6.5-06 Ackley Improved with N165

[JLDavid]

I am starting load development on a 6.5-06AI with 140 grain moly Berger VLDs and N165. I know that somewhere I found some really great starting and accuracy loads for this using a forum search but for the life of me I can't find them using all kinds of different searches. If anyone has any experience with this combination, please let me know. I have printed the Nosler 6.5-06 page so I have a place to start but was hoping to fast forward a little. Thanks.

 

[L.Sherm]

No 165 experience and 140 but I do with H1000 if your interested p.m me

 

[JLDavid]

I have some H1000. Pm on it's way.

 

[Kurz]

VV N-165 is a cooler burning powder which is favorable in the longer cartridge cases like the '06 case. I don't shoot moly and haven't for about 30 years. But non-coated 140 VLDs can run in a full case of N-165 below pressure and be just north of 3,000 fps.

Re-25 is even lower pressure but getting about the same velocity with a full case. It is a bit hotter in the burn rate though.

Be sure to know your case capacity and work from there based on seating depth. Yes I know this is basic reloading but it never hurts to have a little repetition...

 

[JLDavid]

Thank you for the info and pointing out some of the the million little things to consider while reloading. I have really been utilizing seating depth for tuning and it is a pretty powerful tool. I found a 6.5x280AI reamer that buying. My current reamer is tight neck and I have to take necks down to .011" which is a pain in my ass.

 

[Spoonbill]

I have some data that Bob Jourdan gave me when he built my 6.5 06 Ackley. I used regular 6.5 06 data and worked my way up till I found loads I liked.

 

[JLDavid]

I have around 30 cases fireformed. I need to set my dies up and start load development when the weather improves a little. I plan on starting out with N165 and Berger 140s. I will keep you posted. Have a great weekend.

 

[Kurz]

Excellent! Glad you returned to continue this topic. It'll be fun to see your progress with this cartridge and load development.

Thanks!

 

[SBS]

After blowing up several 147 ELD-M bullets in my 6.5-06 Ack. (4 groove 30" Brux), I tried the 140 Berger Hybrid with RL-22, they held together and shot well. Looked like the 144 Hybrid would have better wind drift numbers in this large case. Been using the 144 with RL-26 @3125 fps for over a year @1000 and it's been a good combination. Thought I"d add this as info. on this caliber is fairly scarce. I've considered the 153.5, but looks like you need an even bigger case to have a meaningful decrease in wind drift over the 144.

 

[JLDavid]

SBS is your barrel an 8 or 8.5 twist? Are the Hybrids a good hunting bullet? I have not looked into them at all. Thanks for the added info to this thread.

 

[SBS]

It's an 8 twist (edited above post). Never used Hybrids for hunting, don't think Berger recommends it. Thought it likely that other 6.5-06 Ack. owners are following this thread. I'm using Lapua .30-06 parent brass with .0125 necks and get no pressure signs at that velocity.

 

[Kurz]

I found a 6.5x280AI reamer that buying.

That's what I've been running recently. This after I used Peterson 280 AI brass also.

Quite awhile ago I started using 6.5x65 RWS brass firing it in an AI chamber. This is probably my favorite fireforming brass but the .25-06 brass necked up and fireformed was the original AI version I used. The Remington brass was excellent years ago.

The Hornady 153 A-tip has worked well out to 1,000 yards in the 6.5x65 RWS AI as has the 153.5 and the 156 from Berger. The barrel length was increased out to 30 inches.

Weatherby finally sent me some 6.5 RPM brass to test so I'm working on this one for the time being. If you can't find brass, think about using the .264 Win. Mag. as a reasonable substitute capacity-wise until Weatherby gets caught up. For those with an allergy to belted brass, you'll just have to wait a little bit longer. The .264 Win. Mag. is an excellent cartridge also and should not be relegated to function as a fill in.

Throating for specific bullets can be a necessary variable. Most of the testing I've done shows the 153, 153.5 and the 156 to be jump tolerant, within reason of course.

1:8" twist because that's what the machine was set up to cut.

Lots of stuff to play with and enjoy!

 

[JLDavid]

A friend wants to go shoot today so I think I should have the rest of my fireform loads shot up and get to work on die setup and case prep. An old timer where I grew up shot a 264 Win Mag for everything he hunted. He could handle that rifle like an extension of his arm. He killed some big desert bucks shooting factory ammunition and a 4x scope. I wonder what happened to that rifle. Anyway, I have Nosler's 6.5-06 data page on my phone. My plan is to start a OCW test with N165 using their max load as my starting point.

 

[JLDavid]

I did not get all of my fireform loads shot but I do have enough cases formed to start load development. I have a ocw test loaded up. We have a target stand set up at 300 yards so I think I will jump right in and shoot there. I need to bring my scope up as my slow fireform loads are hitting 7" low at 300. Load details are formed Federal 270 cases, WLR primer, 140 grain Berger VLD moly seated .010" off of 0 jam over 52 to 55 grains of N165 in .5gr increments. I am hoping to shoot tomorrow morning and I will post some results. Have a good weekend fellas.

 

[JLDavid]

Just got home from shooting. Had a good session. 30° and full sun with just a hint of left to right breeze. This is the OCW test from 52 to 55 grains of N165. Absolutely no pressure signs so I will load up another round and see where I find it. No elevation adjustments were made. I did take 4 clicks right between 52.5 and 53 and 2 more between 53 and 53.5. Mirage was too bad so I shot this at 200 yards rather than 300. I can see a node starting between 54 to 55 so I will flip this target and reshoot 55 to pressure and see how they print before I mess with seating depth at all. Let me know what you think.

 

[JLDavid]

Forgot to add that when I was done shooting the OCW test I swung over to the 500 yard gong and figured out (guessed) a holdover and centerpunched it on the 1st try. Was a good way to end the day!!!

 

[JLDavid]

Shot again today. I kept going up from 55.5 to 58.0 grains of N165. Shot at 200 yards again and there was no mirage. A slight wind from the 4 oclock position didn't move my impacts much. I did not adjust my scope from the last session but I may need to for the next one or just set up a new target. It is nice having the full process on one board though. Anyway, what do you guys think? I haven't found pressure yet but my velocities leveled out from 57.0 to 58.0 grains. At 58.0 I have 3079 fps.

 

[JLDavid]

Any input?

 

[AckleymanII]

I always go up until I find pressure, you maybe stopping too soon. Just because you load the rounds, does not mean that you have to shoot them. If you see pressure signs, STOP, pull the bullets when you get home.

Also, in many custom rifles, My initial test to "find pressure" is done with two shot groups, not three.

I want to find pressure, record that velocity. Most accurate loads are usually within 2.0g of pressure in medium size cases.

In true wild cats, I find pressure with one shot groups, clocking the velocity at the same time. Then go back on two shot groups. I am looking for accuracy in the same bullet hole...that is an indicator where accuracy nodes begin, You start to see the two shot groups close in, then go to a bug hole, then open up again with hotter loads, kinda like a bell Curve.

After you find the most accurate load at that chosen seating depth, then change seating depths. If accuracy is "almost there", then change primers. Results can be truly amazing with not too many shots fired.

If you can reload at the rifle range, it is usually a one day deal if conditions cooperate. Verify loads on at least two other days.

Stick with one bullet and one powder till you work through it, then move on to another component or else you are like a dog, chasing it's tail round and round.

 

[JLDavid]

Thanks for the advice and I appreciate it. That is my plan, just not quite there yet. My next group of test loads will be to 60 grains. I am not really set up to load at the range but I try and have plenty of combinations loaded each trip. If I can get a few more honeydos done today I may be able to head out this afternoon.