Tack-Drivin’ Wildcat — 6.5 Grendel Necked UP to .30 Caliber
Sometimes everything comes together — a great barrel, the right load, good bullets, and, of course, a gifted trigger-puller. Check out this target from Forum member Mike Ezell. That’s five (5) shots at 100 yards from Mike’s 30 Major benchrest rifle. When this group was shot a while back, Mike reported: “I fired a few groups in the great weather. No surprises — it did VERY well! My little wildcat, the 30 Major, has always been a shooter. That target was not a fluke — I shot a few groups today and Agg’d a high One.” Mike is a Kentucky gunsmith who builds his own rifles.
30 Major is Based on 6.5 Grendel
What’s a “30 Major” you ask? This is Mike’s own wildcat, a 6.5 Grendel necked up to .30 caliber. Mike writes: “The 30 Major is essentially a .070″-long 30 PPC. With the great 6.5 Grendel brass available from Lapua, all you need to do is neck-up and turn the necks to prep the brass.” Mike says it is very much like a 30 BR, but you just start with 6.5 Grendel brass instead of 6mmBR brass.
The cartridge has one major benefit — it utilizes a PPC-diameter bolt face. That makes it easy to convert your group-shooting 6 PPC to shoot score with .30-cal bullets. Mike explains: “If you have a PPC, to shoot score, all you have to do is chamber up a [.30 caliber] barrel and screw it on your PPC.”
| From 7.62×39 Russian to 30 Major — Full Circle
Arms expert Neil Gibson has an interesting perspective on the lineage of the 30 Major. He reminds us that this wildcat has returned to its roots: “Start off with the 7.62×39 Russian [cartridge]. The Russians then modify it, necking it down to .223 for deer hunting. The U.S. benchrest guys then modify that, necking it up to 6mm and blowing the case out making the 6mm PPC. Someone takes that case, necks it out to 6.5 mm, making the 6.5 PPC. Alexander Arms takes that and makes the 6.5 Grendel. Then finally Mike Ezell takes the Grendel and necks it up to 30 caliber, making the 30 Major. From 30 caliber, back to 30 caliber. OK, the original uses .31 caliber bullets, but the bore is still .300. Talk about almost coming round full circle!” |
7.62×39 Russian v .220 Russian v 6mm PPC v 6.5 PPC v 6.5 Grendel v 30 Major |
Great Accuracy Restored after Solving Mystery Problem
To get his 30 Major rig shooting this well, Mike had to solve a mysterious problem that cropped up last year. Mike explains: “Two years running, I have finished in the top 15 in IBS points shooting [the 30 Major], but last year’s benchrest season was tough.” Mike was having some accuracy issues that defied explanation. But he figured it out: “The front action screw was bottoming out against the barrel extension – just barely. A simple fix brought the gun back to life. It’s a Stiller Viper Drop Port. The action is screwed and glued into the stock, so I was a bit surprised … especially after having checked for [that issue] while looking for the problem. I’m just glad to have found the trouble so I can begin to re-instill some confidence in the gun and myself, after last year.”
Similar Posts:
- The Amazing 30 Major — 6.5 Grendel Necked Up to .30 Caliber
- Now That’s Accuracy — Mike Ezell’s Tack-Driving 30 Major
- Inside Look at World Record .0077″ Group — The Gun and Ammo
- 30 BR Brass by Parosky — Expanded and Neck-Turned
- 30 BR Brass Perfected by Parosky — Expanded and Neck-Turned
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Tags: 30 Major, 30BR, 6.5 Grendel, 7.62x39, Lapua Brass, Mike Ezell, Score Benchrest
I thought the article was a joke, a 6.5 CM necked up to .30 is a 308 winchester…
Why in god’s name would you go through all that trouble?
I’ve been hoping someone would make your round that would run through a standard mini platform, basically a beefier 300 blackout with a tad more FPS that I’m sure could still shoot subsonic. Good job bro and keep it up
Now waiting to see the results of a 6mm & 7mm Grendel.
My 6.5G is an absolute tack driver.
So it’s a shorter 7.62×39? The x39 is a .30cal, so if you neck down to 6.5mm and trim a brass x39 case you get the 6.5gren then turn around and neck it up to .30 and slightly trim it then you have basically a slightly shorter version of what you started with in the first place.
Sounds interesting. I need one for my ar-15.
6.5 Creedmoor necked up to .30 isn´t a 308 Win, since the CM is shorter, different shoulder angle and so on.
The .30 Major also isn´t a shorter 7.62×39, afaik different Body Taper and other variations.
PTG has Reamers, but who produces neck sizing and seater dies ?Do i need to order Custom Dies from Wilson, Hornady or anybody, who sells custom dies ?
I haven’t as of this day seen anything of a 30 cal. In necking up the 6.5 Grendel. You have it mentioned and it’s a tack driver. I have seen an AR rifle. In the 6.5 Grendel but there is hardly and ammunition to be found here in Michigan. I am interested in this being made into a 30cal. But what is it. Size and production? Who what where? Here in Michigan. I have just the other day saw one box of 7PRC. Who knew. And a Rifle? YET? Man times a wasting.