6.5-06' experiences.

[Rtheurer]

I hope this thread stays on topic. I have a former work partner who has a Long action Remington rifle chambered in 30'06. He also has another rifle in the same. So he wants to try something a little different and we talked about a lot of different options out there ( and there are a ton). after what seemed like daily emails and conversations for a month or so he wants to try a 6.5mm 06'.
Having gone the 6.5X284 route long long ago I don't have a lot of knowledge of this 06' 6.5mm case except that its a ballistic twin to the 284 offering.
I have some questions.

1. what is the difference between the 6.5-06' A square and the normal 6.5-06' ?
2. can he make cases from 30'06 and or 270 Winchester brass as he has both on hand and would like to use those if possible.
3. Dies? Redding ?
4. Anyone have a favorite load for the 140class bullets.

He will be using this rifle for getting out to shoot some steel at long range. 400 to 1000yards and be his first semi custom long range steel plinker.

He is also doing a switch barrel on this action in 280Rem so looks like a lot of fun for him. Im pretty excited to be helping and spending his money..Ha!

 

[jonbearman]

They are for a lack of words almost if not identical. The .200 line is .0002 different and their claims of superior speed to the regular 6.5-06 by a very small margin are probably a sales gimmick. Basically they just put a name on a wildcat. Stick to the regular 6.5-06 and get redding dies. He can use his brass especially the 30-06 but not sure if the ,270 would be long enough or not. All you can do is form one with the .270 to see that you have the length. I just checked the hornady book and it lookslike either brass will work.

 

[RW]

You can use 270 brass but you first must trim to 2.494 as the 270 brass is longer than 30-06
the 270 brass is 2.540 and 30-06 is 2.494
The first time I used 270 brass I overlooked that fact and resized 270 brass would not chamber until I trimmed them shorter! Ron

 

[Rtheurer]

Thanks Fellas and Ron that is good info on the 270 brass. I believe this will be a pretty straight forward build for him.

Anyone else have any good Data or advice I appreciate it all. Nice having this collective knowledge.


RT

 

[FatBoy]

Russ,

You are a powerful and influential man. Can you not use your superior power of persuasion, or possibly rooms full of awards, to open this fellows eyes to the superiority of the 6.5x284 and all it and it's Lapua brass has to offer?

Bill Huskey of Alabama (think Hard Rock owner) used to shoot 6.5-06. I think his main draw was buckets and buckets of good LC brass, which made this a much less expensive alternative. External ballistics were the same, so he had no downside.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Russ.

Chris

 

[Rtheurer]

Ha! You would think. But same as Bill he has a bunch of 270 and 30'06 brass he wants to use... You know how new guys are with getting started. The thought of buying and spending money on LAPUA brass makes them shiver. Yet at the same time they will spend Thousands of dollars on a Deer hunt or Hunting equipment that they only do one time a year...
Ill get him rollin along once we get it all together.

 

[FatBoy]

If anyone can get 'em hooked it's you No reason to not use h4831sc and a 142. It will shoot right with a 6.5x284. May even be able to get close to 3100fps with a slower powder, though not having gone that route I have no idea if if would be accurate.

 

[z2013]

I've been shooting the 6.5-06 for about 10 years. I shoot sling at 1000 yds. using 51. 0 grains of IMR4350 behind sierra 142 HPBT around 2900 fps.
I've even shot out to 1500 yds but was running out of steam and elevation of sights.
I use 25-06 brass necked up. A friend shoots the same with the .270 brass. With the .270 brass when sizing you will have a small donut and fire form that out.
Hope this helps.

 

[OldManTA]

Would any of you be interested in a Shultz & Larsen M54 action with an unfired and fluted Krieger barrel chambered in 6.5-06? I had Krieger install their barrel on the action in 2008 and have never fired a round through it. I have Redding or Forster dies, unfired Winchester 25-06 brass necked up to 6.5 mm, etc. I also have a thumbhole, left handed, laminated prone stock that goes with it. I have had the action for quite a long time and it is beautifully made but I probably should sell it to someone who will use it. Let me know if there is any interest.
Tom Alves

 

[ebb]

A long time ago there was a poster at Snipershide, J Husky that had several and a lot of experience with them. I think he is the owner of the Hard Rock range. I talked to him when I built my 6.5-284 he had several of those also. You need to talk to him if you can find him.

 

[wapiti25]

I have built two. Use the 30-06/270 head space gauge. A 270 fl sizing die is great to use for forming, anneal then 6.5-06 sizing die. I like the 270 brass with the long neck, it keeps the base of the bullet away from the neck/shoulder.

 

[George Az]

I like mine for recoil management, as I get older, I couldn't take the 40+ rounds of the 30 cals, while I can shoot the 6.5 x 06 for a couple days in a row without issue.

As mentioned the 270 brass needs trimming. I use a f/l die for sizing. lube carefully including using a q-tip for inside the neck. Otherwise you can crush the brass. I had plenty of L/C and other 06 brass and had no issues with brass. Mine like Bergers, 4350 and 4831 and I am trying Remington magnum primers with some sucess.

 

[flatlander]

Russ,
I built myself a nice 30-'06 about a year ago, on a new trued LA 700, with a 26" 11tw Bartlein in Rem varmint contour, in a McM desert camo A3-5 stock. Even with a 4-port Harrells tactical brake, it's got quite a bit of recoil, especially with 185 Jugs. Been thinking about doing a 6.5-'06 bbl for it, so I'd have a switch bbl outfit when the urge to shoot an '06 comes over me. But since I'm an unrepentant tinkerer, I'd probably have to have Kiff grind a 6.5-'06 Imp 30* reamer. Keep us informed with how your friend's project progresses...I'll need motivation to go through with another rifle project.

 

[mshelton]

If superior brass was the concern, he could get RWS .270 and forget the Lapua stuff.

 

[jbhotrod]

Russ,
I built myself a nice 30-'06 about a year ago, on a new trued LA 700, with a 26" 11tw Bartlein in Rem varmint contour, in a McM desert camo A3-5 stock. Even with a 4-port Harrells tactical brake, it's got quite a bit of recoil, especially with 185 Jugs. Been thinking about doing a 6.5-'06 bbl for it, so I'd have a switch bbl outfit when the urge to shoot an '06 comes over me. But since I'm an unrepentant tinkerer, I'd probably have to have Kiff grind a 6.5-'06 Imp 30* reamer. Keep us informed with how your friend's project progresses...I'll need motivation to go through with another rifle project.

What kinda velocities were you seeing with the .30-06 sir?
MontanaMarine on the 'Hide was getting like 2800 or so with 208 AMAX's and RL17!!

 

[flatlander]

jbhotrod - The only vel relevant to your question I have recorded was 2831fps with S175MKs, using H100V. Haven't had an opportunity to check velocity with the 185 Jugs yet.

 

[jhuskey]

Your new member checks in, the miscreant named by Fatboy and Ebb: jhuskey, Bill to those who knew me 40 + years ago.
Good Morning Chris, Ebb, and Blake. I have missed two of you a lot. Blake, I am learning on another board.

I have about 20 years with the 6.5-06. I am not a gunsmith but I can build my own if the urge strikes, and these days, it rarely strikes... I'd rather pay a professional who does it every day. I have built them on winchester, Remington, mauser, 1903 and savage long actions. I have used Douglas stainless, chrome moly, Hart, Kreiger, Schneider, shilen, and benchmark barrels. I have used 8 and 9 twist. I've stayed with 8.
I've never done the a-square, it was too easy to run 06 brass in a die, trim, load, and fire.

There is absolutely no reason to get an inaccurate 6.5-06 in today's gunsmith world with the quality products out there today. The 6.5-06 was once a European factory cartridge that turned into an American wildcat. It's been around a long time. The only drawback to this cartridge is considered to be the shoulder angle that allows a lot of powder to be burned in the throat. The 6.5-284 shoulder allegedly "fixed" this problem. Jmho, it's never been a problem.

The most common brass is 3006. Just run it into a rcbs die with the right amount of lube and you have a ready case after you trim it to square the mouth. Load and shoot.
Second is 270, you just have to trim more. This is noted in the preceding posts. There is no bad information posted here, it is all excellent.
Then there is 2506. Those three brass selections work fine.

Are there issues with brass? Yes, depending on the reamer used. Back in the day, a .301" neck was the most common. 2506 brass was a little on the thin side and you could get split necks if you turned the necks too thin. I got the highest velocity out of turned 2506 cases. I never had any problems with 270 or 3006 brass with a 301 neck. I got velocity up to 3200 safely in 26" barrels with 142 sierra BTHP match bullets, but found in every rifle I built the nodes were 2850, 2950, 3050, and 3150. I found the best compromise at 2950 on long range performance, recoil, throat wear, and all around use. The easiest load I ever did was h4831 in either form. Barrel life shooting camp perry type competition has been 1800 to 2000 rounds. The hunting rifle has gone over 3500 rounds. Run and gun shoot then hot competition has eaten barrels at 1200, with the most common average being 1500.

I've never had a 6.5-06 that didn't shoot. This is a good choice caliber and cartridge.

Now, heresy, the 6.5-284 has advantages, the 260 Ackley is right in there, and the 6.5 Creedmoor is worth looking at, all with a 140 bullet running 2950. I have seen these run with a select powder and corresponding barrel lengths.

Shooting heresy in the foot, I've consistently gotten 2950 with 4831 in carry friendly barrel lengths that made this caliber a joy to own, carry daily, and shoot. The 4831 load range is 51-53 grains with any 140 bullet. All reloading safety practices apply on loading any internet posted loads.

I hope my first post here meets standards. Morning all.

 

[Rtheurer]

Perfect.. Thank you. My co worker should be pleased with his FIRST trip into a non standard rifle cartridge.

Thank you all.

RT

 

[FatBoy]

Good to see you joined, Bill. When you have time to sneak around a bit you will find that stuff you covered with us 15 years ago still pops up .

I didn't realize you could push the 6.5-06 that fast. I'm with you on 2950 node but I still only get 900-1100 rounds per 6.5x284 barrels, so it appears there is no downside, except maybe brass prep.

Saw John a few months ago. Retirement has been good for him.

Chris

 

[jakelly]

I've owned a few 270's a 6.5-06 and now a benchmark barreled 6.5-06 AI. I have found H4831sc in all these cases will produce ~single digit ES over 5+ shot strings when loaded moderately hot to hot. My current load ~58.5 gr with a 140 Berger hunting bullet just into the lands @ 3080 fps. I think that H4831/sc and these cartridges have a special compatibility for the hunter like the 6.5 SAUM and H1000, yet for slightly different reasons. If I had it to do over again I might go 6.5-280 AI to utilize Nosler's brass (haven't tried it yet, but have some waiting) or set the reamer up with a .050" longer neck to use 270 Winchester brass (which I currently use) without trimming.