for a while will recall when GBO was threatened by folks who questioned the sale of gun related things, and I for one, don't want that to happen. This site is a rich source for information on lots of subjects important to me and others.

If my comments were taken as to gruff I apologize. Lets try and stick to the rules, even when joking, and I will try not to be ornery.

Thanks

xphunter · « **Reply #19 on:** October 03, 2007, 03:03:01 PM »

Keith,
That's class-Thanks!

Ladobe · « **Reply #20 on:** October 04, 2007, 10:19:15 AM »

xphunter,

Thanks for the WB. Was more or less a 3 year hiatus from the Internet, and was a nice break after about 20 years on-line. Been basking in my ignorance and retired for most of it, did some traveling and deal with the ever increasing health issues. Used to call them old geezers - now I are one.

History on the Bower's really should come from Don. Only he would know what is exactly correct and with his rapidly failing health that opportunity may soon be lost. Surprised Marc didn't get all of that when he bought Don out. He had a right to it. And for sure Marc ought to have and include what the current cartridge offerings are, their specs, data and some pricing on the new web site. He's missing a big boat in this Internet powered world without that. All I'd be able to offer is from my experiences in owning and shooting them over the years, or maybe try to remember and relate some of the conversations I had with Don over the years. I too know others who were big time Bower users and attended some of his clinics, but doubt they could offer much more now either.

L.

sscoyote · « **Reply #21 on:** October 05, 2007, 07:53:39 PM »

That 1st pic on Marc's website is his 6.5 Hustler. I remember when he was shooting at 900 or so with it while i was spotting for him at the NE clinic. I always thought that was a nice case. I think it's based on the 444 Marlin...right??

That pic was in Mark Hampton's article that was in 1 of the Handgun magazine annuals recently.

spinafish · « **Reply #22 on:** October 06, 2007, 11:05:07 AM »

here is a link to an article I found about the 6.5 Super Bower..www.network54.com/Forum/283294/thread/1107954437/%BFSe+animan+a+hacer+esto-