TENDER RIFLE in 6.5X225IMP.

[David D.]

Pic. of a little Tender I put together. The 20" barrel made by OTT is chamber in 6.5X225IMP (aka 6.5JDJ) Scoped with a 4.5X14 Nikon Side focus. The wood is from Gunstocks Inc. This little sucker is very accurate. I have shot 3 shot groups at 100yds. as little as .338 with it. Using Nosler 120gr B-Tips with a properly placed shot will chill deer. It also is a great Little varmint rifle. Recoil is very mild so its going to be great for the grand children to shoot.

[Yel95]

Very nice.

[sweetwyominghome]

Nice rig!

I, too, am a fan of the 6.5s, and there are more guns/barrels in my home with that bore diameter than all the rest combined. I am currently shooting a 26" Contender barrel by MGM in 6.5 Bullberry Imp (aka 6.5x30-30 AI) and absolutely love it.

It is set up with a 1:8 twist and throated for the long 140 grain boat-tailed bullets, but it shoots everything -- including the stubby 85 grain Sierra HP -- with enviable accuracy. I got a bunch of Nosler 125 grain Partition seconds for less than $20 per 100 during the recent Nosler Shooters Pro Shop sale, and my fireforming loads (minimal ff since I am using eabco.com's 6.5 BRM brass) are shooting consistent half-inch groups. I actually have these in my cartridge carrier as I plan to air out a hog or two over the holidays. I had been using the Sierra 140 grain GameKings for that purpose, but they are so predictable in performance that they are almost boring -- in a good way, that is.

The 125 grain Partition at 2700 fps should do equally well...

[David D.]

sweetwyominghome

I had a Tender 15" barrel by OTT chambered for the 6.5BRM. Good shooting barrel, but in the heat of a trade I let it go. I wish I had it back.

[SOILhunter]

TC Dave you sure have some sweet looking encores!

[Chris Potts]

I didn't realize that you could get 2700 fps with a 125 gr bullet of these calibers.  I guess most of the data I have seen must have been for a handgun  length barrel.  I have been thinking very seriously about one of the 6.5's based on the 30-30 or 225.  Are all three of these pretty close in case capacity (the jdj, bullberry and brm).  I am guessing that they are pretty much ballistic equivalents, So is there any real advantage of the 225 brass over the 30-30.  What velocities do you get with a 140 out of a rifle barrel.  Thanks.

Chris

[David D.]

Chris
Having had 6.5's based on the 30-30 case and the .225 case I can tell you this. Ballistilcy there is not a lot of difference. The .225 case is a little harder to find, cost more, but is stronger, so it last longer, more loadings per case. This is just my opinion and there will be others who will not agree,  but I think the 6.5 based on the 225 case inherently is more accurate or easier to get the accuracy from. At least it was for me. Having said this I did at one time have a 6.5BRM barrel and it did shoot good.

I have never shot 140's from mine at this time.

[Chris Potts]

Thanks Dave.  I appreciate your insight.

Chris

[sweetwyominghome]

Dave pretty much nailed it on the brass comparison -- and that mirrors my experiences as well.  It just seems the .225 brass is a little more consistent in terms of quality than the 30-30 stuff. But I do get tremendous accuracy with the 6.5 BB Imp and the 30-30 brass -- and 300 yard groups rarely exceed one inch.

As to the 2700 fps, keep in mind that this is coming from a 26" inch barrel with a long-throated chamber and using fairly slow (N160) powder for this cartridge. You won't get those speeds with a standard chamber and using the powders most routinely used for these type of cartridges.

The factory-loaded 6.5 BRM with its 140 grain bullet does an honest 2450 fps from a 24" barrel, and the 6.5 BB IMP that I have has a bit more capacity than the BRM, though the difference is truly minimal.

My barrel safely does 2600 fps with the Sierra 140 grain GameKing. That particular load does not exceed 40,500 c.u.p.

[Chris Potts]

Thanks for all the replies.  Now I just need to get the money together and pick a barrel maker.

Chris