Author Topic: LOOKING FOR A 6.5 DEER ROUND FOR MY CONTENDER CARBINE. (Read 1637 times)

coopershooter · « **on:** July 24, 2005, 06:53:08 AM »

ANY SUGESTIONS? THE 6.5X55 IS TOO MUCH, THEY TELL ME? HOW ABOUT THE 6.5X 30 30 CASE? WHAT KIND OF VELOCITY WITH 140GR BULLETS?

jason280 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 24, 2005, 10:41:37 AM »

Your best bet would probably be with one of the JDJ wildcats, specifically the 6.5 JDJ. All though I'm not 100% sure, I would guess muzzle velocity with one out of a 14" barrel (and 140gr bullets) would be around 22-2300 fps. However, for deer sized critters, I would probably recommend the 120gr (which you can get to around 2400 fps or more).

coopershooter · « **Reply #2 on:** July 24, 2005, 12:11:15 PM »

I,LL BE USING 20 TO 23 INCH BARREL. IT,S FOR A CARBINE.

htrjv · « **Reply #3 on:** July 24, 2005, 03:20:12 PM »

Same ballistics as the .250 Savage and .257 Roberts. Latest issue of Guns and Ammo has an article on the 6.8 SPC, that you might find interesting. T/C already offers a carbine barrel in this caliber. Check it out.

onesonek · « **Reply #4 on:** July 25, 2005, 01:47:28 AM »

Another custom option is eabco's 6.5BRM, a 30-30 parent case.
Dave

sawebbshooter · « **Reply #5 on:** July 25, 2005, 02:25:39 AM »

I can't see the swede as too much for deer. Definately enough, but too much? All those guys that shoot the 30-06 must be seriously overgunned by that logic. 260 Rem is an obvious choice. JDJ has a great line but most is proprietary and you need to form brass and load your own. Which for some actually has appeal.

sawebbshooter · « **Reply #6 on:** July 25, 2005, 02:31:53 AM »

What was I thinking? The swede is too much for the contender, not the deer. Posting at 0-dark-30 can aggravate the mental disconnect, Mea Maxima Culpa.

yottey · « **Reply #7 on:** July 25, 2005, 03:20:43 AM »

I have a 6.5 bullberry carbine for the kids it is the best shooting contender barrel I have seen.Look at the loading data on
www. bulllberry.com lots of great info there!yottey

Gitzit · « **Reply #8 on:** July 25, 2005, 09:53:02 AM »

The 6.8 SPC is currently the best (ballstically speaking) deer cartridge available for the Contender Carbine. Factory ammo is readily available as are barrels from TC. I hope this helps.

yottey · « **Reply #9 on:** July 25, 2005, 10:54:10 AM »

The 6.8 doesn't come anywheres near published data acording to everything I've read on different forms.Remingtons data is out of a 24 inch barrel.One of the other problems with it is bullet selection that is designed to work at that low of velocity.yottey

Lowrider 49 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 25, 2005, 07:17:54 PM »

I keep hearing that the 6.5x55 is too much power for the contender, but the SAAMI pressure for the 6.5x55 is 45,000 psi and supposedly, that is the limit for the contender frame. If you look thru the list below and see the calibers offered in the contender by TC, the 6.5x55 is not out of line. It sits right there with the 7-30 Waters. I can't think of too many better rounds for a 6 lb carbine with a 20" barrel about 34" long to chase deer, elk and maybe a stray moose too!!! I'd like to have one!!

Values are in PSI unless otherwise specified

Rifle PSI Handgun PSI
22 Hornet 47,000cup 25 ACP 25,000
6mm Remington 65,000 380 ACP 21,500
6.5x55 45,000 9mm Luger 35,000
7mm BR 52,000 cup 9mm Luger +P 38,500
7mm Mauser 51,000 32 S&W Long 15,000
7mm Rem Magnum 61,000 32 H&R Mag 21,000 cup
7mm Weatherby Mag 65,000 38 Auto 26,500
7mm-08 61,000 38 S&W 14,500
70-30 Waters 45,000 38 Special 17,000
7.62x39 45,000 38 Special +P 20,000
8mm Mauser 35,000 38 Super +P 36,500
8mm Rem Magnum 65,000 357 Magnum 35,000
22-250 Remington 65,000 357 Maximum 40,000
222 Remington 50,000 40 S&W 35,000
223 Remington 55,000 10 mm 37,500
243 Winchester 60,000 41 AE 35,000
25-06 Remington 63,000 41 Magnum 36,000
257 Roberts 54,000 44 Special 15,500
264 Win Mag 64,000 44 Magnum 36,000
270 Winchester 65,000 45 ACP 21,000
280 Remington 60,000 45 ACP +P 23,000
284 Winchester 56,000 45 Colt 14,000
30 Carbine 40,000 45 Colt (Ruger) 25,000 cup
30-06 Springfield 50,000 cup 45 Win Mag 40,000 cup
30-30 Winchester 42,000 454 Casull 50,000 cup
300 Savage 47,000 50 AE 36,000
300 Weatherby Magnum 65,000
300 Win Mag 64,000
303 British 49,000
308 Winchester 62,000
32 Win Special 42,000
338 Win Mag 64,000
35 Remington 33,500
375 H&H 62,000
416 Remington Magnum 65,000
444 Marlin 42,000
45-70 Government 28,000
458 Winchester Magnum 53,000 cup

RonF · « **Reply #11 on:** July 26, 2005, 05:46:58 AM »

It is not just about pressure. It's about force, and force is pressure times area. The 6.5X55 is a much larger case diameter than the 7X30 Waters (rear of case body, not size of rim is what's important here) so the area is bigger and the force on the standing breech is significantly greater. If it were just pressure the .223 would blow up a Contender, but its case is small so the Contender can stand the pressure, which is higher than the 6.5X55. I strongly urge you NOT to chamber a Contender in 6.5X55 and load it to 45,000 PSI or CUP or anything else. It may not blow up, but it is nearly certainly to stretch the frame if you go to maximum loads for this cartridge.

RonF

Gitzit · « **Reply #12 on:** July 26, 2005, 05:47:50 AM »

yottey, the TC barrel is 23" long. Any difference between the 23" barrel and Remingtons 24" will be negligible. TC's factory ammo is being produced by Hornady and given Hornady's reputation I am sure the 120 grain bullet will perform very well on deer size game. If you want something that opens up a little faster then handloads with the 110 grain V-Max would be the ticket.

90north · « **Reply #13 on:** July 27, 2005, 04:25:51 PM »

Help me out, I can't find a 6.8mm carbine barrel in the TC website. Where did you find it?

C A Plater · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2005, 09:11:32 PM »

Quote from: 90north

Help me out, I can't find a 6.8mm carbine barrel in the TC website. Where did you find it?

I haven't seen it on their web site but have seen press releases and Mid South lists it for both Encore (24") and Contender (23").

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000314202

STLContender · « **Reply #15 on:** July 28, 2005, 10:33:24 AM »

Ive got a 6.8 in a 15" Contender. Should be great in a 20-24" BBL. The only factory load Remington is offering for hunting is the 115 gr Bonded Corlokt. Now...Hornady and TC are suppose to have factory ammo coming out too. Its been said that the reloader will not improve on factory ballistics...and i believe that to be true. But with that said..out of a 14" BBL the remington factory loads are running about 2550 FPS. There would be roughly a 200 FPS increase(+ or - a few FPS) out of a carbine bbl. That makes a good deer load in my book

Biathlonman · « **Reply #16 on:** July 29, 2005, 02:00:23 AM »

I'm currently working with a 21" 6.5JDJ Contender carbine, well it's kind of on the back burner this exact second, but you know how that goes.

It will run almost 2800 fps with 120 grain bullets, and runs in the high 2600s for 129gr. bullets. I haven't had the chance to try 140gr. pills in it yet, but suspect 2500 fps or so. I'll probably stick with the 125gr. partition or 129gr. Interlock or SST for my hunting, just haven't decided which yet. I'll definitely give the 140gr. bullets a try though but with the low velocity and my 1-9" twist barrel, I'm banking on the lighter pills.

coopershooter · « **Reply #17 on:** August 01, 2005, 09:39:06 AM »

I HAVE SHOT A FEW HOGS WITH MY SWEDISH MAUSER 6.5X55 WITH A WIMPY LOAD OF 40GR. 4064 AND 140GR GAMEKINGS. I'M GUESSING 2500FPS. AND IT DOES GREAT! I,M SURE THE 6.5 JDJ WILL FILL MY NEEDS.
IS YOURS FOR SALE? IF NOT, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU PAID FOR IT?
THANK YOU!
COOPERSHOOTER.

tatonka · « **Reply #18 on:** August 03, 2005, 02:35:43 AM »

I have a Bullberry 6.5 mm Bullberry improved. It is based on a 30-30 Win case necked to 6.5 mm & the shoulder blown out to I believe 30 degrees. It is the most accurate contender barrel I have ever owned. 1/2" at 100 yards is the norm. It is a 15 " barrel and I have a 2-7 scope on it. Through my chronograph, it pushes a 120 Nosler BT to 2400 fps. I have shot many whitetails with it over the years and all but one fell within 25 yards. The one that didn't drop was last year. It was a 175 yard shot through the heart. The deer ran about 100 yards. It weighed 218 field dressed. Nice 10 pointer - scored 145. Most of my shots are across a hay field where the distance is 100-300 yards. My longest shot was 325.
While fireforming and load development, I fired seven different powders with the Nosler BT and all shot under an inch @ 100 yards. Quite remarkable. I have been toying with the notion of ordering a 21 barrel in the same caliber from Fred at Bullberry. Good shooting!

yottey · « **Reply #19 on:** August 03, 2005, 03:07:27 AM »

The only bullet in the kids 6.5 bullberry that won't shoot under a inch is the 120 barns X bullet it shoots 1 1/4 groups!yottey

Biathlonman · « **Reply #20 on:** August 03, 2005, 06:52:33 AM »

Sorry mate, mine isn't for sale and actually I don't recall how much I paid for it. It is not a true 6.5 JDJ but a 6.5x.225 Winchester Improved, yeah its the same thing, but my barrel was made by OTT and not JD Jones.

I think the barrel blank was about $150 and if I recall correctly the work was about the same, but it has been several years ago.

Sorry I'm not more helpful. I would take a hard look at one of the customs on the 30-30 case if I were in your shoes. Brass is much easier to come by and much cheaper. The performance will be a touch lower, but still should be more then enough for normal deer hunting. just my 2 cents.