Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats convince me to build a 6.5-06

Ive got a ruger 77mkII in 270 that I am bored with. Think about having it rebarreled to 6.5-06. Would appreciate any input on this idea. Thanks

6.5s are the cure for boredom, so have at it. IMO there's no discernible difference in the performance of the 6.5-06 compared to your 270, and a narrower choice in bullets in .264". But if you're a loony, those are exactly the right reasons to choose the 6.5-06.

You might be disappointed that given my preference for 6.5s I haven't quoted better BCs, trajectory advantages, higher SDs in support of 6.5 bullets vs .277"s. But after all, choosing between cartridges with nearly identical performance is really about personal preference, not rationality IMHO.

Come on. You know you want to. Everybody's doing it........

Peer pressure.........

I have never regretted my reboring an old tang safety Ruger 77 to 6.5-06. It's a great load, and I love this rifle. It shoots great generally at or under MOA. The brass is easy to make. I now use 25-06 brass with a tapered sizer button in the die(Redding Bushing Neck Sizer for accuracy and to help save wear and tear on the brass). You can even use 270 brass, but there will be some trimming involved.

The 6.5-06 might be the upper end of the 6.5's. After that the 6.5's seem to be over-bores at least according to the reloading manuals. Although, John Barsness had some great loads in Reloader a few years back for 264 Magnum which beat the 6.5-06 by at least a couple feet per second. P.O. Ackley considered anything past 6.5-06 an over-bore including the 6.5-06 A.I. Of course, powders have changed a lot since P.O.'s books came out. Bullets have changed for the better as well.

E.R. Shaw did my barrel. Some people on 24 Campfire have recommended these guys:

http://itdcustomgun.com/

Finally, just about anyone can walk into a gun store and walk out with a 270. A 6.5-06 takes some extra effort and commitment. Or maybe, I should just be committed.

If I were you Id get it chambered in 6.5-284. Basically its going to be the same performance from both cartridges. I dont know if this rifles for hunting or target shooting. The 142gr SMK or 140gr Berger VLD (Which makes a good hunting bullet) are the perfect bullets for the 6.5-284. Since you have to seat the bullets out a little bit a long action is a must to have a repeater.

Another thing is you wont have to fireform brass and reloading information is found in about every data book out there. If you get a barrel for it get a Broughton 5C 1-8.5 twist. They makes the best .264 bore barrel out there.

Oh yeah, Jered at APA/PAI (aka Patriot Arms) builds a mean shooting gun.

If you don't have one (6.5-06) you really should have one. God forbid something happened in the future and you haven't had or have a 6.5-06. I'm a firm believer that one should have at one time about every caliber available...After all, how are you gonna know what your likes and dislikes are. And then there the AI version you have to take into consideration. Again with out holding and shooting how do you know what you likes and dislikes are.

When I first seen Steelheads Bumble Bee McM stock I though it was hideous, now I have one on order and envy it greatly.

Whatever you do or decide, just have fun....

Rob

Here is my take on the 6.5-06 as I have had one and will be soon building another.
A) Very accurate - dime sized groups all day. mine was a douglas premium barrel.
B) This cartridge is very efficient and not overbore.
C) Very easy to load for and develop loads for.
D) It's different, not everyone owns one. Unlike a .270 or '06.
E) Good bullet selection with high BC and SD. load with 125gr partitions and shoot any whitetail, lope, sheep, blackie, mulie or whatever you like to hunt with confidence.
F) even if you like shooting dogs, woodchucks, or crows load with 100gr HP's and shoot all day. recoil ain't that bad.

CLB

I have been shooting a 6.5-'06 since 1980. I did own a .270 Win once for about 15 minutes, but another shooter wanted it more than I did. The down side is it is a wildcat. If you are cool with that and all it applies, then the 6.5-'06 is a good one.

I am working on a project now to replace the 6.5-'06 with a short action rifle chambered for a wide & short 6.5 cartridge. I want to realize the same ballistics in a shorter, handier rifle. If Ruger/Hornady don't do a 6.5 RCM, my rifle will be a 6.5 Rem Mag. I have finally figured I don't want to fool with wildcats if I don't have to, and you mostly don't now.

If you go with the 6.5-'06 you will find an accurate cartridge that is easy to load for and at least in my rifle has long barrel life (mine is a 9" twist Shilen by the way).

jim

Thanks for all the replies. Youve talked me into it. Im thinking a 23" magnum contour fluted barrel, Mcswirly stock and of course a 6x42 leupold. thanks again

I'm a frugal shooter.....ever considered the 6.5x55 ? Dies would be less and better for less...If its a game rifle...no critter will know the difference between the two...just a thought....

IIRC, Mule Deer had E.R. Shaw build 1 of their custom Savage 110 action rifles in 6.5-06 for him and the cartridge worked well. I don't think that there is a whole lot of difference in field performance between a 6.5-06 and a 270, but "practical" isn't a required component of a true rifle looney's thought process.

Jeff

Chicks will dig you!

I bet you can't do it. No really, I bet you can't.

(works for my 3 year old and I am about as mature)

My rifle has a #3 contour Shilen barrel 23.6" long...jim

I sold my 264Mag and 6.5/06 and bought a 24" 270Win.

I know it's a wildcat,but when I bought mine,the seller included three articles on reloading the 6.5-06.I still haven't shot it and likely won't for a while. I'll get greydog to shorten the barrel and rework the trigger.