6mm ai vs. 6mm-06
- Thread starter nmkid
- Start date
If you are going to use a magazine, BOTH will need the standard 30-06 length action to get the most from each round. So no advantage there. The '06 version would probably net about 100 f.p.s. more>>>some advantage but not a huge advantage. Both would feed off of slow powder to obtain the desired speeds with 105 class projectiles.. I guess what it comes down to is flip a coin! I doubt in "real world" performance you would notice any significance of one over the other. There is ONE advantage of the 6Rem over the '06 version>> you don't have to neck down! On the other hand if you wanted a "version" close to the '06 version, although it is nearly obsolete, is the 240 Weartherby Mag. Then you just "buy" brass and go shoot it! IF you can find the brass!
If it were me, I would opt for the 6MM Rem A.I. and be done with it!
If it were me, I would opt for the 6MM Rem A.I. and be done with it!
SBS
Gold $$ Contributor
I have both in 26" 8 twist barrels. You gain about 4-5 grains more powder space and velocity gain is mostly with the heavier bullets; in mine, closer to 60 FPS. IF in a magazine fed rifle, the 6-06 is easier to make feed; the Ackley's need some work generally -- how much depends on the type action. Also, it is simple to run .25-06 brass into a 6-06 die and you immediately have 6-06 brass. The 6AI must be fire formed, which is somewhat time consuming, and if you fire bullets, will take its toll on the rifling unless you have a special fireforming barrel. Might sound as though I don't like 6AI, but I use it for varminting with 87 grainers. The 6-06 doesn't push these lighter bullets much faster than the 6AI, just takes more powder. You could also consider the 6-284; lots of good 6.5-284 brass out there to neck down, and about the same powder capacity as the 6-06 with a better shoulder angle.
The 6-284 gets my vote. In my opinion its a superior case than the other two mentioned.
Every one knows I shoot a 6/284(I'm on my 3rd bbl) Its like a high performance dragster ,when its running right its a accurate speed demon .Last gunsmith that chambered my 6/284 used a W-W reamer that produced extraction problems when shooting Lupua brass( Never told me that )Now its being opened up with a Lapua no neck turning reamer . Any how I can easily produce 3600+ with 87gr V-Max burning H4831 and Re#22 Where are you going to get 6mm Rem brass ?
I am going to do some kind of 400 yard lazer beam deer rifle on a Rem 700 BDL long action,,
I really like the 105 VLD Hunting bullet,,will the 6-284 feed from the 700 BDL box magazine or should I use the 6-06 case ??
it will be shot very little and just want a point and shoot deer killer and be able to just pull up and shoot to 400 or so without dialing or thinking,,
I really like the 105 VLD Hunting bullet,,will the 6-284 feed from the 700 BDL box magazine or should I use the 6-06 case ??
it will be shot very little and just want a point and shoot deer killer and be able to just pull up and shoot to 400 or so without dialing or thinking,,
nmkid said:
I recently mulled over the same decision, but was also considering the 6-284 as well. In the end I went with the 6-06. No fireforming, smooth and positive feeding from a long action and brass is easily made by passing 25-06 brass through a 6-06 sizing die. I like the 6-284, but read way too many stories of folks having feeding issues. This was a no go for me, since the rifle would be used for hunting.
To answer your question, I think the extra 100-150 fps the 6-06 holds with heavy bullets would be worth the difference, especially past 500 yds. Additionally, there is no fireforming involved, which seems like a giant pain,especially for the time involved and the minimal gains achieved.
Not sure what you plan to do with the rifle and what type of bullets you're planning to use, but imo, to take full advantage of a 6-06, 6-284, 6AI, you should look toward the long heavy bullets. The Berger 105's, Sierra 107 MK, Hdy 105 Amax, etc really makes these cartridges shine at long range.
mshelton
Ironworker said:
Huntingtons has the 6.5x57 RWS that can be formed into 6rem
nastynatesfish
A day which we will live in infamy
I shoot a 6-06. I run 105 hornady bthp. I use retumbo. I formed brass from norma 25-06. I'm right about 3200fps with them. Mine is a 26" 1-8twist. I took it out today and burned 50 rounds worth of barrel up
300yrd zero
300yrd zero
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
Nasty, that is a great post, thanks!
nmkid
Gold $$ Contributor
Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty sure I'll go with the standard 6mm-06. I have about 150 25-06 cases, (man they are hard to find) but, still looking for more. I will be using a 700 LA one of my brothers gave to me. ;D. Well, I'm giving myself plenty of lead time in getting all the other components together to save on frustration.
nmkid said:
Here is a little tip to help ensure you have minimal case loss due to necking up or down and fireforming. Anneal that brass, whether virgin or fired, prior to necking up (if they have been previously fired) and again PRIOR to fireforming, whether virgin or not. This will soften the brass and make it more malleable, allowing for forming with little or ZERO case loss.
nmkid
Gold $$ Contributor
OK guys I'll have my cake and eat it too...If I wanted to shoot the heavy bullets accurately but, on a whim would like to hot rod some lighter bullets what twist should I be looking at? I'm thinking 105-107 gr. bullets down to maybe 85 gr. bullets. Dreaming!!?? Also, which powders should I be stocking up on (?) LOL. Yeah right! One local store has several pounds of RE17/22/25. Also IMR 4831, 4350.
A 1-8 is what's needed for the 105 class bullets. It will also work on lighter projectiles. Here is a caveat: with extremely high velocity and or extended strings of fire, as in Prairie Doggin' you may very well explode those lighter projectiles! Push'em till you see if you can explode them WITHOUT excessive chamber pressures>>>you may and you may not. However, I will guarantee you that with the limits being pushed COUPLED with long strings of fire, the bullets will come apart. At stratospheric velocities WITH extended strings of fire, you MAY explode even the heavy projectiles.
nastynatesfish
A day which we will live in infamy
It's a boyds varmint vented thumbhole
nastynatesfish
A day which we will live in infamy
As far as powder all I did with h4831 is see preasure. If you want to do it have your barrel throated for standard 25-06 oal. That way as you throat vanished you can chase it with the long bullets. I tried some 95 bergers and couldn't get them to shoot. I just bought some 115 dtachs to try. Look at slow powder. 4350 to be the fastest as far as I'm concerned. I got some blown primers and finished brass the other day because of how warm it was. I'm gonna back from 53.5 to 53 and rework my seating. If you had some h1000 or maybe some us869 I wouldn't be afraid to try it out
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