Suggestions for 6.5 JDJ loads?

[HHI 812]

I'll be using primarily 120 grain bullets, and wondering what is your favorite load? Have heard that AA 2520 gives good velocities, as well as Varget? e-mail at drminak@hotmail.com Thanks!  

[Questor]

I prefer Winchester 760 with 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. The velocity is about 2350fps and accuracy is excellent. The Nosler manual has the recipe.  I tried 2520 and the other popular powders for it and 760 has been the best.

[Questor]

Also... I tried the Speer 120s and the two sheep I shot dropped in their tracks instantly and stayed down. There was no real reason to go to the Noslers, I just wanted to try them. One thing I find about the Noslers is that in the two guns I shoot them in, they require very little effort for cleaning the bore of copper fouling. Just a couple of doses of Sweets is enough.  

SSK has been recommending the Nosler Ballistic Tips for such game as antelope, which is typically shot at longer ranges. The Speer costs less and is known to be very effective.

[jhalcott]

120 sierra's best loads
              29.5/h322-cci250
               37.5/imr4350-cci250
              32.5/4320-cci250
              34.5/4064-cci250
  85 sierra hp
         37.5/4064-cci250    same charge with 85 gr speer
  these loads are safe in MY gun!your results may differ,work up to these loads. they all shoot less than 1" at 100 yds off a bipod with a 2x8 Leo scope. The 85's are real screamers but are slightly less accurate than 120's. I use them mostly for ground hog shooting. They will take deer though.  jh

[Mikey]

Guys:  please enlighten me about this cartridge and what makes it so special.  I like the 6.5mms.  I really like the 6.5 Swede and years ago hunted with and reloaded the 6.5 Carcano, which was not a bad round at all.  Judging from the ballistics Questor indicated, the 6.5 JDL doesn't even have the poop of the 260 Rem.  

What cartridge is the casing based on and what makes it so popular with you folks?  Why not use the 6.5 Swede or the 260 if you want a 6.5mm with some poop????

I dont' want to start any fires here but I would just like to know.  Thanks.  Mikey.

[Questor]

Mikey:

It was developed specifically to give good ballistics within the pressure limitations of a Contender. It's a rimmed cartridge based on the 225 Winchester (it's just a fireformed and necked up 225).

It was popularized and made proprietary by JD Jones (i.e., "JDJ") of SSK industries. It is his the most popular of his many cartridges. The other two cartridges he is best known for is the 375 JDJ, which is for taking large game with .375 caliber bullets, and the 309JDJ, which is a deer cartridge that shoots .308 bullets. Both of these cartridges are based on the necked down 444 Marlin case.  They are also specifically designed for use in the Contender.

It shoots a 120 grain bullet at 2300 to 2400 fps from a 14" Contender barrel.  That's pretty darned good for a Contender.

The available bullets for the 6.5 are very compatible with the 6.5JDJ because most of them were developed for the relatively low velocity of the 6.5 Swede.

Since the Encore was released it has become obsolete, except to those cranks among us (me included) who like the smaller and lighter Contender rather than the Encore.

The 6.5JDJ has no practical value in guns other than the Contender. Other cartridges are better.

As to results, it sure is deadly, and it has light recoil for a bonafide hand cannon-- about the same as a light-but-not-powderpuff 44 magnum load.

Barrels and dies are only available new through SSK.

[jhalcott]

Mikey, the 6.5JDJ is like the 7-30 waters. Either you love it or hate it! I have killed whitetail deer at over 200 yards with the 120 grain loads. Ground hogs at 300. Bipod and 8x scope and lots of practice,also a few misses :wink: noboby is perfect! It is far better than it's case size would indicate.very accurate and mild recoil. How much more poop could you want?  jh

[Mikey]

Thanks fellas, I appreciate the information and the insights.  I had heard about the cartridge over this forum but didn't know its background.

As for how much poop do I want - I dunno, I'm not a magnumized sort of guy, I prefer to stay within accepted pressure limits.  I do like my 6.5 Swedes, but I also like the rifles that shoot them so maybe there lays the relationship and preference.  I am thinking however of a 6.5-06 for some looooong range stuff although the Swede will do anything I want it to until I feel the need to unleash one of my 444s.  So then what do I do with everything else in the middle?  Guess I gotta go shootin' more, huh.

Gee, if the 6.5 JDJ is based on the 444 case I'm surprised at myself that I didn't expand my horizons about it a long time ago.  

Thanks again fellas.  Mikey.

[jhalcott]

NO<NO mikey, the 6.5jdj is based on the 225 winchester round! NOT the 444.The 309,375 and 358 jdj's are based on the 444. The beauty of it is it is used in a handgun and delivers near 6.5 swede ballistics.
  Go with your 25-06 rather than build a 6.5-06, you will be happier in the long run.  jh :grin:

[Mikey]

OK guys, I got it (finally).  Thanks.  Question though - why the 25-06 rather than the 6.5-06?  The 6.5 version is a known long range performer.... What would make the 25-06 a better choice?  Mikey.

[jhalcott]

The 25-06 is a factory round first. It is as fast or faster than the 6.5-06 with 75 thru 120 grain bullets. Dies are easy to get.A custom 25-06 I have will shoot MOA groups further than I can see,With most off the shelf ammo.
  I do not HAVE to reload for it (I do though) and have not found a HUNTING load more accurate than factory stuff! I use a 6x18 scope for long range hunting and 100 or 120 grain bullets.
    The 6.5-06 is a hand load only gun. The barrel has to be made right and mated to the action properly.IF the airline luggage handler apes loose your ammo you will have to borrow the guides old 30-30 to fill your tag!(YEA,this HAS happened).I just go to the nearest place and buy some 25-06 ammo. In truth though any round from the 2506 to the 7mag is fine for long range shooting.IF you can hit the heart/lung area of the game at extended range. The only reason to go with ANY gun/cartridge is YOU WANT IT. My old 6.5 win mag was a screamer that rolled lots of ground hogs at 400-500 yards,wish I still had it! :wink:   jh