6.5-06 or 280 AI

[Patton243]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum thing for posting. Anyway, I currently have a R-700 chambered in a 6.5-06 and the barrel is starting to go bad. (Shilen) I would estimate I have about 1200 rounds through the rifle. Copper fouling, flyers, and chasing the lands are a common theme with this gun. I'm looking to replace the barrel probably at the end of the year.

Should I stay with a 6.5-06 or bump up to a 280 AI? I use this gun for mainly shooting groundhogs, deer, crows, and other pests on the farms I hunt in PA. This is not a bench gun, but I'm looking to shoot it out to 800 yards occasionally. I intend to get a Brux Barrel on the next build. My biggest concern with the 6.5 is the poor barrel life which showed on this barrel. Could it possibly have been a bad barrel? It took me a lot of time to work-up a load for the 6.5-06. That's another reason I was thinking about going up to the 7mm for better barrel life, and easier load development. Also, Nosler has 280 AI brass for reloading instead of fire forming. Thanks for the input.

Chris

 

[bheadboy]

I have had both, I must say the 280ai is the better choice in my experience, the 6.5-06 ate the throat like made and even with a trued action and Douglas match bbl, never was as accurate as the 2 280ai I built

the 280ai had longer bbl life, long case life, is very very accurate and a number of powder/bullet combos do well - 9 twist and 26" harts were the bbl I used

Bob

 

[Larryh128]

The 6.5 x 06 is quite a bit overbore. Which translates into a shorter barrel life if you're pushing it hard. There are exceptions but that's about what you would expect in barrel life running it hard. The 280 AI should yield better barrel life and a 6.5 x 47 would yield better life yet if you're thinking about another 6.5. And yes, it will work fine in a long action if you choose to go that route.

 

[dkhunt14]

The 7mm is better for hunting at distance. You can see the impacts and wash better. Also more energy and less wind drift. It should also last a lot longer. It must be a lot more accurate because I see a lot more of them being talked about in F-Class shooting. Matt

 

[DBailey]

Your barrel life is in the normal range for 6.5-06.
Unless you just have to have the 280-AI try the standard 280 Remington. It's cheaper, easier and for what you are doing it's every bit as good. Not to mention the outstanding barrel life.
Brux 7mm barrels are top notch.

 

[Patton243]

Thanks all for the information. I'm definitely leaning towards the 280/280AI now after reading some of the replies here. I also want a cartridge that I don't have to spend 200+ rounds trying to figure out load development which in essence happened with this 6.5-06. The cartridge shot good early on, but it has faded recently. I'll do a little research on the 280 as well as the guy mentioned above. The 280AI still looks more appealing because I wont have to trim cases as much.

Chris

 

[bheadboy]

Chris,

check you pm and I will send you some load data that will save you a ton on the ai

Bob

 

[bradb]

Got 2 6.5-06ai's and like them a lot. But just because I must need something different the one will be 280ai soon.

Send me your loads for the 280ai also if you don't mind Bob

 

[Patton243]

I will not question the accuracy of a 6.5-06 or AI version. However, I'm looking for some barrel longevity and that's why I would never do 6.5-06AI. I'm not a fan of replacing the barrel every 2-3 years when I can get more out of it with another caliber.

Chris

 

[Deton8tor]

I would heed what DBailey is saying, his pedigree speaks for itself. That said, I went through the same thing with the 280AI recently and discovered a few things. The 280AI does not always give you the velocities you think you should get. Once my accuracy node was found I only had 106 FPS more than the straight 280, isn't worth the trouble. The brass is OUTRAGEOUS and at times hard to find. I just bought two boxes of Nosler brass and it was $144.00 it was all I could find at the time, Yikes. If you have the chamber cut a lil long the Seirra 175 is a wind talker. It is a shooter in my rifle.

 

[L.Sherm]

Wow only 36fps I had 2 plain 280's converted to AI's and they easily gained 200+ fps downrange that is alot. Other than fireforming the regular 280 rem. Brass I didn't see anything different reloading for them than basic tuneing any other load.

 

[dkhunt14]

I would heed what DBailey is saying, his pedigree speaks for itself. That said, I went through the same thing with the 280AI recently and discovered a few things. The 280AI does not always give you the velocities you think you should get. Once my accuracy node was found I only had 36 FPS more than the straight 280, isn't worth the trouble. The brass is OUTRAGEOUS and at times hard to find. I just bought two boxes of Nosler brass and it was $144.00 it was all I could find at the time, Yikes. If you have the chamber cut a lil long the Seirra 175 is a wind talker. It is a shooter in my rifle.

Your lucky that is all the brass was. My brass is over $2.00 a piece. 36 FPS seems not right. I would think 100 FPS plus. Matt

 

[Sheldon N]

Yes, agree. Quickload predicts over 100fps difference in velocity between standard 280 and 280AI, when both are run at the same pressure.

If I had to buy new brass, I'd buy Norma 280 Brass at $1.05 each and fireform. However, Remington brass is plentiful on the secondary market, doesn't matter if it's once fired since you're going to be fireforming it anyway. Couple hundred cases available on armslist right now, I've been paying around $0.35 each and I've got enough stashed away for my next rebarreling, most of it unfired RP brass that I got from guys who decided they weren't going to reload for their 280 hunting rifles anymore.

 

[L.Sherm]

The first one I had converted was my brothers Browning A-bolt went from 2980fps to 3200fps with the same exact 139 hornandy bullet. After loading for it at an AI and seeing what it was doing I decided to do my 280. Rem 700 Lilja 24" tube shooting 140 NP's 2950fps now as an AI 3180fps with same bullet. I gotta say the Lilja has been finicky from day one it does shoot but man alot screwing around the browning factory was easier to tune both use same powders and really close to same charge weight go figure maybe i got lucky with the browning but I got a 6.5- 300 WSM sporting a Lilja same, shoots but man it took awhile to get it there.

 

[Eric Leonard]

my first rifle ever was a A prefix 700 BDL 25-06,,it has toasted it`s third bbl and I am gonna have it redone this summer,,what I was considering was having a reamer made to use Lapua 30-06 brass necked down to 7mm with a 30-35* shoulder at 30-06 headspace length so all I have to do is neck down the 30-06 brass to 7mm and fireform

I am not really concerned with what the speed will be I just want a good accurate round that will be easy on barrels and not be to many steps to make the brass,,

a straight 7mm-06 is very tempting but I am concerned with case trimming with the 06 shoulder,,I also considered a 7mm-08 throated for the 168 VLDH as this will really only be used for whitetail deer and 500 yards will catch at least 95% of its shots,,

 

[Deton8tor]

I missed typed earlier and just edited it. I gained 106 FPS from the AI version, but still isn't worth the trouble. In my mind, to fire-form is another cost of powder and primers. There are too many other excellent calibers out to have to FF cases.

 

[L.Sherm]

If you like to break in new barrels just buy cheap bullets to do your breakin it's probably a wash in cost if you use Rem. brass. I don't think fireforming is that difficult if done properly if nothing else it taught me more about reloading. If you ever want to do any kind of wildcatting you have to learn it or try the Hydraulic route. It's all personal preference.

 

[AckleymanII]

You can also fire form with Bullseye and Cream of wheat, you will get a pretty good case that is 95% formed with great accuracy.

 

[Patton243]

I see a lot of people talking about fireforming for the 280 AI. I'm going to buy Nosler brass that's already fireformed if I decide to go this route. Yes, it's a little more expensive but everyone has it available. If this brass was not available, I would not be talking about getting a 280 AI because I would not fireform brass. Buds gun shop has it for 67$ 50 count boxes and free shipping available.

Chris

 

[Changeling]

Why the 6.5 x 06 ? The 6.5 x 55 AI uses less powder and gives the same velocities as the 6.5 x 06 or the 6.5 x 284. Barrel life would be better also, Lapua brass is fairly cheap.

I own a 280 AI and really like it but the recoil is definitely a lot more than any of the 6.5 calibers mentioned. It is a great caliber but unnecessarily powerful for any of the game/varmints you intend to shoot.

I really think you would be better served by getting a good .224 varmint rifle ( Like Remington) in Swift or 22-250 to take care of all the varmints and a new barrel for the 6.5 you already have, meaning a good barrel like a Kreiger, Bartlien or Brux.
This way you would have the best tools for the job and save considerable on brass, powder, bullets.
Besides, 2 rifles are always better then one. Give it some thought.

Good luck on whatever you decide.