barrel life on a 6.5-06?

[bohemR13]

I'm building one, I have heard some very good things about the caliber and the AI version that will outperform the 6.5x284

My plans for it are relatively slow fire stuff like hunting, long range steel, not tactical match stuff yet.

I figured I'd see 2k-2500 from it if I don't abuse it by going for the ceiling on velocity. I'd like to see 140's in the 3000-3100 speed range. I know it's possible from the caliber, but I'm afraid to hear that it's going to be a 1200 round barrel life. As is though, I bought a straight bull barrel so setting it back isn't to much issue, I'd just like to avoid having to do it every 9 months,I don't get to shoot enough)

Anyone have 1st hand experience on it? Am I out to lunch on what to expect?

 

[dennisinaz]

2500 Rounds out of a 6.5-06 is a pipe dream. You can set it back at about 800-1000 and get 500 more out of it. They are barrel burners. The 140s exacerbate the problem.

800 rounds is a lot of rounds for someone not shooting matches, so don't get too hung up on it!

 

[1000yardstare]

I had a M70 rebarreled to 6.5-06 with a 26 inch sporter weight in 1988. It was a real tackdriver, consistently putting 3 shots under an inch with just about any buller weight. Loaded mainly with IMR 4831 for full velocity. Didn`t see any sense in downloading a large cartridge that was designed for high velocity. Shot it off and on up to 2003 when I noticed that the groups were opening up to over an inch. My records show about 500 rounds down the bore, all full tilt. Still good hunting accuracy but not the tackdriver that I was used to. Had a buddy with a bore scope examine the barrel and he said that the first two inches of lands were frosted. The weight of the barrel does not lend itself to setback but it still has minute of deer in it. I don`t shoot it as much anymore is all.

I shoot F Class up here on the Army ranges in Canada and of course all the rage is 6.5-284. I shoot 6mm because it is easier to find bullets and barrel life is longer. I am going to be watching the chaps who shot one full season last year with new 6.5-284s which with working up loads, practise and matches should put them over the 500 round mark to start this season. I will be silently listening to their comments on 1000 yard accuracy as this summer goes on.

 

[bohemR13]

800 rounds? That's quite a bit less than expected...ouch. I'll keep a very accurate count on it to see what I get, since I have the reamer and brass already I don't really want to sell it off, but damn, I was hoping for more than that.

I have a 28' straight bull tube so setting back isn't limited by the exterior barrel contour, I'm glad I bought that instead of a heavy varmint taper, at least I'll get 1 setback from it.

 

[confuzed]

I just pulled my hart barrel off of my tactical rifle its a 6.5-06 it quit shooting at 1200 rounds I shot 142s behind 53 grains H1000 not because it was fast,it just liked it. that barrel ran for three years.

 

[bohemR13]

Thanks for the good info guys, I guess I was being more optimistic than I thought, but oh well... that's the price of playing the game.

 

[jthyttin]

Just get another barrel and have it chambered at the same time.

You won't gain much round count from the setback, you'd have to change your come-ups, and some people are concerned about using a HS finish reamer on setback,hardening at throat area or something, cannot really comment on that).

 

[bohemR13]

I'm building the rifle, so I already own the reamer and I figured I should buy another barrel the way the politics of the country are going now. I'll avoid what's going on with that, just enough to say I'm already looking at buying a second or third tube to stash on my shelf.

What's the deal with not getting more rounds from a setback? My understanding of it was that while round count wasn't like a virgin tube, it was probably 75% of new since there's some actual rifling wear that needs to be accounted for.

I haven't set anything back yet, my dad has set back his friend's 22-250 without a hitch using a HSS reamer, so I don't know what the deal with that will be. My reamer is a carbide clymer with a floating pilot.

 

[jthyttin]

What's the deal with not getting more rounds from a setback?

I haven't set back barrels either,for the reasons I stated). But gathering from others' experiences, you may get 200 extra rounds when setting back,taking into account your chambering).

Please remember, that setback is ideally done before the initial chambering is shot out. So the barrel still has useful life,=maintaining the original accuracy with no drop-off) left even if no setback is done.

So, let's say your predicted barrel life is 1000rds and you set back at 700rds. You get additional 500rds, but it's only 1200rds total. Youve cut the barrel down maybe 2-3' depending on throat erosion.

Now you factor in the gunsmith cost. If barrel is $400, and chambering/fitting $200, you can either get 1000rds for $600,$.6 per shot) or 1200rds for $800,$.67 per shot). Plus the additional hassle,and reduced barrel life) from re-acquiring your come-ups etc.

Got my point?

 

[jr600yd]

WOW!!!!!!!! Seems a lot of you guys are down on the 6.5/06 and claim it wears out barrels faster than we do sox's. Now I'll tell you my experience with it. I've been shooting a 6.5/06 in mid-long range competition for over ten years. I admit barrel life is not in the 308 class but know where near as bad as what you guys describe and better than any 6.5/284 out there. I shoot 140 Berger VLD's or 142 gr SMK's over a healthy charge of H-4831 at around 2950-3000 fps. Typically I get 1800-2000rds from my barrels and around 15-1800 after set back. My rifle took me from U/C Master to High Master and kept me there ever since. I use Kreiger barrels with a 1/8 twist 30' long.

 

[bohemR13]

jthyttin - I'm building the rifle in my dad's shop, a barrel setback costs me a case of Grolsch for the first one, after that I'll cut it myself. I'm actually a pretty decent machinist, I made my way through engineering school making race car parts and injection molds.

jr600y - that's great to hear, I'm glad someone with some first hand could tell me exactly what they get from it especially with the set back. That puts the total rounds from a barrel at close to 3500- 4k then ? Damn, I'm glad I didn't give up on this yet.

 

[GoNavy3]

The 6.5-06 is an effective long range cartridge shooting the heavier 139's, 140's 142's and 144 bullets. Of course you have to stoke the fire with alot of powder and the more of that the less barrel life.
I shot the 6.5 Swede for 3 years and with those heavier bullets with 47 to 48 of VV560 and barrel life was between 2200 and 2800.
Now I shoot the 6.5X47. With 38 to 40 grains of H4350 and `139 Lapua I estimate 2700ish fps or 100-200 fps slower plus less recoil and will equal the accuracy out to 1000 yards with a qualified shooter.
Less fuel, more life.
Less recoil, better life.
Ben

 

[bohemR13]

Thanks Ben. I thought briefly about the 6.5 Swede and also about the 6.5x47, I steered away from the Swede because I mistakenly read that it was a neutered round and that it's internal ballistics were poor. I know now quite the opposite is true, but I have the 06 reamer already

I still have another k98 action that doesn't have a home, I have been thinking about what to put on it, I was toying with the idea of a 260 Rem build, but before I do that I have 2 other major rifle projects to go. When I get around to building it I'm sure I'll have another thread on here along the lines of 'So I'm bored and can't decide to build a 6.5 Swede or a 260 Remington.... thoughts?'

Cheers all, thanks for your help. I'm really excited for this build, I'll put up pictures when I start making chips.

 

[dennisinaz]

I find it hard to believe that the 6.5-06 lasts any longer than a 6.5-284 but I have never shot one out. They hold the same amount of powder and shoot the same bullet. Can't see how one would last longer than the other.

Most of the 6.5-284 shooters I know and have shot with never saw 2000 rounds from a barrel. I know some that quit before 1000. Don't get your hopes up but it's worth trying!

 

[jr600yd]

Dennis,
Your right about the 6.5/284 only going 1K Rd's or so. I've seen them replaced after only 800. Actually the 6.5/06 and the 6.5/284 do not hold the same amount of powder. The 6.5/06 holds about 5-8 grs more. Velocity is compatible between both cartridges. I don't know why barrel life is better with the 6.5/06 but it is. Maybe it's because we tend to use a little slower powder or the way the powder column burns. 4350 is a favorite with the 6.5/284 shooters and 4831 is favored by the 6.5/06 guys.

 

[Octopus]

I have been shooting the 25-06 for 50 years. This past year started with the 6.5 BR and if all goes to plan I will have my new 6.5-284 at the range this week end.

My experience with barrrel life is:

Accuracy expected is the big issue. Shooting benchrest off concrete tables I am looking for precison. The smaller the group expected the shorter the barrel life. If your sport will accept 0.5 MOA the barrels last much longer.

Fire rate is a big factor. Shooting 10 shot strings rapid fire burns the barrel much faster than very slow fire rates. Keeping the barrel cool can double the number of rounds for the same precision limit.

Powders do make a difference. All are not equal. Generally the IMR powders make more barrel heat and the VV powders make less.

Slower powders put more heat into the barrel than fast powders.

The shape of the brass case does make a difference. A long neck with a sharp shoulder is better than a short neck and a shallow shoulder.

Tight neck chambers are better than loose neck chambers.

Moly bullets do help barrel life IF you use the correct cleaning procedures.,JB bore paste and Koil.) You must never put the barrel away without cleaning if you shoot moly.

Mixing Moly and naked bullets causes problems.

Chemical cleaners may increase the burn rate in front of the chamber. No matter what you do chemical cleaners gets into the cracks. Then it is exposed to high pressure and very high tempearture gas. The chemical reactions are unknown.

 

[bohemR13]

Octopus, thank you. I'm looking for a 1/2 MOA rifle or better. I don't shoot fast strings and I'm hoping to do 1k+ shooting with this and have fun with it, not going for F class records. Mostly I want to ring sub MOA steel at 600 and 1k, maybe more when I get the chance to shoot to 1200 or more.,rare)

I'd expect to see initially that the thing will shoot very tight, as it opens up and approaches MOA then I'd be looking to set it back.

For throat erosion I have heard/read many times that sharp shoulders and short necks like the AI versions have create worse barrel life. I thought a long neck and more shallow shoulder angle helped with barrel life?

 

[Octopus]

I got a little over 2000 rounds on my last 25-06 bull 28' barrel before it went beyond the 1/2 MOA precision. I had only used naked bullets in this barrel. Cleaned every day with JB bore past and Koil before I put it away.

I shot a wide range of bullets and powders in this barrel. I only went hot and fast when need. Shooting short ranges I always kept the velocity down. But when shooting long ranges I went very hot. The 75 gr V Max bullets can be made to go very fast using the VV powders.

I cut several inches of the shank and rechamber. It shoots better than ever but I did give up some velocity. New shorter barrel is very stiff. More like a heavy varmit barrel.

Have fun.

 

[bohemR13]

Very good, thank you

I'm looking forward to this build A LOT

 

[dennisinaz]

Dennis,
Your right about the 6.5/284 only going 1K Rd's or so. I've seen them replaced after only 800. Actually the 6.5/06 and the 6.5/284 do not hold the same amount of powder. The 6.5/06 holds about 5-8 grs more. Velocity is compatible between both cartridges. I don't know why barrel life is better with the 6.5/06 but it is. Maybe it's because we tend to use a little slower powder or the way the powder column burns. 4350 is a favorite with the 6.5/284 shooters and 4831 is favored by the 6.5/06 guys.

I just went out and checked the water volume on both cases. The 6.5-06 holds 65.5 and the 6.5-284 holds 63.9. This is only 1.6 grain difference, not 5-8 grains?? Maybe it's the long strings that are typically shot by match shooters,6.5-284) that wear them out faster. Most of the -06 are for guys that are hunting.

The shape of the brass case does make a difference. A long neck with a sharp shoulder is better than a short neck and a shallow shoulder.

The 284 case has a short neck and a sharp shoulder, the -06 a long neck and a shallow shoulder, under your theory, wouldn't this cancel out???

I'm not buying it. I think barrel life is going to be comparable if the rifles are shot the same way. Longer bullets are harder on barrels than shorter bullets. There are a lot of factors to consider here.