6.5-06AI

[seymour fish]

Case completely full with surface tension convex bulge at the mouth, and case head to bullet tip OAL. suggest seating vld .;010 Into the lands, or tangent ogive .010 off lands for starters. will have the bullet dimensions in database, but they vary lot to lot, so bullet base to tip useful. all about the usable case capacity. Seymour

 

[JLDavid]

Seymour,

OAL with 140 grain Berger VLD= 3.427"
Case capacity= 70.3 grains full

Thanks a ton.

David

 

[seymour fish]

David, PM sent. Seymour

 

[half]

I am building a 6.5/06 not an AI. I was told to use mag primers in long cases to get a more even burn. What are you guys using? Mag primers or large rifle primers? Sorry for the hijack.

 

[JLDavid]

half,
I used LRM primers in my 25-06AI and in my 22-250AI. It made a world of difference in accuracy and also evened out the ES and SD in my loads. I will probably fire form with LR primers but when I start serious load development, I will definitely use LRM primers. Good luck and keep us posted.

David

 

[mikegaiz]

Like I replied earlier, Kreiger barrels 1:8 30 in. 142 SMK bullets. H4831 SC was the best and most accurate around 3050 fps. using BR-2 primers. This shot 5 in groups at 1000 Yds.

 

[George Az]

Built the standard 6.5 x 06, still inload development stage with regular L/R primers. Going to try some L/R/Mag primers. 4381 sc is hard to find. I have some 4350 and weights from 129 - 142.

 

[half]

Update.
So I think I finally have a load for my 6.5-06.
Nosler brass
CCI 250
4831sc 55 grs (don't start there)
139 Scenars

I shot a ladder at 600 yards to get close on the powder charge. Then started shooting groups at 100 yards to fine tune charge and seating depth. I found one thing kind of strange, I can shoot scenars at 2.725, 2.735 and 2.745 with very similar results. All these seating depths shoot a little over or under .25 moa. I'm kind of confused about that, anyone know why they would all shoot the same?

 

[JLDavid]

Update:
Finally finished building my 6.5-06AI and am fire forming brass. Accuracy is really good and I am getting 2950 fps with 49.0 grains of IMR4350 in neck turned W-W (30-06) brass and WLR primers shooting 140 grain Berger VLDs. I only have about 20 more cases to form but it has been so stinking hot that I only form a handful at a session before my barrel heats up.

One concern I have is that my FL sizing die reduces the shoulder diameter by .004" when I resize my formed cases. Do you guys feel that this is over sizing? This is a hunting rifle so shells need to feed and function 100% reliably. Just seems like quite a bit of a reduction. Let me know your thoughts.

David

 

[2506]

Retumbo really makes my 264 Win mag do its thing. 130 Accubonds at 3350 fps with NO pressure signs but sub MOA accuracy. Barrel is 27 3/4" 9 twist Shilen. Used as a deer hunting rifle and it smokes deer just about as far away as you can see them. First deer I shot with it was right at 400 yards in a green soybean filed. It came up quickly and I had to shoot quick and in the excitement of the moment I did not pinpoint EXACTLY where the deer was at in the field. MISTAKE. The deer was killed so quick it just dropped straight down with it's legs folding up under it. It took me over an hour of walking back and forth through the rows of waist high beans and literally stepped on the deer to find it. I was amazed at how fast that bullet got to that deer. It was BOOM POP.

 

[wapiti25]

I size my 6.5-06 brass first with a 30-06 with out the expander then the 270 win with out the expander. I do anneal my brass often so the necks do not split.

 

[rogerdrussell]

I have a set of 6.5 06 ai dies for sale, only loaded 900 rounds with them, also have 199 rounds of lapua 30-06 brass already fire formed in 6.5 ackley improved chamber just been fire formed.anyone interested let me know

 

[RW]

PM sent about dies and brass, RW

 

[kbk7478]

i have a question about the differences between the 6.5mm-06 A-Square and the 6.5mm-06 ackley improved. since the 6.5-06 has a 17 degree shoulder, will there not be more case stretch with firing and reloading and therefore more case trimming required with this cartridge vs. the ackley improved. looking at reloading data for both cartridges, it appears the 6.5-06a square obtains higher velocities that the ackley and this does not make sense to me, with the 40 degree shoulder and slightly larger case capacity, i would think that the ackley improved cartridge would obtain the higher velocities and also would not the sharper shoulder of the ackley improved case cause better burning of powder. any thoughts...

 

[jr600yd]

Ackley improved just about every cartridge he ever used. Some of them are not worth it. The general rule is to get over 7% improvement from the parent round. If this cannot be attained it's not worth it. Sadly the 6.5/06 does not make it. The 6.5/06 A Square is an excellent round in itself. I use one for 1K F class competition using 25/06 brass necked up, H-4831sc powder, Wolf LR primers and either 142 SMK's or 140 Bergers.

 

[Changeling]

Ackley improved just about every cartridge he ever used. Some of them are not worth it. The general rule is to get over 7% improvement from the parent round. If this cannot be attained it's not worth it. Sadly the 6.5/06 does not make it. The 6.5/06 A Square is an excellent round in itself. I use one for 1K F class competition using 25/06 brass necked up, H-4831sc powder, Wolf LR primers and either 142 SMK's or 140 Bergers.

To bad he isn't alive (Ackley), everyone could inform him that there is no use for him experimenting anymore and coming up with what the next 2 or more generations will be using because you have figured it all out!
You are the MAN, yea, right !

 

[JLDavid]

I have been shooting my 6.5-06AI quite a bit lately and from my results it is definitely worth Ackley Improving this case. I am easily pushing moly 140 grain Bergers to 3100fps with no pressure signs at all. I stopped there as I found a very accurate load and am sticking with it. I do not have any experience with the 6.5 A Square but I bet it is a great cartridge for the straight forward reloader or factory ammo shooter. I have always been an Ackley fan so the 6.5-06AI is right up my alley.

I leave in a couple weeks to hunt deer so I will try and update you all with a success story, I hope!! Take care.

David

 

[jr600yd]

If an AI version is what you want than go for it. It's an excellent hunting round and does well in competition. Like any improvement there is also a drawback. Some haven't done a lot of research and think this is head and shoulders above the standard 6.5/06. Truth is the AI version only gets about 2% increase in usable capacity and only 40 - 50 fps increase-when loaded to the same pressure levels. So for the reloaded the question becomes is it worth it over the standard round?

 

[mikegaiz]

Just because it is improved does not mean you have to load it to max. The 6.5-06AI is a very accurate cartridge, I found the best accuracy around 3000 fps. 142 SMK well under max. and think it out performs the 6.5/284. The only draw back is fire forming. It is a very flat shooter for long range.

 

[JLDavid]

jr600yd,
What velocities are you getting out of the 6.5 A Square with 140 grain bullets? I have looked through some reloading manuals and I don't see many loads over 2750 - 2850 fps using a variety of powders. Not implying that the written max in a reloading book is as high as you can go but what is your rifle putting out? Moly or naked bullets? What powder are you using? Thanks for the info.

Mike,
I agree that fire forming is a pain but they make great coyote killing rounds!!