Newbie Introduction and 6.5-06 Thoughts

[bohemR13]

I'm new to this place, I haven't spent much time digging through threads yet, but I'm working on it. I've been shooting roughly old enough to sit upright on my own, but only in the past few years have I started to get interested in the LR scene.

I was introduced to this place by a fellow sportbike forum member and I'm in the market to build my own 338 and something in 6 or 6.5mm from a clean sheet of paper. I'm a mech. engineer by profession, machinist and fabricator by hobby,that's how I got through engineering school) and I've always wanted to be able to answer "oh, that's my design" when someone asks what rifle is sitting on the table.

I'm really looking at the 6.5-06 and I've heard good things for it but it seems everyone is shooting the 6.5x47L. One of my big leanings towards the 30-06 case is that I have literally thousands of them and anything based off of the 30-06 can be loaded into the rifle simply by changing barrels. With a short action I don't get that flexibility.

Right now I don't really have much experience past about 300-350 yards, some few shots around 650 or so, but really, that was just screwing around, nothing serious.

Ok, enough rambling, thanks in advance for the patience with what I'm sure will seem like dumb questions.

After some thought on another forum, since I know it will be asked. I will clarify my shooting and building experience from the last few years

I was trying to keep the post short, but I should explain a bit more. As far as my experience goes I have two lighter guns in the 30 cal class thus far. Both are M98 mausers that I took from OEM battle rifles, stripped them to bare receivers, turned the receiver front face and lugs flat, lapped them to the bolt, cut the threads on a barrel blank, cut my own chambers on a 308 and 30-06, lapped the bolt face to the chamber, Fitted some Timney triggers, drilled and tapped my own Leupold mounts and dropped some glass on top. I built both of them during college on shoestring budgets and so they have cheap Adams and Bennett barrels on them and low grade optics, but they still were a lot of fun to do.

The 30-06 I consistently shoot 174gr Amax within 2.5" at 305 yards,Last time it was out was 2 weeks ago in some pretty stiff winds,~18 kts) and I covered 5 shots with a horizontal $1 bill), the 308 I haven't had past 100 yards but it's about a .5-.75 MOA gun at that range.

I really haven't messed with the loads much on the 308, I started building it with a friend and helping him with getting into shooting, he passed away in an unfortunate accident and I finished the rifle so it can be passed on to his young son in a few years when he reaches 18.

I've also helped my dad build an assortment of different mauser based rifles, not limited to, a 9mm Luger,single shot), 7.62x39,it was a bad joke, but pretty accurate to 150 yards) a nice 22" barreled 22-250, and 44 caliber wildcat based from a 30-06 case and the same OAL as a .223 Remington.

One of the major issues is that I live near Philadelphia now and finding somewhere to shoot past 100 yards is difficult, the only 300+ I know of within reasonable distance is a private club and I need one of my college friends,who went to OSU for his PHD after we finished grad school round 1) to be home for me to get in there, and at a reasonable driving time, it's just over 2 hours away.

I'm not necessarily looking for the 1500+ scene right now as I can't afford the optics for that kind of range. I do have free reign of a machine shop still, so tinkering is something I continually do. I can't really sit without a project of some kind, whether it be a shooting, riding, racing, photography project, I have to be doing something.

The other current thing I love and costs basically nothing to shoot is one of my 10/22's. It has a match trigger, heavy barrel, boyd's,lefty) thumbhole stock, polished bolt and receiver and,for a 22LR) some decent optics. It's a consistent 175-200 yard peanut butter jar killer when the winds are predictable,or better yet, non-existent). It's particularly nice to practice fundamentals with $0.04/round ammo and maxing out the range on a 22 is much easier than a 30-06.

I keep a second one in stock trim that anyone can shoot, so it's good for taking to the range with new shooters.

Ok, this is way too long as it is, thanks if you made it this far.

Cheers,
Josh

 

[Austin]

well welcome.im into my second year of LR shooting.I havent shot eather the 6.5x47L or the 6.5-06 but they both are great. the 06 can shoot the heavies faster than the 6.5x47,but the lapua has proven its worth time and again.its just the ease of the 06 to make because theres brass all over.

 

[Tom3006]

I've often wondered myself why the 6.5-06 isn't more popular given the popularity of the 6.5-based cartridges. Could it be it doesn't have the inherent accuracy that the shorter, fatter cartridges provide? From a hunting standpoint I like the 30-06 based cartridges over the magnums and short mags due to the fact that the more slender cartridges allow for a extra round or two in the magazine.

 

[Walt Krafft]

6.5-06 and 6.5-284 use the same load data. Both use the 308 bolt face, and both really need a long action. If using 30-06 brass, watch your neck diameter compared to your chamber. I have had each and found no real difference at 1000 yards.

 

[JSH]

How is the 6.5-284 feeding from a magazine?
I bought a donor rifle a few years ago with the intention of rebarreling to 6.5-06. Figured it would be straightforward swap with no issues.

 

[Falfan2017]

I've often wondered myself why the 6.5-06 isn't more popular given the popularity of the 6.5-based cartridges. Could it be it doesn't have the inherent accuracy that the shorter, fatter cartridges provide? From a hunting standpoint I like the 30-06 based cartridges over the magnums and short mags due to the fact that the more slender cartridges allow for a extra round or two in the magazine.

I would think it’s because the 6.5-284 works so well. No real need to have both.

 

[HTSmith]

I shoot a 260 Rem and it holds its own at 1000 yards. A 6.5-06 should go about 200 fps faster. An improved shoulder would look sexy and maybe keep the brass from growing as fast? I'd get an 8" twist to shoot the heavies. Go for it.

 

[half]

I have a couple 6.5/06's that I use for ELR matches. Both of mine are 8 twist barrels, and both shoot Berger 156 EOL's. I've used 4831sc, H1000, and Retumbo. Both are the most consistent at 3000fps. There are higher nodes, but they are not as consistent for me. I make brass from 30/06 lapua. As stated above, you will have to watch neck diameter. I turn the necks on my cases when I make them.
If your shooting less than 1k most of the time, I would stick with 6.5x47. Big nodes, less powder, less recoil, no making brass. Just my .02

 

[SBS]

If you're going to use it as a repeater, the 6.5-06 is generally easier to make feed than the 6.5-284. Both are going to require a long action using heavier bullets in a repeater. For a single shot at long range, I like the 6.5-06 AI version, more powder, less FL sizing and trimming. As half says above, 6.5x47 (or 6.5 Creedmoor for that matter) is more sensible @600 or less, burning less powder with longer barrel life and you don't lose a lot (meaning wind drift) against the larger cartridges at the closer ranges.

 

[Turpentine]

I have a couple 6.5/06's that I use for ELR matches. Both of mine are 8 twist barrels, and both shoot Berger 156 EOL's. I've used 4831sc, H1000, and Retumbo.

Good info here. Older thread I know. I just completed my 6.5-06 build 3 days ago with 26” Criterion Varmint profile barrel. I had wondered how well the 8 twist would stabilize the 147 and up class of bullets.