6.5-06 Ackley Improved with N165

[JLDavid]

Just got home. Pretty good conditions to shoot in. Slight breeze from 8 oclock position. Pushed my poi about 1/2" right from yesterday but they were still lining up over my target so I did not click left. I shot 58.5 to 60 grains today at 200 yards again. Average velocity at 58.5 was 3100 fps. 59.0 was 3139 fps and 59.5 was 3136. I only had 2 shells loaded at 60 and they were at 3144. I still have no pressure signs. I am on my last box of 140 VLDs so don't want to shoot them all up on load development and not have any for practice and hunting this fall. Berger please run more 6.5 140 Hunting VLDs!!!! I am inclined to start a seating depth test at this time but I am not sure what charge weight to use. My gut tells me to focus between 58.5 and 59.0 but my velocities are more stable between 59 and 60. FWIW, all these test loads were loaded at -.010" off of zero jam. If I go longer I won't have much bullet in the neck. I really hope jump shoots better.

 

[JLDavid]

Looking back through my notes I am already 50 fps faster and more accurate at 200 yards with less N165 than my old load when this barrel was chambered in 6.5-06AI tight neck shooting 140s and 60 grains of Retumbo. When I set this barrel back I took 5 threads off fyi. Still too early for seating depth test in your opinion?

 

[JLDavid]

Just got my brass back from my annealer guy aka my friend I shoot with. My company takes the Monday after super bowl off so I might get a chance to shoot again this week.

 

[spaniel]

Following with interest. I just built a 6.5-06AI and was running low on appropriate powders. I managed to score 4lbs of N165 at Powder Valley today. Initially I have 147gr ELDM, I'd love to shoot Accubonds for hunting but will need to wait until they eventually make their appearance again. I'm fireforming 100 cases with H4831 and cheap 140gr bullets.

 

[spaniel]

I'd love to hear how this ended up working out for the OP.

It finally warmed up enough to run mine through its paces. 143gr ELD-X and N165 starting 0.020" off the lands, 24" barrel. I fired a series from 55.0gr to 60.0gr in 0.5gr increments at 100yds just to find pressure before doing a 300yd ladder test. All 11 shots landed in a group 0.5" vertical by 1.5" horizonal; all but three of them went into a ragged cloverleaf. Velocity started about 2900fps and 60gr was 3138fps.

No pressure signs until 59.5gr, when there was a slight ejector mark. At 60gr it was more pronounced, the primer was flatter, and the bolt was a bit sticky. In my experience a fairly steep pressure curve but I'm happy there is the potential for an accurate load over 3100fps (hit that at 59.0gr). Nothing over 60gr would be usable due to brass abuse so I didn't test higher.

I'm going to shoot a 300yd ladder from 58.0 to 60.0gr in 0.2gr increments to look for a node.

 

[TTE]

I am following this thread also.

I have a 6.5 06AI as well.

Still waiting for dies, but cobbled some loads together with non 6.5 dies I had.
Initial promising results using IMR 7828, Norma 06' brass (just ordered 300 cases of Lapua 06' brass), Sierra 140 grain HPBT and CCI mag primers.

No where near the load testing/developing yet. Basically, have just fire formed about 25 cases (sent some of them off to Niel Jones) and shot the remainder of the cases a couple of times at the range, once at 100 yds and once at 200.

 

[TTE]

Question for the experts here.

When forming 6.5 06 (AI) from Lapua 06 brass, should I anneal the cases first ? I know they will have to be trimmed and neck turned after forming.

I have formed cases from Norma 06 cases previously without annealing and they seemed to work OK. I did anneal the cases after the first firing.

Thanks for your advise

 

[L.Sherm]

When forming 6.5 06 (AI) from Lapua 06 brass, should I anneal the cases first ?

It seems to help when I've done it.
I've just got done forming 75 cases from 06 Lapua and started load development, things look good so far im loosing one about 2.5" out of the group at 700.
Things looked really good at 100 but I suspected a little flyer at distance by shape of my 100 groups sure enough.
The odd ball holes are from adjusting scope.
Primer testing next.

 

[JLDavid]

I had good luck fireforming and then annealling but I can't see why annealling before fireforming wouldn't benefit you. The main reason I dod it the opposite way was my buddy hadn't built his annealler yet!!!!

 

[TTE]

Thanks for your reply Mr. Sherm and Mr. David

 

[TTE]

I am going to Namibia next year and want to take my 6.5 AI (and a 35 Whelen), so I am interested in hunting bullet performance/accuracy for now.

I have some Speer Gold Dot 140's, some 140 Nosler Partitions and some Norma 156 grain bullets.
I have no experience with the Speer's or Norma's, only internet reports which are positive for both bullets.

A bit limited selection for 6.5's just now. I am hoping the 1 in 8 twist in my 24" barrel will stabilize the Norma's (they claim to be a bonded bullet).

 

[wboggs]

I am going to Namibia next year and want to take my 6.5 AI (and a 35 Whelen), so I am interested in hunting bullet performance/accuracy for now.

I have some Speer Gold Dot 140's, some 140 Nosler Partitions and some Norma 156 grain bullets.
I have no experience with the Speer's or Norma's, only internet reports which are positive for both bullets.

A bit limited selection for 6.5's just now. I am hoping the 1 in 8 twist in my 24" barrel will stabilize the Norma's (they claim to be a bonded bullet).

You may want to try some Barnes. They are very accurate and deadly.

 

[TTE]

You may want to try some Barnes. They are very accurate and deadly.

I have had some bad experiences with them.

 

[wboggs]

I have had some bad experiences with them.

I have had good luck. People swear by Hammers but I have not tried them. I shot over 80 animals in Africa with Barnes but all in .338 cal. My buddies used Swift in 7mm and .308 and had good luck.
Good hunting on your trip. Remember the first rule is bullet placement. You do not want to be trailing after dark in Africa since you are easy prey.

 

[TTE]

I have had good luck. People swear by Hammers but I have not tried them. I shot over 80 animals in Africa with Barnes but all in .338 cal. My buddies used Swift in 7mm and .308 and had good luck.
Good hunting on your trip. Remember the first rule is bullet placement. You do not want to be trailing after dark in Africa since you are easy prey.

I was a PH in Tanzania for 20+ years. Most of the Barnes worked well, however I saw some spectacular failures as well. I hope all of yours continue to work well.
Appreciate your comments

 

[wboggs]

I was a PH in Tanzania for 20+ years. Most of the Barnes worked well, however I saw some spectacular failures as well. I hope all of yours continue to work well.
Appreciate your comments

Did you know Luke Samaris?
He was my favorite outfitter there. Had a great area and hunting was a dream come true.

 

[TTE]

Yes.
My areas were better, however, I am quite bias in that department.

 

[spaniel]

I finally got back out for load development; it was 90F instead of 55F so the same loads were running hotter. I didn't make it through my ladder at these temps and quit at 58.8gr due to pressure signs. However I did seem to have a node at the low end, so I shot groups at 100yds at 57.5gr, 57.7gr, and 58.0gr. 57.5gr yielded a half MOA group at 3108fps avg and no pressure signs, which were starting at the higher charges. So I'm going with 57.5gr as it's accurate and safe at all temps. 143gr ELD-X. 24in barrel.

 

[6MMsteve]

I shot some n165 in my 65284 with 142's and it was more of a push on the recoil side, like a slow push compared to H1000 which is just a tad of kick, I have no brake, but the groups at 100 were great, gun weight is 25 lbs

 

[spaniel]

I will say, I don't know if it's the round, the powder, the gun, or some component thereof, but at both temps I observed the steepest pressure curve I've ever observed in reloading. From rounded primers and no ejector sign to strong ejector mark and very flattened primers which subsequently showed significant primer pocket loosening in half a grain. At both temps tested. I was load developing a 300WM along side this at both temps, with different powders, and observed nothing like this.