Huey
6.5x54 MS - Early on custom barrel makers...
Sunday, June 03, 2018, 22:28

Made barrels in factory cartridges that added power and range for handgun hunters. Now pretty much all have their own series of cartridges with dies to match.

My first Reeder purchase in the 80's was a 444 Marlin Contender barrel. A 14" 44 Magnum barrel rechambered and refinished.

Rounds like 225 WCF, 250 Savage, 6.5 Jap, 6.5 Carcano, 6.5x54 MS, 30-40 Krag, 300 Savage, 358 Win and a host of others were available.

I still have all my early barrels. Have had some of them 30 years. Ive been "warned" for three decades that rounds like my 250 Savage, 300 Savage, 7.62x39 and 358 Win would stretch my frames. But, years ago, Id shoot 150-400 rounds a weekend and I've never had a frame stretch or come open. Today's G2 is stronger than the Type 1 thru 4 actions were.

I recently broke out my old 6.5x54 barrel. It easily pushes Hornady's 123 grn SST to 2500 fps.

Reading Gary's data for the 6.5 GNR reminded me what these guys did for early handgun hunters.

Granted, calling Gary for a barrel and dies is easy. But, the pioneers still deserve recognition.