6.5X57 ack imp

[dan06]

Has anyone had any experiance with this cal? it seems like it would be a good long range rig that maybe wouldn't burn barrels quite as bad as 6.5-.284

I don't hear much about it here? Is there some reason no one uses it that I haven't fugured out yet?

 

[1000yardstare]

The regular 6.5x57 seems to be more of a European cartridge. The Sierra manual has a good section for the 6.5x57 on page 384.

The 6.5AI would seem to be a natural considering what great cartridges the 6AI, .257AI and 7AI are.

Now there`s a thought. Buy a Tikka T3 in .260 Rem, set the barrel back a turn and rechamber for the 6.5AI. Hmmm..............

 

[Steve Blair]

The 6.5X57 is based on the 7X57, as is the 6mm Rem. The case is ~57mm long. The .260 Rem is based on the .308, ~51mm case. You should be able to rechamber for the 6.5X57AI without otherwise altering the barrel.

 

[1000yardstare]

Gator, thanks for the thought. My gunsmith has done a lot of these re-chamberings and he says the biggest problem is using a minimum reamer on a maximum chamber. The rear of the chamber doesn`t get cleaned up and you wind up with a slight bulge on the rear of the case.

So as a matter of course he wants to set the barrel back a turn to make sure the rear of the chamber gets cleaned up.

But then again if a maximum reamer is used on a minimum chamber I suppose there would be no problem.

 

[GSSP]

Long action, right?

Alan

 

[1000yardstare]

GSSP, just tried a 6AI with 105 AMax in the magazine of my Tikka T3 6.5x55 and there is plenty of room. The magazine has an "L" on the follower which I assume means "Long".

Don`t know if the .260 Rem T3 has an "S" on the follower. If it does then the 6.5x55 might be a more logical rechamber to 6.5AI.

 

[Steve Blair]

You are correct. The factory chamber is probably too large. I have always just rebarreled and did not consider the reamer diameter problem.

 

[markr]

I have a rifle built by P.O. Ackley back in the 60's. It is marked 6.5x257 Roberts Ackley Improved...Same cartridge I believe. All I do is neck down 7X57 brass to 6.5 and fireform.
This is a great cartridge.
Mark

 

[1000yardstare]

Markr, great stuff. Someone who actually knew P.O. Ackley, one of the gurus of rifledom. I can say the same thing about Elwood Epps in the boonies of southern Ontario.

I am wondering if it would be better to neck .257 brass up to .264. This is a difference of .007. Necking .284 brass down to .264 is a larger difference of .020.

Necking up might reduce neck tension while necking down thickens the neck brass maybe creating too much tension. What is your opinion/experience in this matter?

 

[2506]

Necking up you usually don't have to worry about donuts. Necking down you will usually have donuts.